South African President Jacob Zuma has voiced his support for poor whites in his country. At present only poor blacks receive government help.

President Zuma has promised to visit a white slum in the capital Pretoria. He said poverty did not have a colour and everybody has a right to housing and healthcare regardless of race or religion.

Although after the abolition of apartheid, black South Africans generally earn less than whites, 13 percent of the white South Africans in employment live on less than 120 euros per month.

The Solidarity union, which mainly has white members, says the white community feels forgotten by the economic policies of the Zuma government, and they feel there is a taboo in South Africa on talking about poverty amongst white South Africans.