The Current Reality: Official statistics from Statistics South Africa show that the average monthly salary is around R24,800, but this number hides the real struggle of most workers. A few high earners pull the average up, while the reality for the majority is stark: the median salary is just R5,417, meaning half of all workers earn less than this every month. For many black South Africans, the median is even lower — around R4,700 — while millions remain unemployed. These figures reveal the truth: most South Africans are surviving on very little, despite working hard every day.
Historical Context: This inequality is rooted in history. Land and mineral wealth, concentrated through colonialism and apartheid, remain largely in the hands of a minority. Many black South Africans continue to participate in the economy primarily as low-paid labour rather than as owners of productive assets. While political freedom was achieved in 1994, meaningful economic inclusion — in land, capital, and ownership — has remained an unfulfilled promise.
Our Foundation: Economic Solidarity was founded in response to this persistent divide. We saw communities rich in talent, resources, and determination, yet systematically disconnected from the means to build wealth. The problem was never a lack of ability, but a lack of access, ownership, and collective economic power.
Our Beginning: Our journey began on the ground, in community workshops in Elukwatini and surrounding areas, where we listened first to people's realities, challenges, and aspirations. The solution that emerged was clear: cooperative economic models that prioritize shared ownership, mutual support, and sustainable prosperity over individual accumulation.
Our Growth: Today, that community-driven insight has grown into a national movement. Economic Solidarity now works across South Africa, partnering with communities to build inclusive economic systems through practical skills development, cooperative enterprise, and advocacy.