FAQ · Living & People 50

Despite a growing gross domestic product, several key indices in the country have seen a decline. These declining indices include poverty, unemployment, income inequality, and land ownership. Life expectancy is also among the indicators that have declined. This occurs even as the government continues to work on reforms to alleviate inequality. Social inequalities nonetheless persist in the country despite the end of apartheid.

The South African National Census of 2022 results were released on 10 October 2023. However, Stats SA announced in August 2024 that it would not be releasing key data such as figures on fertility. This decision was made due to reporting anomalies within the data. Because of these issues, academics have stated that the statistics may not be accurate enough for official use. Consequently, specific information regarding the fertility rate is currently unavailable from these reports.

In South Africa, private and public health systems exist in parallel. The public system serves the vast majority of the population, while approximately 16% of the population has private health insurance. Authority and service delivery are divided between national, provincial, and municipal health departments. The government is currently working to establish a national health insurance (NHI) system to address discrepancies in the national healthcare system. This initiative seeks to make healthcare more available to those who cannot afford it or cannot attain necessary services.

In South Africa, private and public health systems exist in parallel. The public system serves the vast majority of the population through national, provincial, and municipal health departments. While the public sector is large, about 79% of doctors work in the private sector. Major private healthcare companies include Mediclinic Group, Netcare, and Life Healthcare Group. There are also major private pathology companies such as Ampath, PathCare, and Lancet.

The first patient confirmed with COVID-19 in South Africa reported symptoms to a private general practitioner on 3 March 2020. Following this consultation, the patient isolated himself and the doctor also isolated herself. This initial interaction occurred shortly after the first patient returned to Hilton from Italy. The medical response eventually involved the deployment of epidemiologists and clinicians from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Later, the patient was treated at Grey's Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.

In certain incidents, police officers may be sent to the emergency room due to injuries sustained. Some officers may experience serious injuries that prevent them from returning to work for a period of time. This can occur during physical altercations or when officers are attacked at a scene. The medical necessity for such visits depends on the severity of the injuries received during the event. Such situations are documented as part of the official reports regarding the incident.

In South Africa, medical cannabis products may be prescribed for any health condition if a presiding physician determines it could assist in treatment. Patients can request these products through authorised health practitioners who are licensed by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. The health practitioner is required to apply online on the patient's behalf to SAHPRA. Once a prescription has been issued to the patient, it can be fulfilled by pharmacists. These pharmacists must be registered with the South African Pharmacy Council.

You can use the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) to find information as it is the official registration body for pharmacists and pharmacies. Additionally, the Health Professions Councils of South Africa (HPCSA) serves as the official registration body for medical professionals. For finding healthcare providers by category and region, you may use Medpages. This service allows you to search for providers by name or specialty. These resources help ensure you are interacting with officially registered healthcare entities.

South Africa started its national vaccination program against Covid-19 on 17 February 2021. The program was implemented in phases to ensure organized distribution. It first prioritized healthcare and frontline workers for vaccination. Following this initial group, the program moved to citizens over the age of 60. This phased approach helped manage the rollout of the different available vaccines.

The nationwide lockdown in South Africa led to a rise in domestic abuse within many private spheres. Because families were forced to live in close proximity, women were often isolated with their abusers and unable to reach support networks. Extreme measures reduced mobility and autonomy, which particularly affected women living in abusive spaces. Additionally, economic, food, and social insecurities caused stress and conflict within many homes. These factors contributed to an increase in violent and dangerous situations for women and children.

Climate change is projected to threaten public health in South Africa through several different channels. One of these impacts includes increased mental health stress. This issue is particularly concerning because there is already a high burden of disease linked to environmental stressors. The changes in climate are expected to exacerbate many existing social and environmental issues. Furthermore, there is a high proportion of vulnerable people who may be affected by these shifts.

The Light for Life project is an initiative created by Unite to Light in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund's Safe Birth Even Here campaign. This project focuses on distributing solar lights to midwives working in rural regions and conflict zones. Such efforts are part of a larger goal to reduce the number of deaths resulting from childbirth. While the project has aided midwives in places like Bangladesh and Paraguay, it also supports global midwifery training programs. One major recipient of these efforts is the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital in Somaliland.

South Africa has several notable medical professionals who have contributed to various fields of medicine. Helen Rees is a recognized pediatrician who is also a medical doctor. She is the founder and Executive Director of Wits RHI. Additionally, Julien Hoffman is a specialist in the field of pediatrics as a paediatric cardiologist. He is also an expert in cardiac physiology and the epidemiology of congenital cardiovascular malformations.

