South Africa

1. Introduction

The World Bank has defended its proposed R29 billion loan to Eskom amid growing criticism from environmental groups and NGOs.

The NGOs, Climate Justice Now, groundWork and the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, have criticised the loan, supported by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and the South African Council of Churches.

They say if it is approved, the poor will bear the burden of Eskom debt.

The South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) says the demand for free education by students at higher education institutions is justifiable considering the high number of students who dropped out because they could not afford higher education.

SAIRR deputy CEO, Frans Cronje, says the students’ protests raised questions about how the government prioritised its programmes.

The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has expressed deep disappointment with Minister of Arts and Culture, Lulu Xingwana’s attitude to freedom of expression.

In a press statement, the FXI argues that, “Her statement that the art exhibition of young female artist and lesbian activist, Zanele Muholi, of naked, black women embracing each other, is ‘immoral, offensive and against nation building’, is highly regrettable and is indicative of a blatant disregard and disrespect for the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.”

In 1998, 1 550 790 children entered classrooms around South Africa to start Grade 1 (EDOEC, 2010). It was a great achievement; as the government led by Nelson Mandela, had set itself a mission to get every child into a classroom and committed itself to the “Establishment of a quality-driven public school system available to all South African children,” (SAIRR, 2010:2). For this objective to be realised, most of those 1 550 790 children would need to enter a quality-driven education system and would then come out 12 years later armed with good knowledge.

HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria continue to be the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Sub-Saharan Africa. The region remains home to 62 percent of global HIV infections and 72 percent of global AIDS mortality - mainly amongst women and children. It is estimated that there are 33.4 million people living with HIV. Most of them continue to face illness and death if they are unable to access treatment.

A group of non-profit organisations, viz. Inyathelo -  The South African Institute for Advancement , Rural Education Access Programme (REAP), Social Change Assistance Trust (SCAT) and Community Development Resource Association (CDRA), have formed a partnership to research funding practices in South Africa starting with the National Development Agency (NDA) and the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF). The group have contracted a research team from Advocacy Research and Training consultancy to conduct this research.