South Africa
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South Africa Population: 50 000 000 Life expectancy: 48.98 years Fertility rate: 2.43 children/woman School life expectancy: 13 years Religion: Christian 79.7% (Protestant 72.6%, Roman Catholic 7.1%), Muslim 1.5%, Hindu 1.3%, Jewish 0.2%, no religious affiliation 15.1%, Other 3.7% Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the East, founding the city of Cape Town. The discovery of diamonds and gold spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers, that is the original Dutch and German settlers, resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Boers ruled together under the Union of South Africa until 1961. By then, apartheid – the separate development of the races – had already been institutionalised for over a decade. In 1990 the government took the first step towards dismantling discrimination when it lifted the ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and other political organisations, and it released Nelson Mandela from prison after twenty-seven years' incarceration on a sabotage sentence. South Africa destroyed its nuclear arsenal and acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. South Africa held its first multi-racial elections in 1994, which the ANC won by an overwhelming majority. It has been in power ever since.
Concerns AIDS The primary cause of death in South Africa. Over 20% of the adult population and a third of all teachers are infected. The economy is increasingly affected through loss of skills and time off work. The age expectancy of the population has fallen rapidly and medical services cannot cope. Poverty In post-apartheid South Africa, unemployment has been extremely high. While many blacks have risen to middle or upper classes, overall unemployment rate of blacks worsened between 1994 and 2003. Poverty among whites, previously rare, increased. Since the ANC-led government took power in 1994, the United Nations Human Development Index of South Africa has fallen, while it was steadily rising until the mid-1990s. Apartheid wounds The legacy of contempt, mistrust, fear, injustice, violence, intimidation and deep hurt has scarred the soul of the nation. Crime The escalating crime wave has shocked the nation, limited foreign investment and restrained the flow of tourists. The major growth industry is security. Violent robberies, car-hijacking and rape are commonplace. The country has a murder rate over seven times that of the USA and few crimes end up with convictions. There also is an illegal diamond market. The police force is discouraged, under-trained and under-equipped to cope.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jacob Zuma Zuma engaged in politics at an early age and joined the ANC in 1959. He became an active member of other parties when ANC was banned in 1961, and in 1963, he was arrested with a group of 45 communist recruits. Convicted of conspiring to overthrow the government, he was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, which he served on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela and other notable ANC leaders who were also imprisoned there. Zuma has also faced significant legal challenges in the post-apartheid. He was charged with rape in 2005, but was acquitted. In addition, he fought a long legal battle over allegations of racketeering and corruption, resulting from his financial advisor Schabir Shaik's conviction for corruption and fraud. On 6 April 2009, the National Prosecuting Authority decided to drop the charges citing political interference. Zuma has occasionally described himself as socialist, and he has received support from trade unions and from the Communist Party. He is a polygamist, and has reportedly 18 children.
Suggested prayer topics • • • • • • • • Pray for a decline in HIV/AIDS. Pray also for the challenges this disease gives on both the individual and societal level. Pray for a better distribution of the wealth, and that the country’s great recourses can be for the benefit of all it’s inhabitants Pray for the victims of crime and for those who commit them out of desperate circumstances Pray for healing of the deep wounds caused by the apartheid. Pray for the police and for the court, that they may have the authority, integrity and training required to fight for a better society Pray for the victims of rape and other blind violence Pray for the political leaders South Africa, that they may reign wisely for the benefit of their country and for the world Pray for the advancement of justice and selfless love in South Africa
Concerns AIDS The primary cause of death in South Africa. Over 20% of the adult population and a third of all teachers are infected. The economy is increasingly affected through loss of skills and time off work. The age expectancy of the population has fallen rapidly and medical services cannot cope. Poverty In post-apartheid South Africa, unemployment has been extremely high. While many blacks have risen to middle or upper classes, overall unemployment rate of blacks worsened between 1994 and 2003. Poverty among whites, previously rare, increased. Since the ANC-led government took power in 1994, the United Nations Human Development Index of South Africa has fallen, while it was steadily rising until the mid-1990s. Apartheid wounds The legacy of contempt, mistrust, fear, injustice, violence, intimidation and deep hurt has scarred the soul of the nation. Crime The escalating crime wave has shocked the nation, limited foreign investment and restrained the flow of tourists. The major growth industry is security. Violent robberies, car-hijacking and rape are commonplace. The country has a murder rate over seven times that of the USA and few crimes end up with convictions. There also is an illegal diamond market. The police force is discouraged, under-trained and under-equipped to cope.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Jacob Zuma Zuma engaged in politics at an early age and joined the ANC in 1959. He became an active member of other parties when ANC was banned in 1961, and in 1963, he was arrested with a group of 45 communist recruits. Convicted of conspiring to overthrow the government, he was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment, which he served on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela and other notable ANC leaders who were also imprisoned there. Zuma has also faced significant legal challenges in the post-apartheid. He was charged with rape in 2005, but was acquitted. In addition, he fought a long legal battle over allegations of racketeering and corruption, resulting from his financial advisor Schabir Shaik's conviction for corruption and fraud. On 6 April 2009, the National Prosecuting Authority decided to drop the charges citing political interference. Zuma has occasionally described himself as socialist, and he has received support from trade unions and from the Communist Party. He is a polygamist, and has reportedly 18 children.
Suggested prayer topics • • • • • • • • Pray for a decline in HIV/AIDS. Pray also for the challenges this disease gives on both the individual and societal level. Pray for a better distribution of the wealth, and that the country’s great recourses can be for the benefit of all it’s inhabitants Pray for the victims of crime and for those who commit them out of desperate circumstances Pray for healing of the deep wounds caused by the apartheid. Pray for the police and for the court, that they may have the authority, integrity and training required to fight for a better society Pray for the victims of rape and other blind violence Pray for the political leaders South Africa, that they may reign wisely for the benefit of their country and for the world Pray for the advancement of justice and selfless love in South Africa
