Class XVI international seminar trip Reports February 15-27, 2014
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- Education in South Africa
- Structure of South Africa’s Education System
- New Strategy for Education
- Safety In South Aftrica Ginger Reimer
- Put your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality.
- Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy of your passport information page to make replacement of your passport easier in the event it is lost or stolen.
- One of the safest places to carry valuables is in a pouch or money belt worn under your clothing.
- . Bring copies of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug
- Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to contact you in an emergency. Personal Safety and crime in South Africa
- Safety on Public Transportation
- Be wary of minibus taxis, the white vans that are often driven by unlicensed drivers.
- South Africa’s Urban and Rural Housing Dianne Jeans
- South Africa Urban Housing
- South Africa Rural Housing
- Economics
Health and Education Patty DeWitt Cheri Long Ginger Reimer Dianne Jeans Health concerns for visiting tourists traveling to South Africa Patty Dewitt Pack your sunscreen, Pack your bug spray, Pack the camera but, wait what about my Prescriptions and Vaccinations? Yellow Fever, Typhoid Fever, Malaria and countless other health issues are only a few concerns for Traveling to South Africa. It is recommended that if you are traveling from a yellow fever endemic area that you will need certification to prove your inoculation status when you arrive in South Africa. It is required of inoculation four to six weeks before our travel. A Yellow fever inoculation certificate only becomes valid 10 days after inoculation, after which remains valid for 10 years in your system. Typhoid fever also will need to be taking before the trip to South Africa. An oral type vaccine can be administered and stay in a travelers system for 5 years or a person can choose the injection and will be immunized for 2 years. Typhoid conditions are dangerous when exposed to poor sanitation conditions. Malaria like Yellow Fever is transmitted by mosquitos and usually will bite from dusk to dawn. Preventing Malaria in affected areas of Africa recommendation of taking medication. There are 3 options of prevention: Atovaquoine(Malarone) Doxycycline Mefloquine (Lariam) Passport Health of Oklahoma is recommending the use of Malarone 2 days before our visit to Hazy View the Malaria effected area and continue taking throughout the entire dose. 12 tablets total dosage. Also, when considering your mosquito biting prevention. It is recommended using repellant with DEET of 20 to 40%, insect repellent lotion and clothing insect repellent. One name brand is Duration that can be applied to the clothing before packing and will last up to 6 washings. Do not spray Duration directly on your skin but on clothing will last up to 6 weeks. Whether you take oral prophylaxis or not, avoid being outside at night as much as possible. Wearing light colored long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed shoes at night and wide brimmed hats during the day. Hepatitis A & B are recommended for traveler also and a booster shot is available with the initial shot and then a second 6 months following. Hep A affects the liver and is transmitted person to person and by contaminated food and water. Hep B is spread by contact with bodily fluids especially blood and semen. When traveling another concern is traveler’s diarrhea it usually occurs within the first week away from home. It affects between 20 and 50 percent of all international travelers, especially those in Africa. Ciprofloxacin can be prescribed for traveler’s diarrhea along with over the counter medicine of Immoduim. Immoduim should be taken a couple of days before starting the Cipro. Drinking an ample of amount of water is always encouraged when taking Cipro but, as we know to be wise with our water selection of water in Africa. Drinking water will remain one of our biggest health concerns. High quality tap water is available in South Africa’s urban areas, but not all water in rural areas is safe to drink straight from the tap. In some areas, the water is mineral-rich, and you may experience a bit of gastric distress for a day or two until you get used to it. Bottle mineral water, both sparkling and still, is readily available in most places. Drinking water straight from rivers and streams could put you at risk of waterborne diseases especially downstream of human settlements. The water in mountain streams, however, is usually pure and wonderful. Since it is not practical to pack your entire medicine cabinet, your travel destination and your itinerary may help you decided which medications to buy for your kit. The following medicines are a few suggestions from Oklahoma Department of Health: Anit-diarrhea medicine Antihistamine for an allergic reaction Anti-motion sickness medication Ibuprofen or acetaminophen anything for pain or fever Mild laxative or stool softener, changes in your eating routine and access to different foods can cause constipation. Antifungal ointment or cream, fungal infections of the skin, such as ringworm and athlete’s foot are common especially in warm climates, Tinactin or Lotramin. Antibacterial ointments or creams, to help prevent a skin infection from a minor cut or scrape, Neosporin Ointment. Managing Prescription Medications on this trip will be somewhat different. It is recommended that you leave any prescription medications in their original containers, make sure that all containers are properly labeled and place them in your carry -on luggage. If you use a controlled substance, such as a sedative, tranquilizer or narcotic pain medication, make sure you obtain a letter from your doctor, on the doctor’s stationery, stating why you need the drug. Without such a letter, these medications may not be allowed into another country or allowed back into the U.S. when we return. Likewise, you should have a letter from your doctor if you take any medication by injection and you have to carry needles and syringes. When filling your prescriptions at your local pharmacy you will receive a copy of what the prescriptions consists of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that we take the copy of the medications in our luggage so we will have copies of what we are taking. So, pack the sunscreen, pack the bug spray and pack the camera…but, don’t forget to get your inoculations and your over counter meds. See you in February!! Sources: Passport Health of Oklahoma, November 2013 www.Travel.State.Gov, International Travel Information wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel goafrica.about.com, Travel Warnings for Africa Education in South Africa Cheri Long Education in South Africa has similarities and difference to the education here in the United States. They face some of the same issues and encounter some of the same problems schools here in the US