Statistics SA has revealed horrifying data to the effect that more than half of South Africans live in poverty. It is likely, however, that these data do not recognise the trade in services between the unemployed and the relatively well-off employed. Anyone who has travelled extensively through the poorer parts of SA will also be aware of the roadside car washing, welding, livestock selling and many other activities. The income from these services will be material to a household at the poverty border. Earning a mere R30 a day will generate nearly R1,000 a month, which can make a substantial difference to the very poor. I am not sure to what extent the statistics include these activities. Here it is relevant to point out that the observable poverty criteria of the Living Standard Measures (LSMs) reflect a dramatic fall from 45% of the population being in the lowest LSMs (1-3) in 1994 to about 15% today. Growth in unrecorded informal services could account for part of this improvement...
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