Poverty Dynamics in South Africa: Trends, Policies and Challenges

This paper provides an overview of poverty reduction in South Africa from 1980 to 2013. It highlights the trends in poverty; those poverty-alleviation policies that have been implemented; as well as the challenges that have been faced in reducing poverty. Poverty reduction policies that have been implemented comprise short- and long-term measures. Short-term measures have focused on increasing the disposable income of the poor. The long-term poverty-reduction reforms were aimed at the economic empowerment of the poor. Despite all the policies that have been implemented, South Africa - like other emerging economies - still faces a number of challenges related to reducing poverty.