 |
|
 |
|||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
South AfricaLast updated June 2009 South Africa today is a key African nation at a critical point in its evolution. The country's growing regional influence, its progress toward overcoming racial discrimination and its widening economic inequalities are representative of sub-Saharan Africa's wider struggle to channel its great potential towards meeting its peoples' needs. Over half of the total population of South Africa lives below the poverty line and unemployment rates over 20%. A serious level of income inequality persists, with whites earning on average nine times more than those populations marginalized during apartheid. More than 60% of Africans in South Africa live in poverty, compared to less than 5% among Indians and whites. In addition, the transfer of economic ownership to the Black majority is proving slow; critics argue that it has created a Black elite, an increasing source of disillusionment among many ANC supporters. Land reform is an ongoing issue in the transformation of South Africa society, but the actual redistribution process has been difficult. The goal is for 30% of land to be black-owned by 2014; however, the current level is just 16% and only 5% of white-owned landed has been transferred so far. The HIV/AIDS crisis is a major challenge confronting the Zuma government and the people of South Africa. An estimated 5.7 million, or about one in ten South Africans, are living with HIV/AIDS, making it the country with the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world and the epicenter of the pandemic on the African continent.Young women living in informal settlements experience the highest risk of becoming HIV positive. The overall HIV prevalence rate has increased dramatically from 11.4% in 2002 to 18.1% in 2007. In the most recent HIV/AIDS surveillance reports of 2007, South Africa's Department of Health revealed a slight decline in prevalence among pregnant women, which may indicate a broader decline in new infections, although the impact of the disease varies greatly across provinces. HIV prevention efforts were initiated relatively early, but only in late 2003 did the government commit itself to a comprehensive program to provide antiretroviral therapy for those living with HIV/AIDS, after pressure from activists and campaigners. This delayed response earned the previous administration considerable criticism from civil society in South Africa and supporters globally. In 2006, Former President Mbeki promised greater collaboration with key civil society organizations such as Treatment Access Campaign. In 2007, the state launched a four-year intersectoral Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS to upgrade these earlier efforts to expand access to treatment. Though HIV/AIDS spending has figured prominently in government budgets,a lack of human resources and proper infrastructure, among other factors, have stood in the way of quick and effective program implementation. Two out of three South Africans in need of antiretroviral drugs were not in treatment by 2006, according to a report released by the World Health Organization in 2007. In June 2009, President Zuma announced new targets for AIDS treatment, including allocating more funds to screening pregnant women for HIV, putting 80% of HIV-positive people in the country on antiretroviral treatment by 2011, and reducing the rate of new HIV infections by 50% by the same year. In economic terms, South Africa has the largest and most diversified economy on the continent and is one of the most important U.S. trading partners in sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa remains the largest market for U.S. exports in the region, accounting for roughly 36% of U.S. sales to the continent and nearly twice the share of the country next in line, Nigeria. Through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) has duty-free access to the U.S. market for most of their exports. And, in July 2008, the SACU signed its first Trade, Investment and Development Cooperation Agreement with the U.S. - a move which could lead to a free trade agreement in the long term. In 2008, a new economic challenge emerged for South Africa: an "electricity emergency." Eskom, the government-dominated parastatal company that provides most of the country's power, has proven unable to meet South Africa's rising energy demands. The mining industry, which accounts for over 20% of South Africa's exports is particularly affected.. Growth rates are slipping to below 5%, and the economic downturn fed by the energy crisis is translating into increased public frustration with the government. The failure to accurately anticipate and prevent the shortfall has been attributed to poor government planning. Although the situation now risks triggering a regional economic downturn across Southern Africa, the major changes in energy policy Eskom must rapidly undertake also present an opportunity for South Africa to emerge as a continental leader in developing environmentally friendly electricity sources such as wind or solar power. In the meantime, however, South Africans are faced with rolling blackouts, which are expected to occur periodically until 2013. South Africa is a key player in Southern Africa and on the continent as a whole. Post-apartheid ANC governments, under Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, have provided important leadership for peacemaking efforts in Burundi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and elsewhere in Africa. South Africa played a key role in crafting the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and in initiating the creation of the African Union (AU) from the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The South African government has also led regional multilateral negotiations under the auspices of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to resolve the political conflicts in neighboring Zimbabwe. South Africa is also poised to play another, important international role, as it counts down to the FIFA World Cup, which the country will host in 2010 – the first African country to host the championship. South Africa's role as an African powerbroker depends not only on its commitment to pan-African priorities but also on the country's ability to overcome the economic and social challenges that are the heavy legacy of the apartheid era. A decade of structural adjustment has undermined efforts to address poverty, fully fund social services and fight HIV/AIDS. U.S. and international support in all these areas can play an important part in South Africa's continuing transformation.
LinksStatement on Kennedy Road Informal Settlement
Africa Action Report from South Africa
Africa Action Statement on Senator Kennedy’s Death
'Owning up to Africa': Gerald LeMelle on Sirius XM Satellite Radio
Africa Action Honors Nelson Mandela’s Birthday
South Africa 2006: Challenges for the Future
South Africa 2006: Population and HIV/AIDS
Latest news from AllAfrica.com BBC Country Profile on South Africa Africa Action Statement on Nelson Mandela’s meeting with President Bush
Univ of Pennsylvania, African Studies Center - South Africa Page Economist.com Country Briefing - South Africa South African Government Website Basic information on South Africa (CIA World Factbook) U.S. State Department South Africa page Library of Congress - Country Study on South Africa
|
|
Resources on Key Countries
