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USAID/South Africa Links

USAID/South Africa Mission

www.sn.apc.org/usaidsa
Mission Director:

  • Dirk W. Dijkerman

Local Address:

  • P.O. Box 43
    Pretoria 0027
    South Africa
    Tel: 27-12-452-2000
    Fax: 27-12-452-2399

From the US:

  • DOS/USAID
    9300 Pretoria Place
    Washington, D.C.
    20521-9300

USAID's Strategy in South Africa

Eight years after the fall of apartheid and the installation of a democratic government, South Africa has made remarkable progress closing the gap between historically privileged and disadvantaged groups. Major transformations of the judicial, education, health, housing and governance sectors have accompanied and facilitated this progress. Yet much work remains. South Africa's principal development challenges include a sluggish economy, a high HIV/AIDS infection rate, and spiraling crime. Income inequality is among the highest in the world. Nearly 60 percent of black South Africans live in poverty, compared to three percent of whites. Similarly, large disparities are found in job skills, education, health care, and housing among South Africans, over half of whom live in urban centers. In addition, South Africa has more people living with HIV/AIDS than any other country in the world.

Despite South Africa's adherence to prudent monetary and fiscal policies, economic growth has been sluggish. Although South Africa itself has been spared the direct ravages of drought and the misguided food security policies afflicting other countries in the region, prices of foodstuffs have risen 20 percent over the past year, while overall inflation was a bit under 15 percent. It is unlikely that South Africa's pursuit of prudent monetary and fiscal policies, public-private partnerships to deliver services, privatization, and greater international and regional trade will soon translate into more jobs and improved living conditions for South Africans.

With nearly half of the total population living below the poverty line, violent crime has become endemic in South Africa. While crime rates are among the highest in the world, the conviction rate, estimated at eight percent, is among the lowest. The high level of crime is a disincentive for much-needed foreign investment. It also contributes to disillusionment with democracy among South Africans. As most South Africans have not reaped tangible benefits from the country's sharp turn to democracy and aggressive effort to integrate into the world economy, a growing number of observers now mark the next five years as critical for South Africa's future.

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