South Africa's Children. A Review of Equity and Child Rights

South Africa’s Children

A Review of Equity and Child Rights

South Africa’s Children A Review of Equity and Child Rights

Acknowledgements • This Report has been prepared under the guidance of Commissioner Lindiwe Mokate, Judith Cohen, Cameron Jacobs, Pandelis Gregoriou, Ekanem Okon from the South African Human Rights Commission and George Laryea-Adjei, Bjorn Gelders and André Viviers from UNICEF South Africa.

South Africa’s Children – A Review of Equity and Child Rights March 2011

• Bjorn Gelders from UNICEF South Africa conducted the technical collation and analysis of the data through an equity and child rights lens.

• Various specialists at UNICEF South Africa provided valuable feedback. Viv Barnes edited and managed the production of this Report under tight timeframes, with the assistance of Mary Luce.

This review was undertaken by the South African Human Rights Commission and UNICEF South Africa

© South African Human Rights Commission/UNICEF This publication is intended to support everybody who works in the child rights field in South Africa. All care has been taken to ensure that the information provided is correct and original sources have been indicated for reference and verification. With an identification of the South African Human Rights Commission and UNICEF as source, the document may be freely quoted, reviewed, abstracted, reproduced and translated, in part or in whole, but not for sale nor for use in conjunction with commercial purposes.

Original sources should be acknowledged where indicated in the publication.

Obtainable free of charge from: South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Website: http://www.sahrc.org.za UNICEF South Africa. Website: http://www.unicef.org/southafrica Cover photographs Top row, left and centre, © UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi; right, UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker.

Middle row, left, UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi; right, UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker. Bottom, UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker.

Design and typesetting Handmade Communications d S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Childhood should be a happy time for all children. It should be a time when children have opportunities to grow, learn and develop; receive love and care; play freely and be active; feel safe and protected; be healthy; and be listened to when they share their views on matters that are important to them. Our investments in our children today will reap the fruits of social justice and advanced human capital in decades to come. It is a wise and sustainable investment.

The South African Constitution provides a national blueprint of a society that respects the equality and dignity of every person – children and adults alike. It safeguards social, economic and cultural rights, as well as the civil rights and freedoms of adults and children, and particularly provides for additional rights that apply only to children in Section 28. Thus, children have a special place in our constitution.

The Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities is committed to create an enabling environment to ensure the facilitation of constitutional obligations, policies and legislative frameworks to realise all children’s rights.

We have noted with pride that our democracy has made significant progress over the past years in creating a better South Africa for children. However, we also acknowledge that there are still many challenges that our children, their caregivers and communities face today.

My ministry is in particular committed to working with other ministers and departments, and other partners, to ensure that no child is left behind. We need to make sure that girls and boys are afforded and experience equal opportunities from birth, at home, in school and in career choices; that violence against children is eradicated at its roots in our society; that children in rural and urban areas have the same access to resources while they grow up; that every child eligible for government support receives such support; that every child, no matter where she or he is born or lives, has the same chances to survive and thrive, and live healthily; that children with disabilities experience a society that values them and respects their rights; and that we make every effort to listen to our children.

As a country we have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which shows our commitment to making sure that we meet international and regional standards in the realisation of child rights. Linked to the aforementioned are our commitments made by also ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, as these are also intrinsically linked to the full realisation of child rights.

This publication of the South African Human Rights Commission shows the importance of working together and forming partnerships for the realisation of all rights for all children, and the importance of looking at the realisation of child rights through an equity lens. It is important for us to hold hands and work with each other, as together, we can create a country where children feel safe, protected, cared for and free.

Ms Lulu Xingwana, MP Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities

Foreword by Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities

Message by Commissioner Lindiwe Mokate, South African Human Rights Commission

The South African Constitution and much of our legislation addressing children’s needs is regarded as world class, providing eloquent, explicit and more than satisfactory guarantees of the rights of children. These national laws reflect the spirit of all the relevant international instruments which have been ratified by South Africa.

However, as this publication demonstrates, the unfortunate reality is that there are still many children in South Africa whose basic rights are yet to be realised.

There is an enormous gap between those children who live in poverty and those who live in affluence. Children do not choose the circumstances they find themselves in. Efficient and effective service delivery could go a long way towards closing this gap. As a nation we all have a responsibility to ensure that government, which has the primary responsibility to promote and protect these children’s rights, delivers on its mandate.

As one of the principles for effective implementation of human rights, equity demands that government-funded programmes and services specifically address the needs of all children and ensure that they enjoy the right to equality of opportunity in life. More attention should be given to children’s meaningful participation in the decisions taken about their lives to ensure that the initiatives taken truly address their needs and have the desired impact.

It is important that we are constantly reminded that those of us who are tasked with the responsibility of providing services to our children are not merely involved in an act of kindness but rather the delivery of inalienable human rights to children.

It is my hope that this publication will be used as a reference text to assess the state of South African children to date, address the gaps in policies and service delivery programmes, and project the way forward to improve the situation of children, especially vulnerable children. The inequalities in the provision of and access to basic needs have been graphically represented in the text, to give users a pictorial view of the discrepancies that exist.

I have no doubt that this publication is a valuable resource to everyone who works towards fulfilling our constitutional promise of achieving equality and ensuring human dignity.

Commissioner Lindiwe Mokate South African Human Rights Commission

On 20 November 1989, world leaders came together in the General Assembly to adopt the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since then, the Convention has become the most ratified human rights treaty in history. The Convention underscores the accountability of governments, civil society, parents and the international community to fulfil their obligations towards the realisation of the rights of children, and to ensure that these rights remain inalienable, integral and indivisible.

There can be no doubt that the Convention has transformed the way we view children today. It has set in motion a process of social change, building the foundation for a world where all rights for all children can be realised – the rights to survival, development, protection and participation.

South Africa ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1995. The rights of children are entrenched in, and protected by, the Bill of Rights in the country’s Constitution. The Government of South Africa has put in place a forward-looking system of laws and programmes to ensure basic support for children. The country can be truly proud of its leadership in ensuring that laws are now fully aligned with the provisions of the Convention.

Realising the rights of children is not only fundamental for their development and well-being, it is pivotal to creating the world envisioned by the Millennium Declaration – a world of peace, equity, security, freedom, respect for the environment and shared responsibility. In short, a world fit for children.

Significant efforts have been made by countries across the world towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). But it is increasingly evident that our progress is uneven in many key areas. In the global push to achieve the MDGs, we are leaving behind millions of the world’s most disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised children. Deprivations of children’s rights are disproportionately concentrated among the poorest populations within countries.

This statistical report demonstrates that the situation is no different in South Africa.

Mounting evidence has shown that the Millennium Development Goals and other commitments to children can only be fully realised if we look at development through the prism of equity. Concretely, this means that all programmes and policies should seek to understand and address the root causes of inequity so that all children, particularly those who suffer the worst deprivations, have access to education, health care, sanitation, clean water, protection, and other services necessary for their survival, growth, and development.

Aida Girma UNICEF South Africa Country Representative

Message by Aida Girma, UNICEF Country Representative

Table of Contents

Acronyms

1

Executive Summary

2

Demography of South Africa’s Children

8

Summary View of Inequity Among Children – How Far Have We Come?

