Could you live on R26 a day?
The Citizen|September 11, 2024
»» Trying to survive on R130.50 for five days was beyond me I gave up on day four.
Adriaan Kruger
Could you live on R26 a day?

The Statistics SA report that outlined adjustments to the national poverty lines on 29 August presented a challenge: How it would feel to experience the life of a very poor person for a few days and survive on the bare minimum?

A week of poverty would have been enough for this experiment, but the goal was immediately cut to five days because of the "hardship" of sacrificing a relaxing weekend. And I admit to cheating right from the start by drinking coffee.

Coffee has become extremely expensive lately. A jar of proper instant coffee has jumped to close to R150 unaffordable for somebody living on the extreme poverty line.

Stats SA recalculated the national poverty lines with changes in the cost of goods and services by using price data collected to calculate the consumer price index and the inflation rate.

The national poverty lines were constructed using the costof-basic-needs approach, which links welfare to the consumption of goods and services.

Minimum food for survival

The minimum a person needs to survive in 2024 - the food poverty line or the extreme poverty lineis R796 per person per month.

Stats SA says this amount refers to the amount of money an individual will need to be able to afford the minimum required daily energy intake.

Esta historia es de la edición September 11, 2024 de The Citizen.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición September 11, 2024 de The Citizen.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE THE CITIZENVer todo
'Musica' headed for SA
The Citizen

'Musica' headed for SA

Cruising is just lekker. There is no other word or phrase that would really do it justice, hyperbole aside.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Museum of military history
The Citizen

Museum of military history

Symbolic home of soldiers and veterans worldwide

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Camping ain’t for sissies
The Citizen

Camping ain’t for sissies

It enriches, yes, but sometimes leaves you poorer

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Boks are fully loaded
The Citizen

Boks are fully loaded

ERASMUS: NOT SCARED TO FLIP BACK TO HIS 7-1 BOMB SQUAD BENCH SPLIT

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
India draw first blood
The Citizen

India draw first blood

Turning out against the global champions for the first time since they were edged in their memorable battle in the T20 World Cup final earlier this year, the Proteas stumbled again last night as they were completely demolished by India in the first of four T20 Internationals in Durban.

time-read
1 min  |
November 09, 2024
Make-or-break for Bok five
The Citizen

Make-or-break for Bok five

The Springboks get down to business tomorrow in their opening game of their end-of-year-tour against Scotland at Murrayfield in Edinburgh and they will be gunning to get off to the best possible start. They will be eager to cap a magnificent year with a clean sweep on their tour to the UK. Ross Roche looks at a quintet of players that will be eager to seize their chance to impress on tour.

time-read
3 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
The Citizen

Some game-changing boxes still left for coach Rassie to tick

The Springboks take on Scotland, England and Wales over the next three weekends in Edinburgh, London and Cardiff respectively.

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
Jones wary of Dupont 'threat'
The Citizen

Jones wary of Dupont 'threat'

Evolving France face Eddie Jones' struggling Japan in the a November international today with superstar Antoine Dupont (above) making his first 15-a-side appearance for the hosts in more than a year.

time-read
1 min  |
November 09, 2024
Drafting Suaalii was never a risk
The Citizen

Drafting Suaalii was never a risk

WALLABIES: FACING ENGLAND IS A HUGE 'OPPORTUNITY'

time-read
2 minutos  |
November 09, 2024
The Citizen

'Rusty' Azzurri not bothering Quesada

Gonzalo Quesada expects his Italy team to be ring rusty when they take on his home nation Argentina in the Azzurri's opening November Test match today, hoping to end a positive year on a high.

time-read
1 min  |
November 09, 2024