Unemployment in South Africa

Although South Africa has seen significant progress since the end of apartheid (the system of political and economic discrimination in place from 1948 to 1994), unemployment and poverty are rates are still high. The legacy of apartheid persists in the form of educational inequalities, which are heightened by poverty. Unemployment rates in South Africa are incredibly high, 24% for the general population and a staggering 46.9% for youth aged 15-24. If one includes those who are no longer looking for work, that unemployment rate jumps even higher to 38% for the general population and 65.2% for youth. Even for those who are employed, much of the economy exists in the informal sector, an unstable source of income. Streetwires aims to create sustainable employment opportunities for as many of South Africa's unemployed as possible. 

Artisan Voices

Victoria Ntulini, Artisan and Xhosa Teacher at Streetwires: “I enjoy being here at Streetwires because there’s no racism. Here we are all the same and we respect each other. I’ve learned so much about beads and wire, and I still want to learn more—even how to use the computer...One day I want to own my own company.” When Ntulini joined Streetwires, she was entirely unfamiliar with the craft process, explaining that tools such as pliers and cutters were mainly used by men in her culture; now, she is a loom-beading expert and in charge of materials distribution to the entire team of artisans.

Zulu Wire Art

Wire art craftsworkers create unique products out of wire, beads, tin cans, and other found recycled items. While the origin of this traditional craft is not known, it likely developed in Maputoland and Zululand in rural Northern Kwazulu-Natal, in the northeast corner of South Africa. Lacking the resources to buy manufactured toys, young boys in these regions fashioned their own out of discarded hangers, tin cans, and whatever else they could find. In villages and townships today, one can see boys playing with model cars made entirely from discarded materials. Recognizing the children's ingenuity, older community members began making their own wire crafts to sell to tourists—everything from jewelry to working radios. Today, 'wiremasters' sell their creations not only on street corners and at craft markets, but also in upmarket shops and galleries around the world. 

Region: Southern Africa

Capital: Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)

Population: 49,109,107 (2010)

Size: Slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, English, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga, other

Major religions: Christian (83.5%)

Life expectancy at birth: 49.2 years, 10th lowest in the world

HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 18.1%, 4th highest in the world

HIV/AIDS deaths: 350,000, highest in the world (2007)

Population below poverty line: 50%

Unemployment: 24%; youth unemployement rate (ages 15-24) is 46.9%

Did You Know: Soweto's Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world to have housed two Nobel Prize winners, the Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former president Nelson Mandela. Both won the prestigious Peace Prize, Tutu in 1984, Mandela in 1993.

All statistics from CIA World Factbook 2010 and UNData

Despite having the most robust economy in Africa, producing 9% of the continent's economic activity, South Africa has the second highest number of AIDS patients in the world and is still recovering from years of apartheid. Its past, as well as the instability generated by the AIDS epidemic, have led to much inequality amongst South Africans.

Apartheid's Legacy
Apartheid refers to a series of policies instituted by South Africa's white minority government from 1948 to 1992 to discriminate against non-whites. Most of South Africa's diverse ethnic groups were forced to live in designated areas, prohibited from voting, and denied equal access to services such as health, education, and jobs. Growing internal violence coupled with intensifying international condemnation led then-president Frederik Willem de Klerk to begin dismantling the system and transitioning to democratic rule. South Africa's first free elections took place in 1994 and Nelson Mandela, a central leader in the fight against apartheid, was elected as the country's first black president. The legacy of apartheid can still be seen today in the country's vast racial inequalities. Blacks, who make up over three quarters of the population, suffer from low levels of education, employment, and income. More than 50% of blacks (but only 3% of whites) live below the poverty line.

HIV and AIDS
With 5.5 million people infected with HIV, South Africa has the second highest number of HIV/AIDS patients in the world and the highest number in all of Africa. South Africans spend more time attending funerals than getting hair cuts, going to barbecues, or shopping. Much of this tragedy can be attributed to the government's previous neglect of the issue, as former president Thabo Mbeki and other members of government disputed the effectiveness of providing antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for treatment. However, the government's response to the crisis is improving; in 2010, under President Jacob Zuma, South Africa launched a major counseling and testing campaign seeking to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.

Looking Forward
Despite the challenges, South Africa is also upheld for its diversity, and is sometimes referred to as a "rainbow nation." The country's history is rooted in social justice; two universally significant philosophies were born in South Africa. Mahatma Gandhi lived and organized in South Africa for over two decades, during which time he developed the theory of satyagraha, (nonviolence). South African activists used satyagraha in the initial stages of the fight against apartheid. The Zulu concept of Ubuntu describes the common bond between all of humanity and comes from the phrase umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, "people are people through other people"— the idea that an individual's fortunes are intimately connected to everyone's. Today, this concept is called upon by many as people across South Africa work to move the country forward.