In South Africa, the legacy of both the apartheid system, and the wars in neighbouring countries, can still be clearly felt. The country is currently home to an estimated 4 million refugees, more than half of whom are there illegally. Xenophobia is evident both in the media, and in political circles. Increasingly, social peace is being jeopardised by high unemployment. A lack of prospects and feelings of inferiority are causing a steady rise in crime and violence, especially among young males. Poverty in South Africa afflicts overwhelmingly the black and coloured populations in rural areas (70% of the poor) and in the townships. Nevertheless, it is the poor in the metropolitan zones who tend to be perceived as the problem, because their lack of social integration is believed to make them more prone to violence. Even worse than the poverty-driven crimes committed against property is the violence generated by gang warfare in the townships. Within families, domestic violence is also rising dramatically. Top of the agenda in South Africa is the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, and the consequences this entails for all spheres of life and society. An estimated 5 million people in South Africa are HIV-positive.

MISEREOR focuses its promotion in South Africa on the following cross-cutting themes as well as sectoral and regional priorities:

Cross-cutting themes:

• conflict transformation / reconciliation and peace-building
• democratisation and civil society
• HIV/AIDS

Sectoral focuses:

• rural development
• urban development
• vocational training and small enterprise (all segments)

Regional focuses:
The cooperation between MISEREOR and its partners is focused on the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal regions. Within the Eastern Cape, a special emphasis is on the former (Transkei and Ciskei) homelands with their relatively disadvantaged populations.

MISEREOR’s partners in South Africa include both Church-based organisations and other non-governmental organisations.

Every year, around EUR 3,500,000 is made available in support of around 30 projects in South Africa.