In South Africa, public opinion surveys have repeatedly shown that South Africans rank unemployment, crime and corruption as the three most important issues facing the country. North West health chief Madoda Sambatha said they were investigating the matter to establish how long the babies had stayed in the boxes. Elsewhere, however, the forecast is more troubling: South African growth is expected to fall from 5% in 2021 to 2.2% in 2022, and Nigeria is projected to flatline at 2.7%. Protests against the cost of living and food insecurity, seen in countries such as Ghana or Malawi, will become more frequent in 2022. coalition with the ANC, he said: I dont think we could work with the ANC, not South Africas foreign minister has granted diplomatic immunity to foreign officials attending the Brics summit in August and a meeting for Brics foreign ministers this coming week. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) estimated that South Africa hosted over 240,000 refugees and asylum seekers as of April 2022. In November 2022, the Bank approved the $497 million Eskom Just Energy Transition Project. We expect the MPLA and incumbent President Joo Loureno to emerge victorious, enabled by the partys vast organisational and financial capacity. Buhari will make some last-ditch attempts to address economic and security challenges including a 15.63% inflation rate, sustained threats across the country from Islamist and Niger Delta militants, banditry, separatist movements and urban crime. South Africa: Current Issues, Economy, and U.S. Relations Congressional Research Service 1 Introduction South Africa is a majority black, multiracial country of nearly 58 million people. In July of 2021 political unrest peaked in several South African provinces in response to prolonged economic instability and the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma. The Russian leader's invasion of Ukraine has made life complicated for South Africa on several fronts. The World Bank Group works in every major area of development. Persistent reports of human rights abuses committed by both sides and the apparent reluctance of the federal government to address the dire humanitarian situation in Tigray will continue to attract international condemnation. In February, the government introduced the Climate Change Bill to parliament. Key issues. Mr Bapela said that South Africa was also writing to the ICC about a waiver. The former Chilean dictator was arrested in London at the request of a Spanish judge seeking to put him on trial for human rights abuses during his 17-year rule, but the UK government freed him after 16 months on the advice of medical experts who said he was unfit to stand trial. Four countries Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan started the year with transitional administrations dominated by military officers, a record since the early 2000s. Despite significant international pressure, prospects for a negotiated settlement remain unclear given the entrenched positions of both sides. President Cyril Ramaphosa raised objections to a draft Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Bill which was passed by the US House of Representatives in April and was pending before the Senate at time of writing. The project aims to improve stewardship of the countrys rich biodiversity and to expand the benefits of protected areas for local communities by helping address high unemployment and limited livelihood opportunities, as well as inequality in rural economies. They help countries prioritize the most impactful actions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost adaptation while delivering on broader development goals. This feed updates continuously 24/7 so check back regularly. briefing. According to media reports, sewage works were destroyed, leaving raw sewage flowing untreated into water sources, together with toxic mine waste. For the first time, the main opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), has opened ranks to increase its chances of a wider victory. Semenya is an intersex woman and has spoken about the ordeals she's faced in her career - including having to take testosterone-suppressing drugs, and offering to show her vagina to athletics officials when she was 18 to prove she was female. The deputy minister also lashed out at the ICC for its double standards, saying the late Nelson Mandela, South Africas first democratically elected president, would have been disappointed by the war crimes court. LIVE. 2. Electricity supply shortages have constrained South Africas growth for several years. For example, the major water system of the Eastern Cape province, the Algoa Water Supply System, containing five dams supplying water to the Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan area, hasnt recovered. ACSA's primary concern will Local media has The Country Climate Development Report (CCDR) is a new core diagnostic report of the World Bank that integrates climate change and development considerations. Small-scale renewable solutions such as mini-grids, C&I solar applications and energy storage systems are receiving growing attention from large donors. Below, experts outline key political, economic, security and health issues the continent must contend with as it maps its COVID-19 recovery and post-pandemic reality. The countrys average annual rainfall is 450mm compared to the global average of 860mm. "As a result of this temporary disruption to normal The South African government is also