Research Library: South Africa
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Last Updated Sep 25, 2009
Country Information
Government
- South Africa functions on a republic with a president as both chief of state and head of government. The president is elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term). There is also a bicameral Parliament consisting of a National Assembly (400 seats) and a National Council of Provinces (90 seats). All members serve five-year terms.
- Jacob Zuma, leader of the African National Congress, ,was elected President of South Africa in the 2009 elections, making him the fourth post-apartheid president after Thabo Mbeki. His campaign was marred by existing corruption charges, which were dismissed only weeks before his election in April of 2009.
Political Stability
- Until 1994, South Africa was ruled by a white majority government (National Party), which dictated a separation of races with the domination of the white race. Throughout the 1960s, following a protest where 69 protestors were killed, the ANC and Pan-African Congress were banned and many anti-apartheid leaders imprisoned. Popular uprisings in black townships in 1976 and 1985 helped to convince some NP members of the need for change.
- The country's first nonracial elections were held on April 26-28 1994, and Nelson Mandela was elected as president. Following this election, South Africa adopted a constitution that established the Government of National Unity (GNU), as well as committed itself to completely reforming the country. At present, there are no significant political opposition threats, however the destabilizing effects of AIDS continues to cause huge problems.
Current Government Policies
- Currently, the government is primarily concerned with delivering basic services to improve the quality of life for many South Africans- including water, electricity, and sewage. They are also concerned with furthering economic reform, particularly focusing on controlling inflation, maintaining a budget surplus, and using state-owned enterprises to deliver basic services to low-income areas as a means to increase job growth and household income.
International Reputation
- South Africa has emerged from the international isolation of the apartheid era to become a leading actor in international affairs. Principally, their foreign policy promotes the economic, political, and cultural regeneration of Africa through the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). NEPAD encourages the peaceful resolution of conflict in Africa, and uses multilateral bodies to guarantee that developing countries' voices are heard on international issues.
Economics
- Growth in the South African economy has been robust since 2004. In 2006, the government demonstrated its commitment to open markets and privatization with its release of the fundamental Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) policy; a neoliberal economic strategy that brought greater financial discipline and macroeconomic stability to South Africa, but failed to deliver in key areas such as unemployment.
- Currently, South Africa has a middle-income, promising market with an abundant supply of natural resources, a stock exchange that is ranked 17th in the world, and well developed financial, legal, energy, communications, and transport sectors. Major exports include gold, diamonds, platinum, and other metals/minerals. Unemployment remains high and outdated infrastructure has restricted further growth. The apartheid era has left enduring effects on the economy¿especially for disadvantaged groups who suffer from poverty and immobility. The global financial crisis of 2008 negatively affected commodity prices and demand, and by extension, the South American economy.
Foreign Aid
Statistics
Click on statistic name for source information.
Web Resources
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