South Africa: Family and Politics

The family structure in South Africa has been affected by a number of factors, including its history of apartheid, poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.  Up until 1993, the National Party government enforced the segregation of races, providing black citizens with medical care, education and other public services that were inferior to those offered to the white minority.  Black citizens were treated like second-class citizens, and as a result, they did not have the economic opportunities afforded to white individuals to provide for a stable family life.  The election of the African National Congress’s Nelson Mandela brought about a non-racial democracy in April 1994, but the history of apartheid has ongoing reverberations in the South African family, as well as the greater society.

Two-thirds of children in South Africa live in poverty, according to UNICEF.

Although apartheid ended over 15 years ago, poverty continues to be an ever-present problem in the nation.  South Africa has a shocking unemployment rate of 25 percent, according to BBC News--a statistic that continues to increase as a result of globalization.  More and more jobs are being lost in sectors that cannot compete in the growing global market, which has left a growing number of parents unable to provide adequate resources for their children to stay healthy and prosper in life. 

It is important to note, however, that the government has responded with policies to combat the effects of poverty on families.  Its substantial social grants system calls for free primary health care for pregnant women and children under the age of six, as well as exempted school fees for those who cannot afford them.  Still, many argue that the social security system is inefficient and inadequate, pointing out that the rates of inflation have led the cost of supporting a family to skyrocket.

The family structure in South Africa has perhaps most significantly been affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.  The country has a higher number of HIV-positive individuals than any other nation in the world, which has led to an increasing number of orphan children and child-headed households.  In fact, 23 percent of South African children were living with neither of their biological parents in 2008, according to the University of Capetown.  

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is now garnering more attention from the government.

The HIV/AIDS crisis received a criticized lack of attention by former President Thabo Mbeki, who suggested that antiretroviral drugs were potentially harmful and even went as far as to question whether HIV causes AIDS.  However, current President Jacob Zuma has stated that actions will be taken to ensure that HIV-positive individuals are treated earlier, and that drug therapy would be expanded for HIV-positive pregnant women and babies.  

The family structure in South Africa has historically been plagued with a number of political, economic and social problems.  Though the current government is taking steps to help combat the plight of its citizens, it is clear that there is still a great deal left to be done in the realm of politics to bring about a stable family unit in South Africa.