In South Africa, the social welfare system does not specifically target youth. While child recipients of child support grants remain eligible to receive money until the age of eighteen, there are different rules for older individuals. Youth aged 18 to 34 years old can only benefit directly from disability grants. This structure means that young adults must rely on these specific grants for support. These provisions are part of the broader social welfare landscape in the country.

The state provides social assistance grants to support older persons through non-contributory, income-tested benefits. These grants are financed by general tax revenues rather than individual contributions. The state old age pension is received by over 80% of the elderly in the country. For those who reach pension age without access to private pensions, the maximum payment is R1,780 as of July 2019. This pension serves as an important source of income for a third of all Black households.

Research in South Africa has examined various aspects of nutrition and health across different age groups. Studies have looked into the determinants of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren in the North West Province. Researchers have also explored rural feeding and weaning practices, including local knowledge and attitudes. Additionally, dietary diversity and adequacy have been studied in elderly populations in Sharpeville and among women caregivers in peri-urban informal settlements. These studies help provide insight into the dietary adequacy and health status of various communities.

Yes, South Africa has legal protections regarding the environment and health. The Bill of Rights, proclaimed in 1996, states that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being. Historical efforts to reduce pollution include the introduction of lead-free petrol in 1996. Later, in 2006, adding lead to petrol was officially outlawed. These measures follow regulations on catalytic converters and emission levels for many vehicles.

Water availability in South Africa varies significantly depending on the region and time. The West is quite dry with summer rainfall, while the East and Southeast receive rainfall throughout the year. Much of the annual surface runoff is lost to flood spillage, leaving limited available surface water resources. Groundwater is also limited due to geologic conditions but is used extensively in rural and arid areas. In water scarce areas like Gauteng, water is sourced from local dams and imported from the Orange River system through the Lesotho Highlands. Potential future resources include seawater desalination or transferring water from the Zambezi River.

South Africa's Constitution enshrines the basic right to sufficient water for everyone. While the government inherited functional services after Apartheid, the provision of water and sanitation has largely collapsed due to corruption and a lack of maintenance. As of 2015, 93% of the population had access to an improved water source, but 18 million people lacked access to improved sanitation. In some rural areas, women spend significant time fetching water from wells and streams for cooking and cleaning. Progress regarding sanitation has been slower compared to water supply improvements.

Climate change is projected to threaten public health in South Africa through several different ways. This includes rises in vector-borne diseases and infectious diseases. There is already a high burden of disease in the country linked to environmental stressors. Climate change is expected to exacerbate many of these social and environmental issues. These changes pose a significant threat due to the high proportion of vulnerable people in the country.

Malaria is a significant cause of death in South Africa. This is due to a lack of resources to treat patients. Many deaths are caused by poverty rather than a lack of cures for a disease. Low-income families are often unable to afford proper health services. Furthermore, hospitals are sometimes unable to buy enough supplies to manage these issues.

The first cases of rabies have been confirmed in Cape fur seals. These cases were identified in 24 specimens caught off the country's western and southern coasts. This confirmation occurred on 20 September. It is important to be aware of this development regarding local wildlife.

South Africa is home to many reptiles including crocodiles, snakes, lizards, tortoises, and turtles. The Nile crocodile is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa and lives in water bodies in the north and east. Many venomous snakes like the black mamba, boomslang, and Cape cobra live here, though they are normally timid and prefer to avoid humans. You may also encounter the African rock python, which is a large non-venomous snake that kills prey by constriction. Additionally, the country is well known for great white sharks in the southern Cape region.

Climate change is projected to threaten public health in South Africa through several different ways. One major concern is the increase in heat stress which can impact residents and visitors. The changing climate is also expected to cause rises in vector-borne diseases and infectious diseases. Additionally, extreme weather events may worsen and food security could decline. These environmental stressors are expected to exacerbate existing social and environmental issues across the country.

The interior of South Africa consists of a large, nearly flat plateau with an altitude between 1,000 m and 2,100 m. The highest part of the country is the Drakensberg, where the highest point is Mafadi at 3,450 m. Other areas like the Great Karoo sit at approximately 1,100 to 1,800 m above sea level. Visitors should be aware of these varying elevations when traveling through the country. The elevation of the land is one of the factors that influences the climate of South Africa.

