South Africa: Troubled, Yet Still Beautiful
Many of our supporters have a connection to South Africa, we’re including a short opinion piece on the country’s current state. The intent is to produce an opinion piece quarterly and embed it into our newsletter.
A few months ago, cartoonist Zapiro described South Africa as “F**ed-up, and very beautiful.” That phrase captures the country remarkably well: vibrant and full of potential, yet facing serious, often self-inflicted challenges.
Systemic challenges
Many issues are structural and deeply interconnected:
Local government: Many municipalities are struggling, with basic services like clean water and infrastructure under severe strain.
Corruption and governance: Corruption remains widespread. While there are improvements at the national level, provincial and local government often suffer from politically-driven and often incompetent appointments.
Poverty and crime: Poverty remains widespread and unequal, with high crime levels, particularly in the poor areas where life is already hard. In 2023, 37.9% of the population lived below the lower-bound poverty line, including 10.8 million people in extreme poverty.
Positives and reasons for hope
Despite the headlines, there are encouraging developments:
Electricity: After years of neglect and corruption in South Africa’s only electricity supplier, the country appears to be moving well beyond severe load-shedding, with increased private generation and strong growth in renewables.
Infrastructure investment: Government has committed nearly R1 trillion over three years to major infrastructure projects through public-private partnerships.
Democracy: South Africa maintains one of the most robust democracies in the world with free elections, independent courts, and active media. Voters are increasingly holding leaders accountable—evident in the ruling ANC’s decline to 40.2% in the 2024 election.
In summary
Zapiro’s phrase still rings true: South Africa is both troubled and deeply beautiful. While corruption and inequality persist, there are real signs of progress—and reasons to believe in the country’s future.
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