face. Structure of South Africa’s Education System The structure of South Africa’s educational system is similar to the US with a few varying differences. The academic year is January to December and not August to May as here in the US. Primary School or Elementary School is from Reception (Kindergarten) to Grade 6. Secondary School is grades 7-9 and then Further Education and Training is grade 10-12. It is a mandate in South Africa that children must attend through the 9th grade. They can choose to go further. That is different from us where as we require up to a High School diploma. Higher education is broken down into different degrees. Certificates and diplomas are generally 1-2 years of study. Bachelor’s degrees are from 3 to 6 years of study and depend upon the course. Honor’s degrees require 1 extra year of undergraduate study and require a thesis. A master’s degree is 2 years of post-graduate study and the Doctorate degrees vary in duration with a minimum of 2 years, following a Master’s degree. There are several similarities but, also some big differences. South Africa has 11 official languages but, schools and universities generally use English or Afrikaans as the language for instruction. As stated before, education is required up to grade 9. Students may opt after this completion to obtain their General Education and Training Certificate and pursue employment or some type of technical training at one of the Further Education and Training Institutions. The Ministry of Basic Education focuses on primary and secondary education which includes early childhood development centers. The Ministry of Higher Education and Training is responsible for tertiary education up to the doctorate level, technical and vocational training, and includes adult basic education and training. The government aims to have one million students enrolled at colleges by 2014. Elementary Education Based on data I found, in 2012 there were 12, 428,069 learners in ordinary public schools and independent schools. There are 25, 826 schools in South Africa. The number of educators to serve these schools is 425, 167. After looking at the map to locate the place we will visit on our trip to South Africa, here are the numbers for those areas. Eastern Cape – 5,558, Gauteng which include Pretoria and Johannesburg – 2,045 and the Western Cape – 1,453, Mpumalanga which include Whitbank and Nelspruit – 1,807. The students in elementary or primary grades concentrate on languages and math but include science, social studies, music and art as well. The typical school day is from 8 am to 2 pm. Students begin to learn a second language when they enter third grade. They have their home language but, must learn English and one of the other country’s eleven languages. Schools vary widely in structure, design, cleanliness etc. Some of the schools have modern buildings that include computers, hockey fields, indoor gyms, and swimming pools. These are more likely to be your more affluent areas of South Africa. Some schools have no water, toilets or telephones. This of course would be the more rural area schools. Here in the US there are always some districts and schools that deal with issues of class sizes and teacher/student ratios. This is the same in South Africa. In South Africa the typical ratio of students to teachers is 30 to 1 which isn’t that bad in most people’s perspective. A teacher in a poor school could have to teach to 50 students in a classroom. Generally it is the public schools that have the larger classes versus the independent schools. The former Gauteng MEC, Angie Motshekga oversees the Ministry of Basic Education. Secondary Education With the approximately 49 million people in population, South Africa has 6000 secondary schools. Data shows that in 2009, 580,577 candidates took their matric final exams. Out of this number, 61% passed to obtain the National Senior Certificate. Out of these, a little more than half achieved a “bachelor’s pass” which made them eligible to apply for university studies in South Africa. We here in the US are somewhat familiar with Outcome Based Education which are education are student-centered learning methods that focus on empirically measuring student performance. This same curriculum has been in place in South Africa since the mid 2000’s. The aim is to develop critical thinking skills needed to succeed at the tertiary level. Due to the impact and legacy of apartheid and resource constraints, many public schools are severely challenged to meet the bars that are set for introducing OBE. Data shows that the average achieved for most exams in most subjects across South Africa is now between 50-60%. If a student received anything over a 70% is considered very good and a result of over 80% is excellent and rare. The grading scale we use here in the US is a letter grade of either A, B, B+, C, D, or F. In South Africa, they chose to use numbers instead. So an A would have the number 7 and the percentage would be from 80-100%. A B+ would be a 6 and the percentage would be 70-79%. A B would be a 5 and be 60-69%. A C would be a 4 and be 50-59%. A D would be 3 and be 40-49%. An F has 2 numbers that are 2 and 1. The percentages for those would be 30-39% and 20-29%. Higher Education South Africa’s higher education systems consists of 23 publicly funded universities which were consolidated in 1994 from 34 universities. These institutions are responsible for the Further Educations and Training Certificates which is training from grades 10-12. Some of these universities are career-oriented education programs to technical colleges, community colleges and private colleges. The Higher Education Act of 1997 which is: to regulate higher education; to provide for the establishment, composition and functions of a Council on Higher Education; to provide for the establishment, governance and funding of public higher education institutions; to provide for the appointment and functions of an independent assessor; to provide for the registration of private higher education institutions; to provide for quality assurance and quality promotion in higher education; to provide for transitional arrangements and the repeal of certain laws; and to provide for matters connected therewith. Basically it mandates that all higher education institutions come under the authority of the national government, while FET colleges report to the individual provinces. Data shows that in 2010, the public higher education institutions produced or graduated 153,741 qualifying students at all levels. 41,724 were in business and commerce and 37,405 were in science and technology. 