Share the Good News of South Africa

In early 2008, almost as soon as most South Africans returned to their daily lives, having enjoyed a relaxing summer vacation, the perfect storm erupted. In quick succession there has been the removal of President of the Republic unanimously as leader of the ANC in December 2007 followed by a country's power crisis of regular shedding "burden" which began in January 2008 and we are told to continue until after 2010. In addition to South Africans is the perceived high level of crime (perception is reality), increasingly high levels of inflation (9.4% in February 2008), gasoline at the highest levels ever and according to popular media and dinner talk, more people than ever are considering emigrating to greener pastures.

I think part of the reason South Africa is going through a great deal of that kind of negativity mass today is that South Africans are constantly bombarded with bad news. I think if everyone in South Africa has read, speak, think and worry for the bad things all the time, just happening because everyone is pulling it.

After recent months, one may ask: "Are there any good news about South Africa?" Yes! After digging around on the internet, I found a lot of good news about South Africa, I'd like to share with you to help put the constant bad news in perspective:

Cheap Petrol
Although the price of petrol in southern Africa has increased dramatically remains among the cheapest in the world. The highest price in South Africa is Gauteng (interior) price 95 octane gasoline without lead to 2 April 2008 is R8.91 per liter. In contrast according to a survey of 9 700 petrol stations in the UK, unleaded petrol, the price least in the UK is £ 1.03, the average price is £ 1.07 and the highest price £ 1.19 per liter. Using an exchange rate of £ 1 = R15, this means that the average price per liter in the UK is more than R16 per liter, almost double the price of South Africa.

Affordable housing
Housing in Southern Africa remains among the cheapest in the world. According to ABSA housing index in April, the average price of housing middle segment (residential houses at national level between 80m2 and 400m2) is only R929 000. In contrast according to the BBC survey of house prices in the UK (which fell 3.6% last year) in February 2008, The national average is currently (Rand figures are calculated at £ 1 = R15):
* Independent (A house is not joined to any other) € 342 800 (R5 142 000)
* Semi-Detached (A house that is joined to another house on one side) € 200 037 (R3 000 555)
* Townhouse (Streets of houses joined in long rows) € 176 732 (R2 650 980)
* Floor (An apartment is part of a larger building, where all the flats share a front door) £ 200 967 (R3 014 505)

Low unemployment
According to Statistics South Africa, the unemployment rate fell fractionally to 23% in September 2007-the lowest since records began in 2001. The government's target is to reduce the rate to 14% in 2014

Winning the war on crime
Interregional Crime, Justice and the United Nations Research Institute have made research on victims of crime, which shows the image of South Africa as crime more typical of a developing country. These statistics show South Africa has lower rates of violent crime than many African and South American countries.

According to Statistics South Africa Police, the incidence of most types of crime has fallen since 2001. Its latest report of 6 months between April and September each year since 2001, reveals the following rates of incidence per 100 000 population:
* The incidence of murder, although still unacceptably high is clearly decreasing 2001 = 22.7 2002 = 22.9, 2003 = 21.0, 2004 = 19.7 2005 = 19.6 2006 = 20.0, 2007 = 18.7
* The incidence of rape, is also unacceptably high, but has declined clearly in the last 2 years 2001 = 55.1 2002 = 52.3, 2003 = 51.1 2004 = 53.7, 2005 = 55.6 2006 = 49.6, 2007 = 47.8
* The incidence of common assault has decreased dramatically in recent years, 2001 = 260.1, 2002 = 275.2, 2003 = 279.1, 2004 = 269.4, 2005 = 229.5, 2006 = 201.6, 2007 = 191.4

Growth Stock Exchange
* Stock Exchange South Africa (JSE Limited), ranks 18th in the world in terms of capitalization Total market
* South Africa Stock Exchange ALSI (All Share Index) has increased from 7510.4 on 30 April 2003 to over 30 000 in April 2008, an increase of nearly 400% in 5 years

Sporting Successes
* South Africa are champions Rugby World Cup
* South Africa is number 1 in the rugby team ranked according to the IRB at March 31, 2008
* South Africa is the number 1 ranked cricket team in accordance with the ICC One Day International Internationals at March 22, 2008
* South Africa are the hosts of the 2010 World Cup
* South Africa has 2 players ranked in the top 10 in the world according with the Official World Golf Ranking for Week 13 – March 30 – 2008

