Predictors of poverty: a comparative analysis of low income communities in the northern Free State region, South Africa

Abstract

Poverty is a global phenomenon and has proven difficult to resolve. Strategies to address it need to be focused on factors associated with poverty through local research as problems differ from region to region. Poverty, together with inequality and unemployment, is one of the three foremost developmental problems in South Africa. This paper presents an analysis of the predictors of poverty of low-income communities in the Northern Free State region, South Africa. Predictors, such as gender of head of household, type of dwelling, property ownership, housing subsidy, quality of service delivery, income and employment, were analysed to determine their impact on poverty in the study region with a specific focus on Zamdela, Kwakwatsi and Tumahole. A total of 2 678 households were included in the survey. The study used aggregate income of households to determine the status and level of poverty. A logistic regression was utilised to determine the impact of the various predictors of poverty. Of all these, the most significant for a household were found to be the gender of the head of the household and employment status. Strategies for poverty alleviation should be focused on local problems by means of local research. The implementation of appropriate policy and projects is also important for success.