Countries
South Africa

South Africa is a Republic of austral Africa. Jacob Zuma is President, elected in 2009.

After decades of apartheid policy, in 1994 the first elections open to all citizens (with no racial discrimination) were held. Nelson Mandela became President, the first black president of South Africa.

Government needs to confront many challenges, in the midst of the economic recession. Principally: the diffused poverty, unemployment, high level of violent crimes, gender disequality, all problems that hit the weakest subjects of society.

Violence against women has exceedingly high rates, and police and healthcare operators are inadeguate to answer to the problem. The vast number of HIV positive people is discriminated when accessing healthcare.

Torture and ill-treatment by the police, prison guards and private security guards have been reported, with the death of inmates.

In a situation highly instable, the judiciary, as well as organizations and single human rights activists have been attacked by national politicians. These tensions were evident during the local campaigns to contrast poverty, disequality, housing lack, forced evictions and the crisis for the land claims.