The income of the poorest South Africans has improved in real terms over the past 14 years, according to government's 2008 Development Indicators Report released on Thursday.
The publication which provides information on the impact of government programmes on the lives of South Africans, states that nine million people have been lifted out of poverty since 1996 and official unemployment has decreased from 31.2 percent in March 2003 to 23 percent in September 2007.
According to the report, the percentage of people living in poverty (R462 a month or less) declined from 58 percent in 2000 to 48 percent in 2005.
In addition, about 2.5 million subsidised houses have been completed or are in progress, providing shelter to some 8.8 million people.
Other aspects of progress highlighted in the report include increased access to basic services. Since 1994 a further 21 percent of the population now receives electricity, 23 percent receives improved sanitation and 26 percent of the population now have access to clean water.
The report pointed to economic growth as a strong contributor to the progress achieved in development as well as government's poverty alleviation initiatives.
However the report also pointed out areas where government programmes had failed to improve the lives of South African's.
Despite the reduction in poverty, inequality seems to have risen, said Joel Netshitenzhe, head of the Presidency policy unit at the release of the report.
"We are encouraged that the conditions of lives of all South Africans has improved but the increase of the 10 richest percent has increased at a faster rate... than the rest of country," he said.
In addition the report revealed that public confidence in general has worsened. Netshitenzhe said data showed that public perceptions of race relations are under strain.
He said pride in being South African was still at high levels (78 percent) but had registered a decline in 2007 from 90 percent in the three years before.
Netshitenzhe said the problem could be attributed to racial incidents that happened in the time in which the actual field work research was done - such as the racially motivated murders in Skierlik in the North West and the video which surfaced at the Reitz residence at the University of the Free State.
Commenting on the indicators Netshitenzhe said, "South Africa is making progress but not fast enough."
Source: Sapa
