A sustainable framework for poverty alleviation in low-income urban communities of South Africa

Abstract

The prevalence of poverty in South Africa is alarming, with over 55% of the populace experiencing impoverished conditions. Factors such as the inequitable allocation of resources, increasing joblessness, and socio-economic inequalities hinder the country’s economic progress. The research aims to address poverty alleviation in low-income communities (LICs) in Gauteng province, South Africa. The study is underpinned by social exclusion theory. It adopted the positivist philosophy and focused on the evolution of poverty levels from a static point of view. The study was conducted in the low-income communities in the urban areas of the province of Gauteng, South Africa. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design; and cluster sampling and a stratified random sampling technique were used to select three study areas (that is, Alexandra, Diepsloot and Ivory Park townships). A representative stratified sample of 400 households was selected and used from the target population. The allocation of the sample sizes to the respective strata was done using the probability proportional to size (PPS) procedure. A structured questionnaire was administered through a face-to-face intervention to collect data, and multiple regression modelling was used to analyse the data. According to the findings of the study, urban poverty in low-income communities is influenced by several factors such as household size, joblessness, economic circumstances, political issues, available resources, and educational attainment. Furthermore, social exclusion influences how these elements affect poverty by reducing their overall significance. Poverty results from social exclusion, which is brought on by discrimination that keeps individuals or groups from participating in political, social, cultural or economic activities. Economic inefficiencies are exacerbated by social isolation, which leads to poverty. It has also been found that existing government strategies for poverty alleviation are ineffective, and the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. As a result, the study proposes a poverty alleviation approach that is people-centred and community-oriented. It recommends the development of a sustainable framework for poverty alleviation for use in the low-income communities of urban areas of South Africa.