Abstract
M.A.
Despite some improvement in the living standards of the world's population, poverty persists, and affects millions of people on a daily basis. The poverty issue has received extensive coverage over the past decade. Both development specialists and international donor organisations study this elusive phenomenon. The result is often impressive academic analysis and heated intellectual debates, whilst development orientated institutions go as far as trying to capture, analyse and measure the realities of the poor
in various indexes and measurement methods. Despite this intensive search, albeit it academic, the situation for the poor remains the same. Through a consultation with the poor, in various parts of the world, the multi-dimensional nature of poverty was highlighted. The result is the inclusion of non-economic factors such as vulnerability,
powerlessness and isolation in the problematique. Furthermore, the initial `urban focus' to poverty shifted to the rural areas, where poverty was felt more acutely. The rural poor - the 'forgotten people' were brought back onto the social development agenda. In South Africa, the alleviation of poverty has been a priority above other developmental issues. The government is committed to alleviating poverty through various policies and programmes, as stated in the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Academic studies, using methods of participatory research, revealed the importance of participation, as a precondition for development. Although no consensus exists on the definition of this concept, development specialists now agree on the importance of participation in poverty
alleviation programmes. Participation is closely related to the concepts of conscientisation — 'becoming aware' and empowerment — 'taking of control'. The low level of economic development and growth that holds a community hostage can apparently be redirected by the two parallel ideas of awareness and empowerment. The combination of these elements is essential for the alleviation of poverty. The cycle of participation accentuates this basic theory. Participation is a prerequisite in all the components of the development process. It is only through participation that poverty can be alleviated on a sustainable basis. Participation is, therefore, the key to a better life for all. The above mentioned processes will assist the poor in changing their own
reality towards a better life. The importance of the process of participation, incorporating the concepts of conscientisation and empowerment, is reiterated in development efforts
in the community of Maboloka. Despite the continuous attack by poverty on the community of Maboloka, some progress has been made towards the alleviation of this poverty. This is mainly due to the levels of participation that exist in the community.
Development efforts in this community, once again, showed that participation is the fundamental key in any poverty alleviation effort. As Fisher et al (1980:30) stated: "It can be said that the factor of participation is of decisive importance for the realisation of a directly poverty orientated approach".