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The transfer of authority and responsibility for some public functions from one level of government, especially national government, to a second sphere (provincial) or a third sphere (local governments) has been adopted by many countries with the understanding that such health system decentralisation can help to address political, managerial and operational issues in terms of systemic efficiency and cost-effectiveness. While South Africa's health system is already structured with a certain degree of decentralisation, the implementation of National Health Insurance (National Health Insurance) and the proposed creation of District Health Authorities as outlined in the Green Paper on NHI, implies that the country will now have to undertake several further steps in decentralising its health system. If poorly designed or ineffectively implemented , decentralisation can exacerbate existing inequalities and inefficiencies and create new challenges and problems. This chapter explores several possibilities for the implementation of a coherent decentralisation system which addresses the health needs of the population. The authors also provide an extensive overview of the various forms and decentralisation and then offer some lessons, caveats and important issues that must be taken into account in the country's journey to further decentralisation. The potential role of the National Department of Health in a new decentralised system is considered, and several criteria to guide and stagger the decentralisation process are offered. The authors conclude that while decentralisation is not without its disadvantages, decentralisation of health care services in South Africa can make a phenomenal impact on the quality and access to much-needed health services for the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and children and further note that ongoing monitoring and evaluation against set targets will be needed in order to achieve successful implementation of the envisaged NHI-funded health system. ...

The centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth during 1969 (October 2) provides a reason for reassessments of the Indian leader's thought and career. Among the matters which deserve reconsideration is his South African phase, which began in 1893, on his arrival in Natal as a fledgling barrister, and ended in 1914, when he left for India by way of England to begin his main work as an Indian nationalist. A reappraisal of this period is needed principally because there is a tendency in biographical studies and Gandhi's own account of his South African years to romanticise or simplify the record and to leave unanswered questions about the development of his ideas and activities during a critical two decades of his life.1 A reappraisal is possible chiefly because of the recent appearance of Gandhi's Collected Works as a rich source for newer interpretations of what he said and did in Natal and the Transvaal.2 As an effort to contribute to reconsiderations of Gandhi's African phase, this article will examine his views of Europeans and Africans and his protest policies and tactics as they emerged over 21 years. Special attention is given to Gandhi's outlook on Africans and the circumstances surrounding his first disobedience campaign. A close inquiry into these matters helps to explain better Gandhi's role in modern South African history and the nature of his legacy to continuing issues in the continent.

Reprint of the 1909 ed. ; Mode of access: Internet. ; 2 21

The volume assesses whether or not South Africa can achieve peace and stability following the violence, chaos and disorder that has accompanied the transition from apartheid. Some chapters examine important aspects which define the current period of chaos in order to evaluate the prospects of the disorder coming to an end. Others address key areas of reform by which peace and stability could be restored in order to assess the likelihood of this being acheived

Die Flüchtlingsrate im südlichen Afrika ist in den letzten Jahren erheblich gestiegen. Der Bericht schildert die politische und soziale Situation von Asylsuchenden sowie die Integrationsversuche in den Aufnahmeländern. (DÜI-Wgn)

Der Autor präsentiert und diskutiert ein Modell für die zukünftige verfassungsmäßige Entwicklung Südafrikas. Föderalismus wird für besser geeignet gehalten als der gegenwärtige Unitarismus, um die innenpolitischen Probleme des Landes zu lösen. Allerdings werden weder eine Föderation noch eine Konföderation in ihrer reinen Form für auf die südafrikanischen Verhältnisse übertragbar gehalten. Der Autor entwickelt stattdessen eine dritte Form von Föderalismus, die die Eigenschaften der beiden anderen Modelle miteinander verbindet und die er 'cofederation' nennt. (DÜI-Hlb)