South Africa

Good Shepherd Sisters in South Africa:

Since 1904 the Good Shepherd Mission of the Province of South Africa has dedicated itself to the empowerment of women, the relief of people with HIV/AIDS, the technical training of girls and the education of children. The mission has focused especially on those living in the most disadvantaged areas, and assisting victims of poverty and discrimination.

The Sisters continue to work among the people in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Hebron, Madidi and Mmakaunyane in the Diocese of Pretoria, and in Betheldorp, Saltville in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth.

Country Background:

Although there have been many positive changes and improvements in living standards for South Africans since the end of apartheid in 1994, many continue to suffer from extreme poverty and unemployment. According to 2007 World Development Indicators, the percentage of the population living below the poverty line of ZAR 3,000 per capita was 43% in 2006. The government has made efforts to alleviate the living conditions by building a social security net, where 12 million people receive social grants, and among the beneficiaries 67% are children. However, despite these efforts, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen. The increasing income gap can be illustrated by South Africa’s high Gini coefficient of .72%, that has been steadily rising since 1994. (Income and Expenditure Survey 2006, StatsSA 2008).

South Africa has the highest HIV infection rate in the world, with an adult prevalence rate of 18.1%. According to the UNAIDS 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic, at the end of 2007 there were approximately 5.7 million people living with HIV in South Africa, and almost 1,000 AIDS deaths occurring every day. In 2004, the South African Government began providing antiretroviral treatment to HIV-positive people but its distribution continues to remain relatively slow, with only 28% of people in need receiving treatment at the end of 2007 (WHO 2008).

Despite the introduction of free primary healthcare for women and children, with the objective to decrease the rate of HIV/AIDS, South Africa’s child mortality rate remains high: in 2003, one in 17 children died before they reached five years and according to UNICEF, the rate has not changed in recent years. One third of all under-five deaths is caused by HIV-related illnesses, infections, like diarrhea and pneumonia, and malnutrition.

Africa’s AIDS epidemic is not only having an impact on individuals and communities, but also on the country’s overall economic and social progress, in particular education. In 2006, an estimated 21% of teachers in South Africa were living with HIV (UNAIDS/WHO 2006). Although education has become one of South Africa’s highest priorities in national resource allocation, 5.4% of GDP in 2006, the benefits are not being equally distributed; children in rural and poverty-stricken communities are not receiving the education they deserve. School safety is another major concern as violence has become a daily threat for thousands of children.

Despite South Africa having the continent’s biggest economy, with strong financial and manufacturing sectors, poverty and unemployment must be tackled in order to increase the overall security and welfare of its population.