• The South African economy will experience growth rates climbing up to 4% by 2005 (it was below 1% in the years before 1994).
• 85% of the people have access to clean water (this was 80% in 1996).
• Adult literacy is up from 83% (in 1996) to 89% in 2001. The growth amongst youngsters is even bigger: from 83% to 98%!
• Over 1,9 million subsides for the building of houses are approved.
• Discriminating laws have been banished, the new South African constitution stands for equality.
• More tourists come to South Africa. From 5,7 million in 1996, to 6,4 in 2002.
• Trading networks and markets have been expanded, after the apartheid boycotts where lifted.
• South African played an active role in the transformation from the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union (AU).
• Since the new government is in power, over 500 clinics have been built. 242 hospitals have been improved.
• Crime dropped with 2% over the last five years. It might seem little, but at least it’s something.

For more information on improvements in South Africa, check: http://www.southafrica.info or http://www.gov.za/sa_overview/index.html.

We can hear you thinking: nice figures, but what does ten years of democracy really mean for a Capetonian. Come2capetown.com went down to the Company’s Gardens and asked the people on the streets.

Cassius Meseti, Big Issue vendor:
“I know South Africa at this moment isn’t really where we hoped it would be, but I’ve still got hopes that it will become a better country in the coming years. And I think the government already did a good job. In the past I had to pay to go to the hospital, but I now I can just go in for free. That’s great! And a lot of people of electricity and running water these days. The government did that for us.”

Simbongile Titi:
“It doesn’t really do much for me. I’m born in a generation that didn’t experience much of apartheid. It was in the 80s, and I was a teenager when it ended. I am proud to be a South African, because of all the diverse cultures in this country. And I think the current government is doing a lot for the people, but isn’t getting any credit for it. There’s running water and electricity in the rural areas now. That wasn’t there before!”

Douglas Graham:
“It makes me feel better about this country than I used to, but the future still worries me. Me prediction is that it’s not going to be as stable as it was. And I worry about the financial compatibility of the current leaders. I’m afraid that South African might go the same way as countries like Congo, Unganda and Zimbabwe. A former colonial country that got democracy, but it turned sour. The ANC just gets too much support. I mean, if one party gets 66% of the votes, that’s not democracy! I’m a white parent, but my wife Alicia and I adopted two black kids. You know, we are not really aware of their colour, some some other people are. We get the looks, but we don’t care. I think my kids of a very good future ahead of them. This is and unbelievable country and the discrimination reversed, so they are on the receiving end of that now. They’ll get a proper education and a good future.”

Mfundo:
“I think it brings hope. This country is not quite there yet, but we’re getting there. I guess it all takes time, and the people of South Africa need to realize that. Ten years ago the hopes were really high. Maybe too high, ‘cos obviously you’re not going to solve all the years of damage that has been done in just ten years. But I’m happy here, I don’t want to go anywhere.”