12

Summary Report Card on Equity in the Realisation of Child Rights in South Africa

18

Children’s Rights to an Adequate Standard of Living

20

Status of Child Poverty and Hunger

20

The Right to Social Security

24

The Right to Housing

26

The Right to Water and Sanitation

28

Children’s Rights to Life and Basic Health

30

The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health

30

The Right to Food and Nutrition

33

Children and AIDS

36

Children’s Rights to Early Childhood Development and Education

40

The Right to Early Childhood Development

40

The Right to Education

41

Children’s Rights to a Family Environment and Alternative Care

50

The Right to Parental or Family Care

50

The Right to Alternative Care in the Absence of Family Care

52

The Right to be Protected from all Forms of Violence

54

Children’s Rights to Special Protection

56

The Right to Special Protection When in Conflict with the Law

56

The Right to Special Protection in Situations of Exploitation

58

The Civil Rights and Freedoms of Children

60

The Right to Birth Registration

60

The Right to Protection From Corporal Punishment and Other Cruel or Degrading Forms of Punishment

61

Technical Note

62

References

64

Database on Child Rights Indicators

67

Acronyms

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

GPI

Gender Parity Index

ART

Antiretroviral Treatment

GT

Gauteng

ARV

Antiretrovirals

HebB

Hepatitis B Vaccine

BCG

Bacille Calmette Guerin (vaccine for TB)

Hib3

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine

BMI

Body Mass index

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

CD4

Cluster of Differentiation 4 (a glycoprotein that acts as receptor for HIV in humans)

HSRC

Human Sciences Research Council

CDC

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

IES

Income and Expenditure Survey UN Inter-Agency Group on Child Mortality Estimation

Reconstruction and Development Programme

Care Dependency Grant

IGME

RDP

CDG

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Infant Mortality Rate

South Africa

CEDAW

IMR

SA

JCPS

Justice Crime Prevention and Security

CRC

Convention on the Rights of the Child

KZN

KwaZulu-Natal

SABSSM South Africa HIV/AIDS Behavioural Risks,

Sero-status and Media Impact Survey

CSG

Child Support Grant

LIM

Limpopo

SACMEQ Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for

Monitoring Educational Quality

DCS

Department of Correctional Services

MDG

Millennium Development Goal

SAHRC

DHB

District Health Barometer

MMR

Maternal Mortality Ratio

DHIS

District Health Information System

MP

Mpumalanga

SAIMDC South African Index of Multiple Deprivation

for Children

DHS

Demographic and Health Survey

MRC

Medical Research Council

SALDRU Southern Africa Labour and

Development Research Unit

DoE

Department of Education

MTCT

Mother-to-Child-Transmission

SAPS

South African Police Service

Department of Health

MTSF

Medium Term Strategic Framework

SASSA

South African Social Security Agency

DoHS

Department of Human Settlements

DPT

Vaccine against Diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough) and Tetanus

MWCPD Ministry of Women, Children and People

with Disabilities

DRDLR

DoH

South African Human Rights Commission

SAVACG South African Vitamin A Consultative Group SAYP

Survey of Activities of Young People

SES

Socio-Economic Status

NC

Northern Cape

Department of Rural Development and Land Reform

NCHS

National Centre for Health Statistics

EC

Eastern Cape

NFCS

National Food Consumption Survey

ECD

Early Childhood Development

NIDS

National Income Dynamic Study

EDD

Economic Development Department

NT

National Treasury

EFA

Education for All

NW

North West

EPI

Expanded Programme on Immunisation

FCG

Foster Care Grant

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

FS

Free State

OVC

Orphans and Vulnerable Children

UNICEF

United Nations Children’s Fund

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

PMTCT

Prevention of Mother-to-Child-Transmission of HIV

WC

Western Cape

GER

Gross Enrolment Ratio

PPP

Purchasing Power Parity

WHO

World Health Organisation

GHS

General Household Survey

QLFS

Quarterly Labour Force Survey

YRBS

Youth Risk Behaviour Survey

SOCPEN Social Security Pension System Stats SA Statistics South Africa TFR

Total Fertility Rate

U5MR

Under-Five Mortality Rate

UN

United Nations

UNAIDS Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS

1

Executive Summary

Introduction South Africa is often called ‘A World in One Country’ because it displays a contrast between an advanced economy rivalling that of the developed world co-existing with another that has only the most basic infrastructure, and a variety of peoples and cultures that make up the South African ‘rainbow’ nation.1 There are some 49.9 million people in South Africa, with 18.6 million being children under the age of 18 years. Of these children, 85 per cent are Black African; 8 per cent are Coloured; 5 per cent are White; and 2 per cent are Indian/ Asian.2 The overall population is growing at 1.06 per cent per annum. Migration is an important demographic process in shaping the age structure and distribution of the population. The constitution recognises 11 official languages, namely Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga. South Africa is divided into nine provinces, each with its own legislature, premier and executive councils.

The South African economy is the largest on the continent of Africa with a GDP of US$493 billion (PPP) and a GDP per capita of US$10,135 (PPP) in 2008.3 Since 1994, it has recorded positive real GDP growth, except for 2009 when there was contraction by almost 2 per cent due to the global financial crisis. Unemployment is a major economic policy problem for the country.4 One in four working-age South Africans, some 4.5 million people, are unemployed (out of a total labour force of 17 million). Among young people aged 18 to 24 years, 41 per cent are not working and not in school. Other major development challenges include inequality, poverty and HIV and AIDS.

Methodology This report reflects an analysis of key indicators to assess the fulfilment of children’s rights in South Africa. Most of the data is derived from Statistics South Africa’s General Household Survey (GHS). The GHS is a household survey representative for the entire population of the country. It has been executed annually by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) since 2002. It covers six broad areas, namely: education, health, social development, housing, household access to services and facilities, food security and agriculture.

The report also incorporates data from other large-scale surveys, such as the National Food Consumption Survey and the National Antenatal Sentinel HIV Survey by the Department of Health, the National HIV Prevalence Survey by the Human Sciences Research Council, and the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey by the Medical Research Council. Furthermore, for selected indicators, the report draws on administrative data and information published in departmental annual reports.

While South Africa is a relatively data-rich country, the lack of availability of pre-analysed disaggregated data poses a significant challenge to providing a complete picture of inequities in the fulfilment of child rights. Moreover, published statistics usually focus on the entire population or households, not specifically children. Additional analysis of the raw GHS 2009 dataset was therefore undertaken to calculate disaggregated, child-centred statistics. Person 1 2 3 4

2 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

South African Government Information (2011). ‘About South Africa’, http://www.info.gov.za/aboutsa/index.htm.

Statistics South Africa (2010). Mid-year Population Estimates, 2010.

OECD (2010). Stats Extract.

OECD (2010). Economic Survey of South Africa.

weights provided by Stats SA were applied in the analyses to give estimates by province, population group and gender. Data were also disaggregated by income quintile using total household per capita income as the ranking variable.

Equity and Child Rights Equity is rooted in the principles of universality, non-discrimination, indivisibility and participation that underpin the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other major human rights instruments. The CRC guarantees the fundamental rights of every child, regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, income, physical attributes, geographical location or other status. Equity is also one of the founding principles of the South African Constitution.

Significant progress has been made since the end of apartheid in 1994 in fulfilling the rights of children in South Africa. New laws, progressive public spending and reorganisation of administrative systems have contributed to accelerating the fulfilment of rights. For example, millions of children are benefiting from the Child Support Grant through the extension of the age of eligibility and an extensive outreach programme by the state. Recent changes in government’s response to HIV have also been far reaching, including state provision of treatment for all HIV-infected infants at government-run health facilities, and provision of treatment and care to HIV-positive pregnant women earlier in their pregnancies to prevent new paediatric infections. Near-universal access to primary education has been achieved and government is increasingly focusing on the improvement of the quality of education. The Children’s Act and the Child Justice Act provide a solid foundation for advancing child protection in the country.

Altogether, progressive policies by the state in the last sixteen years or so have led to the expansion of many services for children, especially poor children. Nevertheless, the existence of large disparities in children’s access to some of the essentials of life points to a critical policy challenge, a challenge that requires a more accelerated drive to redress inequities from the past as well as confronting the substantial barriers that the poorest children still face today.

The report is structured in three parts. Part 1 on the demographic profile of children in the country shows that almost two out of five South Africans are children, that is, under the age of 18. About 7 million of these children live in the poorest 20 per cent of households.

