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Consumer inflation cooled in March

Consumer inflation cooled in March

Following a two-month upswing, headline inflation softened to 5,3% in March from 5,6% in February. The rate has held its ground between 5% and 6% since September 2023. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,8% in March. This is lower than the 1,0% increase in February. The biggest movers in March The   read more »


Road transport accident deaths on the increase in SA

Road transport accident deaths on the increase in SA

South Africa is part of the consortium of nations that signed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations members in 2015. The aim of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), Target 3.6 was to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2030. However, results of a   read more »


Inflation heats up for a second consecutive month

Inflation heats up for a second consecutive month

Annual consumer inflation quickened in February, rising to 5,6% from 5,3% in January and 5,1% in December. Product categories that drove much of the upward momentum include housing & utilities, miscellaneous goods & services (most notably, insurance), food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) and transport. A 10,3% month-on-month increase in medical aid premiums (in the miscellaneous   read more »


Progress in birth registration levels in SA

Progress in birth registration levels in SA

South Africa has made strides in terms of registration of births. The results of a report, Estimating the completeness of birth registration in South Africa, 2002–2016, indicates that the number of registered births were high and on an increasing trajectory. There has been a significant increase in the number of children registered within the first   read more »


Economic growth muted as 2023 draws to a close

Economic growth muted as 2023 draws to a close

South Africa’s economy grew by a marginal 0,1%1 in the fourth quarter (October–December), taking the annual growth rate for 2023 to 0,6%. Real gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter was R1 158 billion. This is above the pre-COVID-19 reading of R1 150 billion, but still below the peak of R1 161 billion recorded in the third quarter   read more »


Lifting the veil on violence against children in South Africa

Lifting the veil on violence against children in South Africa

A report released by Statistics South Africa titled Child Series Volume II: Crime Against Children shows that rape cases for children increased by 6,3 percentage points between 2015/16 and 2019/20, whilst both common assault and assault with grievous bodily harm (GBH) decreased by 2,1 and 3,5 percentage points respectively. Moreover, sexual assault cases for children   read more »


Consumer inflation inches higher in January

Consumer inflation inches higher in January

After two consecutive months of decline, annual consumer inflation crept up in January, rising to 5,3% from 5,1% in December. The monthly change in the consumer price index (CPI) was 0,1% in January. The categories in the CPI basket with the largest annual price increases were restaurants & hotels at 8,0%, food & non-alcoholic beverages   read more »


Inflation eases for a second consecutive month

Inflation eases for a second consecutive month

Annual consumer price inflation pulled back in December, easing to 5,1% from 5,5% in November and 5,9% in October. The consumer price index (CPI) was unchanged month-on-month in December. Inflation was softer in the second half of 2023 The December release concludes the results for 2023. The average inflation rate for the year was 6,0%,   read more »


The shift in government spending patterns over time

The shift in government spending patterns over time

There is so much need but not enough money. Often faced with hard decisions on where to allocate scarce resources, governments usually have their own unique spending priorities. The South African government spent R2 187 billion (or R2,19 trillion) in the 2021/2022 fiscal year. This was R83 billion more than the R2 104 billion recorded in 2020/2021. Stats SA’s Financial statistics   read more »


Almost one million births registered at DHA offices in 2022

Almost one million births registered at DHA offices in 2022

Live birth statistics provide a crucial glimpse into the dynamics of human populations, offering valuable insights into demographics, healthcare trends, and societal changes. Understanding live birth statistics is not merely an exercise in number-crunching; it is a gateway to comprehending the health and wellbeing of populations. The data on Recorded Live Births indicates that the   read more »


03-09-17 - Migration Profile Report for South Africa: A Country Profile

Migration Profiles are country-owned tools, prepared in consultation with a broad range of government and non-government stakeholders, which can be used for evidence-based policymaking, and the mainstreaming of migration into development planning. The report was prepared in consultation with IOM Regional Office for Southern Africa, and it presents information on Migration Trends and Migrant Characteristics, Impacts of Migration on Human Development, Employment and the Labour Market, Social Development, Health, and the Environment. read more »


StatsInBrief - Statistics in Brief

Information in Statistics in Brief is taken from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) releases and reports.read more »


P0318 - General Household Survey (GHS)

This report presents the results of the General Household Survey (GHS) conducted annually by Statistics South Africa from 2002. The survey collects information on a variety of subjects including education, health, the labour market, dwellings, access to services and facilities, transport, and quality of life.read more »


92-02-01 - Children Series Volume I Children exposed to maltreatment, 2021

South Africa has a high rate of child maltreatment and abuse. This maltreatment occurs in homes, schools or neighbourhoods. Perpetrators could be caregivers, parents and educators or other children. Violence against children is a threat to development related issues in South Africa, including education, health and safety and security. Government has the responsibility to prevent violence and crime against children and to guaranty the rights for all children to have a safe space to grow and live their lives. Protecting children against violence will ultimately lead to a more peaceful and inclusive society. The purpose of this report is to identify the extent of the problem in South Africa.read more »


03-00-18 - The Status of Women's Health in South Africa: Evidence from selected indicators

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) prioritizes the global health of all persons. Also, the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic is expected to result in changes in reproductive health among women in South Africa. This report examined the status of women’s health in the country in recent time. It highlights the patterns and trajectories of selected indicators such as maternal and neonatal health, pregnancy, termination and delivery-related issues, gender-based violence, HIV epidemic and hunger during COVID-19. In achieving this, cross-sectional and administrative data were analysed. Overall, findings from the report were consistent with expectations in most cases.read more »


Ingquza Hill

The municipality is bordered by the Bizana Local Municipality to the north, the Port St John’s Local Municipality to the south and the Ntabankulu Local Municipality to the northwest. It comprises the magisterial areas of Lusikisiki and Flagstaff. The surface area is 2 477km2 and the population density is 112,4people per square kilometre. Economic activity is largely subsistence farming, although the Magwa Tea Plantation provides limited commercial productivity as well as job opportunities.

