Poverty is described as the deprivation of wellbeing, where people’s basic needs cannot be met due to money in relation to income in a household. Relative poverty ( defined in relation to other people of the society) and absolute Poverty ( standards of what household should be able to count on to meet their basic needs).

- Fractions of distribution of income

poverty is defined based on the income and expenditure distribution the RDP project defines 20% and 40% expenditure as ultra poor and poor.

 

- Poverty Datum line (by Magasela )

this line includes primary poverty datum ( including clothing, food and lights) secondary poverty datum (includes accommodation costs and tax of breadwinner )

 

-Minimum Living Level and Supplemental Living Level ( by Bureau)

Poverty as the Lowest sum possible on which specific size  of household can live.

 

- The Household Subsistence Level and Household Effective Level ( by Potgieter)

Describes poverty in the bases of excluding medical expenses, savings and education, buying household equipment and insurance.

 

- Hoogeveen and Olzer Upper and Lower Bound Poverty Line

 

Poverty line is measured using cost of basic needs R593 per capita per month was their upper bound and R322 per capita per month was their lower bound .