74,612 were in the human and social sciences. South African Communist Party secretary-general, Blade Nzimande is the Minister of Higher Education and Training. Spending and Challenges This research showed that compared with most other countries, education gets a very large slice of the public pie so to speak. The total state expenditure for education is 20%. It receives the largest share of government spending. Due to the apartheid education system, white South African children received a quality education basically for free. The Black students had only “Bantu education”. The 1953 Bantu Education Act was one of apartheid's most offensively racist laws. It was a keystone of the overall apartheid system. It brought African education under control of the government and extended apartheid to black schools. Previously, most African schools were run by missionaries with some state aid. Nelson Mandela and many other political activists had attended mission schools. But Bantu education ended the relative autonomy these schools had enjoyed up to that point. Instead, government funding of black schools became conditional on acceptance of a racially discriminatory curriculum administered by a new Department of Bantu Education. Most mission schools for Africans chose to close rather than promote apartheid in education. Today’s government is still working to rectify these imbalances in education. The apartheid legacy remains in some areas. Illiteracy is a big issue. Data shows that about 18% of adults over 15 years old are not functionally literate. That is around 9 million adults. Teachers that are in township schools are poorly trained. The South African Education system has had to overcome some major obstacles. Things are improving. Since apartheid legislation was taken out things are slowly getting better. In 1993 almost half of all students in higher education were white but in 1994 black African enrollments nearly doubled. It grew by 91% and overall enrollments have grown by 41%. Equity is still an issue. 58.5% of whites and 51% of Indians enter higher education but, the blacks are only 12%. This is due to poor primary and secondary education. This has become a priority for the current government to address. The greatest challenges for schools lie in the poorer, rural provinces such as the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. As here in the US, schools are generally better resources in the more affluent provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape. New Strategy for Education The government in South Africa has a new strategy for turning education around. It is called Action Plan to 2014: Towards the Realization of Schooling 2025. The purpose or aim of this strategy is to improve learning and the work of teachers. With the new curriculum in place, the main significance and focus is on literacy and numeracy. It is about Language Arts and Math. This is what Common Core is for us here in the US. Other subjects are taught but this is the main focus. This curriculum is connected to the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement or CAPS. The curriculum provides specific and targeted guidelines to streamline what is taught in schools with the purpose or aim to close the divide between well-resourced and poor schools. Here in the US most states have adopted the National Common Core Standards which close the divide between states, so that students moving around in different states will have the same standards taught. Another measure is the introduction to assessment. They want standardized tests of grade three, six and nine. This will ensure better tracking progress. It puts an emphasis on early childhood development and universal access to Grade R or Kindergarten. This will also ensure that the students will have access to good quality textbooks, improve school infrastructure and strengthen school management. This action plan includes two programs to help with the poor schools. One of the programs is no-fee schools. This means the school receives all the required funding from the state and they will not have to charge school fees. These schools have been identified and are located in the country’s most poverty stricken areas. The other is the National Schools Nutrition Program. This program will give more than 8.8 million school children a cooked meal five days a week. The Action Plan consists of 27 goals. Goals 1 to 13 deal with the outputs to be achieved in relation to learning and enrollments. Goals 14 to 27 deal with how the outputs are achieved. South Africa has chosen 5 priority goals. They are as follows: Goal 11 – Improve the access of children to quality Early Childhood Development below Grade 1. Goal 16 – Improve the professionalism, teaching skills, subject knowledge and computer literacy of teachers throughout their entire careers. Goal 19 – Ensure that every learner has access to the minimum set of textbooks and workbooks required according to national policy. Goal 21 - Ensure that the basic annual management processes take place across all schools in the country in a way that contributes towards a functional school environment. Goal 27 – Improve the frequency and quality of the monitoring and support services provided to schools by district offices, partly through better use of e-education. The Action Plan has set out the goals that the NES will work towards and actions to achieve these goals by 2014. This is just the first of many steps towards South Africa’s realizing the bigger, longer term vision of quality education in schools by 2025. Everyone has a part to play in achieving the goals. The goals are clear and the strategies are flexible. This flexibility allows the schools and their communities to come up with strategies that best suit their own situation. This is how it should be. The plan has a part where measuring progress using annual national assessments. Every year all students in grades 1 to 6 and in grade 9 will take national standardized tests. Someone in the data I researched quoted, “By improving performance in these areas, learners will benefit from a higher quality of education”. Personal Thoughts Students, teachers and administrators have had a long battle and many, many adversities and challenges to overcome in the area of education. This is true in South Africa and in the United States. Education is ever changing. I have been in education for more than 15 years and I have seen that pendulum swing back and forth many times. In doing my research I learned a lot about apartheid that made me put connections with our segregation laws we had way back when. South Africa isn’t what is used to be and is becoming more grounded and more established in the area of education and I was glad to see the Action Plan that the Ministers of Education have put in place. There are many children, educators and schools in South Africa that will make an impact on their world. It is overwhelming but it must be done. I am excited about getting to see South Africa first hand and learning how I can be an impact in my part of educating children. Sources: Spengler, Kremena. South Africa as Question and Answer Book. Capstone Press. 2007 Oluonye, Mary N. South Africa. Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 2009 www.southafrica.info/about/education/universities.htm www.education.gov.za http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/study_sa_profile_rev100630.pdf Works Cited Author’s last name, first name. