Poverty and inequality: a threat to a socially inclusive rainbow nation

Abstract

A series of legislative and policy reforms since 1994 have aimed to bring about solidarity and a safer, caring, more equal and harmonious national society in short, social cohesion. However, poverty and inequality, and specifically the lack of basic services, are threatening the aspirations of becoming Archbishop Desmond Tutu's truly united Rainbow Nation. Yul Derek Davids, Benjamin Roberts, Jare Struwig and Moses Sithole examined whether poverty, inequality or other development challenges impacted social cohesion by analysing results from the 2009 SASAS, a national representative survey of 3 305 adults aged 16 years and older.