Part 2 of the report presents a summary view of inequities in the fulfilment of child rights. South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world and income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, has increased since 1993. In South Africa, compared to a child growing up in the richest income quintile, a child in the poorest quintile is two times less likely to have access to adequate sanitation and water; two times less likely to be exposed to early childhood development programmes; three times less likely to complete secondary education; seventeen times more likely to experience hunger; and twenty-five times less likely to be covered by a medical scheme.

Racial disparities remain strong. For example, compared to a White child, a Black African child is nearly 18 times more likely to grow up in poverty. Moreover, the spatial distribution of multiple child deprivation still overlaps to a large extent to the location of the former homelands.

The country has nevertheless made good progress in reducing gender inequality. Gender parity has been achieved in primary and secondary education. There is also little difference between boys and girls for many child outcomes.

3

Some gender gaps, however, remain. Children in female-headed households, for example, are more likely to experience hunger than children in male-headed households. They are also less likely to have access to adequate sanitation and water. Moreover, female youth are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic and gender-based violence remains widespread in the country.

Part 3 of the report presents wide-ranging data on the realisation of specific child rights in the country. The various rights are clustered into six groups: (1) the right to an adequate standard of living; (2) the right to life and basic health; (3) the right to early childhood development and education; (4) the right to a family environment and alternative care; (5) the right to special protection; and (6) the civil rights and freedoms of children. Each right is accompanied by a brief description of the relevant articles in the CRC and the South African Constitution; related national targets as articulated in service delivery agreements for government’s 12 outcomes for the MTSF 2009–2014 period; and international goals and targets, particularly the Millennium Development Goals.

Children’s right to an adequate standard of living

Child poverty was reduced by 13 per cent between 2004 and 2008. However, despite this positive progress income poverty remains very much a part of inequality in South Africa and a key determinant of children’s standard of living. Some 11.9 million children (64 per cent of all children) live in poverty. Just two provinces, Gauteng and Western Cape, have child poverty levels below the national average. If the Vision 2014 target is to be met, child poverty has to decrease from the current level of 64 per cent to 37 per cent in 2014.

Unemployment is a key constraint to overcoming child poverty. Overall, nearly four out of ten children live in households with no employed household members. Among the poorest, seven of out ten children live in households with no economically active members.

Reported hunger among children declined from 31 per cent in 2002 to 15 per cent in 2007. However, progress is at risk of being reversed as data shows an increase in child hunger to 22 per cent in 2009. Children in the poorest households and female-headed households are significantly more likely to experience hunger. There are also wide disparities across provinces.

The evidence shows that there has been significant progress in fulfilling children’s right to social security, particularly through the dramatic expansion of social grants. This has contributed to the moderate decline in child poverty. The eligibility age range for the Child Support Grant has gradually been extended from 0–6 years in 1999 to 0–17 years from 2012 onwards. Yet, some 2.1 million children eligible for the Child Support Grant were not receiving it in 2008.

Lack of documentation continues to be the biggest barrier to accessing the Child Support Grant.

About 2.8 million children (15 per cent of all children) have been reached with a RDP or state-subsidised dwelling.

Nevertheless, children from middle-income households appear to have received most benefits from RDP or statesubsidised housing. Some 1.7 million children (9 per cent of all children) still live in informal housing such as shacks in backyards or squatter settlements. Children from the poorest households are less likely to live in formal housing.

4 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Access to safe water and sanitation has improved over the past decade with 83 per cent of children having access to piped water on site or at public/neighbour’s tap, and access to adequate sanitation for children has improved from 47 per cent in 2002 to 64 per cent in 2009. Yet, almost 1.4 million children (8 per cent of all children) live in households that rely on rivers or streams as their main source of drinking water. In addition, nearly 1.5 million children (8 per cent of all children) live in households with no toilet facility at all. In fact, among children in the poorest households just 50 per cent have access to adequate sanitation.

Children’s right to life and basic health

Data on the right to health presents a mixed picture. Access to health services appears to be high as nine out of ten births take place in health facilities. However, South Africa is not on track for meeting the health targets of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals. Under-five mortality is at the same level it was in 1990. Maternal mortality has increased by 80 per cent since 1990. Each year in South Africa, around 4,300 mothers die due to complications of pregnancy and child birth; 20,000 babies are stillborn and another 23,000 die before they reach one month of age.

In total, some 75,000 children die before their fifth birthday annually. This toll of over 270 maternal and child deaths every day is mainly due to HIV and AIDS and poor implementation of existing packages of care.

The data shows that malnutrition among children continues and wide disparities persist across provinces. One in five children are stunted which is a consequence of chronic nutritional deprivation. One in ten children are underweight.

Close to 5 per cent of children suffer from wasting and face a markedly increased risk of death. Chronic undernutrition in early childhood results in diminished cognitive and physical development which puts children at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives. Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly vitamin A and iron deficiency, doubled between 1994 and 2005. The School Nutrition Programme nevertheless reaches 6 out of 10 children in public schools.

HIV prevalence among children has decreased since 2002. Children’s access to antiretroviral therapy has gone up substantially in recent years, and around 100,000 children living with HIV are now receiving treatment. Yet, only 54 per cent of children needing antiretroviral therapy were receiving it in 2009, though this is expected to have increased because of new treatment guidelines which became effective in April 2010. Overall, there is need for a greater focus on the HIV-free survival among the children.

Children’s right to early childhood development and education

Early childhood development (ECD) is crucial to children’s mental and emotional development and their readiness for school and life. There has been substantial progress in expanding enrolment in Grade R – from 15 per cent in 1999 to 60 per cent in 2009. Government subsidies have also given momentum to centre-based care for younger children, though at a much slower pace than Grade R. However overall, just 43 per cent of children under five are exposed to an ECD programme at home, a centre or elsewhere. Again, there are large disparities across provinces.

There has been significant progress in the realisation of the right to education. Near-universal primary education has been achieved in all provinces and one in two learners in public schools receives free education. School attendance

5

among children has increased steadily in the past 15 years, but less so for older age groups, especially those eligible for secondary education. Nationwide some 582,000 children are out of secondary school. Lack of money and disability are major reasons why children are not attending school. Furthermore, children in the poorest households are nearly three times less likely to complete secondary schooling than children in the richest households.

The quality of education is a major challenge in South Africa. Learners’ achievement in national and international assessments is generally poor. Children in the poorest households are more likely to repeat the same grade and tend to have lower achievement levels. Violence at school is also a barrier to quality education. About 27 per cent of high school learners feel unsafe at school while 16 per cent have been threatened with a weapon.

Children’s right to a family environment and alternative care

In South Africa, just one in three children live with both biological parents. Overall, one in five children have lost one or both parents, though there are large differences between provinces. The AIDS epidemic is an important driver of the growing number of orphans. Some 1.9 million children have lost one or both parents due to AIDS. Poor children appear to be more likely to be deprived of parental care.

South Africa has made significant strides in ensuring that children in need of alternative care are placed in appropriate alternative care options. Over 88,600 children were declared in need of care by a children’s court during 2009/10.

These children can be placed in foster care, in a children’s home, in a school of industry, or back into the parents’ or guardians’ care under the supervision of a social worker. Orphaned and abandoned children may also be adopted.

Close to 500,000 children live with foster parents and benefit from the Foster Child Grant, while the number of adoptions has increased to more than 5,850 annually. Approximately 13,250 children stay in registered child and youth care centres.

Violence against children is pervasive in the country. Over 56,500 children were reported to be victims of violent crime in 2009/10, yet many more crimes remain unreported. People closest to them perpetrate the majority of cases of child sexual and physical abuse.

Children’s right to special protection

The CRC and the South African Constitution afford special protection to children in conflict with the law and children in situations of exploitation. Approximately 33,000 children awaited trial in detention during 2008/09, either in correctional service facilities, secure care centres, places of safety or under home-based supervision. The number of children in correctional facilities has decreased substantially over the past years as an increasing number of children are placed in secure care centres or diverted from the mainstream criminal justice system by attending diversion programmes such as life skills or anger management programmes. Little data is available on children in situations of exploitation, such as child labour, child prostitution and trafficking. More than one in ten high school learners has taken at least one illegal narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.

