INEQUALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

In South Africa there is a huge divide between the poor and the wealthy.  This divide causes inequalities in the basic human rights for millions of children. Some of these basic human rights include: poverty, homelessness, abuse, neglect, preventable diseases, and unequal access to education. Here are some statistics that show how the basic human rights of children in South Africa are not being met (in 2011):

• Out of 51.7 million people, 15 million are children 14 yrs and younger
• 58% of all children lived below the poverty line 
• 330,000 children of school-going age (out of a total of 11.3 million) were not attending school 
• Among children 15 yrs and younger 450,000 are affected by HIV and of those children eligible to receive antiretroviral therapy, only 67% were accessing this treatment.
• 2.5 million children in South Africa (14%) were reported as living in households where child hunger was present 

According to van Niekerk and Ashley-Cooper (n.d) "For the first time in South Africa’s history, by law every public primary and secondary school must have electricity, water, working toilet facilities, classrooms that are safe, with a maximum of 40 learners, internet, adequate security, and, after these are in place, adequate libraries, laboratories and sports facilities" (p. 2). The government is working to create policies that address these issues of human rights, but there are some large discrepancies between policy and implementation.  

van Niekerk, L-J. & Ashley-Cooper, M. (n.d.). Poverty and inequality threaten children’s rights. 

For further information please watch these short videos that describe the devastating effects of inequality in South Africa.