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Port St Johns

Port St John’s forms part of the O.R. Tambo District Municipality. It is bounded on the eastern side by the Indian Ocean. To the north-east, it is bounded by the Mzintlava River and Ingquza Hill Local Municipality. It is constituted by one magisterial area, viz. Port St John’s. The municipality is largely rural/traditional in character and the main economic activity is subsistence farming.

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Nyandeni

This municipality is one of the five that make up the O.R. Tambo District Municipality. It comprises two magisterial areas, viz. Libode and Ngqeleni. It has a largely rural/traditional character. It is bordered in the south-west by the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality. In the north, it is bordered by the Mhlontlo Local Municipality and in the east by the Ntabankulu, Ingquza Hill and Port St John Local Municipalities. The population according to Census 2011 is 290 390 people, which is 21,3% of the population of O.R. Tambo District. In 2001, the population was 274 416 people, which constituted 21,2% of the district population.

The municipality covers an area of 4 231 square kilometers, which gives a population density of 68,6 persons per square kilometer. The municipality’s economy is largely dependent on agriculture.

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Mhlontlo

The municipality comprises the magisterial areas of Qumbu and Tsolo. It is bounded to the south by the King Sabata Dalinyebo Local Municipality; to the east by the Nyandeni Local Municipality; and to the north by the Mzimvubu Local Municipality. The surface area of the municipality is 2 826km2,with a population of 188 226 persons in 2011, which translates to a population density of 66,6 persons per square kilometre.

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Imbabazane

Imbabazane Local Municipality is located at the foothills of the Central Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park (World Heritage Site), and is situated between Okhahlamba, Umtshezi and Mooi-Mpofana Municipalities. The majority of the population of Imbabazane Municipality resides in rural villages scattered throughout the municipal area, particularly in traditional authority areas.

Estcourt is the closest urban centre to Imbabazane, and serves as a regional shopping and service centre offering specialist services including medical, education and manufacturing.

Many of the government departments serving Imbabazane have regional offices located in Estcourt. Ladysmith is the main regional shopping and services centre and boasts a healthy industrial centre that continues to expand. Estcourt and Ladysmith are the main employment centres for Imbabazane.

Imbabazane does not have a well-defined settlement pattern, which along with poor municipal capacity has inhibited service delivery.

(Source: www.localgovernment.co.za)

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South Africa and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

In the year 2000 the South African government, along with other members of the United Nations (UN), committed to a national and global plan of action to reduce poverty and ensure the development of its people. The sixth and final Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Country Report for 2015 provides an overview of the progress South Africa has made towards achieving the eight MDGs. In addition, it provides an historical account of South Africa’s development in numbers. The MDGs are:

  1. To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
  2. To promote universal primary education
  3. To promote gender equality and empower women
  4. To reduce child mortality
  5. To improve maternal health
  6. To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
  7. To ensure environmental sustainability
  8. To develop a global partnership for the development.

This report reflects the intense national effort, from a range of institutions, organisations and individuals, to improve the lives of all South Africans; particularly the poor and marginalised. A great many people have contributed to this report through their participation in various consultative fora across the country, often at great expense and sacrifice. What started 15 years ago certainly does not end here, and reporting on development issues will continue through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is therefore critical that South Africa’s unfinished MDG business, as well as emerging developmental issues, be appropriately integrated within the SDGs in a manner that places the spotlight on them, while providing adequate direction and impetus for effective planning, development of appropriate policies and budgets, and the construction of appropriate national monitoring and reporting systems.

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Causes of Death 2013

The registration of deaths in South Africa is governed by the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992 (Act No. 51 of 1992), as amended. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) uses death notification form DHA-1663 to register all deaths and stillbirths. Stats SA collects completed death notification forms from the DHA head office for data processing, analysis, report writing and dissemination. Causes of death statistics are compiled in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) regulations that require that member nations classify and code causes of death using the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). Statistics from civil registration are the only national source of information on mortality and causes of death in South Africa. Such information is invaluable for the assessment and monitoring of the health status of the population and for planning of adequate health interventions. Accordingly, these statistics are also essential in tracking progress and monitoring key development objectives outlined in the National Development Plan (NDP) adopted by the South African government in 2012. The plan asserts that health care can be improved through decreasing mortality by combating infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS and the emerging tide of non-communicable diseases. The government objective, ‘Health care for all by 2030’ outlined in the NDP is aimed at reducing child and infant mortality; maternal mortality; and combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases by 2030.read more »