South Africa
"Maps courtesy of www.theodora.com/maps used with permission"
~A Story of Hope~
One nation’s journey to freedom
Did you know?
Statistics in South Africa
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A continuing conflict remains between the people and
the government
The government provides necessities in a limited
amount to the people, such as 6,000 liters of water a
month, telephone service, and housing
However, there is little basic sanitation in the country,
housing has a backlog of 1 million homes, and water
and telephone lines are cut off frequently because the
people cannot afford to pay for the extra services they
use (their salaries are not high enough)
The government is not getting enough money to
continue to provide services to the people
There are visible divisions: black/white, male/female,
literate/illiterate
South Africa: Rising Pressure on Government to Deliver Quicker
Unemployment
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Rate of people below poverty line rose from 28%-33%
from 1995-1999
1995-2002 Unemployment rate rose from 1.9 million to
4.2 million
Rural black women-47% out of work
Official Unemployment Rate- 30.5% (includes only those
searching for work)
Estimated General Unemployment Rate- 40%
South Africa: Rising Pressure on Government to Deliver Quicker
What?!
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Many are shocked by those statistics, but what
they fail to realize is how far South Africa has
come
Just the fact that the government provides free
services for the people, like water, telephone,
and housing is amazing compared to where the
country used to be
Though there are still divisions, which can be seen
in every country, the government is now
democratic and no longer oppressing the black
and colored
In the Beginning…
The History of Apartheid in South Africa
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Colonized by English and Dutch in 17th century despite
the existence of native groups, such as Zulu and
Xhosh (natives still around today)
English domination of Dutch (Afrikaners) led to Dutch
creating new colonies
1900-Diamonds found in colonies led to English
invasion and Boer War
After gaining independence from England, Afrikaner
National Party gained majority in 1940s
1948-National Party-invented apartheid to establish
white domination and separate races further
1960s- “Grand Apartheid” established- “territorial
separation and police repression”
Looking into Apartheid…
1948-Racism
institutionalized
-Marriage between
blacks and whites
prohibited
-”white-only” jobs
sanctioned
The History of Apartheid in South Africa
1950-Population
Registration Act
-Divided South Africans
into white, black
(Africans), and colored
(mixed descent)
-Based on appearance,
social acceptance, and
descent
-Blacks-forced to carry
“pass books” holding
fingerprints,
photograph, and
information on access to
non-black areas
1951 Bantu Authorities Act
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Created basis for
ethnic government in
African reserves or
“homelands”
Black political rights
restricted to
designated homeland,
but had no rights in
South African
Parliament, which had
complete control over
the homelands
Photo and History: The History of Apartheid in South Africa
1953- Public Safety Act and
Criminal Law Amendment Act
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Gave government power to
declare states of emergency,
increasing punishments for
protesting against or
supporting repeal of a law:
fines, imprisonment, whippings
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1960-Government declared
state of emergency when large
group of blacks in Sharpeville
refused to carry their passes
• Emergency lasted for 156 days,
69 people dead and 187 people
wounded
Photo and History: The History of Apartheid in South Africa
Apartheid
was highly
effective at
giving
preferential
treatment
to whites
Chart and History: The History of Apartheid in South Africa
A Struggle Against Apartheid
Important to remember:
Throughout the apartheid, there was a movement
fighting against it…
African National Congress
Nelson Mandela- A key character in the fight for
democracy
-Imprisoned for his political efforts
-President of ANC
-Released from prison in 1990
-First democratic president of
South Africa
May 10, 1994First Democratic Election
Photo and history: http://www.anc.org.za/people/mandela.html
Today…
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After the cruelty of
apartheid, South
Africa is
celebrating over
ten years of
democracy and
even has a black
presidentPresident Mbeki
http://www.irinnews.org/photogallery/iringallery.asp
In South African News…
AIDS Not Fading
Lack of Staff Threatens ARV Plan
HIV/AIDS is a huge concern is South Africa today. There is a
constant debate over whether or not President Mbeki and the
government are doing enough to fight the growing AIDS epidemic.
Mbeki is constantly criticized for his controversial view on HIV’s
contribution to AIDS. He is uncertain that HIV, a single virus, can
lead to the destruction of the immune system that AIDS causes.
The ARV treatment plan for AIDS is facing obstacles, like
money and staff. A huge obstacle to getting more HIV positive
people on antiretroviral treatment is the lack of staff. More than
7600 health officials had been trained by April, but many more are
still needed. By 2009, 3200 doctors, 2400 nurses, 765 social
workers, 765 dieticians, 112 pharmacists, and 2000 data capturers
will be needed in order to implement the whole antiretroviral plan.
There is a fear that due to the shortage of health professionals, the
existing services will suffer because people are leaving their
positions to join the ARV program.
Generous Lawyers
Lawyers to Give 24 Free Hours to Poor
Lawyers are now required to give 24 hours of free
legal assistance to the poor each year. This is to be
done in order to bring their services to the people and
transform the legal fraternity. The decision was made
on the night of September 26, 2005 when the Cape Law
Society signed a pro bono joint venture agreement with
many community-based legal associations. These
associations provide legal assistance to people who
cannot afford to pay high fees. The society also opened
new offices in an effort to make legal resources easier
for the public, especially at the lower end of the city,
to obtain. The pro bono service was part of a
commitment to fulfill responsibilities to the poor. It
will help to keep all people equal before the law by
providing an opportunity for the poor to obtain legal
assistance.
Building Better Homes
Quality Architecture, Solution to Sustainable Human Settlements
The minister of housing, Lindiwe Sisulu, has
stated that sustainable human settlements can be
created through designs of high quality and
innovation. These designs could stand the test of
time. The houses should be quality homes and
provide security of occupants. In 2003, a survey
showed that South Africans were not satisfied with
their homes, saying that they had weak
construction. Now, standards are being established
so that the homes will no longer be low quality
homes. The government looks to make the living
conditions of the people better by providing them
with better quality homes. With the new housing
designs, the people will have a real asset in their
hands when new houses are built.
SOUTH AFRICA
Although South
Africa has not
completely
recovered from the
effects of
apartheid, the
country is much
better off than it
was ten years
ago…
http://www.africaguide.com/country/safrica/photolib.htm
http://www.africaguide.com/country/safrica/photolib.htm
Works Cited
Lack of Staff Threatens ARV Plan. Cullinan, Kerry. 8 Sept. 2005. allAfrica.com. 29 Sept. 2005
<http://allafrica.com/stories/200509080450.html>.
Lawyers to Give 24 Free Hours to the Poor. Maposa, Siphokazi. 27 Sept. 2005. allAfrica.com. 29
Sept. 2005 <http://allafrica.com/stories/200509270458.html>.
Nelson Rolihahla Mandela. ANC. 2005. African National Congress. 29 Sept. 2005.
<http://www.anc.org.za/people/mandela.html>.
Quality Architecture, Solution to Sustainable Human Settlements. Sakoana, Thapelo. 27 Sept.
2005. allAfrica.com. 29 Sept. 2005 <http://allafrica.com/stories/200509270519.html>.
South Africa: Rising Pressure on Government to Deliver Quicker. IRIN. 27 May 2005. IRIN News.
29 Sept. 2005
<http://www.irinnews.org/S_report.asp?ReportID=47366&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa>.
The History of Apartheid in South Africa. Choski, Monal. 1995. Stanford University. 29 Sept.
2005 <http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.hist.html>.