Competitive Nation
* South Africa ranked 44th out of 131 countries in the Global Economic Forum World Competitiveness Report 2007 / 8
* South Africa has been ranked 28th among 108 countries measured for responsible competitiveness, according to the world center of AccountAbility tank.
* South Africa ranks 52nd out of 157 countries in the world in terms of economic freedom, ahead of Italy (60th), Brazil (70), the United Arab Emirates (74th), Greece (94th), India (104) and China (119), according to the Index of Economic Freedom 2007 (The 2008 Index of Economic Freedom covers 162 countries across 10 specific freedoms such as trade freedom, business freedom, investment freedom and property rights)

Rich in resources
* South Africa is one of the world leaders in mining and minerals, with a significant portion of world reserves and production.
* South Africa has, according to the SA Department of Minerals and Energy, almost 90% of the world's platinum, 80% of world manganese, 73% worldwide chromium, 45% of vanadium in the world and 41% of the world's gold.
* South Africa still has enormous potential for the discovery of another world, deposits class in areas not yet fully understood.

Infrastructure Development
Since 1994, the South African government has channeled significant resources to social programs and services, with varying degrees of success.
* Households with access to safe water: 85% in 2001, 80% in 1996
* Households with electricity lighting: 69.7% in 2001, 57.6% in 1996,
* Households in formal housing sector: 63.8% in 2001, 57.5% in 1996
* Households with toilets chemical or: 51.9% in 2001, 50.5% in 1996,
* Pupil / teacher ratio: 38:1 in 2003, 43:1 in 1994
* Persons who have completed grade 12 Schooling: 20.4% in 2001, 16.3% in 1996
* People with access to electricity: 70% in 2003, 32% in 1994

Low cost of living
Despite the recent inflation and price increases, South Africa remains one of the lowest levels of cost of living in the world. According to the last address Xpatulator (website below) cost of living survey of 228 global locations covering every country in the world, is the 71st Johannesburg, Pretoria is 58 th, Town Cape is 51, and Durban is the 36th cheapest place in the world to live. This means that 192 of the 228 global locations are more expensive places to live compared to the Durban, while 157 villages are more expensive in Johannesburg. A detailed cost comparison of life in Johannesburg and London, London, reveals that in general is a 74.5% more expensive than Johannesburg:
* Alcohol and Snuff (alcoholic beverages and snuff products) is 56.7% more expensive in London
* Clothing (clothing and footwear) is 85.3% more expensive in London
* Communication (landline, Internet and mobile) is 16.18% cheaper in London
* Education (school and tertiary) is 55.6% more expensive in London
* Furniture (furniture, fittings and appliances) is 51.8% more expensive in London
* Products food (food, drinks and cleaning materials) is 46.7% more expensive in London
* Health (health care, medical and health insurance) is 92.9% more expensive in London
* Family (housing, water, electricity, domestic gas, domestic fuel, local tax rates and residential) is 104.3% more expensive in London,
* Several of flax (generally fixed assets and services) is 180.7% more expensive in London
* Staff (care products and personal services) is 145.2% more expensive in London
* Recreation and Culture is 4.8% more expensive in London
* Restaurant meals in restaurants and hotels is 219.26% more expensive in London
* Transport (public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and maintenance vehicle) is 89.80% more expensive in London

Senior Purchasing Power
The low cost of living in South Africa means that your salary goes much further back in Johannesburg, compared with London and many other places. Using the difference in cost of living, the difference of hardship, and exchange rate Xpatulator calculates that if you earn R500 000 rand in South Africa, you have to earn £ 54 182 in London to have a similar standard of living, much more than the £ 33 333 the (£ 1 = R15) indicates exchange rate. The good news is that if you move in the opposite direction (ie, from London to Johannesburg) and earn £ 60 000 today, would not have to find a job that pays R900 000 The (£ 1 = R15) that indicates the type of change. Given the vastly lower cost of living in Johannesburg, which in fact only require a salary of R552 302 to have the same purchasing power as £ 60 000 in London.

In conclusion, yes, 2008 will be a particularly difficult year, given the difficulties in the short term, but the problems of energy and high current are issues of short-term inflation which will eventually be in the past.

The main reason that many people are poor, because bad news sells newspapers and attracts more listeners and viewers. Good news does not often make the first page!

About the Author

Steven McManus has been an Information and Reward Consultant to over 100 organisations for over a decade. Steven runs the most comprehensive global relocation calculator available, an internet service that is used primarily to calculate expatriate salary levels for global assignments, which can be found at http://www.xpatulator.com. This site includes free location overviews, cost of living, and hardship rankings for 228 global cities.

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