South Africa Country Report

South Africa has made significant strides politically and economically since the end of apartheid rule in the early 1990s. However, the legacy of race-based policies remains visible in many segments of society. The country's political scene continues to be dominated by the African National Congress (ANC), despite losing significant popular support in recent years over its inability to address long-running socio-economic issues, the collapse of its energy network and production, and a spate of high-profile corruption scandals.

Civil unrest has diminished significantly since the end of apartheid, but disruptive protest and strike actions remain widespread and frequent, often revolving around service delivery and socio-economic grievances. Unequal wealth distribution, primarily along racial lines, fuels a prevalent crime rate which, along with endemic HIV/AIDS prevalence, has undermined the country's economic development.

The primary threats to foreign travelers include violent criminal activity and high rates of road traffic fatalities. Infrastructure is relatively well-developed throughout much of the country but is significantly less so in more economically challenged areas, while changing weather patterns and the mismanagement of public utilities have led to frequent water and electricity supply issues in recent years.

Levels of criminal activity in South Africa are among the highest on the continent, and violent crime including robbery, carjacking, sexual assault and murder affects even more affluent neighborhoods of the country's main urban centers.

Although killings and gang activity tend to be concentrated in the economically challenged suburbs of the country's main cities, the use of firearms during robberies is ubiquitous and even incidents of petty theft can quickly escalate to violence. Opportunistic criminal activity typically increases during electricity outages.

Civil and labor unrest occurs with some frequency in urban areas and often escalates into violence, causing major disruption to travel and local services. In recent years, student-related unrest has also increased in frequency and intensity.

Terrorist groups are known to use South Africa for logistics, recruitment and financing, although they have not carried out attacks in the country in recent times.

There are minor concerns over aviation safety.

South Africa's road network is generally in good condition, but dangerous driving by some local road users and pervasive criminal activity pose significant threats to overland travel.

South Africa's seaports are considered some of the most inefficient in the world.

Fuel shortages and service delivery disruption tend to primarily affect the townships surrounding the major urban centers, with the provision of utilities and communications networks in central and business districts being generally reliable.

The electricity supply is limited and inconsistent. South Africa’s energy infrastructure is of poor quality and rapidly aging, resulting in regular power unit breakdowns. Since late 2022, authorities have been implementing near-continuous power cuts – called load shedding – resulting in up to 9-hour daily outages. This compromises the functioning of communication devices, the availability of public transport, road safety, and security protocols.

Identity theft and other online-based criminal activity are significant concerns, and authorities have moved to create an anti-cybercrime framework in recent years.

South Africa has a generally temperate climate, with temperatures and conditions influenced by the high altitude of the interior plateau and the surrounding oceans on three sides of the country. Many parts of South Africa experience heavy rainfall during the summer season, which runs from mid-October to mid-February and brings a significant risk of flooding in some low-lying areas. Unlike much of the country, the Western Cape receives a majority of its rainfall in winter. Wildfires pose a hazard in dry regions such as the area around Cape Town. Droughts are a common occurrence in parts of the country and can spark significant water crises.

HIV/AIDS remain a major public health concern in South Africa with nearly a fifth of the population living with the virus. Malaria is not present in much of the country but is a seasonal concern in some areas. Private healthcare facilities in the main cities offer good standards of medical care and most pharmacies are well stocked.

South Africa is a relatively stable democracy with strong legal institutions and fairly business-friendly policies. However, its political spectrum remains divided along ethno-racial and geographic lines, with parties and charismatic personalities catering to a highly divided electorate. Its highly centralized political system relies heavily on proportional representation. This has led to a recent reliance on coalition governments that, at a provincial and municipal level, have proven hard to manage.

Corruption remains widespread in South Africa despite the existence of an excellent anti-corruption regulatory framework, although anti-corruption efforts have been increasing. The country's judiciary remains largely independent and has clashed with the executive on a number of occasions over laws or policies.