South Africa has been a recipient of Cuban medical internationalism since 1996. This program involves the deployment of Cuban doctors and medical lecturers to the country. Additionally, about a hundred South African students are trained in Cuba every year before completing their studies locally. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government deployed Cuban medical personnel across the country at a cost of R429 million. This practice has faced criticism regarding the costs involved and the mismatch between skills taught in Cuba and those needed in South Africa.

South Africa has introduced a policy of free basic services which includes solid waste collection. This policy also covers other essential services such as water and electricity. Under this system, every household is set to receive the first 6 cubic meters per month for free. The implementation of this policy has occurred gradually since 2000 within the means of each municipality. Most municipalities aim to provide these basic services to their residents as part of the national policy.

Local companies like EXSA and Ampli Energy have started trading platforms for wheeled renewable energy to promote more stable pricing and supply. These initiatives aim to increase market competition within the country's energy sector. The government's procurement programme also seeks to add 39GW of capacity to the energy mix by 2030. Currently, numerous independent power producer-owned solar facilities contribute dispatchable power to the grid. These operational plants have already played a significant role in preventing load-shedding.

South Africa does not have a system of piped gas for heating. Because of the moderate climates ranging from Mediterranean to Subtropical, whole-home heating or cooling is not common. Instead, homes often use portable or wall-mounted heaters during the winter months. For summertime, multi-split heat pump air conditioners are frequently used. This approach is typical for residential structures across the country.

South Africa experiences an ongoing energy crisis known locally as loadshedding, which results in daily blackouts. These outages are classified into stages, where higher stages mean more frequent and longer blackouts per day. For winter 2025, only stage 2 loadshedding is anticipated for 21 days, making the grid more reliable than in previous years. You can view the current schedule and stage on the Eskom website by entering your local municipality. While many hotels and malls use inverters or solar panels to maintain utilities, it is still advisable to bring your own phone charging battery.

The Msunduzi Local Municipality reported a water outage affecting government institutions. This disruption was linked to the alleged sabotage of the municipality's water infrastructure. Municipal employees affiliated with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party have been linked to this interference. The municipality stated that the interference was politically-motivated. An investigation into the matter has been launched by the municipality.

Public internet access has existed in places such as internet cafes for students in urban areas. However, rural areas sometimes lacked the infrastructure needed for consistent internet access. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, only about 22% of the population had access to the internet. This lack of infrastructure and internet access was one of the biggest barriers to ICT usage in the country. Consequently, students in rural areas sometimes fell behind in their studies due to these connectivity issues.

The area of Somerset West uses the postal code 7130 and the PO Box code 7129. For street addresses in the suburb of Strand, the post code is 7140. These locations are part of the Helderberg region. Somerset West is the largest community in this area by area. Strand is a seaside resort town situated between Somerset West and Gordon's Bay.

During recent flood emergencies, various organizations have worked together to assist the community. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were part of the search parties looking for survivors or bodies. The Gift of the Givers Foundation also participated in these search efforts. Additionally, the National Disaster Management Centre has been activated to manage the situation. The South African National Defence Force has also joined the collective relief efforts.

Historical medical research in South Africa included studies on tick-borne fever. William Guybon Atherstone carried out research on this topic during his medical career. He was a medical practitioner and naturalist who lived in the nineteenth century. His work also extended to studying lung-sickness and horse-sickness. These studies were part of his extensive medical and scientific contributions to the region.

South Africa is home to various saltwater species belonging to the phylum Cnidaria, which includes jellyfish. These marine animals are characterized by a gelatinous body and a simple nerve net. They possess specialized stinging cells called cnidocytes used for capturing prey and envenomation. Jellyfish typically exist in two basic body forms known as swimming medusae and sessile polyps. These organisms are radially symmetrical and feature mouths surrounded by tentacles.

In the past, many women who were not employed full-time as domestic workers did white people's laundry to earn an income. These women often travelled to townships with laundry from parts of Bloemfontein assigned to white people. Health authorities eventually linked cases of diseases like diphtheria and typhoid fever to laundry done in unhygienic township conditions. In 1906, the Bloemfontein municipality responded by building public laundry houses equipped with sinks, steam rooms, and ironing facilities. However, Black women were then prohibited from taking white people's laundry to their locations and had to pay permit fees to use these public facilities.