6 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

The civil rights and freedoms of children

There has been good progress in realising children’s right to an identity. The proportion of births registered within the year of birth jumped from 25 percent in 1998 to 85 percent in 2009. There are, nonetheless, large provincial disparities and the lowest levels of birth registration continue to be in predominantly rural provinces.

Corporal punishment is practised in many homes and schools. Children in the poorest households are five times more likely to experience corporal punishment at school than children in the richest households, though by law it is prohibited in schools.

Conclusion South Africa has made significant progress in fulfilling the rights of children. The country has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, and a system of laws and programmes has been put in place to ensure basic support for children. The delivery of essential services has been expanded in significant ways to all groups of society since the end of apartheid. Yet, inequities in access to the essentials of life still exist, affecting in very strong ways how children access the opportunities that the country has for the fulfilment of their rights. Children in the poorest households appear to have benefited least from progress since the end of apartheid.

The income situation of a child’s family, race, location and to a lesser degree gender, determine the extent of inequities in the fulfilment of children’s rights. Accelerating the reduction of inequities in the fulfilment of children’s rights is both a moral imperative and necessary condition for the total development of the country.

As the evidence shows, the situation of children left behind in South Africa requires special attention from policy makers, attention that prioritises their rights in government programmes, budgets and monitoring systems. There is an urgent need for policy makers to move at a faster pace to redress inequities from the past as well as tackle the substantial barriers that the poorest children still face today.

This report is a statistical publication. But behind every statistic is the life of a child – each one endowed with rights to survive, develop and reach his or her full potential, regardless of geographic location, race, income, gender or other status.

7

Limpopo 12%

5 – 9% 10 – 14% 15 – 20%

3,518,388

< 5%

North West 7%

Mpumalanga 8%

> 20%

Northern Cape 2%

1,814,404

Also see the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 2: … a child means every human being below the age of 18 years.

KwaZulu-Natal 23%

Free State 5%

Eastern Cape 15%

2,715,691

CRC, Article 1: … a child means every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.

1,001,354

395,144

Rights

4,253,558

Gauteng 19%

Percentage distribution

1,426,930

Number of children

2,305,976

Number and percentage distribution of children (< 18 years) by province, 2010

1,217,832

Demography of South Africa’s Children

There are 18.6 million children in the country

Western Cape 10%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). Mid-year Population Estimates, 2010.

SA Constitution Section 28(3): … ‘child’ means a person under the age of 18 years.

South Africa’s population structure is skewed towards the young 37% of the population is below 18 years of age

Number of males and females by age group (population pyramid), 1996–2010

Age group

Number of females per age group

Number of males per age group

80+ 75–79 70–74 65–69 60–64 55–59 50–54 45–49 40–44 35–39 30–34 25–29 20–24 15–19 10–14 5–9 0–4 3,000

Year: 1996 Year: 2010

Source: Statistics South Africa (1996; 2010). Census 1996; Mid-year Population Estimates, 2010.

2,000

1,000

0 Thousands

8 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

1,000

2,000

3,000

85% of children are Black; 27% under 5 years of age; there are only slightly more boys than girls Percentage distribution of children in South Africa by age, population group and sex, 2010 2% 5% 8% 5,181,221

African/Black 15,816,906 0-4 years

27%

8,347,353

Coloured 1,461,848

5-9 years

45%

Indian/Asian 355,114

10-17 years

9,387,769

9,261,508

50.3%

49.7%

Female Male

White 1,015,410

85% 5,120,703 28%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). Mid-year Population Estimates, 2010.

1.07 million children were born in 2010 Number of births by province, 2010

250,000

235,330

158,490

164,580

Limpopo

Eastern Cape

177,675

150,000 95,705

100,000

80,320

80,830

North West

Mpumalanga

Š UNICEF/Rebecca Hearfield

Number of births

200,000

59,380 50,000 17,825 0

Northern Cape

Free State

Western Cape

Gauteng

KwaZuluNatal

Source: Actuarial Society of South Africa (2005). ASSA2003 Model.

D e m o g r a p h y o f S o u t h A f r i c a â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s C h i l d r e n 9

Fertility has declined from an average of 2,86 children per woman in 2001 to 2,38 children in 2010 Total fertility rate (TFR), 2001–2010 3.0 2.86

2.81

2.75

2.5

2.7

2.85

2.59

2.54

2.48

2.43

2.38

2007

2008

2009

2010

TFR

2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). Mid-year Population Estimates, 2010.

A child born in South Africa today will on average live for 53 years If born in Brazil, that child would have lived for 73 years

Average life expectancy at birth by sex and province for the period 2006–2011 70

Males Females

60 50

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Years

40 30

0

South Africa

Free State

KwaZuluNatal

North West

Mpumalanga

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). Mid-year Population Estimates, 2010.

1 0 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Eastern Cape

Northern Cape

Limpopo

Gauteng

60.8

57.6

58.7

55.9

58.0

55.0

54.9

53.5

53.1

51.3

51.6

50.3

50.5

47.5

50.2

49.1

48.4

46.2

54.3

10

52.2

20

Western Cape

South Africa’s children speak a wide diversity of languages Percentage distribution of children’s mother tongue, 2009

Children are more likely to live in poorer households Some 7 million children live in the poorest 20% of households while only 1.7 million children live in the richest 20% of households

Total number of children by household income quintile, 2009

8,000,000 7,000,000

9%

7%

10%

7.0

6,000,000 7%

5,000,000

11%

4.5

4,000,000 10% 3,000,000

2.9 2.4

2,000,000

17%

1.7

1,000,000

29%

0

Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Isizulu/Zulu Isixhosa/Xhosa Setswana/Tswana English Sepedi/Northern Sotho

Unspecified

1%

Isindebele/South Ndebele/North Ndebele

1%

Tshivenda/Venda

2%

Siswati/Swazi

3%

Xitsonga/Tsonga

3%

Sesotho/Southern Sotho/Sotho Afrikaans Other

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Note: The GHS only records in what language the interview with the household’s respondent was conducted.

It is assumed this serves as a good proxy of the mother tongue of any child living in that household.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

D e m o g r a p h y o f S o u t h A f r i c a ’s C h i l d r e n 1 1

Summary View of Inequity Among Children – How Far Have We Come?

South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world Gini coefficient by country in the world

Note: Gini coefficient is the most commonly used measure of inequality. The coefficient varies between 0, which reflects complete equality and 1, which indicates complete inequality (one person has all the income or consumption, all others have none).

GINI coefficient

Rights CRC, Article 2: States Parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child’s or his or her parent’s or legal guardian’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.

<.25

.45 - .49

.25 -.29

.50 - .54

.30 - .34

.55 - .59

.35 - .39

>.60

.40 - .44

No data Source: CIA (2009). The World Factbook 2009.

Income inequality has worsened since 1993 Gini coefficient for per capita income, 1993, 2000 and 2008

• Share of income of the bottom 40% of the population increased to at least 6.4%.

0.66

0.68

0.70

80 % share of income

• Gini coefficient reduced to 0.59.

0.60

Gini coefficient

Key targets by 2014:

Percentage share of total reported household income per capita by quintile, 2008

0.75

National targets EDD/NT Service Delivery Agreement, Output 4.1: Faster and sustainable inclusive growth.

The poorest 20% of the population earns only 1.8% of total national household income

0.45

0.30

60 50 40 30 20

0.15

10 0.00

1993

2000

2008

Source: OECD (2010). Trends in South African income distribution and poverty since the fall of apartheid. Analysis of SALDRU 1993, IES 2000 and NIDS 2008 data sets.

1 2 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

74

70

0

7 2

4

Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

14

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Source: Finn, Leibbrandt and Woolard (2009). Income and Expenditure Inequality: Analysis of the NIDS Wave 1 Dataset.

