The HIV epidemic took a heavy toll on South Africa. The signs were there in 1994, when an estimated 380,000 people were newly infected with HIV. Six years later, new infections had risen to over half a million a year. All the while deaths from Aids were steadily increasing from an estimated 32,000 in 1994 to a heartbreaking 270,000 ten years later

As South Africa marks 30 years of democracy, the legacy of the African National Congress is under scrutiny. 

On one hand, nearly half the population receives some form of grant funding, but unemployment rates are alarmingly high and business confidence has waned significantly. These economic challenges cast a dark shadow over the milestone that is 3 decades of democracy, raising concerns about the nation’s future stability.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom: the murder rate has decreased, more learners are completing matric and the country has made impressive progress in combatting HIV, with an estimated 5.86-million people on antiretrovirals.

The following 8 charts provide a glimpse into South Africa’s current state, highlighting both the highs and lows of the past 30 years. They reveal a country that has made significant strides in certain areas while grappling with persistent issues in others.

An initial 18-million doses of the first malaria vaccine have been assigned to 12 of the countries where malaria exacts a high toll.

Why has the NICD issued an outbreak warning over measles?

The disease has been around in Africa since the 1970s, but so far only 12 countries have reported cases during this year’s outbreak

53% of all legal claims paid out in 2020/21 were in the Eastern Cape.