South-Africa

South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa and borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and ESwatini. South Africa has 54.8 million inhabitants

In 1652 the Dutch founded a settlement at Cape of Good Hope. About 150 years later, in 1806, the British took possession of the Cape. After almost 2.5 half century of colonization, South Africa became independent in 1910 and the white minority conducted a policy of apartheid. In the 1990s apartheid ended when president De Klerk released the well-known anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela. In 1994 general elections for all races were held for the first time. The new government pursued a policy of 'rectifying legal action' to end the inequalities of the past. And since then a new constitution is in force.

South Africa has abundant supply of natural resources with well developed financial, legal communications, energy and transport sectors. Export products are: gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment. Unfortunately, South Africa is still a country with very big differences between rich and poor. And since the abolition of apartheid, inequality between rich and poor has increased, especially among the black population. While a small group joins the new multiracial upper level, unemployment is growing among the rest of the black population. Moreover, the country has one of the highest percentages of HIV-infected people in the world. (almost 19%). The general  unemployment rate is  28%, but more than 50% among black youth. Of the population 17% lives below the poverty line, but in rural communities this is more than 50%.

HomePlan in South-Africa

HomePlan builds togerther with the SACBC in remote rural communities in the province Kwazulu Natal, for example in Wasbank and Pomeroy and in Mulima Community in Limpopo Province.These rural communities are extremely poor and hit hard by HIV / AIDS; about 14% of the population is infected. A whole generation has been wiped out by the AIDS virus, many children, often at a very young age, have become orphan. Traditionally, they are forced to live with their grandparents, but often even completely alone. These so-called child families are completely dependent on themselves.

There is a very high unemployment rate and many heads of the family have to migrate to remote cities to get a job. Poverty is huge here and most people depend on child support. In these remote communities there is no electricity, running water or a connection to the sewer system. Most houses are temporary inhospitable shelters of mud and willow or corrugated iron.