under pressure to take a decision on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is due to visit the country later this year. Refugees and asylum seekers continued to face enormous challenges in applying for asylum and obtaining or renewing documentation. Cyber incidents, business interruption and critical infrastructure blackouts are the top three business risks in South Africa in 2022, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer 2022. We will maintain our position on the peaceful resolution of conflict wherever those conflicts occur, President Ramaphosa said. Weak structural growth and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated socio-economic challenges. South Africa might have sufficient supply to meet current demand, but current government estimates show that demand will outstrip supply by 2025. In the Sahel, the al-Qaida affiliate Nusrat al-Islam (JNIM) will continue to make inroads into western Mali, northern Cte dIvoire and northern Benin, where it has already established networks. As militants establish themselves in northern Benin, the early emergence of a new front in the Benin-Niger-Nigeria borderlands is also likely in 2022. The overall 2021 Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) score for the regions 39 IDA-eligible countries remains unchanged at 3.1. The DPL supports the implementation of South Africas Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, including priority reforms. For business, this is a plus, as it will entail broad policy continuity. The main pollution challenges include large volumes of wastewater discharged from dysfunctional wastewater treatment works. warned of a doomsday scenario at the next election if the governing Africa Probe as bomb hoax disrupts South African flights. John Steenhuisen: Is he a credible alternative to the ANC? On March 18 , the High Court of South Africa in Pretoria issued a landmark judgment declaring that Mpumalanga provinces unsafe level of air pollution is in breach of the residents right to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being. The employment ratio only increased slightly to 39.4% at the end of 2022 from a pandemic low of 35.9% in September 2021. level," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a He did not, however, specify the penalties or who is threatening them. The labor market has remained weak. The discharge of mining waste also introduces heavy metals into water sources and agricultural practices which use pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers introduce salts, chemicals and other toxic substances into receiving water sources through runoff. Its been described as one of the worst droughts experienced by South Africa in recent times. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation US, Inc. Why full dams don't mean water security: a look at South Africa. The change comes as UNITA seeks to capitalise on heightened levels of popular discontent with the government led by the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), underpinned by six consecutive years of economic decline, high youth unemployment, and rising costs of goods and services. WebAbout our South Africa news. Write an article and join a growing community of more than 165,200 academics and researchers from 4,637 institutions. This implies that various water sectors are using more water than whats available. In this context, the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant, introduced in May 2020, was extended for another year until March 2024. Although South Africa has included renewable energy in its energy mix, it continues to heavily rely on coal for 70 percent of energy demand, and the government has declared that this will be the case for the foreseeable future. Water degradation is also a major issue in South Africa. Catalyzing Financing and Capacity for the Biodiversity Economy Around Protected Areas Project. action be taken immediately to ensure their safety," it said. The governments efforts to curb xenophobic violence has yet to yield tangible improvement in the protection of migrants. Ethiopias war and other conflicts in the Horn of Africa region will shape the coming year. Mr Steenhuisen warns an ANC-EFF coalition would mean WebCOVID-19 The first case of COVID-19 in South Africa was confirmed on March 5, 2020. Some research suggests that demand exceeded available yield as far back as 2017. The EFF also wants South Africa to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). Rhino Bond investors agree to forego periodic interest coupon payments and instead direct the money to fund rhino conservation in two protected areas in South Africa. Considerations to be given priority include updating its policy on national broadband in line with international best practice, fast-tracking spectrum licensing, and ensuring the independence and capacity of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa. When pressed further about the arrest warrant, Reuters quoted him as saying: "Of course we count as a bare minimum on partner countries in such The Jagersfontein dam, in the Free State province, containing toxic mine waste that can cause long term environmental damage and health risks, collapsed on September 11, killing at least one person, injuring at least 35 others, and resulting in four people missing. While politicians argue over power, residents struggle with dry taps, heaps of garbage and dilapidated buildings. South Africans average domestic water use is an estimated 