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year. Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Article.” Title of Publication Date Published: Pages. Author’s last name, first name. “Title of Online Article.” Title of Online Publication Version (Year Published): Pages. Date Accessed “Title of Article.” Title of Media. CD-ROM. City: Publisher, Year. Safety In South Aftrica Ginger Reimer “When you travel to South Africa the odds are in your favor that you will have a safe and incident-free experience.” Safety begins when you pack. To avoid being a target, dress conservatively. Don't wear expensive looking jewelry. A flashy wardrobe or one that is too casual can mark you as a tourist. As much as possible, avoid the appearance of affluence. Always try to travel light. You can move more quickly and will be more likely to have a free hand. You will also be less tired and less likely to set your luggage down, leaving it unattended. Put your name, address and telephone numbers inside and outside of each piece of luggage. Use covered luggage tags to avoid casual observation of your identity or nationality. If possible, lock your luggage. Carry the minimum amount of valuables necessary for your trip and plan a place or places to conceal them. Your passport, cash and credit cards are most secure when locked in a hotel safe. When you have to carry them on your person, you may wish to conceal them in several places rather than putting them all in one wallet or pouch. Bring travelers checks and one or two major credit cards instead of cash. Pack an extra set of passport photos along with a photocopy of your passport information page to make replacement of your passport easier in the event it is lost or stolen. Avoid handbags, fanny packs and outside pockets that are easy targets for thieves. Inside pockets and a sturdy shoulder bag with the strap worn across your chest are somewhat safer. One of the safest places to carry valuables is in a pouch or money belt worn under your clothing. Keep camera put away until you are ready to use it. It’s suggested that if you wear glasses, pack an extra pair. Bring them and any medicines you need in your carry-on luggage. To avoid problems when passing through customs, keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Bring copies of your prescriptions and the generic names for the drugs. If a medication is unusual or contains narcotics, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your need to take the drug. If you have any doubt about the legality of carrying a certain drug into a country, consult the embassy or consulate. “Don't bring anything you would hate to lose. Leave at home: · valuable or expensive-looking jewelry, irreplaceable family objects, all unnecessary credit cards, Social Security card, library cards, and similar items you may routinely carry in your wallet.” So, people leave your library cards at home. Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to contact you in an emergency. Personal Safety and crime in South Africa: There is continuing and significant street crime such as muggings, pickpocketing, and random street violence, which affects foreigners as well as local residents, especially in the center of major cities such as Johannesburg. Road conditions are generally good but there is a very high incidence of highway casualties, especially over holiday weekends. Safety on the Street: Use the same common sense traveling in South Africa that you would at home. Be especially cautious in or avoid areas where you are likely to be victimized. These include crowded subways, train stations, elevators, tourist sites, market places, festivals and marginal areas of cities. Don't use short cuts, narrow alleys or poorly-lit streets. Try not to travel alone at night. Avoid public demonstrations and other civil disturbances. Keep a low profile and avoid loud conversations or arguments. Do not discuss travel plans or other personal matters with strangers. Avoid scam artists. Beware of strangers who approach you, offering bargains or to be your guide. Wear the shoulder strap of your bag across your chest and walk with the bag away from the curb to avoid drive-by purse-snatchers. Try to seem purposeful when you move about. Even if you are lost, act as if you know where you are going. When possible, ask directions only from individuals in authority. If you are confronted, don't fight back. Give up your valuables. Your money and passport can be replaced, but you cannot. Safety in Your Hotel: Hotel safety kept surfacing in printed material so as a reminder: Keep your hotel door locked at all times. Meet visitors in the lobby. Do not leave money and other valuables in your hotel room while you are out. Use the hotel safe. Let someone know when you expect to return if you are out late at night. If you are alone, do not get on an elevator if there is a suspicious-looking person inside. Read the fire safety instructions in your hotel room. Know how to report a fire. Be sure you know where the nearest fire exits and alternate exits are located. Count the doors between your room and the nearest exit. This could be a life saver if you have to crawl through a smoke-filled corridor. Safety on Public Transportation: In South Africa this is more of an issue of vehicles being unsafe rather than tourists being targeted by criminals on public transport. While Johannesburg is infamous for carjacking, the incidence of this kind of crime is still relatively low. Most tourists to the bustling city will find the traffic too heavy and the roads too confusing to even consider renting a car. Outside of Johannesburg, the biggest threat on the road is reckless, aggressive drivers. South Africans drive on the left side and measure speed in kilometers per hour. Be wary of minibus taxis, the white vans that are often driven by unlicensed drivers. Their rates are fixed, so drivers try to maximize profits by getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. Many do not heed speed limits or traffic signs. How to Handle Money Safely: To avoid carrying large amounts of cash, change your travelers' checks only as you need currency. Countersign travelers' checks only in front of the person who will cash them. Be sure to watch for your credit card to be returned to you after each transaction. Deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase souvenirs. Do not change money on the black market. If your possessions are lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to the local police. Keep a copy of the police report for insurance claims and as an explanation of your plight. After reporting missing items to the police, report the loss or theft of: travelers' checks to the nearest agent of the issuing company, credit cards to the issuing company, and airline tickets to the airline or travel agent, passport to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Safety is an issue that is paramount in the minds of tourists visiting South