Figures confirm South Africa’s good story
2 July 2014
The recently published Statistics South Africa General Household Survey (GHS) 2013 reaffirms that life has changed for the better since 1994. This affirms the government message that despite the challenges that still persist, we indeed have a 20 year good story to tell. Its findings are largely in step with both the 2011 Census results and the South Africa 20 Year Review 1994 – 2014.
The common thread in all these reports is an affirmation that there has been significant change to the material and social conditions of South Africans. The General Household Survey offers an unbiased reflection of the state of our society. It reveals that much has been done towards realising a better life for all, but also highlights the challenges which still remain.
Conducted annually since 2002, the survey measures changes in the living conditions of South African households, including access to services and amenities such as housing, water, electricity, food, health care and education.
However, it also highlights that for every success there are some challenges that are yet to be addressed. Most would agree that South Africa must succeed in delivering quality education to all if we are to move the country forward. The report shows that there has been notable success in expanding education for all, with almost universal school attendance for the age group 7-15 years. There were approximately 14 million learners at school in 2013. Worryingly though is that attendance of educational facilities drops off significantly after this age group and less than 10 per cent of individuals aged 24 years still attend an educational facility.
The picture in higher education is also of concern and is a reflection of the devastating and enduring legacy of apartheid. A mere 3.2 per cent of Black people aged between 18 and 29 attended university in 2013; White attendance in the same demographic was 18.7 per cent, 9.2 per cent for Indians and Asians, and 3.1 per cent for Coloureds.
Speaking at the release of the report Statistician General Pali Lehohla said that the number of Black students attending university needs to rise for South Africa's economic development to improve. “At the moment the proportion of Blacks that are attending university is just too small to generate the kind of high level skills that are required to get the economy going,” he said.
The report reveals that more people are benefitting from government’s social welfare net. The percentage of individuals that benefited from social grants increased from 12.7 per cent in 2003 to 30.2 in 2013 and the percentage of households that received at least one grant increased from 29.9 to 45.5 per cent.
The impact of government grants is indirectly reflected in the next measure which shows that access to food in South African households has improved dramatically since 2002. The percentage of households that experienced hunger dropped by more than half, from 23.8 to 11.4 per cent between 2002 and 2013, while the proportion of individuals that experienced hunger fell from 29.3 to 13.4 per cent.
Although encouraging, these figures are stark reminders of the daily perils that are faced by many South Africans. Government’s all-encompassing social welfare net has to a large extent alleviated this burden, but is not the definitive answer to ensure that no person or child goes without a meal.
The answer to this vexing problem may lie in the resourcefulness and resolve of ordinary South Africans. The survey showed that almost one-fifth of households in the country were involved in cultivating crops or raising livestock in 2013 - the majority (87.8 per cent) in backyard gardens rather than on farmland. The survey also found that more than three-quarters (76.9 per cent) were farming as an additional source of food.
In addition, the GHS reveals that the vast majority of households – 69.9 per cent – use public clinics and hospitals most often when people fall ill or are injured. Over 90 per cent of households used the nearest facility of its kind. A significant proportion of households that attended public health-care facilities were satisfied with the service they received.
The GHS findings show that the vast majority of South African households had access to piped water in 2013. However, there has been a drop in the number of households that perceive the quality of water-related services as being good.
The provision of water and sanitation has been prioritised by the new Administration. Shortly after her appointment as the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane pledged that her department would work to ensure that rural communities have access to water and that water infrastructure would be upgraded.
Since 1994 successive democratic administrations have sought to assist South Africans in owning homes. The GHS shows that the percentage of households that fully own the dwellings they inhabit increased slightly from 52.9 per cent in 2002 to 54.9 in 2013. In 2013 more than three‐quarters of South African households lived in formal dwellings, followed by smaller percentages of people who lived in informal dwellings, and traditional dwellings.
Put into context the figures in the GHS show progress across most levels of society. They however also pinpoint the gaps and shortfalls that still remain. Our progress in reversing the ills of apartheid has been steady but the triple threat of poverty, unemployment and inequality still lingers.
Speaking during his recent State of the Nation Address President Jacob Zuma emphasised the need for radical socio-economic transformation. He spoke of bold measures that were needed to take South Africa forward and reiterated that Vision 2030, the country’s long term growth strategy as outlined in the National Development Plan would take centre stage.
Government calls on all South Africans to partner with us as we strive to implement the National Development Plan and realise vision 2030. All South Africans must join in continuning this good story and move the country forward. It is our roadmap towards a shared future and it is incumbent on every one of us to embrace it and make it a reality.
Phumla Williams is Acting CEO of the Government Communications and Information System (GCIS)
