Mandela Day poverty fight

President Jacob Zuma, pictured, has called on South Africans to use Mandela Day on July 18 to intensify the fight against poverty.

The Nelson Mandela International Day, marked in honour of the world icon, will this year be observed under the theme #ActionAgainstPoverty.

In a statement from the Presidency, Zuma said that the collaboration of various stakeholders to fight and alleviate poverty in the country had been commendable.

He called on the sectors of society to continue working with government and others to fight poverty, inequality and unemployment, so as to improve the living conditions of, especially, the poor and the working class.

“Too many of our people live in poverty in spite of progress that government is making in fighting poverty, inequality and unemployment.

“As guided by the National Development Plan’s vision for rural revitalisation, inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction, we must work together to intensify poverty alleviation programmes and initiatives to ensure that our people receive basic human needs, especially food production to ensure access food,” Zuma said.

“The people of South Africa are also encouraged to be actively involved in various initiatives that would change their lives and uplift their communities.”

The president encouraged the promotion of food gardens for households, support for cooperatives, SMMEs and other initiatives that would help alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life.

The statement said that government ran effective poverty alleviation programmes such as the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

The EPWP has, since 2014, created more than 2 million work opportunities towards the attainment of the target of 6 million work opportunities by the end of March 2019.

Of the work opportunities created, more than a million had been taken up by youth. – ANA