The discussion regarding a decent standard of living in South Africa has received renewed impetus with the ratification in 2015 by the South African government of the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which former President Nelson Mandela signed at the UN in September 1994. The South African National Development Plan 2030 too makes specific reference to the attainment of a decent standard of living for all in South Africa as a central pillar to its vision. New research work is also currently advancing the question of what ordinary South Africans consider should constitute a decent standard of living for all. Building on our past work in this regard, Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute, in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, hosted a one day Social Dialogue on 10 November 2016 in Johannesburg to explore the new dynamics and thinking in this field. This built on SPII’s institutional commitment towards encouraging government to adopt a formal roadmap that seeks to map out based on broad consultation, how a decent standard of living will be enjoyed by all by 2030.
