Suchergebnisse

South Africans were promised a better life for all in the run-up to the first democratic elections in 1994. Local governments throughout South Africa are seeking to improve service delivery to underdeveloped areas in line with the new policy. The seven councils of the Durban Metropolitan Area have a vision for the city, to be realised by the year 2015, that residents will live in acceptably serviced housing and will enjoy a generally high quality of life that can be sustained. To monitor performance towards achieving this vision, the Urban Strategy Department of the Durban Metropolitan Council initiated a project to guide budget allocations and measure the impact of local government actions on residents' perceptions of quality of life. This article reports on results from the pilot study for the project, which included a sample survey of 300 residents and in-depth interviews with a cross-section of 60 residents. The baseline study revealed vast differences in living conditions, access to services and life satisfaction across neighbourhoods. Satisfaction with housing and the neighbourhood, as indicated by disinclination to move, were major factors contributing to life satisfaction of Durban residents. (Dev South Afr/DÜI)

The majority of South Africa's older population is income poor and lives in multigeneration households. (...) This article asks how the older poor have benefited from government interventions in the period 1995-8. Drawing on data compiled from Statistics South Africa's household surveys in 1995 and 1998 (...), a set of over 35 objective and subjective indicators broken down by income and younger and older households is reviewed. (...) Major material gains for the poor and older households during the review period include access to clean water, electricity and home ownership. (...) The study concludes that the most effective mechanism for poverty alleviation appears to be the non-contributory, means-tested state old-age pension, which lifts some households out of the most disadvantaged bottom income group. Policies under discussion promise further opportunities for empowering poor households with older members. (Dev South Afr/DÜI)

Eine in KwaZulu-Natal durchgeführte Befragung von 40 Frauen im Hinblick auf ihre Entwicklungsvorstellungen und den Entwicklungsbedarf ihrer Region aus ihrer Sicht führte zu folgenden Ergebnissen: Frauen mit einem bereits höheren Lebensstandard sehen Entwicklungsprioritäten anders als solche in ärmeren Lebensverhältnissen. Während erstere eine Versorgung mit Leitungswasser und Elektrizität als besonders wichtigen Entwicklungsbedarf bezeichneten, waren für letztere der Zugang zu sauberem Wasser, Wohnungs- und Wegebau prioritär. Erfolgreich im Gartenbau tätige Frauen nannten zusätzlich die infrastrukturelle Entwicklung ihres Gebiets. Allgemein entsprachen diese Vorstellungen von auf dem Land lebenden Frauen denen in der Stadt; betont wurde jedoch, dass man nicht in der Lage sei, die Installationskosten zu bezahlen. (DÜI-Hlb)

This report examines the leisure prospects of black urban youth in their teens and early twenties. It addresses several leisure dilemmas facing South Africa today. The findings indicate that leisure means much more than recreation or play to young people. Educational and learning experiences are attractive but neglected leisure options which may have greater appeal than pure recreational pastimes. The evidence suggests that this is not a "lost generation" but one starved for meaningful leisure outlets. "Semi-leisure" is the concept introduced to convey this more serious side to leisure activities. (DÜI-Hff)