Issue 02 Sep 2021 - You South Africa (2025)

FAQs

What is the current issue in South Africa? ›

Weak structural growth and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated socio-economic challenges. South Africa's GDP has recovered to its pre-pandemic levels, but the strength of the recovery has been hindered by multiple structural constraints, including ongoing power shortages and logistics bottlenecks.

September marks the annual Heritage Month in South Africa. Heritage Month recognises aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and intangible: creative expression such as music and performances, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the popular memory.

These include reports about corruption and mismanagement in government, significant unemployment, violent crime, insufficient infrastructure, and poor government service delivery to impoverished communities; these factors were exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The domestic strife in South Africa between ruling whites and subordinated blacks threatens to become a major conflict of violent dimensions in the African continent. This strife is primarily a consequence of racial policies promulgated by the white apartheid regime.

On 14 June 2024, the ANC, the DA, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA), agreed to form a national unity government, with Cyril Ramaphosa being re-elected President of South Africa.

Poverty and unemployment

More than half the population of South Africa continues to live below the national poverty line. Poverty affects the black population worst. Few other countries have such pronounced disparities of wealth and income as South Africa.

South Africa since 1994 transitioned from the system of apartheid to one of majority rule. The election of 1994 resulted in a change in government with the African National Congress (ANC) coming to power. The ANC retained power after subsequent elections in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019.

How's Life? Since 1994 South Africa has made great progress in reducing absolute poverty by rolling out social grants for pensioners, the disabled and children. Access to education, housing, water, electricity and other services has been greatly broadened. As a result, well-being has increased substantially.

Terrorism in South Africa

Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in South Africa. The main threat is from individuals who may have been inspired by terrorist groups, including Daesh, and who may carry out 'lone actor' attacks.

South Africa's two prevailing currents — Benguela and Algulhas, which meet at the Cape of Good Hope — make it one of the most dynamic landscapes in the world. Nowhere else are two contrastingly different ecosystems found in such close proximity.

What is a current issue in Africa? ›

Hunger and malnutrition. Africa is facing a food crisis of unprecedented proportions. Millions are expected to be at risk of worsening hunger in the near future due to conflicts, climate variability and extremes, economic slowdowns and downturns, and the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

South Africa failed to take meaningful measures to improve protection of social and economic rights, which has been undermined by widespread unemployment, inequality, poverty, the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and corruption.