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With respect to the most recent Poverty Trends Report released by Statistics South Africa showing that approximately 23,2 million South Africans or 37,9% of the population were living below the lower-bound poverty line in 2023, and that chi

Parliament of South AfricaRef: NW4 TO THE PRESIDENT

Official source

Source domain: pmg.org.za

Collected on 17 June 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 9 July 2026)Official source

What this means

The document is a question-and-answer entry from a parliamentary inquiry (NW4) addressing poverty trends in South Africa. It references the Poverty Trends Report and asks what steps the government is taking to accelerate poverty eradication with targets aligned to the National Development Plan 2030, and to address drivers such as unemployment and rural economic exclusion. The response highlights social grants, the social wage, education access for poor learners, NSFAS, school nutrition, ECD subsidies, and unemployment statistics, indicating Government actions aimed at poverty reduction, though the excerpt ends mid-sentence with further details likely continuing the response.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

social assistance grantsOngoing

Social grants (including Social Relief of Distress grant)

The Government provides social assistance through social grants, including the Social Relief of Distress grant, which is estimated to lift people out of food poverty.

Who it is for
people who are vulnerable to poverty and food poverty (including those in rural areas)
Show the line this came from
Government continues to provide social assistance to tackle poverty. Social grants, which play a central role in poverty alleviation and redistribution, constitute 44-45% of non-interest spending.
student financial aid (NSFAS) expansionOngoing

Expanded NSFAS funding

The Government expands access to education for learners and students from poor backgrounds through expanded NSFAS funding to reduce intergenerational poverty.

Who it is for
learners and students from poor backgrounds
Show the line this came from
By expanding access to education for learners and students from poor backgrounds through no-fee schools, expanded NSFAS funding, the school nutrition programme and increased ECD subsidies government is reducing intergenerational poverty.
youth employment programmeOngoing

Youth Employment Service (YES) programme

The Government references the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme as part of strengthened partnerships with business to support youth employment and work readiness.

Who it is for
young work seekers
Show the line this came from
These include the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the National Pathway Management Network (including SAYouth.mobi, the Public Employment Services in the Department of Employment and Labour, and strengthened partnerships with business through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.
public employment servicesOngoing

Public Employment Services (Department of Employment and Labour)

The Government references Public Employment Services in the Department of Employment and Labour as part of the National Pathway Management Network and employment/activation programmes for young work seekers.

Who it is for
young work seekers
Show the line this came from
These include the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the National Pathway Management Network (including SAYouth.mobi, the Public Employment Services in the Department of Employment and Labour, and strengthened partnerships with business through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.
early childhood development subsidiesOngoing

Increased ECD subsidies

The Government increases ECD subsidies as part of expanding support for early childhood development to reduce intergenerational poverty.

Who it is for
children and families benefiting from ECD subsidies (as part of support for poor backgrounds)
Show the line this came from
By expanding access to education for learners and students from poor backgrounds through no-fee schools, expanded NSFAS funding, the school nutrition programme and increased ECD subsidies government is reducing intergenerational poverty.
education access programmeOngoing

No-fee schools

The Government expands access to education for learners and students from poor backgrounds through no-fee schools as part of reducing intergenerational poverty.

Who it is for
learners and students from poor backgrounds
Show the line this came from
By expanding access to education for learners and students from poor backgrounds through no-fee schools, expanded NSFAS funding, the school nutrition programme and increased ECD subsidies government is reducing intergenerational poverty.
employment and activation programmeOngoing

Presidential Employment Stimulus

The Government includes the Presidential Employment Stimulus as part of direct employment and activation programmes intended to lower barriers for young work seekers.

Who it is for
young work seekers
Show the line this came from
These include the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the National Pathway Management Network (including SAYouth.mobi, the Public Employment Services in the Department of Employment and Labour, and strengthened partnerships with business through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.
youth employment support platform (SAYouth.mobi)Ongoing

SAYouth.mobi (within the National Pathway Management Network)

The Government references SAYouth.mobi as part of the National Pathway Management Network, which is included in employment and activation programmes to lower barriers for young work seekers.

Who it is for
young work seekers
Show the line this came from
These include the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the National Pathway Management Network (including SAYouth.mobi, the Public Employment Services in the Department of Employment and Labour, and strengthened partnerships with business through the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme.
social wage supportOngoing

Social wage support

The Government provides a social wage to help reduce multidimensional poverty and inequality of opportunity, and says it is expanding as a share of consolidated spending.

Who it is for
vulnerable households affected by poverty and inequality of opportunity
Show the line this came from
The social wage helps reduces multidimensional poverty and inequality of opportunity. Based on the National Treasury Budget Overview 2025, the social wage as a share of consolidated spending continues to expand
school nutrition supportOngoing

School nutrition programme

The Government supports learners through the school nutrition programme as part of expanding education access for learners and students from poor backgrounds.

Who it is for
learners and students from poor backgrounds
Show the line this came from
By expanding access to education for learners and students from poor backgrounds through no-fee schools, expanded NSFAS funding, the school nutrition programme and increased ECD subsidies government is reducing intergenerational poverty.

Facts

Places

Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West

Reference

NW4 TO THE PRESIDENT

Key Takeaways

  • reference: NW4 to the President
  • topic: poverty trends and poverty reduction measures
  • data: 23,2 million people (37,9%) below lower-bound poverty line in 2023
  • targets: reduce poverty below 20% by 2030 (NDP 2030)
  • drivers: unemployment, rural economic exclusion
  • regions: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West
  • government actions: social grants 44-45% of non-interest spending
  • SASSA: disburses >27 million social grants monthly
  • social relief of distress grant impact: lifted ~4 million people out of food poverty
  • social wage: expanding as share of consolidated spending
  • education: no-fee schools, expanded NSFAS, school nutrition, increased ECD subsidies
  • unemployment data: official rate 31.4% in Q4 2025; 17.1 million employed; 7.8 million unemployed; youth 15-34 unemployment 43.8%

Dates

Opening Date

27 February 2026