Africa. Although South Africa is in many respects a developed country, much of its population, particularly in rural areas, lives in poverty. It is the impoverished areas that cause the most concern. High violent crime and murder rates have earned South Africa a reputation as a dangerous destination, but while crime is certainly a problem, the vast majority of it occurs in South Africa’s poor townships, which are seldom frequented by tourists. Robberies There is a huge disparity between the haves and have-nots in South Africa. The former apartheid government’s exploitative economic policies led to widespread poverty, which bred crime, and the cohabitation of the rich and destitute has led to an informal redistribution of wealth through robbery. While no plan is foolproof, there are common-sense tactics to reduce your likelihood of being targeted. It is suggested to stay in a place with 24-hour security guards. ATMs in South Africa are a hot spot for robberies, so when you need to withdraw money, look for an ATM in a busy city center or mall. If possible, withdraw money during the day. Never accept help from anyone when withdrawing and immediately put the money in your wallet. Safety of Women While South Africa has disturbingly high sexual assault and rape statistics, tourists are not generally targeted, and the vast majority of violence toward women occurs in the townships. Still, women visitors to South Africa should be cautious. South Africans living outside the cities tend to be conservative, both in mindset and dress. Outside of urban areas, women should cover up to avoid unwanted stares. Many South African women travel alone on minibuses, trains and in their own vehicles, but visitors--both men and women–are wise to travel in groups. Hiking and Water Safety Beyond being streetwise, visitors to South Africa should also be aware of natural hazards. Table Mountain in Cape Town, one of the most popular tourist attractions in South Africa, claims more lives than Mount Everest, according to Lonely Planet Cape Town. It is rare that a week goes by without a serious hiking accident or fatality. Dress and pack appropriately for hiking trips, and bring a cell phone to call rescue personnel in an emergency. The water along the coast is usually rough and sometimes frigid, and drowning and hypothermia deaths are common. When possible, swim and surf in areas that are marked off for those purposes. Drinking Water
Food Available Standards of hygiene in relation to food health and safety in South Africa are generally high in hotels, restaurants, pubs and nightspots. It is safe to eat fresh fruit, vegetables and salads, and put ice in your drinks. Fish, meat and chicken are of excellent quality, so there is no need to limit yourself when enjoying the local cuisine. Restaurants are subject to South Africa's food safety control legislation, which is implemented by local government. Regulations include certification and regular inspections by health inspectors to ensure hygienic standards are maintained. Street food is not as common in South Africa as it is in other countries, although vendors selling traditional snacks and meals can be found in city centers and townships. Food safety in such instances cannot always be guaranteed. Medical Treatment Medical facilities are good in all urban areas of South Africa and in the vicinity of game parks and beaches, but may be limited elsewhere. Private hospitals in the urban centers of South Africa offer first-world medical care. If you are visiting remote areas, it’s wise to purchase travel insurance, which generally covers the cost of a helicopter ride if you need to be flown to a city for treatment. If you forgo travel insurance, check with your home insurance provider to see if any hospitals in South Africa are covered. Keep their names and phone numbers with you when you travel so you can direct ambulances. Travel insurance is recommended and can be purchased for $80-$150. Some restrictions apply concerning purchase date within range of purchasing airline ticket. Travel insurance covers ticket costs as well as medical emergencies and rescues. In case of an emergency The nationwide emergency number for the police is 10111, and the nationwide number for ambulance service is 10177. It is not necessary to dial an area code when calling these numbers. “It is true that visitors to South Africa face risks that those to the Caribbean or Europe might be less likely to encounter, but with the proper precautions, your trip to the beautiful country of South Africa should be safe and enjoyable.” Sources: Traveltips.usatoday.com/south-africa-safe-visit-1222.html Southafrica.inspiringnewways.net Travel.state.gov Travelguard.com
“Regardless of their political conflicts, all major urban protagonists have agreed that there is an enormous shortage of affordable housing for the black and white South Africa working class population.” (Napier). South Africa reported in September 2003 that the poorest 20% of people spend less than $10.00 American dollars per person per month on housing. Those living in poverty still lack access to basic socioeconomic rights. In 2003, 35 million people in South Africa qualified for government subsidies housing (Turner). This is similar to the United States, where in 2013, 12.4 million people qualified for government subsidies housing (Turner). The types of social classes in South Africa are: white Dutch multimillionaires, black and Indian educated millionaires, white Dutch blue-collar new poor (this class has become economically despaired and is growing vulnerable), and the Black and Indian old poor (this class faces social exclusion and extreme poverty). The wealthy white Dutch owned and operated many of the businesses in South Africa during Apartheid. They hired only white Dutch employees to manage and work in these facilities. When Apartheid ended in 1994, the white Dutch began to hire the poor black and Indian citizens. Over the years, some of the poor population became educated. Within a decade, the new black and Indian educated millionaire social class was born. The white Dutch multimillionaires sold their homes and businesses to the black and Indian millionaires. Following this, the black millionaires exclusively hired members of the poor black social class; hence the white Dutch new poor social class was formed. The black millionaires started purchasing the white Dutch working class’s homes and businesses. Consequently, this began the new “White Tin Towns.” South Africa is known for the rapid delivery of houses. It's been acknowledged that there are still many challenges faced in terms of the generation functioning neighborhood as opposed to house units (Dealing with South Africa). South Africa's concern with crime is comparable to New York City or Chicago. One of South Africa's main concerns is political instability and dealing with the disruption of race riots, poverty, environmental degradation, disconnection, social exclusion, and uncoordinated development. These concerns are comparable