In South Africa there are a lot of citizens who experience material deprivation and social exclusion because of unemployment due to inequality, however the South African government as a democratic state does incorporate some measures which serve to relieve those living in poverty.

The South African citizens who are underprivileged and who live in poverty  benefit by means of receiving grant money for children, while elderly people and people with disabilities  receive pension funds. Children attending in township schools learn for free, while those in tertiary are given an option to apply for Nsfas bursary to further their studies. There is also a Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) which is a socio-economic policy that was created to deal with the provision of RDP houses, clean running water and proper sanitation for those living in poverty.

The Government of South Africa has recently been issuing  R350 Covid-19 grant to all unemployed  South Africans. Most South Africans complain about the corruption in the South African government but even if that is the case, the South Africa constitution of 1996 was created for the purpose of eliminating poverty and reaching for equality.