ID is also extremely concerned at the persistently high levels of inequality found in South Africa. While some progress has been made on reducing racial inequality, income inequality in our country has not been addressed and by some accounts has even gotten worse over the last 11 years. ID would urge the government to put in place policies and programmes that are able to seriously combat this situation and provide some form of relief to the millions of South Africans who live in abject poverty without any assistance from the State. Greater equality is not only an admirable principle to be strived for though, but as numerous economic studies have currently indicated it can also be growth enhancing. The experience of other developing countries has shown that the more equal a society the more economic growth it experiences. In fact one study has shown that if we had to reduce our inequality rate by 10% it could lead to an increase in GDP by 1.3%.

ID would therefore urge the government to put more emphasis on helping the poorest of the poor communities in South Africa through increased social assistance and reducing the wide educational divide. ID would also lobby for a comprehensive rural development strategy that can effectively address the huge levels of poverty found in rural areas. Currently about 65% of the poor and 78% of those chronically poor live in rural areas.  Migration from rural areas is caused and then exacerbated by food and health insecurities, a lack of access to sanitation and other basic facilities and a lack of opportunities due to poor education and training facilities. As a party that is committed to bridging the divides in South Africa, we will continue to lobby for measures that can lead to a more equal and prosperous South Africa.