War on poverty declaration

Signatories

President Mandela and the South African Cabinet, South African Council of Churches, South African NGO Coalition, Homeless People's Federation, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Children's Fund, Department of Welfare, Congress of South African Trade Unions, National Council of Trade Unions, South African Grantmaker's Association

The War On Poverty is South Africa's most important priority and our greatest challenge. Eradicating poverty is essential to consolidate the gains of our new democracy. It is a pre-condition for social justice, peace and security in our land.

At the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in March 1995, President Mandela along with other World Leaders committed themselves to eradicating absolute poverty by a target date set by each country.

South Africa today is burdened with unacceptable levels of inequality between rich and poor. Many of our people live below the breadline, exposed to persistent hunger, disease, illiteracy, unemployment and homelessness. Apartheid has left us with a legacy of economic and social distress.

Much has been achieved during the democratic transition. Our commitment to a better life for all - embedded in the RDP - has begun to address the basic needs of our people. Yet, there is a long road to travel.

As South Africans we need to focus our energies and marshall all our resources in a great national effort to eradicate poverty and its associated evils.

At the World Summit for Social Development, our Government committed itself to enhance social development "so that all men and women, especially those living in poverty, may lead satisfying lives and contribute to the wellbeing of their families, their communities and humankind".

Poverty is about lack of access, lack of power, lack of income and resources to make choices and take advantage of opportunities. The human face of poverty is often a woman or a child's face.

People-centred strategies to fight poverty must directly involve the poor in finding solutions to their problems. The energy, creativity and assets of the poor are key human and social resources. Investing in women's empowerment is critical to the war on poverty. As the Copenhagen Declaration states, "the most productive policies and investments are those that empower people to maximise their capacities, resources and opportunities".

All of society needs to be involved in the struggle for social development. The very fabric of our society, the soul of our communities, needs to be rebuilt. We need a new moral order based on ubuntu that brings compassion and humanity into our homes and neighbourhoods.

Priorities in the war against poverty require responding to the challenges of globalisation, both its opportunities and its dangers. Necessary steps include fighting unemployment and landlessness, increasing access to credit for the poor and encouraging small scale production and entrepreneurship in the formal and informal sectors. The wage/salary gap between high income earners and low paid workers must be addressed as well as the situation of the working poor. Children in poverty, the disabled, older persons and other vulnerable groups need special attention.

Government strategies must sustain pro-poor growth and wealth distribution through specific and co-ordinated cross-sectoral programmes and infrastructural development. Government at all levels must create the democratic space and effective governance that will help empower the poor and give support to initiatives on the ground.

Community organisations, the religious sector, non-governmental organisations, trade unions, women, youth, business and many others need to mobilise against poverty. Grassroots organisations engaged in the realities of the poor are able to give voice to their demands, and to develop effective and sustainable solutions.

Alliances and broad-based partnerships to combat poverty are important to building a national consensus and co-ordinated actions.

We commit ourselves to the War On Poverty. In our own ways, working locally and nationally, utilising the strengths and unique contributions of our different institutions and organisations, separately and together, we shall seek programmes, partnerships and solutions that better the lives of all South Africans.

As Archbishop Tutu has said, in the same way that we destroyed apartheid, so too we can eliminate poverty.

We dedicate ourselves to concrete actions and a real commitment, to create a world in which humankind can live in peace and justice, and to declare War On Poverty that it may be eradicated from our land.

We commit ourselves to:

a. Focus the nation in the fight against poverty - South Africa's most important priority and greatest challenge;

b. Encourage local action and develop local programmes;

c. Encourage volunteers in the fight against poverty, to mobilise and organise communities;

d. Co-ordinate and focus government legislation and programmes to fight poverty;

e. Build partnerships and coalitions in the fight against poverty;

f. Create space for civil society and grassroots responses;

g. Ensure poor people's voices are heard in the fight against poverty.