Motlanthe Speaks Out on Poverty

President Kgalema Motlanthe has acknowledged that government is “painfully aware” that abject poverty and the level of inequality are too high. He was delivering his State of the Nation address in Parliament.

Motlanthe says that income poverty especially among African and coloured communities has declined, partly as a result of higher rates of employment and access to social grants.

He says that: “While the number of grant beneficiaries was 2,5-million in 1999, by 2008 this had increased to 12,4-million.”

To read the full speech, click here.