South Africa is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa and has the largest white population on the continent. Racial and ethnic strife have played a large role in much of the country's history and politics.

Photo: Matthew Willman/OxfamAUS.

South Africa is a middle income, developing country with abundant resources, including well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors. Despite this, it continues to suffer from droughts and increasing desertification due to climate changes.

The devastating HIV and AIDS pandemic is another major issue for South Africa, which has one of the highest prevalence rates in the world. Current figures estimate that 4.79 million of South Africans are infected with HIV, with about 28% of pregnant women being infected. HIV has had a devastating effect on the economic growth, health services and the social fabric of affected communities.

While it is more than 10 years since the demise of apartheid it's bitter legacy continues to affect the development prospects of the country.

Program overview

Oxfam Australia has been working in South Africa since the 1970s. The focus of our work was originally working against apartheid and supporting land rights. Our focus changed in the late 1990s and we now work with partners on HIV and AIDS programs.

Current projects

HIV and AIDS

Our programs involve peer education, awareness, prevention, home-based care, supporting people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS, lobbying on behalf of vulnerable groups such as orphaned children and elderly grandmothers, and 'edutainment' - the use of song, dance and theatre to inform others.

Food security

We coordinate a food security project in KwaZulu Natal province which aims to improve local partners' ability to deliver food and nutrition programs in HIV and AIDS affected communities. Another project is providing poor households with skills training, equipment and seeds to establish home gardens.

Gender

Gender equity underpins our HIV and AIDS work in South Africa, especially as the peak prevalence of HIV is among women aged 20-29 years. In our HIV and AIDS programs we work with women to promote positive self-perceptions, use community discussions to try to bring about a change in perceptions of traditional roles and use soccer as a means of raising awareness about gender issues with boys and young men.