Evaluating the effectiveness of income generation projects in alleviating poverty in the rural communities of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality

Abstract

South Africa is one of the African countries with the highest percentage on poverty. In 1994, the new democratically elected government led by the African National Congress (ANC) inherited a country with a wealth distribution that ranked among the most unequal in the world. Such an unequal distribution included, amongst other things, poor human development indicators, unemployment and an economy in crisis. The government faced a challenge of developing programmes, policies and strategies that would help accelerate the economic growth, thereby creating employment opportunities and uplifting the socioeconomic standards of, amongst others, disadvantaged rural communities. Withinnattempts to fight poverty and improve their living conditions, people are challenged to work together through, amongst others, income generating projects. The goal of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of income generating projects in alleviating poverty in the rural communities of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. Within the context of a qualitative approach, evaluation research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of income generating projects in the rural communities of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. For the purpose of data collection, a focus group interview with the participants from four income generating projects, namely Titirheleni Vamanana Brick manufacturing project, Musa Sewing project, Mandela Bakery project and Hluvukani Roof tile manufacturing project, was conducted. The conclusions drawn from the research findings show that, based on the perception and experiences of project members, the income generating projects were effective in alleviating poverty in the rural communities of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality in the sense that their economic, human and social capital improved and are sustainable.