With Nkululeko Majozi – Social Security Researcher at the Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute
For the first time in two decades, extreme poverty is on the rise. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres made the remarks, marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Via zoom to discuss this some more is Nkululeko Majozi who is Social Security Researcher at the Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute.
The universal declaration of Human Rights has not resulted in tangible reduction in poverty, ,inequality, and hunger. What is needed now is bold moves and decisions by the government. The protesting from July is a direct result of poverty, inequality and hunger. The most immediate action that government can take to curb the scourge of Covid-19 and poverty and inequality, is to introduce a basic income grant of R1335, to meet the upper poverty line. Allowing people to meet their basic needs on a month to month basis.
We need investment in upskilling South Africans, African and Asian countries have always been working from weakness inflicted by the West. The west has not played its part in terms of levelling the playing field for Asian and African countries in terms of development, but our own government has been a source of insecurity for us. Corruption has been a source of insecurity for years. South Africa holds 80% of the worlds platinum and gold reserves, people who invest in extracting those resources are there, yet we need to negotiate better.
South African government has been captured from the beginning of the wars of independence to attaining actual independence. We need strong, accountable and ethical leadership. We have the resources to take care of ourselves as a country, yet government is held hostage by big countries, sending our resources out of our country to countries who do nothing for us.
