Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

Nearly two decades after the peaceful transition from apartheid to democracy, state and society in South Africa are still undergoing changes. High hopes have been vested in the new era. However, the ANC’s proclaimed vision of a ‘better quality of life for all the country’s citizens’ has so far only become reality for a minority of people. Although a new black middle class is beginning to develop, large swathes of the population feel excluded from the progress. They are demanding that government keep its election promises and are calling on local authorities to provide better services; poverty and growing inequality could pose a threat to social peace. Violence and crime are already impeding the economic and social development of the country.

Since 1 January 2011, GIZ has brought together under one roof the long-standing expertise of German Development Service (DED), Capacity Building International, Germany (InWEnt) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ). For further information, go to: www.giz.de

South Africa is the continent’s largest industrialised economy and is viewed as the economic and political powerhouse of Africa. Therefore it has a decisive influence on the political stability of the continent. South Africa contributes significantly to peace and security, development and integration on the African continent. For years, the country’s economy has enjoyed sustained growth. But in 2009, because of the global economic crisis, that growth faltered for the first time. Although the country may have been less severely hit than many others, according to official figures, roughly a million jobs have been lost. The worst affected are the youths and those with poor education and no training at all — almost half the population. They have few chances in the formal labour market. At the same time, the lack of a well-qualified workforce is the main factor limiting the continued development of the economy. For these reasons education, training and overall skills enhancement are at the top of the political agenda. Read More …

Another great challenge is the need for affordable power supply to meet the steadily growing demand for energy. For the most part, the existing supply is generated from burning locally mined coal. Today, South Africa is among the 15 largest emitters of greenhouse gases, and is at the same time severely affected by climate change. At the end of 2011, the country will host the 17th “Conference of the Parties” (COP) on climate change in Durban. This global climate summit will once again focus the eyes of the world on the country, after the first Football World Cup on African soil kicked off in South Africa in June 2010. COP17 could mark a defining moment in the global climate debate as the Kyoto Protocol is due to expire in 2012. Leading the world to a new way of regulating, managing and mitigating climate change would be a great success for the South African government and would strengthen its position as an important global actor. Read More …

Although the number of new infections is no longer increasing, the HIV/AIDS epidemic remains another major concern with nearly one of four adults infected and some 5.7 million people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. But there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel: According to the government, almost 12 million people have been tested for the virus during the last 12 months and almost 1.4 million are now receiving antiretroviral treatment. These numbers clearly indicate a fundamental shift in the attitude towards the disease, which until a few years ago was hushed up in society and negated by Government. Read More …

Bilateral Cooperation with South Africa started as early as 1993 and is of particular strategic importance. Within the framework of German development cooperation with South Africa, GIZ is supporting the country in its efforts to strengthen the public sector at national, provincial and local level, to enhance democratic development with civil society and to promote private sector engagement. It assists South Africa in reducing greenhouse gases, in using energy efficiently and in enhancing the use of renewable energies significantly. GIZ also supports the country in tackling the causes of HIV and AIDS. Furthermore, GIZ is engaged in international education work and runs ambitious programmes on youth and skills development as well as the development volunteer service “weltwärts”, an initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Focal areas of South African-German development cooperation are:

GIZ operates on behalf of BMZ, the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) and other international organisations and institutions, such as the European Union. It supports BMZ in the coordination of activities in the fields of governance and administration and vocational education and it supports BMU in matters related to climate change.

Today, GIZ employs some 300 staff members in South Africa of which more than 60 per cent are local personnel. The organisation’s overall budget for South Africa amounts to EUR 46 million (close to R 500 million) for 2010 and 2011, complemented by a further EUR 90 million for financial cooperation, which amount is available for the same period of time. Germany’s overall annual investment in the development of South Africa from all public sources thus amounts to nearly EUR 100 million.

GIZ Office Pretoria, South Africa

Country Director
Peter Conze

Postal address
P O Box 13732
Hatfield
0028
South Africa

Tel: +27 12 423 5900
Fax: +27 12 342 0185
Email: giz-suedafrika@giz.de
Internet: www.giz.de/en