to the United States during racial segregation in the 1960s. The types of housing for the South African poor population include: Shanties, Shacks, Housing Units, Functional neighborhoods, and Single-sex hostels for workers. “It is interesting to note that demand for houses increases proportionately to the governments subsidized provision of housing" (CIA). The issues that the above poor population faces include, but are not limited to high crime rate, economic disparity, incredible poverty, disease, and high rate of HIV. Many of the impoverished do not have the money to pay the water and sewage bill while living in a subsidized government home, and opt to erect a shack or shanty where the government will provide free water and substandard sewage facilities. This has evolved into sterile, regimented and inefficient settlement patterns. The Rehabilitation and Development Programme (RDP) has added to the problem of new "Tin Towns" (Dealing with South Africa). In an article, RDP interviewed a 35 year old mother of five who deliberately chose to live in a shack in Military Heights, Cape Town. She lived with her family and had a house of her own in a rural South African town. Seven years ago she was told and promised by the RDP if she came to Cape Town she would receive a new free house of her own. She sold her old home and moved, but it was a lie (Knight). This is reminiscent of the SNAP program here in the United States. Why work if one can receive more government handouts than if one tries to better oneself? These programs have evolved generational and inefficient patterns of behaviors. The moral and the "Sweat Equity" motivation have caused people to think "What can the government give me or the attitude of the government owes me." This type of philosophy in a society can cause dismay, hopelessness, entitlement, misery, and degradation. Executive homes in Johannesburg, Alexandra and Pretoria were accustomed to high walls and alarm systems were installed to guard against the country's high crime rate. Even today South African cities are very much dictated by policies and economic segregation. At one time a town called Sandton was mostly farmland and known as the "Mink and Manure Belt" for its wealthy landowners and horse trails. Now it's the Sandton City, the new location of South Africa’s largest office space which has almost half-a-million square feet of office space. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange moved here in 2000. The cost of one dwelling here can be up to 5.9 million American dollars and includes four bedrooms, a swimming pool, a steam room, a home theater, and a seven car parking space. The Sandton City residents access their property with a fingerprint scan. Visitors to this city are required to submit their phone numbers, car license registration and state their business to the city. Once application has been approved to enter the city an entrance and exit code is then texted to their cell phone. The attraction of this new city is "a lock-up and go-living." The high walls around each dwelling are a thing of the past. The high walls now surround the city. This new city contains the newest in hotels, clubs, and boutiques. They also offer a secure high speed rail service to Johannesburg and to Pretoria, low to no crime and maintenance free living. South Africa Rural Housing In Pretoria one white farmer shows sympathy and compassion to the new poor white family. This farmer allows only white squatters to reside on a few acres of his farmland. He also provides fresh running water, sewage and one hot meal a day to each of the white squatters. According to Ernst Rotes, a leading Afrikaans campaigner, there are estimated 80 white squatter camps in Pretoria and believed to be as many as 400,000 poor whites in the squatter camps (BBC). Twenty years ago there were about 60,000 white farmers, today there are only about 30,000 white farmers. The reason is due to Apartheid. Today, which do you think would have a chance to be killed or murdered……A white farmer or a police officer? A white farmer is twice as likely to be murdered as if they were a police officer. This can be likened to the number of family owned farms and ranches here in the United States. The average age farmer/rancher has increased while the number of family owned farms and ranches have decreased. In the impoverished rural areas, families work together to gather materials and build rondawels. A rondawel is the Afrikaans word for a round or oval shaped dwelling. The word rondawel has been westernized to rondavel. These dwellings are made by hand and usually can be erected in one day (Problems in South Africa). The dwellings can withstand the weather and age well. There are a few rondavels that are over 100 years old. The building materials consist of tree limbs, spars or poles called gumpoles. The gumpoles are placed, erected, and embedded into the soil. The mixture for the mortar is a combination of soil, sand, and cow dung. The recipe for the mortar is a family recipe; each recipe is different depending on if the dwelling will be made out of bricks, mortar like stucco or a combination of both methods. The mixture is then troweled on to the gumpoles. Some families use a homemade trowel, while many use their hand as a trowel. The mixture is then troweled on the inside and outside of the dwelling. Some of the floors are made of a cow dung mixture to make it hard and smooth (South Africa at Its Best). This process can be done in less than two days. The dwelling will be painted, elaborately carved, or decorated either inside or outside which will add one or two more days to the process. Next, the conical (cone like) roof will be added. Materials needed for the thatched roof are the gumpoles and grass rope. A thatching job or sewing can take anywhere from three days to a year if made by a skilled artisan as it is sewn one section at a time, starting from the bottom working upwards. As each section is sewn, it may be weathered and aged to form a complete weatherproof seal (Dillard). The rondavels are comparable to rooms in our homes. One rondavel can be used as a bedroom, winter kitchen, holiday cottage, tool sheds, milk rooms etc. Traditional rondavels didn't have running water, electricity or other modern amenities. Today many are now equipped or have been adapted to accommodate these services; each family can afford them or as the infrastructure is developed. In my research, South Africa has made great strides in providing housing and basic services such as electricity and water to its inhabitants. However, much remains to be done to overcome the housing backlog and to make water and electricity available and more affordable. I look forward to seeing the progress of the many cities and towns that I will tour and I am excited to be immersed in their culture. Sources: The CIA World Factbook 2014. New York: Skyhorse, 2013. Print. "Dealing with South Africa." Interview by John Simpson. BBC. N.d. Television. Dillard, Tom, and Rose Dillard. "Residents of South Africa." Personal interview. 01 Nov. 2013. Knight, Richard. Community Kraals. Pretoria, South Africa: Dept. of Agriculture, 2003. Print. Napier, Mark. Conference Papers. Cape Town: SALDRU, 1984. Print. "Problems in South Africa." Interview by Peter Hain. BBC News. N.p., 08 Feb. 2013. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. "South Africa at Its Best." Reuters via Yahoo! Finance. N.p., 10 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. Turner, Margery A. Federal Programs for Addressing Low- Income Housing Needs. N.p.: n.p., 2008. Print. Economics Joe Gribble Rusty Roush Justin Whitmore Karen Eifert Jones
