Home
 COUNTRY BY  COUNTRY
 THE BIG ISSUES
 PROGRESS AND  SETBACKS
 DEVELOPMENT  INDICATORS
  | ESPAÑOL | Commitments | Annual Report | News | About Feedback  
 Country by country -  South Africa

Versión en español
2003 report
The widening gap between rich and poor
Andile Mngxitama; Ann Eveleth
National Land Committee (NLC)

The democratic gains of South Africa's 1994 transition rapidly came under pressure as the new leaders adopted neo-liberal policies in the face of demands of the poor majority for rapid socio-economic transformation. At the time,“12 million South Africans did not have access to clean drinking water, 21 million did not have access to adequate sanitation … and more than 20 million had no access to electricity,”[1] while 87% of the land was in the hands of about 60,000 white farmers.

 Full text

Progress and setbacks by key indicators see references
Slight progress  Literacy Significant regression  Tuberculosis
Stagnant  Primary school enrolment rate Slight progress  People living with HIV/AIDS
Slight progress  Children reaching 5th grade Slight regression  Infant mortality
Slight progress  Tertiary school enrolment rate Slight regression  Under-5 mortality
Slight progress  Internet users Significant progress  DPT Immunized 1-year-old children
Slight progress  Personal computers Significant progress  Polio Immunized 1-year-old children
Slight progress  Telephone mainlines Slight progress  Measles Immunized 1-year-old children
Slight regression  Scientists and engineers in research and development Stagnant  Tuberculosis Immunized 1-year-old children
Slight progress  Information and communication technology expenditure Stagnant  Contraceptive use among currently in-union women aged 15-49
Stagnant  Public health expenditure Stagnant  Literacy ratio gap
Stagnant  Public education expenditure Stagnant  Net primary enrolment ratio gap
Stagnant  Total debt service Stagnant  Net secondary enrolment ratio gap
Slight progress  Military expenditure Slight progress  gross tertiary enrolment ratio gap
Slight regression  Population with access to sanitation Significant regression  Activity rate gap
Slight progress  Population with access to improved water sources Significant progress  Women in decision-making positions in government at ministerial level
Stagnant  Malaria  

     More data...

Signatures and ratifications by South Africa
Human Rights International Treaties Total 9 ; signed 8 ; ratified 7 .
Table of ratifications of fundamental ILO conventions Total 7 ; not yet ratified 0 ; ratified 7 ; denounced 0 .
Treaties mentioned in the Millennium Declaration Total 10 ; signed 8 ; ratified 7 .
48832134 Population
1219912 SQ KM
Capital: Pretoria
Currency: Rands
Language: Afrikaans, English, 9 african languages
THE PRESENT SITUATION   see references
Food security   Countries below average
Education   Countries below average
Information, science and technology   Countries below average
Public expenditure   Countries above average
Environment   Countries below average
Health   Countries below average
Children’s immunization   Countries above average
Women’s reproductive health   Countries above average
Gender and education   Countries in better situation
Gender gap in economic activity and earned income   Countries below average
PROGRESS AND REGRESSION IN FOCUS   see references
Education   Slight progress
Information, science and technology   Slight progress
Public expenditure   Stagnant
Environment   Stagnant
Health   Slight regression
Children’s immunization   Significant progress
Gender and education   Stagnant
Gender gap in economic activity and earned income   Significant regression
See general references see references
About the methodology  
   | ESPAÑOL | Commitments | Annual Report | News | About Feedback   
Search Social Watch on the Internet with Choike
The Third World Institute - Social Watch
Social Watch is an international watchdog citizens' network on poverty eradication and gender equality

Jackson 1136, Montevideo 11200, Uruguay
Phone: + 598-2- 419-61-92. Fax: + 598-2-411-92-22;
e-mail: socwatch@socialwatch.org