According to Statistics South Africa’s Volunteer Activities Survey, 2024, an estimated 3,1 million South Africans aged 15 and older participated in volunteer work in 2024—up from 2,7 million in 2018 and 2,2 million in 2014, representing a volunteer rate of 6,9% of the adult population. Volunteer work refers to any unpaid, non‑compulsory activity that individuals   read more »

Households and individuals in South Africa are reporting slightly greater financial adequacy than a decade ago — but many still say their income falls short of meeting their everyday needs. This is one of the key insights emerging from Statistics South Africa’s new report titled: Subjective Poverty in South Africa: Findings from the Income &   read more »

In cities and townships, on busy streets and in small neighbourhood markets, a significant part of South Africa’s economy goes about its work. It operates without being covered by formal arrangements, yet it supports millions of people.  The informal sector is a vital source of income in a country facing persistent unemployment and inequality. This   read more »

Poverty and age often move hand in hand, affecting people in different ways across the life cycle. A recent report by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), “Poverty trends in South Africa: An examination of absolute poverty between 2006 and 2023”, sheds new light on how poverty has evolved over nearly two decades. Drawing on data   read more »

According to the Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES, Q2:2025) survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), total employment in the formal non-agricultural sector decreased by 80 000 (-0,8%) in the second quarter of 2025, with employment falling from 10,59 million in March 2025 to 10,51 million by June 2025. According to the survey, 229 000 jobs   read more »

Headline consumer inflation increased to 3,5% in July from 3,0% in June. This is the highest rate since September 2024, when it was 3,8%. Prices increased on average by 0,9% between June and July. Household food budgets under pressure Annual inflation for food & non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) continued to rise, accelerating to 5,7% from 5,1% in   read more »

The provision of free basic services to millions of households stems from the Free Basic Services (FBS) policy adopted in 2001. The policy outlined government’s intention to provide free services to the poorest (indigent) households. Over time, the FBS has expanded to include policies for free basic water, electricity, sewerage & sanitation and solid waste   read more »

The number of homeless persons in South Africa has increased significantly over the past few decades, reflecting the ongoing challenges the country faces, particularly in the areas of inequality and poverty. According to a new report, A Profile of Homeless Persons in South Africa, 2022 released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), in 1996, the   read more »

In a major stride toward addressing employment challenges, South Africa has officially launched its Labour Market Information System (LMIS), a groundbreaking platform aimed at revolutionising how labour data is collected, analysed, and shared. The LMIS, unveiled in September 2024, is a collaborative effort led by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), the International Labour   read more »

Labour migration, the movement of individuals across the borders for employment purposes, is a fundamental aspect of the global economy and has profound social, economic, and political implications. According to the report, Migration profile report for South Africa: A country profile 2023 released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), most migrants entering South Africa originate   read more »