South Africa, a country of more than 42 million people, is governed by a parliamentary democracy. As a nation, it is the economic engine of the entire continent of Africa. Its economy of roughly $105 billion represents 25 percent of Africa's entire economy and 33 percent of sub-Saharan Africa's, with more than 250 American companies “investing and doing business” throughout the country. As a result, it is considered “First World” in its highways, airways, and trade-ways. However, its economy is, in actuality, two sub-economies. One is for white South Africans while the other is for black South Africans. Three percent of the whites and 60 percent of the blacks live below the poverty line. Average annual per-capita income for whites is $7,115; for blacks it is $1,060. In 1995, 30 percent of black South Africans had electricity in their homes. In 2000, 70 percent had electricity. In 1993, 8.2 million black South Africans lived in districts without health care, and another 13.5 million black South Africans lived in districts with less than one hospital bed per 1000 people.

It has been estimated that 4 to 6 million South Africans may be HIV positive. It is further estimated that 25 percent of all women of child-bearing age have HIV. By 2010 there will be more infant deaths from AIDS-related illness than all other causes of infant mortality. And from all indications, unless the government “does something about HIV/AIDS,” nothing will change — especially if support from the outside is lacking.

Embassy of the United States in Pretoria, South Africa