It’s hard to believe that 2012 is behind us, the Libyan civil war has ended, and South Africa has managed to host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) at such short notice. As we convey our complements of the new season with the first issue of Mbalo Brief in 2013, we would like to also remind you read more »
This publication contains results of a Quarterly Labour Force Survey first conducted in January 2008, specifically designed to measure the dynamics of the South African labour market, producing indicators such as employment, unemployment and inactivity. It measures a variety of issues related to the labour market, including the official unemployment rate.read more »
This report that contains the final social accounting matrix (SAM), constructed according to the recommendations of the 1968 System of National Accounts (1968 SNA). It is the presentation of the System of National Accounts in a matrix which elaborates the linkages between industry and the household sector.read more »
This publication contains results of a rotating panel household survey first conducted in 2000, specifically designed to measure the dynamics of employment and unemployment in the country. It measures a variety of issues related to the labour market, including unemployment rates (official and expanded). Results for 2000 were published as discussion documents. read more »
This publication contains results of a Quarterly Labour Force Survey first conducted in January 2008, specifically designed to measure the dynamics of the South African labour market, producing indicators such as employment, unemployment and inactivity. It measures a variety of issues related to the labour market, including the official unemployment rate.read more »
The publication describes the cross-classification of national accounts aggregates such as value added according to the type of institution and the type of industrial sector. The information is based on the supply and use tables for the reference period 2000. It therefore allows for additional analysis of the estimates of value added and the components of gross domestic product for South Africaread more »
The municipality is named after the Mfolozi River, and forms part of the Uthungulu District Municipality. The Mfolozi Local Municipality is ideally placed for both industrial and residential development, as well as the expansion of its existing timber industry.read more »
Ubuhlebezwe is one of five local municipalities that constitute the Sisonke District. It is located along the eastern boundary of the Sisonke District Municipality. It borders onto the Ingwe, Richmond, Vulamehlo, Umzumbe and UMzimkhulu local municipalities. It covers an area of approximately1 604 km².
read more »Mandeni Local Municipality (formerly eNdondakusuka Local Municipality) is an administrative area in the iLembe District of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Manufacturing, elementary work and plant and machine work are the highest non-farming categories of labour. Mandeni includes substantial areas of commercial agriculture, with the bulk of these areas under sugar-cane. Agriculture is the main employment sector in the area.
Tourism industry in Mandeni is also observable at the Tugela Mouth area. The history of the area cannot be divorced from the tourism potential. Great battles have been fought by the Zulus against the British in this area through the involvement of King Cetshwayo.
The area was one of the most important agricultural areas of the Kingdom of KwaZulu since the reigns of Kings Malandela, Jama, Senzangakhona, Shaka, Dingane and Mpande. During the reigns of Kings Shaka and Dingane, the eNdondakusuka area formed part of the area regarded as Prince Mpande’s sphere of influence. He had his house kwaMfemfeeGcotsheni in Ndulinde, which is where Prince Shingana was born and buried in 1911.read more »
KwaDukuza Municipality forms part of the iLembe District Municipality area (DC29), and lies on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, between eThekwini Metro in the south and Tugela River mouth in the north.
The KwaDukuza municipal area stretches from the Zinkwazi River in the north to the UThongathi River in the South. The name KwaDukuza epitomizes the historical background of the area being the home to King Shaka’s Gravesite and Memorial.
The town KwaDukuza is built on the original site of King Shaka‘s Royal settlement called Dukuza. The KwaDukuza museum is situated opposite the site of the King Shaka Memorial and is dedicated to the sugar industry and colonialism, the cultural heritage of the early settlers of the town Stanger.read more »
Musina in the Limpopo Valley is the northernmost town in South Africa. Situated close to the Beit Bridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe, it is the main entry point into the country from countries north of South Africa.
The town developed around the copper mining industry in the area. Copper was first discovered in pre-historic times by the Musina people who named it ‘musina’, meaning ‘spoiler’, because they considered it a poor substitute for iron, which is what they were after.
The mineral was later re-discovered and mined by 20th century miners. Today iron, coal, magnetite, graphite, asbestos, diamonds and copper are mined here. With fascinating attractions and many game farms in the area, tourism and hunting play an important role in the economy of the town.
The recently declared world heritage site of Mapungubwe (meaning ‘Hill of the Jackal’) is one of the richest archaeological sites in the country. Botanical highlights of the region include fine specimens of baobab trees and impala lilies which are both protected species. Agricultural products include citrus, mangoes, tomatoes and dates.read more »
South Africa has a history of exclusion and discrimination on all kinds of grounds, such as race and gender. For this reason we have developed one of the most inclusive constitutions in the world, with a Bill of Rights that specifically refers to equal treatment for all regardless of race, age, disability status, socio-economic status and gender (Section 9). Legislation – such as the Employment Equity Act of 1998 – has facilitated access to formal employment for women, where employers are legally required to work towards more equitable representation based on gender, race and disability. Our National Development Plan 2030 envisions an inclusive society and economy, free from unequal opportunities through capacity building, redress and increased interaction.
Through a combination of legislation, monitoring and accountability, significant progress has been made in this regard, especially in the public sector. For example, the percentage of women in senior management positions in the public service increased from 13% in 1998 to 42% in 2017. Gender and gender statistics are not just about women. Whereas the term sex refers to a biological male/female classification, the word gender connotes more than that. It encapsulates social and cultural differences, and also includes how an individual views him-/herself. The term “gender role” relates to society’s concept of how men and women are expected to act. Gender stereotypes form the basis of sexism, or the prejudiced beliefs that value males over females or vice versa. Gender inequality refers to the unequal treatment and/or perceptions of inequality of men in relation to women or vice versa.
Even though there are instances where discrimination occurs against men, more often than not women are at a disadvantage. This is manifested in, for example, preferential access to work and/or certain jobs for men, unequal pay for equal work, bullying, domination and violence against women, selective abortion of female children, and preferential household expenditure on boys’ education.
While great strides have been made towards equality for women, there still remains great challenges; there is a need for continued measurement and policy and programmatic interventions.
In addition to monitoring progress with regard to the situation of men and women, an understanding of gender gaps in the following key areas will move the agenda of leaving no one behind forward:
Market participation – Equal representation of both sexes in the labour force is important; gender equality allows for an increase in the number of women participating in the work force, which expands the labour force and can contribute towards increased economic productivity and growth.
Resource equity – Indicators of men’s and women’s asset ownership and control are important measures used to monitor gender equality. This is achieved when people are able to access and enjoy the same rewards, resources and opportunities regardless of whether they are male or female. Women’s ownership of and control over resources is one of the key elements of empowerment.
Governance – Gender equality in positions of decision-making, as well as political representation, are important not only from an empowerment perspective, but also to ensure that issues affecting women are considered during policy formulation, planning and programme/project implementation.
Stats SA publishes a wide range of statistics in various reports and publications, highlighting the challenges experienced by women and men in South Africa as measured through household surveys and censuses conducted by Stats SA, as well as other sources.read more »