There is a relatively small percentage of people in Gauteng with high educational qualifications, which distorts the literacy level positively and thus provides a very skewed picture of literacy in the province. In terms of the statistics supplied by Stats South Africa, there s no magisterial district in Gauteng with a mean monthly household income, lower than the poverty line, which is R800 per month. Once these figures are disaggregated, it becomes evident that in areas that are supposedly 'upper middle class' or 'middle class', abject poverty exists. In the drafting of a framework for the poverty alleviation strategy, the guidelines and initiatives of the Department of Social Development will be adhered to, in terms of the poverty pockets identified by Gauteng specific research. It is also contributing to increased security and prevention of fraud.
Beneficiaries are also free to have their grants deposited in an account at a bank of their choice.
To improve access to grants, community-based satellite points have been and continue to be established, to bring services closer to beneficiaries. We have also put extra energy into ensuring that the majority of new applicants for social security grants are processed and paid within a month. We believe this will minimize the frustration of applicants and ensure that a better life is provided for all. We are putting new systems in place to develop relationships with the new structures of local government. This will ensure that the social services facilities are safe, clean and secure.