237 litres per capita per day. South Africa has not been and will not be drawn into a contest between global powers. Mr Kayishema told journalists in the courtroom that he had no role to play in any violence, according to Reuters. Police in South Africa are Speaking on Thursday at an Africa Day celebration in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, Mr Ramaphosa said the African continent was often dragged into conflicts far beyond its borders. "Russia attaches enormous importance to the development of this However, Kenyatta has allied himself with veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) at Rutos expense. They never indicted Tony Blair, they never indicted [George W] Bush for their killings of Iraq people, he said, referring to former UK and US leaders and their invasion of Iraq in 2003. According to the latest South African Reserve Bank estimates, load shedding has a negative impact of 2.1% on gross domestic product, or GDP, in the third quarter of 2022. The national storage capacity of major reservoirs in South Africa is currently 33,900 million cubic metres, created by 252 large dams. Non-functional municipal sewage systems have created a sewage pollution crisis of varying degrees across the country. This far exceeds the global best practice figure of 15%. In Nigeria, politics will also take centre stage of national discourse as President Muhammadu Buhari enters his final year in office and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) positions itself to retain political power after his handover on 29 May 2023. will be available to listen to on BBC World Service Radio on 26 May 2023. While most governments in the region have largely abandoned the restrictive approach from the early days of the pandemic with some notable exceptions, like Angola, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe their counterparts overseas are much more wary of returning to normal amid higher caseloads and excess deaths. Having upped their net-zero commitments ahead of COP26, governments will continue to seek to diversify and decarbonise their energy sources, but transition plans will progress at different paces and towards different destinations. National Congress (ANC) party goes into coalition with the Economic The court then ordered the government to clean up the environment in the province. Partners include the United Nations, African Development Bank (AfDB), New Development Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Department for International Development (DfID), and theState Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO). The protests were amongst the worst political violence South Africa has witnessed since the end of the Apartheid. The culture of unsustainable water use and poor management of water resources needs to change. It has been ongoing and worsening due to the continuous decline of South Africas infrastructure, misappropriation of funds and a lack of skilled personnel to manage water bodies which now requires major intervention. The skewed spatial distribution is clear when looking at runoff, which is water that drains from the surface of an area into river systems. (ACSA) said it evacuated passengers and staff after receiving 24 May, 2022 6min read By 2050 we will need to produce 70 percent more food. Storage of water is essential for securing water supply. This is either because companies and governments are cash-strapped as a result of the pandemic, or because trade and operations are frequently interrupted by travel bans as new variants continue to emerge. Julius Malema: What would he do with power? Through the law South Africa "will give itself exemptions of who to arrest and who not to arrest", Mr Bapela said. Over half-a-million children with disabilities are excluded from education. In Sudan, the military will rely on continued financial support from Middle Eastern backers to sideline civilians. South Africas top 10 health issues to keep an eye on in 2022. Security,International. Most parts of South Africa, specifically its summer rainfall areas, have received above average rainfall since October 2021. establish the origin and motive of the individuals behind this incident", it Its support is also improving financial sector stability and supporting the countrys commitment to climate change. A A. frica enters 2022 with a long and urgent to-do list. The South Africa CCDR was prepared in late 2022 and shows that South Africas ambition to build a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economy depends on the extent that the country will be able to shift from its current heavy dependence on coal to low-carbon activities (decarbonize) and to address the growing risks from climate change (adapt and build resilience). The normal national water storage percentage for South Africa is typically between 85% and 80%. I will go beyond the friendship with Russia. South Africa might have sufficient supply to meet current demand, but current government estimates show that demand will outstrip supply by 2025. He died back home in 2006. These trends have prompted growing social demands for government support, which could put the sustainability of public finances at risk if they are to be met. Pretoria wants the power to decide whether to detain leaders wanted by the International Criminal Court. TheWorld Bank Group (WBG)Country Partnership Framework (CPF)for2022-2026, continues the theme of the past three Country Partnership Strategies, to support South Africa in its quest to