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Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty

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Newsletter 95-Indigent households -29 October 2010

In 2007 there were some 3 million indigent households in South Africa, which increased to 3.5 million in 2008. Between 2007 and 2008 the proportion of households that were indigent decreased in six of the nine provinces. But Gauteng had an almost three-fold increase in the proportion of households that were indigent during that period.

The Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) defines the term ‘indigent’ as ‘lacking the necessities of life’, which in the South African context refers to goods and services such as basic water supply, sanitation, energy and refuse removal, basic energy, health care, and housing. Anyone who does not have access to these goods and services is considered indigent.

In 2007, 14% of the Eastern Cape’s households were indigent and in 2008 the proportion was 26%. This was an 86% increase over a year.
 
 In 2007, 2% of Northern Cape’s households were indigent and in 2008 the proportion was 3%. This was a 50% increase.
 
In 2007, 10% of Gauteng’s households were indigent in 2008 the proportion was 27%. This was a 170% increase.
 
In 2007, 8% of Mpumalanga’s households were indigent and in 2008 the proportion was 2%. This was a 75% decrease.
 
In 2007, 10% of the North West’s households were indigent and in 2008 the proportion was 4%. This was a 60% decrease.
 
In 2007, 22% of KwaZulu-Natal’s households were indigent and in 2008 the proportion was 13%. This was a 41% decrease.
 
In 2007, 15% of Limpopo’s households were indigent and in 2008 the proportion was 10%. This was a 33% decrease.
 
In 2007, 12% of the Western Cape’s households were indigent and in 2008 the proportion was 9%. This was a 25% decrease.
 
In 2007, 9% of the Free State’s households were indigent and in 2008 the proportion was 6%. This was a 33% decrease.
 
-Nachi Majoe
 
 
 
 
by nmajoe — last modified 2010-11-09 11:23
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