You can find pharmacy services through the Shoprite Group, which is a major retailer in South Africa. The group operates two specific pharmacy chains known as Medrite and Transpharm. These pharmacies are part of a large retail network that includes various supermarket chains. This allows customers to access essential health and personal care items through their established retail presence. The company is one of the largest private sector employers in the country.

Trinder Square is a location used as a playground for children. This area was originally a natural wide pond that was used for watering cattle and horses. The pond has since been filled in to create the current space. The name Trinder comes from Joseph and William Smith, who were merchants that owned property nearby.

The importation of animals into South Africa is primarily regulated through veterinary import controls administered by the Department of Agriculture. A veterinary import permit is required before any animal is shipped to the country. Importers must present the original permit and a veterinary health certificate at the port of entry. Additional documentation like proof of vaccinations or CITES permits may also be required depending on the animal. Some animals may be subject to quarantine at an approved station arranged through a state veterinarian. Requirements vary based on the species, health status, and the country of origin.

During the lockdown period in South Africa, several new rules were implemented. These regulations included the closure of non-essential businesses. A controversial sales ban was also put in place regarding liquor, tobacco, and vaping products. This occurred two weeks into the lockdown period. These measures were part of the broader response to the pandemic.

The South African government introduced the National Gambling Act in 1996 to regulate the industry. This legislation allowed for the issuance of up to 40 casino licenses to operators who are financially competent. Following this act, joint ventures were formed to establish various casino resorts. One notable development resulting from these changes was the completion of Monte Casino. These regulations helped shape the landscape of gaming and entertainment in the country.

In historical accounts of the Mendi tragedy, loud voices were used to provide calm and unity during a crisis. An interpreter named Isaac Wauchope used a loud voice to encourage men to remain calm as the ship sank. He called upon different groups like the Xhosa, Swazis, Pondos, and Basotho to die like brothers. He urged them to raise their war-cries because their voices remained with them even if their weapons were left behind. This moment is recorded as a display of great dignity among the Southern Africans involved.

Social media use in South Africa grew significantly following the launch of Facebook and YouTube. Students have also adopted various instant messaging and short message services over the years. These include Mxit, which was released in 2005, and WhatsApp, which launched in 2014. Additionally, web conferencing through programs like Skype has gained popularity. These digital tools have become common parts of the communication landscape.

The National Library of South Africa maintains extensive collections of published documents. This institution was formed by amalgamating the South African Library in Cape Town and the State Library in Pretoria. Under legal deposit legislation, these national libraries are entitled to receive a gratis copy of every newspaper published in the country. This process ensures the building of a complete collection of documents emanating from or relating to South Africa. These collections hold material of great scholarly value for researchers and residents.

South African Indians can access English-subtitled Indian films and television programmes. The DStv satellite television service carries several options including Zee TV, B4U, NDTV, and a Hindi-language Sony channel. Tamil-language channels such as Sun TV and KTV were also introduced in 2004. Additionally, the South African Broadcasting Corporation has broadcast Bollywood movies. Pay television channel M-Net previously offered additional programming aimed at Indians called East Net.

Opponents of apartheid realized that sport could be used to pressure the government. International bodies began to change how they recognized South African institutions as non-white sporting organizations united to influence global opinion. This led to the suspension of the Football Association of South Africa from FIFA and exclusion from international fencing. Being barred from the Olympics had a particularly significant effect. While rugby was very popular among white South Africans, the cancellation of a New Zealand rugby tour caused concern. In contrast, South Africa continued to play international cricket despite various efforts to pressure the ICC.

During the apartheid era, association football was divided into numerous institutions based on race. Economic inequality was evident as black amateur football matches often lacked proper equipment due to a lack of funds. In 1951, several federations merged to create the South African Soccer Federation to oppose apartheid. Despite government opposition and racist policies, football played a role in protesting these systemic policies. The country also faced international bans from FIFA due to its sporting landscape.

The South African National Youth Orchestra Foundation supports the training and development of young musicians through various national and international programs. This foundation organizes courses where several national youth orchestras are formed, including the South African National Youth Orchestra and the South African National Wind Orchestra. Other groups include the South African National Concert Orchestra, the South African National Youth Baroque Orchestra, the South African National Youth Brass, and the South African National Youth String Orchestra. All members of these orchestras are under the age of 25. These musicians participate in courses held every year during school holidays in different cities across the country.

The 2026 U20 Rugby Championship matches are being hosted by South Africa. Every match in this tournament is played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. This stadium is located in Gqeberha, which was formerly called Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape. The venue for the competition was officially announced in March 2026.