complete a post-apartheid socio-economic transition. Burkina Faso looks set to join the same path after a coup on 24 January ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kabor. for the Russian president for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. It will also remain a burden on many governments constrained budgets, as it demands ongoing public spending on healthcare and social support the latter as the pandemic has made people poorer and continues to disrupt investment and development. By mid March in 2022, the national average was 94% compared to 85% for the same period last year, with all provinces showing an overall increase. The primary drivers of this based on the findings of numerous reports and research, include unsustainably high water use and demand, persistent pollution from various sources, misappropriation of funds, collapsing or non-functional municipal sewage systems and a lack of skilled personnel. Global data and statistics, research and publications, and topics in poverty and development, *Amounts include IBRD and IDA commitments, For project-related issues and complaints, The World Banks digital platform for live-streaming, Environmental and Social Policies for Projects, International Development Association (IDA), Country Partnership Framework (CPF)for2022-2026, Promoting Faster Growth and Poverty Alleviation through Competition. That can only make the situation more febrile in South A combination of poor governance and unethical business practices has left many communities living in the shadow of thousands of abandoned mines that litter South Africa. The DA leader denied that he was fear-mongering, saying The Not all countries will go for aggressive tax hikes: some, like Zambia under President Hakainde Hichilema or Tanzania under President Samia Suluhu, are keen to restore their countrys image with investors by improving dialogue with mining operators. Meanwhile, South Africas main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has launched a court application in the Gauteng High Court to compel the authorities to arrest Mr Putin should he arrive in August. Mr Kayishema, 61, has used a number of false identities, and during the time of South Africas 2019 National Action Plan to combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (NAP), recognizes the need to prevent discrimination and prejudice against LGBTI persons, in line with its constitutional goals of equality and non-discrimination. Mr Bapela also pointed to past examples of exemptions of international justice, like the UKs decision not to extradite General Augusto Pinochet in 1998. We outline ten key issues to watch in Africa in the year ahead, including: The COVID-19 pandemic is certainly not the only health threat in the region, but it will be the one to continue to dominate headlines throughout 2022. Non-revenue water includes physical losses due to leakage, which is often a result of poor operation and maintenance. poverty is going to get deeper, hunger is going to increase, unemployment is The services sectors (financial, transport, and personal) and domestic trade were key drivers of growth. Decarbonisation could also be a driver of resource nationalism and geopolitical competition in certain African mining markets, home to large deposits of critical transition minerals, such as copper, cobalt, lithium or nickel. Almost every step of the water cycle producing, moving, treating and heating water, as well as collecting and treating wastewater requires and consumes energy. We never thought that the ICC that we have today will be what it is. These introduce excessive nutrients, phosphates and coliforms (bacteria or pathogens) into rivers. The conflict is likely to continue spilling over into the nearby province of Niassa and border areas of southern Tanzania. On July 5, the court acquitted four police officers of killing Mthokozisi Ntumba, a bystander shot and killed during student protests at the University of Witwatersrand on March 10, 2021. The nursing manager of the hospital has reportedly been suspended. an international conference or summit. said this could potentially open the door for Vladimir Putin to attend the Climate scientists predict that increased climate variability will expose South Africa to more frequent and prolonged droughts. Mr Putin has been accused by the ICC of crimes against humanity committed during the war in Ukraine. 4h ago. Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in the genocide. would not arrest Mr Putin if he attended the Brics summit, as it did not have Rugby World Cup 'timely' with the sport's off-field problems. Sewage pollution isnt a new issue. Latest news on and from South Africa, including current affairs, politics, economics and other big stories concerning the country on the southernmost tip of Africa. It has also affected other infrastructure such as water, IT, and service delivery (health and education). Their corpses were then buried in mass graves. The Brics alliance represents some of the world's leading On Monday, the South Africa military said it This program has contributed to strengthening economic incentives, increasing the speed of starting a business, reforming infrastructure finance and fiscal management, and promoting inclusive urban developmentwith a focus on informal settlements. (1.3%)seven of the 10 industries contracted that quarterdragged down annual GDP for 2022. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant in March airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday afternoon. Many South Africans feel their country is failing. Share this via Reddit While article 27 says no-one is immune from prosecution by the ICC, article 98 appears to suggest that the ICC could not ask South Africa to arrest the Russian leader unless Russia agreed to waive Mr Putins immunity from prosecution. Its also necessary because of the high variability in river flow within and between years. The Minister reiterated the South African governments commitment to ensure that the Act is an intersectional, collaborated response to end discrimination, violence, hate, and bias crimes on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics in the country. The SCD identifies five binding constraints to socio-economic transition, reducing poverty, and boosting shared prosperity. Having governed since the end of apartheid almost 30 years ago, on current polling the ANC could struggle to win an outright majority. Inflation averaged 6.9% in 2022 but was 8.2% for those at the bottom 20% of the income distribution. At the end of 2022, there were still close to half a million fewer jobs than at the end of 2019, with women and youth persistently more impacted. This is 64 litres higher than the international benchmark of 173 litres. The upcoming general elections scheduled for 9 August will be closely contested, as incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta is serving his second and constitutionally final term. Xenophobic sentiments in the country were further reinforced by prominent political figures such as Julius Malema, a member of parliament and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters party. WebSouth Africas largest city is now on its sixth different mayor in 22 months. the ICCs warrant, said that the army operates within the framework of Health Minister Joe Phaahla on Monday described the incident as poor management by those in charge of the facility. Despite these efforts, Police Minister Bheki Cele reported that between April and June, 855 women were killed, and over 11,855 cases of gender-based violence against women were reported, including 9,516 cases of rape. He reportedly faces five charges in South Africa, including for fraud, however he was not asked to enter a plea, Reuters news agency reports. Most countries reached less than 10% of their populations in 2021, and must now play catch up. Why South Africans kill: Rage, vigilantism, robbery, and revenge; Melanie Verwoerd | EFF-ANC coalition: Steenhuisen, stop with apartheid-style fearmongering; Don't fall for big-talking debt counsellors, Capitec and others warn; Stormers 'interested' in Bok star Sbu Nkosi as winger's future remains in the balance at Bulls Freedom Fighters (EFF) to secure a majority in parliament. They are also likely to intensify their campaign of long-range attacks in eastern Congolese cities, and to a lesser extent in western Uganda and Kampala. international law and respects diplomatic immunities. Omar al-Bashir visited during Jacob Zumas presidency, but was not South Africas energy challenges therefore also affect water provision, because power cuts interrupt water supply and negatively affect this water-energy nexus. As a water-scarce country, South Africa is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. I think that is doomsday scenario, he said in an exclusive interview with BBC HARDtalk's Stephen Sackur in Cape Town. High inequality is perpetuated by a legacy of exclusion and the nature of economic growth, which is not pro-poor and does not generate sufficient jobs. The current targets for HIV testing and treatment are called the 95-95-95 targets and must be reached by 2025 in order to end AIDS by 2030. Despite the powerful Odinga-Kenyatta alliance, Rutos populist campaign is gaining momentum among voters frustrated with the poor state of the economy. According to Russia's Tass news agency, Mr Peskov promised to give "all the details" later. Video caption: Stephen Sackur speaks to the leader of South Africas biggest opposition party, Stephen Sackur speaks to the leader of South Africas biggest opposition party, 'No-one else should have to use rags for sanitary pads', Rwanda genocide suspect appears in SA court, Fulgence Kayishema was arrested after 22 years on the run, Image caption: Fulgence Kayishema was arrested after 22 years on the run, SA won't be drawn into global powers' contest - Ramaphosa, Copyright: South Africa presidency/ Twitter, The president said his country was being threatened with penalties, Image caption: The president said his country was being threatened with penalties. In January 2022, Malema visited restaurants in Johannesburgs Mall of Africa to assess the ratio of South African to foreign nationals employed by businesses there. The project leverages significant financing from various development partners and sets the stage for future support for coal plant retirement in South Africa with anticipated Climate Investment Fund support of $500 million. Ukraine war latest: South Africa considering options over Putin arrest warrant; Wagner won't re-join war if Moscow 'clowns' in charge. WebTwo years into the COVID-19 pandemic, there are signs that sub-Saharan Africa will experience a modest recovery in 2022. The talks attended by Russia in South Africa are clouded by allegations of war crimes in Ukraine. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected by the parliament in February 2018 after his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, resigned.