South Africa Economy Joe Gribble South Africa’s economy acts very similar to the United States. There are both imports and exports that keep the economy moving. Trade happens on an everyday basis with products such as metals, currency, agricultural commodities, and many other things. With South Africa covering 1.22 million square kilometers, it has allowed the trade environment to remain stable and diverse. The market also operates in high volumes and transactions that can happen very quickly in a liquid market such as South Africa’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). At the JSE, market fluctuations occur on a rapid basis much like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). Due to proximity to Chicago, South Africa has its own commodity price index. It is known as SAFEX Commodity Derivatives. This is a place to come to price discovery where buyers and sellers can exchange and manage their risks. South Africa has the most modernized and productive economy on the continent of Africa. With the country being so large, I found it interesting that 90% of the population lives on the coasts as opposed to the United States. With that mentioned, the majority of the imports will stay on the coastal areas with very little making its way inland. This makes inter-country trading very important for South Africa. Like the United States, the majority of the agriculture and other raw commodities originate in the central portion of the country and then rely on the infrastructure to get the commodities to be further processed or to an exportable terminal. The central part of the nation plays an integral part to the survival of the country. South Africa has three main import/export terminals for goods: Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth. The busiest of the three is Durban. It is located on the eastern part of the country and services the Indian Ocean and trade routes that link North America and South America with the Middle East, India, Asia, and Australia. According to the US Commercial Service website, the Durban Container Terminal is the largest and best-equipped container terminal in the southern hemisphere. A crucial part that the Durban terminal has is rail access. Rail access is key to moving any type of export or import cost effectively in South Africa. Although after visiting South Africa, the government controls the majority of the rail and has it shut down. Much like the Mississippi River is to the United States; it opens a gateway from origin to destination efficiently. Most of their imports come via airplane and land at the country’s biggest airport in Johannesburg. South Africa is the largest producers of platinum, vanadium, chromium, and manganese and the second largest producers of gold. South Africa is the world’s 3rd largest exporter of coal. These metals and raw commodities are a valuable piece to the South African GDP and provide a supply to a hungry export market. South Africa is also a net exporter of farm products, meaning they produce more than can be physically held or consumed in country. Their main exportable manufactured products are iron and steel, motor vehicles, metals, chemicals, and petroleum products. These products alone make up 50% of their exports with the United States being the top importer. They also export agricultural commodities such as wheat, and white corn. South Africa had a trade deficit in 2012 of 117.7 billion Rand ($11.2 billion USD) according to South African Trade Statistic company SARS. Their top imported items are vehicle parts, motor vehicles, refined petroleum products, televisions, radios, and computers. They are also a big importer of animals and animal products in the sum of $480 million USD per year and fats and oils of $633 million. One of their top 5 imports is textiles and clothing of which is a substantial $1.7 billion industry. They are a net exporter of vegetable products of $960 million. The United States and South Africa have trade agreements in place to trade freely between one another. The trade between the United States and South Africa totaled in 2011 at $22 billion USD with goods and services according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. We have a trade deficit of $2.2 billion USD in goods and a $1 billion USD surplus in services. The US exported a total of $361 million worth of agricultural products to South Africa in 2011. The largest commodity of interest was wheat with $95 million, followed by poultry meal ($33 million), vegetable oils ($31 million), and dairy products ($28 million). Imports into the United States from South Africa totaled $210 million with fresh fruits being the leader with $46 million, followed very closely with wine and beer ($45 million), and tree nuts ($33 million). According to the United States Department of Commerce, trade statistics with South Africa and Oklahoma range year to date 2013 at $1.7 million to $18 million. There are multiple companies in Oklahoma that deal indirectly with South Africa. Agricultural companies such as ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Land O’ Lakes, and PCOM to name a few originate or process materials that will later end up in countries such as South Africa. Personally, PCOM has done business indirectly with a company by the name of Bunge, LTD out of St. Louis, Missouri. They have a direct investment in a trading company in South Africa by the name of Senwes. Bunge will take vegetable oils like cotton, canola, and soybean, further process it to food grade edible, and then export it to the South African coast where it will be bottled and distributed. In dollars, the value of the oil in the United States is worth $0.50/lb. FOB US Gulf and by the time it is delivered to the South African port, it might be worth $1.00 USD/lb. or 10.30 Rand. This oil will be taken by ocean vessels that can hold around 22 million pounds worth of vegetable oil. One note I found particularly interesting was that the European Union is has a trade agreement in place that allows many of their products to enter South Africa duty-free and at lower rates than the United States. As far as foreign investment, the United States and South Africa both are very heavily invested in each other’s economy. The United States has Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of $6.5 billion in the South African economy in land, stocks, and