Statement on the release of the 2008 "Development Indicators" publication

This publication provides evidence-based pointers on the impact of government programmes on the lives of all South Africans. It is the second edition which updates data and refines indicators used in the 2007 publication. By publishing an annual set of development indicators, South Africa has joined a few countries which provide annual information on outcomes-based monitoring and evaluation of changes in society's quality of life.

The 76 development indicators are presented under 10 broad themes. Listed below are the highlights.

Economic growth and transformation

• The economy has been growing continuously since 1999 and accelerated towards the end of 2006. Whilst the economy grew by 5.1% in 2007, slightly lower than the 5.4% recorded in 2006, we are still above the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) targets of 4.5% per annum.
• The foundation for future growth is being laid with increasing capital investment.
• Positive and sustained growth trends are being challenged by:
  - the high inequality meaning that fruits of growth are not being equitably shared
  - negative global economic conditions slightly ameliorated by the fact that government debt that has fallen from 43.5% in 1994 to 23% in 2007
  - negative and high current account deficit, high inflation and high interest rates.
• Unemployment rate has decreased from 31.2% in March 2003 to 23% in September 2007 according to official statistics (Labour Force Survey, LFS).

Poverty and inequality

• Poverty has been reduced, especially after 2000.
  - In real terms, the income of the poorest has improved, whilst the rise in income inequality is because the income of the richest 10% of the population has increased at a faster rate.
  - Percentage of population below R462 a month (2007 Rand prices) decreased from 58% in 2000 to 48% in 2005.
  - Nine million people have been lifted out of poverty since 1996 (taking population increase into account).
• More than 12 million people now receive social grants.

Household and Community Assets

• Since 1994, due to population growth, the number of households has increased by approximately 4 million. This, combined with a shift to smaller households sizes, has resulted in a marked increase in demand for social services. In spite of this pressure:
  - 2,5 million subsidised houses have been completed or are in progress, providing shelter to some 8.8 million people.
  - 87.2% of households have access to water at the RDP standard or above compared with 61% in 1994.
  - 73% of households have access to sanitation; was 50% in 1994.
  - 72% of households have access to electricity; was 51% in 1994.
• The completion of over 74 747 land restitution claims brings that process near completion. On the other hand, progress in land redistribution has been slow, indicating that, at the current rate, the 30% target for 2014 would not be met.

Health

Different measures of Life Expectancy show it to have been falling since 2000, seemingly linked to HIV and AIDS.

• Immunisation coverage has reached 85%.
• The number of malaria cases has dropped markedly.
• Trends in infant and child mortality are unclear - the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Health Systems Trust data point to an increase whilst Statistics South Africa and the Actuarial Society of South Africa (ASSA) show a decrease; at the same time, severe malnutrition for children under five years has been reduced by over 60%.
• The rate of increase in HIV prevalence has slowed after its rapid growth in the 1990s.
• There has been a rapid increase in tuberculosis (TB) cases since 2001.

Education

• Since the 1990s the parity of boy and girl learners has reached a balance, and gross enrolment at primary level is at about 98%.
• The matric pass rate had increased to a higher level between 1999 to 2003, and began to show a slight decline attributed in part to rising standards in the quality of exams relative to preparedness of learners to write such exams.
• Although the number of matriculants with higher grade maths passes has increased since 2001, it is still low; while the number with standard grade passes has increased about eight times since 1997.
• Adult literacy rate has been steadily increasing.

Social cohesion

• We provide new data on the number of women in local government councils, showing an increase from 28.2% in 2000 to about 40% in 2006.
• During periods of national elections, surveys show greater levels of public confidence in general, including confidence in a happy future of all races: the decline in positive rating in the recent period may have been influenced by specific incidents during the survey period.
• Race relations, at least at the level of perceptions, are under strain
• Pride in being South African is still at high levels (78%), though it registered a decline in 2007 from 90% in the three years before that.
• South Africans are evincing a strong sense of national identity, and race is receding as a primary form of self-definition.

Crime

• The incidence of crime is generally decreasing but still at a high level.
• Trends in contact crime - interpersonal violence - have been slowly decreasing, but are still cause for concern.
• Some categories of aggravated robberies (including business and household robberies), although very few compared to the total number of all crimes, demand specific attention due to the organised crime base they proceed from, and the fear they generate among citizens.
• Our court system is not functioning optimally, with an increase in the number of withdrawals indicating that the relationship between detective work and prosecutors need attention.
• The prison population, after being reduced by remission programme in 2005, is growing again.
• Despite increasing numbers of cars, the accident rate is slowly coming down; and new research by MRC shows that most accidents are alcohol-related.

International relations

• Africa's economic performance has been improving at a rate of over five percent annually since 2002.
• Tourism in SA has grown rapidly since 1994 and continues to do so, with strong growth of 10.8% per year between 2004 and 2007: this has had a significant impact on employment creation, but the sector still needs further transformation so that the benefits of growth are more equitably shared.
• Reflecting our growing relations with other countries in the 2007/08 financial year South Africa had 121 missions abroad (45 in Africa), compared to 92 during 2001/02 financial year.
• The conclusion of several important multilateral agreements in support of South Africa's commitment to a rules-based international system has been a critical element of South Africa's international relations.

Good Governance

• Our tax administration system has become much more effective and the number of tax payers has more than doubled since 1996.
• The number of qualified audit opinions from the Auditor-General is still at a concerning level.
• Data on environmental indicators is limited, and the available estimates show that South Africa's greenhouse emissions have been increasing; possibly attributable to higher economic growth.

Government intends to publish these data on an annual basis, the better to afford South Africans the information to track progress in social transformation and hold government accountable in the fulfilment of its mandate.

Statement issued by Government Communications on behalf of The Presidency July 17 2008. The full report (in PDF) can be accessed here: