Extra-Governmental Relations as Response Strategy to Sustainable Development Goal 1 [poverty]: Lessons from A South African Municipality

Abstract

South Africa is one of the many African countries that have displayed systemic weaknesses in their efforts realise the United Nations’ sustainable development goal (SDG) number one, which is about ending poverty in all its forms everywhere. According to the official data gleaned from World Bank (2014) and Statistics South Africa (2022), over 55 % of the South African population is currently living below the national poverty line. While government remain an important player in carrying the burden presented by this challenge, it does not mean other able stakeholders in society are exempted in the fight against poverty. With the understanding that poverty is more prevalent in rural settings, this study aimed to explore extra governmental relations as a drive for intensified rural development and poverty eradication in South Africa. The study was largely qualitative and used municipalities in Mopani region of Limpopo province, to argue for more involvement of external stakeholders like the business community and private sector in the promotion of the general welfare of communities in rural areas. As demonstrated in the paper, South Africa’s efforts to eradicate poverty can only materialise when there is intensified rural development drive that is supported by those in business sector, but this should also consider a number of conditioning factors that government, especially at local levels, has to create. The strength of this paper lies in its transdisciplinary nature, as it draws theoretical insights from both the field of development studies and public administration. Recommendations are offered towards the end of the paper.