Implementing an Integrated Nutrition Programme - Health Systems ...

2.1.2 Household income
Information regarding household and per capita income is very limited. The October
household survey of 1994 reported on income for workers in the formal sector 5 . Within the
Northern Cape 41% of workers in this sector earned less than R500 per month -
interestingly only 31% of working women earned less than R500 per month as compared to
45 % of men. Per capita income appears to be higher in Upington than for the province as a
whole (see box below). This is to be expected – in general incomes in urban areas are
higher than rural areas and Upington is considered to be the most prosperous town in the
province.
There are also no accurate unemployment figures for the province. The October Household
Survey estimated that 32,5% of an estimated 278 743 economically active people were
unemployed. Rates were higher for Coloureds (37.9%) and Blacks (39,4%) than Whites
(7,2%). Fifty-seven percent of unemployed people had been unemployed for more than a
year at the time of the survey. Almost seventy-five percent of unemployed people were not
trained or skilled for specific work.
Agriculture is the major economic activity in the Lower Orange District. The main produce is
grapes and sun-dried fruits. Although the water supply limits development of agriculture,
exploitation of overseas markets provides opportunity for some economic growth. Apart
from some food processing (wine and sun-dried fruits), there is no manufacturing or
industrial activity.
Employment opportunities are therefore limited with strong seasonal variation in availability
of work. Pensions and other grants form an important source of income for many
households. Although there are no accurate figures, there is no doubt that a sizeable
proportion of the population live in poverty.
2.1.3 Provision of basic services
The figures for the Northern Cape are shown below. In the Lower Orange district, a higher
proportion of people live in rural areas. It can therefore be expected that a lower proportion
of people have access to basic services when compared to the provincial figures.
Main source of domestic water
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