South African income inequality is amongst the highest in the world. Half of South Africa’s adult population lives below the poverty line, 39.7% of working-age South Africans are without employment, and only four out of ten South Africans under 35 are employed. This, in no uncertain terms, is a national crisis and urgent action is non-negotiable.
The architects of Apartheid reprehensibly constructed the classification of people into race groups, and the legacy of that racial classification remains a significant determinant in an individual’s economic and social prospects in South Africa today.
South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. The post-democratic government has not only failed to address the painful legacy of our past, but has in fact deepened inequality.
South Africa’s education system remains fundamentally dysfunctional and unequal. Access to education might have increased since 1994, but the quality of education remains too low to empower the nation. Today, South Africa’s education system is ranked as amongst the worst in the world, thanks to the gross mismanagement and over-politicisation of educational institutions.
Land reform is an emotive issue in South Africa and is symbolic of the broader unfairness that characterises South African society. Land ownership provides an avenue to upward economic and social mobility and the unequal distribution of land ownership, together with lack of access to affordable housing in well located areas, is a significant factor in South Africa’s economic inequality.
South Africa has one of the highest levels of crime in the world. Law-abiding citizens live in fear while criminals operate with impunity. Increasing economic inequality, a lack of opportunity, a feeling of hopelessness, and ever-increasing levels of corruption are all contributing to the deterioration of the rule of law in South Africa. This is damaging our nation’s international reputation and our economic potential.
Estimates indicate that approximately 10% to 15% of all people living in South Africa are undocumented foreign nationals. The problem is not that citizens of other countries have chosen our country as their home, but rather that too many foreigners enter South Africa without following the legal process of immigration. The dysfunctionality at Home Affairs also results in many foreigners being unable to acquire the correct documentation for legal residency in South Africa.
The South African people have been ruled by unethical leaders for decades. The most vulnerable of our people have endured oppressive policies and leaders who steal from the public purse. Except for the handful of leaders that championed South Africa’s transition to a democratic state, the national government has been led by individuals and organisations that only serve themselves.
The South African state consistently fails to deliver on its development goals and provide citizens with reliable and quality basic services. Government’s poor performance, combined with bureaucratic red-tape, impedes economic growth and undermines our efforts to address our unjust past.
Single party dominance has undermined our hard-won democracy and allowed corruption to become entrenched at all levels of government. At a national and provincial level, citizens can only vote for a party and have no direct say in which individuals are elected to positions. This prevents citizens from holding politicians to account, and corrupt and incompetent politicians are able to hold positions of power for many years if their party refuses to act against them.
South Africa, and the world, can no longer afford to treat the impending climate crisis as a future problem. Urgent action, driven by committed leadership, is required to ensure adaption to, and mitigation of, climate change effects.
