The 2006 State of the African Population report, released Monday, has revealed that half of Africa lives in extreme poverty and one-third lives in hunger.

The report noted that while economic development on the continent was steadily growing, this did not necessarily translate into social benefits for the majority of Africans.

"Social challenges do not know political boundaries and it is clear that many of the social challenges facing us are also experienced by neighbouring countries," said Chief Director of Population and Development at the Department of Social Development, Jacques van Zuydam.

Factors which contributed to the social stagnation despite increased economic growth, were the continent's high disease burden, lack of education, inadequate investment in human capital, gender inequality and youth marginalisation.

Mr van Zuydam told BuaNews on Monday some of the major challenges facing Africa 's population included the high incidence of infant mortality, maternal fatality, poverty, rapid urbanisation and unemployment.

South Africa has about 12 million social security grant recipients, including older persons, children and the disabled.

"Research commissioned by the Presidency in 2003 has shown that with the 100 percent take-up rate of those who qualify for grants, we are actually able to almost completely eradicate extreme poverty amongst children and older persons," Mr van Zuydam said.

Since 2002, overall income growth - including the expansion of social grants - resulted in the rise of the income of the poorest 10 to 20 percent of the population, according to the Development Indicators Mid-Term Review.

The review, published by the Presidency's Policy Co-ordination and Advisory Service (PCAS) unit also revealed that the number of poor surviving on under R3 000 per year had also decreased from 50 percent of the population to 43 percent.

However, PCAS head Joel Netshitenzhe noted that the rate of income improvement among the poor had not matched that of the rich, and thus inequality has not been reduced.

"Obviously we do not see grants and the payment of grants as an end in itself. We see the grant payments as an enabler to put people on track or back on track," Mr van Zuydam said.

The population report identified specific Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Mr van Zuydam stated, "in addition to the one [MDG] on poverty that is of concern on the continent, and for us in South Africa we also identified two further concerns namely infant mortality and maternal mortality."

He highlighted that "whilst we may have better infant and maternal mortality rates than many other African Countries, it is obviously far from ideal, and nobody is satisfied with the current level".

The chief director, however, conceded that what has been learnt by the department is that solving issues such as infant and maternal mortality require more than simply rendering health services alone.

"Our health services are incredibly advanced. In the Presidency's mid-term Indicator Report it was indicated that 92 percent of births in South Africa are attended to by a health professional."

"The question then is if one has such a high professional attendance rate at births and if one lives in a society where every individual lives within 5 km of a healthcare facility as is the case in South Africa , what is it that prevents these [mortality] rates from coming down?"

He said closer investigations concluded there are some social factors that also drive these rates such as conditions at home, support or lack of support to mothers by their partners, as well as cultural issues.

With regard to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa and its impact on the social front, Mr van Zuydam said events of this magnitude often provided a platform on which to highlight a variety of issues such as poverty and unemployment.

These and other issues, he said, could be addressed by the way the government prepares for the event such as "if construction that emanates from preparations for 2010 is done in a labour intensive manner, it will create more jobs."

He highlighted that South Africa 's youth needed to be roped into the event by offering internships and volunteer work as was offered in the Cricket World Cup, in order to give youngsters exposure and experience and some level of income.

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