Compared to a child growing up in the richest quintile, a child in the poorest quintile is …

2 times less likely to have access to adequate sanitation and water

2 times less likely to be exposed to early childhood development programmes

Percentage of children living in households with access to adequate sanitation; piped (tap) water in dwelling or on site, 2009

Percentage of children under 5 exposed to ECD programmes, 2009

Adequate sanitation Piped (tap) water on site

84 72

60 40

59

85

73

57

50 40

Poorest 20% Second 20%

40

40 35

55

50 41

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

36

30

24

25 20

15

15

9

10

10

5

0

0

Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

2 Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

3 times less likely to complete secondary education

25 times less likely to be covered by a medical scheme

Percentage of youth (20–24 years old) who have completed secondary education, 2009

Percentage of children covered by a medical aid scheme, 2009

80

80

74

60 50

50

Percentage

Percentage

60

38

40 30

26

29

50 40

20

10

10 Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

29

30

20

0

71

70

70

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

33

30

44

20

20 0

64

60

94 Percentage

80 Percentage

95

70

Percentage of children living in households experiencing hunger, 2009

Percentage

100

17 times more likely to experience hunger

0

9 3

3

Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Summary View of Inequity Among Children – How Far Have We Come? 13

Racial disparities remain strong. Compared to a White child, a Black African child is …

18 times more likely to live in poverty

Percentage of children living in poverty, 2008 80 71

2 times less likely to have access to adequate sanitation and water

Percentage of children under 5 exposed to ECD programmes, 2009

Percentage of children living in households with access to adequate sanitation; piped (tap) water in dwelling or on site, 2009

80 70

50

60 37

40 30 20

0

Coloured

Indian

42

Piped (tap) water on site

80

54 40

30

60

96

95

100

99

99

97

Adequate sanitation 58

53

40 20

10

4 Black/African

40

100

20

11

10

50

69

Percentage

60

Percentage

Child poverty rate (%)

70

1.5 times less likely to be exposed to early childhood development programmes

0

White

African/Black

Coloured

Indian/Asian

0

White

African/Black

Coloured

Indian/Asian

White

Note: The poverty line is set at the 40th percentile of household per capita income.

Source: Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town (2010). South African Child Gauge 2009/2010. Analysis of Stats SA General Household Survey 2008.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

12 times more likely to experience hunger

2 times less likely to complete secondary education

Percentage of children living in households experiencing hunger or at risk of hunger, 2009 40 35

11

80

82

81

Indian/Asian

White

8

25

24 20

Percentage

Percentage © UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Experience hunger

21

15 10

African/Black

Coloured

60 45 40

36

20

4

5

8

3 2

Indian/Asian

White

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

1 4 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

100

At risk of hunger

30

0

Percentage of youth (20–24 years old) who have completed secondary education, 2009

0

African/Black

Coloured

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

The spatial distribution of multiple child deprivation still overlaps to a large extent to the location of the former homelands South African Index of Multiple Child Deprivation at municipal level, 2007

Index of Multiple Deprivation for Children

Former Homelands

Most Deprived (47)

Indians

4

(47)

Coloureds

3

(48)

Blacks

2

(47)

Whites

Least Deprived (48)

Venda

Black Homeland

Lebowa

Excluded Areas (20)

KwaNdebele Boputhatswana Swaziland

Lesotho

Transkei

Note: The SAIMDC 2007 was constructed on the basis of a model of child deprivation comprising a series of uni-dimensional domains of deprivation which each contain one or more indicators relating to that domain of deprivation. The domains were each constructed as a separate domain index and then combined into a single measure of multiple deprivation – the SAIMDC 2007. Five domains of deprivation were produced using the 2007 Community Survey to form the SAIMDC 20072: Income and Material Deprivation; Employment Deprivation; Education Deprivation; Biological Parent Deprivation; Living Environment Deprivation.

Source: Wright, G, Noble, M, Barnes, H and Noble, S (2009). The South African Index of Multiple Deprivation for Children 2007 at Municipality Level.

Pretoria: Department of Social Development.

Summary View of Inequity Among Children – How Far Have We Come? 15

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Ciskei

The country has made good progress in reducing gender inequalities. Gender parity has been achieved in primary and secondary education and for many child outcomes there is little difference between boys and girls Nevertheless, compared to children living in male-headed households, children in female-headed households are …

1.5 times more likely to experience hunger

Percentage of children living in households experiencing hunger or at risk of hunger, 2009

1.3 times less likely to have access to adequate sanitation and water

Percentage of children living in households with access to adequate sanitation; piped (tap) water in dwelling or on site, 2009 80

40 35

At risk of hunger

12 70

Experience hunger

60

25

9

27

20 15

17

10

© UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Piped (tap) water on site 58 52

30

5 Female-headed HH

68

40

20

Male-headed HH

70

50

10

0

1 6 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Percentage

Percentage

30

Adequate sanitation

0

Male-headed HH

Female-headed HH

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Women are disproportionately affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic Female youth are 3.5 times more likely to be HIV positive than their male counterparts HIV prevalence (%) among youth 15–24 years old by sex, 2002; 2005 and 2008

Gender-based violence remains widespread Sexual offences against children reported to the police, 2006/07–2009/10

30,000

20 Males Females

25,000

17

15

Number

Percentage

10

22,124

20,000

14 12

27,417 25,428 20,141

15,000 10,000

6 4

0

2002

5,000

4

2005

2008

Source: Shisana O, et al. (2009). South African national HIV prevalence, incidence, behaviour and communication survey 2008: A turning tide among teenagers? Cape Town: HSRC Press.

0

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

Source: South African Police Service (2010). Crime Situation in South Africa.

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

5

Summary View of Inequity Among Children – How Far Have We Come? 17

Summary Report Card on Equity in the Realisation of Child Rights in South Africa Selected key indicators

National average

Province EC

FS

GT

KZN

LIM

MP

NW

NC

WC

Ratio of highest to lowest value

Children’s Rights to an Adequate Standard of Living Children living in poverty (%, 2008)

64

72

66

42

71

83

69

70

70

37

2.3

Children experiencing hunger (%, 2009)

22

23

38

15

30

10

26

25

21

17

3.8

Children living in formal housing (%, 2009)

72

46

81

80

58

90

86

88

85

80

2.0

Children living in households with piped water in dwelling or on site (%, 2009)

60

31

91

91

45

39

65

55

70

92

3.0

Children living in households with adequate sanitation (%, 2009)

64

51

77

88

59

37

43

64

80

94

2.6

Births taking place in public health facilities (%, 2008/09)

87

71

84

97

83

90

84

84

89

98

1.4

Under-five mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births, 2009)

62

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Full immunisation coverage among children under one year (%, 2008/09)*

90

84

90

102

85

84

72

89

93

104

1.4

Prevalence of stunting among children 1–9 years (%, 2005)

18

18

28

17

15

24

18

15

28

12

2.3

Prevalence of underweight among children 1–9 years (%, 2005)

9

8

14

6

5

12

11

12

38

8

7.7

Prevalence of wasting among children 1–9 years (%, 2005)

5

4

3

3

1

4

8

3

19

12

14.7

HIV prevalence among pregnant women (%, 2009)

29

28

30

30

40

21

35

30

17

17

2.3

HIV prevalence among children 2–14 years (%, 2008)

2.5

2.1

4.1

2.2

2.8

2.5

3.8

3.2

2.3

1.1

3.7

Children under five years of age exposed to an ECD programme (%, 2009)

43

38

67

59

33

35

42

43

44

38

2.0

Children of primary school age attending an educational institution (%, 2009)

99

98

99

99

99

99

98

98

99

99

1.0

Youth (20–24 years old) who have completed primary education (%, 2009)

92

87

94

94

92

92

94

91

88

96

1.1

Children of secondary school age attending an educational institution (%, 2009)

89

87

90

92

87

94

90

87

83

82

1.2

Children’s Rights to Life and Basic Health

Children’s Rights to Early Childhood Development and Education

Youth (20–24 years old) who have completed secondary education (%, 2009)

