/ 25 January 2008

Survey shows SA wealth gap widening

South Africa's wealth gap is widening and the average black citizen still only earns an eighth of what his white counterpart does nearly 14 years after the end of apartheid. In its annual survey, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, said inequality rose from 0,60 in 2006 to 0,62 last year on a zero to one scale.

South Africa’s wealth gap is widening and the average black citizen still only earns an eighth of what his white counterpart does nearly 14 years after the end of apartheid, a new survey found on Thursday.

In its annual survey, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR), said inequality rose from 0,60 in 2006 to 0,62 last year on a zero to one scale, on which one represents absolute inequality.

”We are not succeeding in reducing inequality,” said IJR senior researcher Jan Hofmeyr.

”Even if the increase is marginal, it is not a good sign. We need to be moving in the opposite direction.”

The institute’s 2007 transformation audit found that the per capita income of black South Africans was 13% of that of whites, 14% after the end of the white minority apartheid government.

And women were feeling the pinch to a greater degree, with the income of female-headed households measured at 46,2% of that of male-headed households — down from 47,9% in 2006.

New African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma made the disparity between rich and poor one of the main themes of his recent successful campaign to oust South

African President Thabo Mbeki from the helm of the ruling party. – Sapa-AFP