The rich fuel inequality Oxfam

FARMER and community activist Mbhekiseni Mavuso, 49, and his family of seven generally survive on farm produce.

In a “good” month, Mavuso makes R1 000 on sales from produce. He owns cattle, goats and rabbits and grows maize and sweet potatoes.

Together with his community in Makhasaneni, KwaZulu-Natal, Mavuso recently fought off attempts by a mining company to operate in their village. “In my area, I am awaken by humming birds every morning. We have [among others] avocados, oranges, sweet potatoes. We also have wetlands. That is what we are protecting,” he said.

Mavuso, who’s dubbed one of Oxfam South Africa’ s champions, was yesterday part of the organisation’s team that released a report on inequality titled “An economy for the 99%, it’s time to build a human economy that benefits everyone, not just the privileged few”.

Oxfam is a social justice charitable organisation focused on the alleviation of global poverty.

Mavuso said his peaceful life was disrupted in 2011 when a mining company arrived at his village.

“We were woken up by big machines cutting down trees. They said they were prospecting for iron the super-rich were fuelling the inequality crisis by dodging taxes, driving down wages and using their power to influence politics.

The report also states that SA is one of the world’s most unequal societies. The richest (1%) in South Africa own 42% of the total wealth. Three billionaires have the same amount of wealth as the bottom 50% of all South Africans, said the report.

Oxfam called for change in the way economies are managed. Oxfam executive director Sipho Mthathi said the inequalities were a sign of a broken economy and lack of will from government to change the status quo.

“Governments including the South African government can act to help everyone, not just those at the top. They can build an economy where businesses pay their taxes and contribute to the wider good where everyone is able to be healthy and educated and poverty wages are a thing of the past,” said Mthathi.

The report also found that inequality is greater today than it was at the end of apartheid.

“If politicians stop obsessing about the GDP and focus on delivering for all their citizens and not just a wealthy few, a better future is possible for everyone,” said Oxfam international executive director Winnie Byanyima in a statement.

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