40

26

40

53

42

26

37

37

32

50

2.0

Grade 6 average mathematics score in SACMEQ assessment (2007)

495

469

492

545

485

447

476

503

499

566

1.2

Children living with both biological parents (%, 2009)

32

21

34

50

25

23

28

30

31

52

2.4

Children who have lost one or both parents (%, 2009)

19

25

23

13

25

18

22

19

15

8

3.0

Cases of neglect and ill-treatment reported to the police (per 100,000 population, 2009/10)

8

5

16

10

4

4

5

8

17

16

4.1

12

12

8

9

13

13

14

10

13

11

1.8

Birth registered within year of birth (%, 2005)**

72

66

75

81

62

67

70

67

82

97

1.6

Children attending school experiencing corporal punishment (%, 2009)

17

25

20

12

24

15

8

13

6

3

8.1

Children’s Rights to a Family Environment and Alternative Care

Children’s Rights to Special Protection High school learners who have ever taken drug like heroin, mandrax, sugars, tik (%, 2008) The Civil Rights and Freedoms of Children

1 8 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Better off than the national average

Worse off than the national average

Equal or close to the national average (+/- 1 percentage point)

Gender

Population group

Source

Poorest 20%

Richest 20%

Ratio of richest to poorest

Male

Female

Ratio of male to female

Black / African

Coloured

Indian / Asian

White

Ratio of White to Black

–

–

–

–

–

–

71

37

11

4

0.1

GHS 2008

33

2

0.1

22

23

0.96

24

21

5

2

0.1

GHS 2009

61

98

1.6

72

72

1.00

68

88

100

100

1.5

GHS 2009

40

94

2.3

60

60

1.00

53

96

99

97

1.8

GHS 2009

50

95

1.9

64

65

0.99

58

95

100

99

1.7

GHS 2009

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

DHB 2008/09

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

UN estimate

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

DHB 2008/09

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

NFCS 2005

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

NFCS 2005

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

NFCS 2005

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

DoH 2010

–

–

–

3.0

2.0

1.5

–

–

–

–

–

HSRC 2010

36

64

1.8

43

43

0.99

42

40

54

69

1.7

GHS 2009

99

100

1.0

98

99

1.00

99

99

100

99

1.0

GHS 2009

89

98

1.1

91

94

0.97

91

96

99

97

1.1

GHS 2009

89

93

1.0

89

88

1.01

89

77

89

91

1.0

GHS 2009

26

74

2.8

36

44

0.82

36

45

82

81

2.3

GHS 2009

–

–

–

491

498

0.99

–

–

–

–

–

SACMEQ 2007

18

74

4.0

32

33

0.98

27

48

82

80

3.0

GHS 2009

24

5

0.2

20

19

1.05

22

8

3

3

0.1

GHS 2009

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

SAPS 2010

–

–

–

14

9

1.46

12

13

7

4

0.4

YRBS 2008

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Stats SA 2007

21

4

0.2

17

17

1.00

19

4

2

1

0.0

GHS 2009

* Data should be read with caution as several districts and provinces recorded values over 100%. ** Stats SA has only published provincial data up to 2005. National data is available up to 2009.

Summary View of Inequity Among Children – How Far Have We Come? 19

© UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

Income quintile

Status of Child Poverty and Hunger

Children’s Rights to an Adequate Standard of Living

Rights CRC, Article 27: (1) States Parties recognise the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development. (2) The parent(s) or others responsible for the child have the primary responsibility to secure, within their abilities and financial capacities, the conditions of living necessary for the child’s development. (3) States Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing.

Related International goals/targets MDG 1, Target 1.A: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day.

MDG 1, Target 1.B: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people.

MDG 1, Target 1.C: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Articles 14 (2)(c); 20(2)(a).

SA Constitution Section 27(1): Everyone has the right to have access to – (b) sufficient food and water ….

Section 28(1): Every child has the right – (c) to basic nutrition ….

National targets DRDLR Service Delivery Agreement, output 7.2: Improved access to affordable and diverse food.

Key targets: Decrease the proportion of the total population that experiences hunger from 52% in 2005 to 30% in 2014 using national food consumption survey data.

2 0 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

© UNICEF/Kate Pawelczyk

Vision 2014: Halve poverty between 2004 and 2014.

In South Africa, 11.9 million children (64% of all children) live in income poverty Number and percentage of children living in poverty by province, 2008

North West 907,000 70.2%

Northern Cape 298,000 70.0%

Free State 696,000 66.3%

Eastern Cape 1,981,000 71.5% Western Cape 656,000 36.7%

Mpumalanga 1,049,000 69.1% KwaZuluNatal 2,902,000 70.9%

Black children constitute a disproportionately large share of the total number of children living in poverty

Percentage share of each population group in the total child population and the total number of children living in poverty, 2008 100

≤ 60%

60.1 – 70%

Share (%) of total child population

96

85

Share (%) of total children in poverty

80

70.1 – 80% > 80%

Percentage

Limpopo 1,993,000 83.3%

Gauteng 1,451,000 42.2%

Racial disparities in child poverty remain

Note: The poverty line is set at the 40th percentile of household per capita income. This translates into a per person monthly income of less than R570 in 2008 Rands.

Source: Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town (2010). South African Child Gauge 2009/2010. Analysis of Stats SA General Household Survey 2008.

60

40

20 8 0

African/Black

6

4

Coloured

2

0.4 White

0.3

Indian/Asian

Source: Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town (2010). South African Child Gauge 2009/2010.

Analysis of Stats SA General Household Survey 2008, and Stats SA Mid-year Population Estimates 2008.

Child poverty has decreased by an average annual rate of 3.2% between 2004 and 2008 in all declining by just 13% over the period If the Vision 2014 target is to be met, child poverty has to decrease from the current rate of 64% to 37% in 2014

Percentage of children living in poverty by province, 2002–2008 100 88

60

75

73

66

64 48

77

69

78

70

74

70

78 83 71

72

51

2004 2008

42

Limpopo

Northern Cape

North West

Mpumalanga

Free State

Gauteng

Western Cape

20

Eastern Cape

National 2014 target 37%

37

KwaZulu-Natal

40

South Africa

© UNICEF/Rebecca Hearfield

Child poverty rates

80

83

Note: The poverty line is set at the 40th percentile of household per capita income.

Source: Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town (2010). Children Count – Abantwana Babalulekile.

Analysis of Stats SA General Household Survey 2004–2008.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o a n A d e q u a t e S t a n d a r d o f L i v i n g 2 1

Unemployment appears to be a key driver of poverty Overall, nearly 4 out of 10 children live in households with no employed household members. Among the poorest, 7 of out 10 children live in households with no employed members

Percentage of children living in households with no economically active household members by province and household income quintile, 2009

80 70

69

Limpopo 54%

Percentage

60 50 40

31

30

10

10 0

Gauteng 16%

North West 42%

20 8

Mpumalanga 34%

4 Poorest 20% Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Free State 33%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

KwaZulu-Natal 43%

Northern Cape 46%

Average for South Africa = 37%

Percentage Eastern Cape 51%

Š UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Western Cape 12%

2 2 S O U T H A F R I C Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; S C H I L D R E N

1 in 3 children nationwide experience hunger or are at risk of hunger

Children in the poorest households and female-headed households are significantly more likely to experience hunger

Hunger risk classification in children by province, 2009

Hunger risk classification in children by household income quintile and sex of household head, 2009 50

22

Limpopo Gauteng Western Cape Northern Cape Eastern Cape North West Mpumalanga KwaZulu-Natal

10

10

9

40

81

15

12

17

74

7 21

76 8

23 25 26

71 11

66

7

68

8

20%

33

12 13

At risk of hunger (%) 27

24

20

7 7 9

4 2

57 10

40%

0

52 60%

80%

100%

Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Experience hunger (%)

9

9

10

14 38

30

12

15

66

30

Free State 0%

67

Percentage

South Africa

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Femaleheaded HH

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010).

