INCA Education around the world
South Africa : Context, principles and reforms of education
1.1 National Characteristics
Historical
Khoikhoi, San and Bantu-speaking peoples lived in South Africa when European colonisation began in the 17th century; the Dutch began settling the Cape of Good Hope in the 1650s followed by the British in the late 18th century. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, as the Boers became known, ruled together under the Union of South Africa. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. 3 7
During the apartheid era hundreds of laws, regulations and proclamations formed part of an institutionalized system designed to enforce racial separation and to retain political power in the hands of the white minority. These measures policed the lives of all people of colour leaving few, if any, aspects of daily existence racially unregulated. The measures dictated who would be classified as white, black, coloured and Indian; where they could reside; where they were entitled to own land and what work they would be allowed to undertake. The measures outlawed freedom of movement in the country (for ethnic blacks); strikes by (ethnic black) trade unions; inter-racial education; inter-racial sex and marriage; and interracial entertainment. Millions of people of colour were removed from their traditional places of residence to accommodate the apartheid design of territorial segregation. Millions more (ethnic blacks) were arrested and/or imprisoned for the transgression of the so-called 'pass' law which regulated their presence in the 'white areas' of the country. This policy, of course, extended to the education system.
For almost half a century, the National Party held power, despite continued activism by the African National Congress (ANC) and frequent clashes between black South Africans and the police. But, by the 1980s, racially based restrictions and international sanctions had crippled the economy. In 1990, F. W. de Klerk, the last National Party president, arranged for the release from prison of Nelson Mandela who, after 27 years in jail, became the head of the now legal ANC. In 1994 South Africa saw its first fully democratic election bring Mr Mandela and the ANC to power, and an end to apartheid. 7
Since 1994, the political focus for education has aimed at transforming the national system of education and training to overturn the many years of inequality. There have been three broad stages in the development of education policy since that time. First, an intensive focus on policy formation (accompanied by some immediate practical changes, such as curriculum revision), followed by a concentrated effort at implementation and, in the third (current) phase, policy is being reformulated or revised to address problems arising during its implementation. The post-apartheid education system is still in a period of transition. 31
Demographic
South Africa is a country of approximately 48.7 million people (2006 figure) of diverse origins, cultures, languages and beliefs. The table below shows the breakdown of population groups. To monitor progress in moving away from the apartheid-based discrimination of the past, Statistics South Africa continues to classify people by population group. However, membership of a population is based on self-perception and self-classification, not on a legal definition as was the case under apartheid. The following four options are available: Black African, Coloured, Indian or Asian, and White.
Population group |
Number (millions) |
Percentage |
Black African |
38,565,100 |
79.2 |
Coloured |
4,379,200 |
9.0 |
Indian or Asian |
1,243,500 |
2.6 |
White |
4,499,200 |
9.2 |
Previous editions included a category for Unspecified - these have now been incorporated into the other racial totals (by imputation). 37
Any consideration of current population numbers in South Africa needs to take account of the relatively new phenomenon of a large-scale presence of foreign Africans who have entered the country as economic migrants or political refugees. Accurate figures are not available but estimates run into the millions. 32
As is evident above, the major part of the population classifies itself as Black African, which includes ethnic groups such as: Zulu, Xhosa, Bathotho (South Sotho), Bapedi (North Sotho), Venda Tswana, Tsonga, Swazi and Ndebele. The White population largely descends from Dutch, German, French Huguenot and British immigrants. Culturally and linguistically the latter are divided into Afrikaners who speak Afrikaans, and English-speaking groups. The term 'coloured' refers to a heterogeneous group of people of mixed white European, Malay, Malagasy, Black, and South Indian ancestry who are located mainly in the Western Cape. The majority of the Asian community is Indian in origin; many of them descended from workers brought to the country in the 19th Century to work on the sugar plantations in the present KwaZulu Natal province. Archbishop Desmond Tutu coined the phrase, 'the rainbow nation', to reflect the country's newly-developing multicultural diversity.1
Language
South Africa has 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. While each language is technically equal in law, English is emerging as the language most widely spoken in business and official discourse. 1
The country also recognises eight non-official languages: Fanagalo, Khoe, Lobedu, Nama, Northern Ndebele, Phuthi, San, and South African sign language. These non-official languages may be used in certain offices in limited areas where it has been determined that these languages are prevalent.1
Geographic
The Republic of South Africa is located at the southern tip of the African continent. It borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland. Lesotho, an independent sovereign state in its own right, is an enclave entirely surrounded by South African territory, which stretches more than 2,500 kilometres and across two oceans (the Atlantic and the Indian). At 1,219,912 square km, South Africa is the 25th largest country in the world. 1
South Africa has a wide variety of climate zones, from the extreme desert of the Kalahari near Namibia to lush subtropical climate along the border with Mozambique. It quickly rises over a mountainous escarpment towards the interior plateau known as the Highveld. Even though South Africa is classified as semi-arid, there is considerable variation in climate as well as topography. 1
