Recently released figures for the proportion of the population of Western Cape province in South Africa living in townships - (shanty towns) rose from 14.3% in 2007 to 18.2% in 2011 according to the long-awaited data from the 2011 census. Additionally, unemployment in 2011 stood at 21.6% (see FT April 28 2014: South Africa's Democratic Alliance struggles to win over poor blacks).
These figures in themselves do not condemn out of hand the ruling Democratic Alliance in the province. They speak also of the impact of economic crisis and the continued migration into the relatively prosperous Western Cape from other parts (and particularly the Eastern Cape) of South and Southern Africa.
It is tragic that NGOs such as Jikeleza Dance that do such valuable work in Western Cape townships are under such huge financial strain as funding for the NGO sector becomes increasingly difficult to secure.
For a coruscating view of the ANC on the eve on national elections - neither party nor liberation movement - see the FT leader comment of April 27 2014 which defines the ANC as a 'coalition held together by little more than jobbery' characterised by 'weak leadership and cronyism'.
For more on the townships of Cape Town see my web page here - which continues to be the most accessed page on the site. You can also donate to Jikeleza Dance in the side bar opposite this blog post.
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