General Household Survey 2009. Analysis

by UNICEF South Africa.

Maleheaded HH

Experience hunger (%) At risk of hunger (%) Food secure (%)

Progress made in reducing child hunger is at risk of being reversed Percentage of children experiencing hunger, 2002–2009

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). Reweighted GHS 2002–2008 data series and GHS 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

40 31

30

30 Percentage

Note: The Hunger Scale Questionnaire introduced in the GHS 2009 is composed of eight questions that investigate whether adults and children are affected by food insecurity, food shortages, perceived food insufficiency or altered food intake due to constraints on resources. Children living in households responding negatively to all eight questions are classified as ‘food secure’. Children in households responding affirmatively to 1–4 questions are classified as ‘at risk of hunger’, while children in households responding affirmatively to five or more questions are considered to ‘experience hunger’.

26 23

20

22 17

18 15

10

0

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Note: Data for 2009 are not strictly comparable with data for previous years because of revisions in the GHS questionnaire. The GHS 2002–2008 asks: “In the past 12 months, did any child in this household go hungry because there wasn’t enough food?”

Children living in households reporting ‘sometimes’, ‘often’ or ‘always’ are classified as experiencing hunger. The GHS 2009 asks: “Did your children ever say they are hungry during the past year because there was not enough food in the house?”

(Yes/No).

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o a n A d e q u a t e S t a n d a r d o f L i v i n g 2 3

Rights CRC, Article 26: (1) States Parties shall recognise for every child the right to benefit from social security, including social insurance, and shall take the necessary measures to achieve the full realisation of this right in accordance with their national law. (2) The benefits should, where appropriate, be granted, taking into account the resources and the circumstances of the child and persons having responsibility for the maintenance of the child, as well as any other consideration relevant to an application for benefits made by or on behalf of the child.

SA Constitution Section 27(1): Everyone has the right to have access to – (c) social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance.

Section 27(2): The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights.

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

The Right to Social Security

Children’s access to social grants has expanded dramatically The eligibility age range for the child support grant has gradually been extended from 0–6 years in 1999 to 0–17 years from 2012 onwards

Child Support Grant Year

Beneficiaries

Age threshold

Care Dependency Grant Nominal grant value

Beneficiaries

Nominal grant value

Foster Care Grant Beneficiaries

Nominal grant value

1999

21,997

< 7 years

R100

16,835

R520

46,496

R374

2000

150,366

< 7 years

R100

22,789

R540

49,843

R390

2001

856,402

< 7 years

R110

33,574

R570

66,967

R410

2002

1,277,396

< 7 years

R140

34,978

R640

67,817

R460

2003

3,947,073

< 9 years

R160

42,355

R700

83,574

R500

2004

4,446,230

< 11 years

R170

76,494

R740

120,571

R530

2005

5,465,545

< 14 years

R180

86,917

R780

195,454

R560

2006

7,075,266

< 14 years

R190

90,112

R820

317,434

R590

2007

7,892,869

< 14 years

R200

98,631

R870

400,503

R620

2008

8,189,975

< 14 years

R220

102,292

R960

454,199

R650

2009

8,765,354

< 15 years

R240

107,065

R1,010

474,759

R680

2010

9,570,287

< 16 years

R250

110,731

R1,080

510,760

R710

2011*

10,336,000

< 17 years

R260

121,000

R1,080

554,000

R710

2012*

10,977,000

< 18 years

R270

128,000

R1,140

613,000

R740

Note: *Projections by National Treasury. The Child Support Grant is paid to parents or primary caregivers of a child within the eligible age range who pass the means test. The Care Dependency Grant is paid to parents, primary caregivers or foster parents of any child with severe mental and/or physical disabilities between the ages of 1 and 18 years, requiring full-time home care. The Foster Care Grant is paid to foster parents for children between the ages of 0 and 18 years. An extension order on a foster care grant can be given until the age of 21 years.

Source: South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) Social Security Pension System (Socpen). National Treasury (2011) National Budget Review 2011.

2 4 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Yet, 2.1 million children eligible for the child support grant (27% of all eligible children) were not receiving it in 2008

Uptake of the child support grant is lowest among children under 1 and in the older age groups Percentage of children receiving a child support grant by age (single years), 2009

Percentage of eligible children receiving the child support grant, 2008 Target = 100

80

80

66

60

73

66

66

66

66

61

63

64

65

61

Percentage

Percentage

60

40

56 50

40 38

35

27

20

0

59

20

Yes

No 0

Source: Coetzee (2010). Finding the Benefits – Evaluating the Impact of the South African Child Support Grant. Analysis of National Income Dynamics Survey (NIDS) 2008.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Age

Lack of documentation is the biggest barrier to access the child support grant Reasons why eligible caregivers do not apply for the child support grant, 2008 9%

6% 5%

10% Don't have the right documentation Haven't gotten round to it yet Caregiver income too high In process of applying

12%

24%

Cannot be bothered

Missing/unspecified

6%

Cost of application too high Parent(s) working Child receives other grant Parent(s) work for government

1% 1% 1% 2%

Child too old

3%

Not the child's mother

3%

Application process too complicated

1%

Don't know

6%

Don't know how to apply Other

34%

Source: Coetzee (2010). Finding the Benefits – Evaluating the Impact of the South African Child Support Grant. Analysis of National Income Dynamics Survey (NIDS) 2008.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o a n A d e q u a t e S t a n d a r d o f L i v i n g 2 5

Children from the poorest households are less likely to live in formal housing

The Right to Housing Related international goals/targets

Percentage of children living in formal, informal or traditional housing by province, 2009 9

51

2 6 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

80

15

8

6

11

2

80

4 81

7

8

85

86

1 88

7 90

Percentage

90 80

30

10

16

20

10

1

3

60 50 40

61

30

70

74

98

90

20 10 0

Informal

Traditional Formal

7

70

Poorest 20% Second 20% Middle 20% Traditional

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Formal

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

2.8 million children (15% of all children) have been reached with a RDP or state subsidised dwelling

60 58 46

40

9

Informal

72

Number and percentage of children living in Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) or state subsidised dwelling by province, 2009

20

Free State

Limpopo

North West

Mpumalanga

Northern Cape

Free State

Gauteng

0 Western Cape

DoHS Service Delivery Agreement, Output 8.3: Mobilisation of well-located public land for low income and affordable housing. Key target for 2014: Set aside at least 6,250 hectares of welllocated public land for low income and affordable housing.

20

38

80

South Africa

DoHS Service Delivery Agreement, Output 8.2: Improve access to basic services. Key target by 2014: Universal access to electricity (100%).

20

18

Section 26(1): Everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing.

DoHS Service Delivery Agreement, Output 8.1: Accelerated Delivery of Housing Opportunities. Key target by 2014: Upgrading of 400,000 households in well-located informal settlements with access to basic services and secure tenure.

4

100

SA Constitution

National targets

3

100

Percentage

1.7 million children (9% of all children) live in informal housing such as shacks in backyards or squatter settlements

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 20(2)(a).

Section 28(1): Every child has the right – (c) to … shelter ….

2

MDG 7, Target 7.D: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers (global figure).

KwaZulu-Natal

CRC, Article 27: (1) States Parties recognise the right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development. (3) States Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to … housing.

