<P> Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) is a South African socio - economic policy framework implemented by the African National Congress (ANC) government of Nelson Mandela in 1994 after months of discussions, consultations and negotiations between the ANC, its Alliance partners the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party, and "mass organisations in the wider civil society". </P> <P> The ANC's chief aim in developing and implementing the Reconstruction and Development Programme, was to address the immense socioeconomic problems brought about by the consequences of the struggle against its predecessors under the Apartheid regime . Specifically, it set its sights on alleviating poverty and addressing the massive shortfalls in social services across the country--something that the document acknowledged would rely upon a stronger macroeconomic environment . Achieving poverty alleviation and a stronger economy were thus seen as deeply interrelated and mutually supporting objectives--development without growth would be financially unsustainable, while growth without development would fail to bring about the necessary structural transformation within South Africa's deeply inequitable and largely impoverished population . Hence the RDP attempted to combine measures to boost the economy such as contained fiscal spending, sustained or lowered taxes, reduction of government debt and trade liberalisation with socially minded social service provisions and infrastructural projects . In this way, the policy took on both socialist and neo-liberal elements--but could not be easily categorised wholly in either camp . </P> <P> Proponents of the RDP argue that the programme oversaw many major advances in dealing with South Africa's most severe social problems: </P> <Ul> <Li> Housing: Between 1994 and the start of 2001 over 1.1 million cheap houses eligible for government subsidies had been built, accommodating 5 million of the estimated 12.5 million South Africans without proper housing . In some instances, RDP housing delivery led to violent conflicts within communities . </Li> <Li> Clean water: By the beginning of 1998, standpipes had been installed within 200 metres of the dwellings of about 1.3 million rural people . By August of that year, Minister of Water Affairs Kader Asmal stated that since he had taken office more than 2.5 million people had been given access to fresh safe water . By 2000, a total of 236 projects had supplied clean piped water to nearly 4.9 million people--most of whom were inhabitants of former homelands . </Li> <Li> Electrification: Between 1994 and May 2000 around 1.75 million homes had been connected to the national grid, while the proportion of rural homes with electricity grew from 12% to 42% . </Li> <Li> Land reform: By 1999 some 39,000 families had been settled on 3,550 square kilometres of land . Authorities claimed that 250,000 people had' received land' within four years . </Li> <Li> Healthcare: Between April 1994 and the end of 1998, around 500 new clinics gave an additional 5 million people access to primary health care facilities . Under the polio - hepatitis vaccination programme that began in 1998, 8 million children were immunised within two years . </Li> <Li> Public works: A community - based Public Works Programme provided employment over five years to 240,000 people on road - building schemes and the installation of sewage, sanitation facilities and water supplies . </Li> </Ul>

How government is addressing the problem of poverty in rdp