other manufacturing sectors. We are the largest portfolio investor in South Africa with over $70 billion, but 2nd to the United Kingdom in FDI. The South African government is not quite as invested as the United States, but they have $687 million mostly invested in the United States trade sector. According to an article by the Wall Street Journal, during apartheid, trade and investment were directly affected with sanctions and boycotts that other countries imposed on South Africa. Many countries, including the United States, were against apartheid and used these sanctions as “a civilized alternative to bullets, bombs and invasions”. Much like we are doing to Iran today, sanctions such can take a country to its knees economically until finally there must be a truce or agreement. The lifting of the apartheid signaled a win for the international community. South Africa relies on many things to spur its economy. One of the major energy sources domestically is coal as heavily as 87% in 2008 according to the International Energy Agency. As we have seen in the United States, we are starting to move away from coal due to emissions. South Africa is now in process of taken after the United States and expanding its renewable energy, nuclear energy, and carbon capture and storage. Another important industry to the South African economy is mining. Being the world’s largest producer of certain metals has made South Africa very well developed and sophisticated. This, more than agriculture, has helped the infrastructure of the country because it is a reliable source of energy and a huge exportable product to the rest of the world. The exportable terminals have upgraded substantially to be able to handle such big volumes of energy and metals that the South African government has added stimulus to many industries to keep local investment as well as foreign investment funneling into the country. Like the United States, South Africa is also looking to make a government mandated bio-fuel standard that has to be met by the year 2015. They are looking at bio-diesel for their transportation, but have not set a standard yet. I also read there is a plant in South Africa that can convert natural gas into diesel, jet fuel, and other chemical products. Something I have found interesting is that the majority of their corn is fed in one form or another. They do not currently have much of an ethanol grind, but it looks like the government is going to intervene and make that a mandate as well in 2015. I would like to see how long ethanol lasts there because they have such a large group of animals to feed and the main feed ingredients are derived from corn. Chickens and cattle revenues combined are double what maize (corn) revenues are. This sets the stage for a good debate within their government much like the United States has going on right now. The agricultural equipment market provides $919 million worth of revenue to the country. Statistics show that sixty percent of the equipment industry are tractor sales followed by combines and balers. With $919 million worth of equipment only 5% is produced within the borders and 20% of the sales coming from the United States with equipment like Agco, John Deere, Case IH, and New Holland. Comparatively to the rest of the continent, South Africa has the most modern and diverse agricultural economy, but only accounts for 2-3% of the actual GDP. The government’s plan of action is to create more jobs within the agricultural industry because it is an industry that is under-developed as compared to the energy and metals. The expansion of agriculture in South Africa has a lot in common with what we are facing in the United States today. Not many people want to work in agriculture because there is more money in natural resources. There is only 10% of the South African population that directly works in agriculture. It’s good to know that agriculture is not the sexy thing consistently with the US and South Africa. I recently spoke with a gentleman from South Africa. His name was Koch. He came here as an immigrant worker on a visa. Currently, he said that he is here for custom cotton harvest and hauling of cottonseed from northern Texas gins to Oklahoma City. He said the work and pay are very good here in the United States and wishes he could spend more time here learning our culture. After cotton harvest is over in January, he plans on returning back to South Africa to help with their expected cotton and corn harvest starting sometime in February or March. One comment he made to me was that we needed to go visit the aquarium in Cape Town. He said there are some very neat things to see in there. He also told me to watch out for baboons as they are a real nuisance. Apparently, baboons will ransack your house. For purposes of exchanging money, the South African currency is called the Rand. It is worth around ten times the US Dollar and can also be seen as ZAR at currency booths in the airports. The best way to exchange money is either to do it before you leave the country at a local bank or at the airport. Although the transaction fees are expensive, with a large group it is very convenient. The Rand much like the USD is worth 100 cents but coins come in denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5. Notes or bills come in denominations of R10, R20, R50, R100, and R200. Money can be withdrawn from ATM of which I have read there are many countrywide. All major credit cards are accepted in South Africa including, MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. In case there are any cash worries the main South African banks are Absa Bank, First National Bank, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and Capitec. For those who would like to experience a night life with a drink I read that these are amounts that people are supposed to tip: R75-R100 for a bottle of wine; R30-R60 for a cocktail and R15-R25 for a beer at local restaurants. For all other food, I read that you should plan on tipping at least 10% on a restaurant meal or a take-out meal. Citations: Wessel, David. "From South Africa to Iran, Economic Sanctions Evolve." Wall Street Journal. Wall Street Journal, 11 Dec 2013. Web. 13 Dec 2013. United States. US Commercial Service. 2013 Country Commercial Guide South Africa. 2013. Print. Directory: files files -> Answer True False 2 points Question 2 files -> Integer programming and game theory files -> 4 Integer Programming files -> Bpa vehicle Window Repair Scenario #1 task: Procure vehicle window relacement. Objective files -> Pop Warner History files -> North Carolina Inclusion Initiative Mapping Where Children with ieps are Being Served Purpose files -> Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Program Data: Standard 1 Exhibit 4d files -> Hanban – asia society confucius classrooms network 2010 request for proposal files -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations Download 4.54 Mb. Share with your friends:
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