South Africa’s Path to Achieving the SDGs: Confronting Poverty and Inequality

Abstract Understanding and articulating the connection between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), poverty and global inequality continues to be a major challenge, sparking extensive scholarly debate. The study examines the path of South Africa toward the attainment of SDGs, specifically SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). On a secondary data analysis method, the study entails collection, quantification and analysis of past national and international datasets, policy pronouncements, as well as development studies in an attempt to assess the efficacy of the current actions toward poverty and inequality reduction. Critical examination is of the policies and programmes that have been initiated by the South African Government, their strengths and weaknesses as well as their influence on different socio-economic classes. Policy analysis is embedded in this study and discusses how the majority of these interventions have faltered or functioned in preventing structural inequality and poverty eventually. Apart from this, the research also analyses synergies and trade-offs within the SDG agenda and discusses interlinkages between SDGs and the need for action among sectors. This chapter concludes with policy suggestions that have real-world applicability to how policy coherence, equity and effectiveness can be achieved in South Africa’s sustainable development agenda.