Newsletter 141 - South Africa's indigent households increase by 16% between 2009 and 2010
According to the Non-financial census for municipalities for the year ended 30 June 2010, South Africa had 16% more indigent households in 2010 than it did in 2009. Limpopo saw an increase in the number of such households, while the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northern Cape all saw decreases. In 2010, the Eastern Cape had the highest number of indigent households, while the Northern Cape had the lowest.
The latest Non-financial census for municipalities for the year ended 30 June 2010, published in August this year by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), shows that the number of indigent households in South Africa went up from 3 176 353 in 2009 to 3 676 251 in 2010. This is an increase of 15.7%. Indigent households are identified by municipalities as those households which are unable to pay for basic services. Depending on their level of income, they are eligible for free basic services under the indigent support system.
The Eastern Cape had the highest number of such households. The province saw a 12.5% increase in the number of indigent households between the two years. In the same period, Limpopo saw an increase of 88.2%, to 866 107 indigent households.
Of the nine provinces, three saw decreases. These were the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northern Cape, with decreases of 15.4%, 15.2%, and 14.4% respectively.
In addition to a 14.4% decrease, the Northern Cape had the lowest number of such households in both years.
Number of indigent households by province, 2009 and 2010 | |||
Province | 2009 | 2010 | Change |
Eastern Cape | 1 003 115 | 1 128 964 | +12.5% |
Free State | 204 478 | 173 000 | -15.4% |
Gauteng | 295 673 | 308 132 | +4.2% |
KwaZulu-Natal | 572 550 | 485 412 | -15.2% |
Limpopo | 460 243 | 866 107 | +88.2% |
Mpumalanga | 89 588 | 107 586 | +20.1% |
Northern Cape | 84 967 | 72 728 | -14.4% |
North West | 158 128 | 169 113 | +6.9% |
Western Cape | 307 611 | 365 209 | +18.7% |
South Africa | 3 176 353 | 3 676 251 | +15.7% |
Source: Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), Non-financial census of municipalities for the year ended 30 June 2010, August 2011
- Lerato Moloi
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