Despite the poverty headcount decreasing in the province, the Eastern Cape still has the highest number of people living below the poverty line in the country.
This is according to a recently published community service study conducted by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA).
The report shows the poverty headcount in the Eastern Cape has dropped from 14.4% in 2011 to 12.7% in 2016.
Decreases in the poverty headcount were observed in all district municipalities between 2011 and 2016, except for Chris Hani, where it increased from 15.6% in 2011 to 16.4% in 2016.
When compared with other provinces, the Eastern Cape came out the poorest, followed by Limpopo and North West with an 11.5% and 8.8% poverty headcount respectively.
The province with the fewest poor people was the Western Cape at 2.7%, followed by Gauteng at 4.6% and Free State at 5.5%.
The lowest poverty headcount in the province was recorded in Nelson Mandela Bay at 3%, Sarah Baartman at 4.5% and Buffalo City Metro at 7.3%.
The highest number of people living below the poverty line in the province was found in the Intsika Yethu municipality in the Chris Hani district, where 27% of the 146341 population were said to be poor.
BCM showed the most improvement in terms of access to sanitation, piped water and housing.
Amathole District Municipality has seen a decrease in population figures – from 237776 to 222415.
But even with fewer people in it the municipality had a decrease in the number of households that have access to piped water and housing. On the plus side there was a significant improvement in the number of households with access to proper sanitation.
The OR Tambo district showed a significant increase in the number of households and a decrease in the number of households with access to piped water.
The district showed major improvement in the number of households with improved sanitation and housing.
More than 464000 households in the province reported that they had ran out of money to buy food in the 12 months before the survey was conducted and more than 300000 households missed a meal over the same period.
According to StatsSA statistician-general Pali Lehohla, the survey was the second-largest undertaken by StatsSA following the one conducted in 2007.
“The survey remains one of the main data sources that provide indicators at national, provincial and municipal levels for planning and monitoring the performance of specific development programmes such as education, health, sanitation, water supply, housing and transport.
“In addition, the survey provides demographic information critical in understanding the population- development nexus,” said Lehohla.
StatsSA spokesman Trevor Oesterwyk said about 1.3 million homes were visited as part of the survey over a six-week period in March and April this year.
The information will be used to inform Integrated Development Plans (IDP) and infrastructure investment budgeting,” said Lehohla.
According to the findings, the province’s total population increased from 6.5million five years ago to just under seven million.
The number of households in the province increased from 1.6million in 2011 to 1.7million in 2016. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
E Cape shows drop in poverty headcount
This is according to a recently published community service study conducted by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA).
The report shows the poverty headcount in the Eastern Cape has dropped from 14.4% in 2011 to 12.7% in 2016.
Decreases in the poverty headcount were observed in all district municipalities between 2011 and 2016, except for Chris Hani, where it increased from 15.6% in 2011 to 16.4% in 2016.
When compared with other provinces, the Eastern Cape came out the poorest, followed by Limpopo and North West with an 11.5% and 8.8% poverty headcount respectively.
The province with the fewest poor people was the Western Cape at 2.7%, followed by Gauteng at 4.6% and Free State at 5.5%.
The lowest poverty headcount in the province was recorded in Nelson Mandela Bay at 3%, Sarah Baartman at 4.5% and Buffalo City Metro at 7.3%.
The highest number of people living below the poverty line in the province was found in the Intsika Yethu municipality in the Chris Hani district, where 27% of the 146341 population were said to be poor.
BCM showed the most improvement in terms of access to sanitation, piped water and housing.
Amathole District Municipality has seen a decrease in population figures – from 237776 to 222415.
But even with fewer people in it the municipality had a decrease in the number of households that have access to piped water and housing. On the plus side there was a significant improvement in the number of households with access to proper sanitation.
The OR Tambo district showed a significant increase in the number of households and a decrease in the number of households with access to piped water.
The district showed major improvement in the number of households with improved sanitation and housing.
More than 464000 households in the province reported that they had ran out of money to buy food in the 12 months before the survey was conducted and more than 300000 households missed a meal over the same period.
According to StatsSA statistician-general Pali Lehohla, the survey was the second-largest undertaken by StatsSA following the one conducted in 2007.
“The survey remains one of the main data sources that provide indicators at national, provincial and municipal levels for planning and monitoring the performance of specific development programmes such as education, health, sanitation, water supply, housing and transport.
“In addition, the survey provides demographic information critical in understanding the population- development nexus,” said Lehohla.
StatsSA spokesman Trevor Oesterwyk said about 1.3 million homes were visited as part of the survey over a six-week period in March and April this year.
The information will be used to inform Integrated Development Plans (IDP) and infrastructure investment budgeting,” said Lehohla.
According to the findings, the province’s total population increased from 6.5million five years ago to just under seven million.
The number of households in the province increased from 1.6million in 2011 to 1.7million in 2016. — arethal@dispatch.co.za
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