Democratic elections in South Africa in 1994 spelled the end of apartheid. The peaceful transition from authoritarian minority rule to democratic government has made the country a role model for others. The last election in 2009 was held peacefully and had a high voter turnout. The election reinforced South Africa’s democratic culture, despite the fact that the country is a very young democracy.
South Africa has also successfully taken a step in the direction of a more open economy from a strongly regulated one. The South African media is largely independent and critical, while trade union movements and civil society are relatively strong.
One of the world’s most unequal countries
South Africa is wrestling with major challenges, however, one of the biggest being HIV/Aids. One in five people is HIV positive. Every day, about 1,000 South Africans die of Aids and several hundred thousand new HIV cases are reported each year. The illness is threatening the country’s development, social structure and growth.
There is also a large gap between rich and poor, unemployment is high, and there are major competence gaps between the white minority and the black majority.
Inequality and unemployment account for much of South Africa’s widespread poverty and poor social conditions, which include instances of violent crime, sexual assault and violence in the home. The large number of poor people also represents an untapped resource for the country’s social and economic development.
Halving poverty
Dealing with widespread poverty and the problems it brings is one of South Africa’s major challenges. The country’s development targets are defined in “Vision 2014” and “Programme of Action”:
- Develop the first (formal) economy
- Develop and integrate the second (informal) economy into the first economy
- Strengthen the national social protection network.
Combating poverty is a common principal target for both programmes.
The government is pursuing ambitious programmes to give more people access to accommodation, electricity, water, sanitation and education. This has raised the standard of living for many poor people. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), poverty in South Africa will be halved by 2015, meeting the criteria of one of the Millennium Development Goals that countries of the world have agreed to achieve.
Sweden’s focus areas in South Africa:
- Reducing poverty
- Reducing the spread of HIV/Aids
- Economic development
- The environment and climate
- Peace and security
- Democracy and human rights.
A new strategy focusing on selective co-operation is being developed.
Read more about Sida’s work in South Africa.
Health and success go hand in hand
Swedish companies in South Africa are actively working to provide employees with information about HIV/Aids, to the advantage of all those involved.
New forms of co-operation
Sweden’s close relationship with democratic South Africa began in the 1960s when Sweden contributed to the fight against apartheid by providing humanitarian and political support. After the first two democratic elections in 1994, Sweden and South Africa signed an agreement for regular development co-operation.
Today, the target is to phase out traditional development aid, but continue to support South Africa through participant co-operation. Relations will be built on mutual interest, and the longer-term goal is to build relations that can support themselves. Participant co-operation efforts will be designed to build relationships, which over time will continue without financial support from development aid.