Economic
By United Nations classification, South Africa is a middle-income country. During the period 2005-2007, the country's economy grew each year; in 2007 gross domestic product growth rate was five per cent. Positive indications are that there has been a shift away from consumer-led growth towards producer- and investment-led growth. However, the distribution of income in the country remains one of the most unequal in the world; a more recent dimension of which includes an escalating income gap within the black sector of the population. Poverty levels also continue to remain a challenge for the country. While the economy succeeded in creating 3.6 million new jobs between 1995 and 2005, most of these jobs have catered for people with specialist skills. Historical disadvantages, especially in higher education training and quality of schooling, have left the majority of black South Africans at a disadvantage in being able to compete in an increasingly knowledge- and skills-based economy. As a result, previously oppressed people are disproportionately represented in the ranks of unemployed work seekers. Data indicates that the unemployment figure for blacks stands at 32.9 per cent against figures of 21.9 per cent, 12.5 per cent and 5.7 per cent for coloureds, Indians, and whites respectively. Although manufacturing and financial services have, in recent decades, begun to replace mining and agriculture as key industries, agriculture and mining continue to be important providers of both direct and indirect employment. 8 1 32
A policy of 'broad-based black economic empowerment' (BBBEE), aimed at addressing historical inequalities imposed under apartheid, constitutes a central plank of the African National Congress (ANC) Government's economic policy. The consolidation of democratic processes, which dominated the first years of the ANC Government's policies, has been supplemented with a sharper focus on promoting growth, foreign investment and job creation within the broader context of economic transformation. BBBEE aims to broaden ownership of the economy and address historical inequalities with regard to ownership and employment opportunities which, by law, were skewed in favour of whites under apartheid. 7 32
One of the most critical challenges facing South Africa is dealing with the spread of HIV and AIDS (acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome). Life expectancy is down from 63 in 1991 to under 50. As a result, the Government has identified combating the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the economy as well as on health, welfare and education systems, as one of its major challenges. 32
Political
The South African Constitution provides for three spheres of government (national, provincial and local); each with clearly set out powers and functions. The national legislature comprises a bicameral Parliament: the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) (or upper house) with 90 members, and a National Assembly (or lower house) with 400 members. Members of the National Assembly are elected by proportional representation. The NCOP consists of ten-person delegations nominated by each of the nine provincial legislatures, and a delegation from the South African Local Government Association. The National Assembly is composed of members who are elected from both national lists and provincial lists. Elections for both chambers are normally held every five years (although constitutional provision is made for earlier elections at both national and provincial levels). The Government is formed in the National Assembly (lower house), which is responsible for the election of one of its members as the country's President. Upon election, the President ceases to be a Member of Parliament. 1 32
South Africa is organised into nine provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape. Each province is further divided into 52 districts, six of which are metropolitan and 46 district municipalities. The 46 district municipalities are further subdivided into 231 local municipalities. The district municipalities also contain 20 district management areas (mostly game parks) which are directly governed by the district municipalities. The six metropolitan municipalities perform the functions of both district and local municipalities. 1 32
Each province has a provincial legislature and an Executive Council which serves as the Cabinet of the Provincial Government. Members of the legislature are elected through proportional representation based on lists compiled by political parties that contest the elections. Elections are held every five years and coincide with the elections for the national legislature. 1 32
The local sphere is governed through local municipal councils, which vary in size corresponding to the size of the municipality. These elections take place every five years and are held separately from the national and provincial ballots.
South African politics is currently dominated by the African National Congress (ANC) which received around 65 per cent of the vote in the last general election in 2009. The Democratic Alliance party, which received about 12 per cent of the vote, occupies the position of official parliamentary opposition. Other smaller political parties represented in Parliament are the Inkatha Freedom Party (a predominantly KwaZulu Natal based party), the Independent Democrats and the Freedom Front. Elections are next due to take place in 2014.
Religious
Almost all South Africans profess some religious affiliation. South Africa has never had an official state religion or any prohibition regarding religious beliefs or practices. 32
According to the 2001 Census, 6.8 million of South Africa's, then, 47 million people reported having no religious affiliation (about 15 per cent). Approximately one-third of the population indicated that they belonged to conventional or mainline Christian churches (Dutch reformed, Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, United Congregational, Lutheran, Roman Catholic or Orthodox churches). A further third of the population indicated that they belonged to one of the independent churches (Zionist churches, iBandla IamaNazaretha and Ethiopian-type churches). Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and African traditional belief are also represented. 5
