Twice as Many South Africans Now Subsisting on $1 a Day

Poverty skyrockets in land of HIV and no jobs

By Marcia Greenwood, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 13, 2007 3:10 AM CST

(Newser) – The number of South Africans living on less than $1 a day has more than doubled in a decade since shortly after the end of apartheid, reports the BBC. Some 4.2 million people managed to eke out a living on a daily buck in 2005, according to a report of the latest statistics by the South African Institute of Race Relations. Officials attribute the upsurge in poverty to raging unemployment—as high as 26%—and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

"Poverty is something we are likely to see for many generations," warned an author of the report. Poverty will be a key focus of next month's African National Congress as members choose a possible successor to President Thabo Mbeki. Unions are already backing former deputy president Jacob Zuma, who has criticized Mbeki for not doing enough to fight poverty.

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For the increasing poor both black and white in South Africa, institutions like the Salvation Army are having to feed the growing numbers of unemployed. (Magnum Photos)

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is seen as one of the primary causes behind South Africa's staggering poverty level. (KRT Photos)

Two men sleep as others attend a hip-hop concert, rear, at Joubert Park, Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday Oct. 17, 2007. The concert was organized by the "Stand Up, Speak Out" organization, as part... (Associated Press)

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Actress Emma Thompson visits with HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa. (ActionAidUK (YouTube))

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Twice as Many South Africans Now Subsisting on $1 a Day