Eastern Cape

Rights

Percentage of children living in formal, informal or traditional housing by household income quintile, 2009

Note: Formal refers to dwelling/house or brick/concrete block structure on a separate stand or yard or on farm; flat or apartment; town/cluster/semidetached house; dwelling/house/flat/room in backyard; room/flatlet on a property or a larger dwelling servants’ quarters/granny flat. Informal refers to informal dwelling/shack in backyard or an informal/squatter settlement or on farm. Traditional refers to traditional dwelling/hut/structure made of traditional materials. Numbers may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Number

Percentage

311,820

29

Northern Cape

116,680

27

Western Cape

464,840

26

Gauteng

543,790

17

North West

193,630

15

Mpumalanga

223,690

15

Eastern Cape

329,820

12 12

Limpopo

265,590

KwaZulu-Natal

343,760

8

South Africa

2,793,615

15

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

8 out of 10 children live in households connected to the mains electricity supply Percentage of children living in households with a connection to the mains electricity supply, 2009

Percentage of children living in RDP or state subsidised dwelling by household income quintile, 2009

19

20

Percentage

15 14

13

10

5 3 0

80

South Africa

20

National 2014 target

Children from middle-income households appear to have received most benefits from RDP or state subsidised housing

KwaZulu-Natal

65

Eastern Cape

65

Limpopo

88

Mpumalanga

88

North West

88

Gauteng

91

Northern Cape

91

Western Cape

92 93

Free State Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

0%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Children from middle-income households appear to be benefiting most from receiving free electricity

20%

40%

60%

80%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

100%

47% of the poorest children live in households using wood as the main energy source for cooking Percentage of children by main energy source for cooking in the household by income quintile, 2009

Percentage of children living in households with a connection to the mains supply receiving free electricity, 2009 35 30

Percentage

25

41

Poorest 20%

31

32

56

Second 20%

25

47

30

2 2

1

2 3

1

2

2

7

3 2

1

96

11

3

9

76

Middle 20%

20

7

13

7

Electricity from mains Wood Paraffin Gas Coal Animal dung

20

15

88

Fourth 20%

12

10

Richest 20%

5 0%

0

Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Richest 20%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

C h i l d r e n â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s R i g h t s t o a n A d e q u a t e S t a n d a r d o f L i v i n g 2 7

The Right to Water and Sanitation

4 out of 10 children do not have access to piped water inside the dwelling or on site Percentage of children living in households with access to water by type of source, 2009

Rights CRC, Article 24: States Parties shall … take appropriate measures: (d) to combat disease and malnutrition, including within the framework of primary health care, through, inter alia, the application of readily available technology and through the provision of … clean drinking-water, taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution.

80

23

MDG Goal 7, Target 7.C: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

5

4

2

0

6

7

8

60

60

91

91

92

21

65

70

30 55 45

40

39

Number and percentage of children by main source of drinking water in the household, 2009

Number

Percentage

Piped (tap) water in dwelling

6,101,660

32.8

Piped (tap) water on site or in yard

5,067,520

27.2

Public tap

3,763,845

20.2

Flowing water/stream/river

1,392,980

7.5

Neighbour's tap

536,325

2.9

Borehole off site/communal

434,310

2.3

Spring

369,350

2.0

Water-carrier/tanker

354,415

1.9

Borehole on sit

236,305

1.3

Other (e.g. well, dam, rain-water tank)

350,650

1.9

18,607,354

100

Total

31

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

20

Other

Western Cape

Gauteng

Free State

Northern Cape

Mpumalanga

0

North West

Where do these 1.4 million children live?

KwaZulu-Natal

Related International goals/targets

14

42

Limpopo

Key target by 2014: Universal access to water and sanitation (100%).

11

28

South Africa

DoHS Service Delivery Agreement, Output 8.2: Improve access to basic services.

27

34

Section 27(1): Everyone has the right to have access to – (b) sufficient … water.

National targets

19

26

Eastern Cape

SA Constitution

39

100

Percentage

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 14(2)(c).

17

Almost 1.4 million children (8% of all children) live in households relying on rivers or streams as their main source of drinking water

Percentage distribution of children living in households relying on flowing water/stream/river as main source of drinking water, 2009

7%

3%

Public or neighbour's tap

Mpumalanga

Piped (tap) water in dwelling or on site

32% Note: Numbers may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

58%

Limpopo KwaZulu-Natal Eastern Cape

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

2 8 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Among children in the poorest households just 50% have access to adequate sanitation

Percentage of children living in households with access to adequate sanitation by province, 2002 and 2009

Percentage of children living in households with access to adequate sanitation by household income quintile, 2009

Limpopo

21

Mpumalanga

36 38

51

36

KwaZulu-Natal

2009

43

22

Eastern Cape

2002

64

59

44

North West

64

55

Free State Northern Cape

77 78 80

88 88

Gauteng Western Cape 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

93 94 100%

Note: Adequate sanitation includes flush toilets connect to a public sewerage system or septic tank, and pit latrines with ventilation.

Inadequate sanitation includes chemical toilets, pit latrines without ventilation, bucket toilets or no toilet facility at all.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2003; 2010).

General Household Survey 2002; 2009.

Analysis of 2002 data

by Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Institute, University of Cape Town.

Analysis of 2009 data by UNICEF South Africa.

80

60

72 59 50

40

20

0

Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Percentage distribution of the children living in households with no toilet facility by province, 2009

Number and percentage of children by type of toilet facility used in the household, 2009

Percentage

Free State Western Cape

1% 2%

Northern Cape

2%

North West

2%

Gauteng

3%

Mpumalanga

5%

Flush toilet (connected to public sewerage system of septic tank)

8,499,515

45.7

Pit latrine/toilet without ventilation pipe

4,917,100

26.4

Pit latrine/toilet with ventilation pipe

3,431,120

18.4

None

1,471,455

7.9

Bucket toilet

174,915

0.9

Chemical toilet

52,305

0.3

Other/unspecified

60,940

0.3

18,607,355

100

Total

95

84

Where do these 1.5 million children live?

Yet, nearly 1.5 million children (8% of all children) live in households with no toilet facility at all

Number

100

Percentage

47

South Africa

National 2014 target

Access to adequate sanitation has improved over the past decade

KwaZulu-Natal

32%

Limpopo

12% Other

16%

Eastern Cape

41%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

C h i l d r e n â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s R i g h t s t o a n A d e q u a t e S t a n d a r d o f L i v i n g 2 9

The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health

Children’s Rights to Life and Basic Health

Rights

National targets

CRC, Article 24: (1) States Parties recognise the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services. (2) States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right and, in particular, shall take appropriate measures: (a) To diminish infant and child mortality; (b) To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children with emphasis on the development of primary health care … (d) To ensure appropriate pre-natal and post-natal health care for mothers.

DoH Service Delivery Agreement, Output 2.1: Decreasing maternal and child mortality. Key targets by 2014:

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Articles 5; 14 and 20(2)(a).

SA Constitution Section 11: Everyone has the right to life.

Section 27(1): Everyone has the right to have access to – (a) health care services, including reproductive health care.

Section 28(1): Every child has the right … (c) to … basic health care services …

3 0 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

• Decrease infant mortality rate to 18 deaths (or less) per 1,000 live births.

• Decrease under-five mortality rate to 20 deaths (or less) per 1,000 live births.

• Decrease maternal mortality ratio to 100 (or less) per 100,000 live births.

• Increase the proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel to 100%.

• Decrease diarrhoea incidence in children under 5 years.

• Decrease pneumonia incidence in children under 5 years.

Related International goals/targets MDG Goal 4, Target 4.A: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.

MDG Goal 5, Target 5.A: Reduce by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio.

MDG Goal 5, Target 5.B: Achieve, by 2015, universal access to reproductive health.

9 out of 10 births take place in health facilities

Yet, South Africa is not on track for meeting the health targets of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals …

Percentage of deliveries that take place in public health facilities under supervision of trained personnel by district, 2008/09

Under-five mortality is at the same level it was in 1990

Maternal mortality has increased by 80% since 1990

Trends in infant (IMR) and under-five (U5MR) mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births), 1990–2009

Trend in maternal mortality ratio (MMR, deaths per 100,000 live births), 1990–2008

Limpopo

Gauteng

500 440

Free State

Northern Cape Western Cape

Mpumalanga

KwaZuluNatal under 60%

Eastern Cape

60 – 69% 70 – 79% 80 – 89% 90% and above

Source: Day, C.; Monticelli, F.; Barron, P.; Haynes, R.; Smith, J. and Sello, E. (eds) (2010). The District Health Barometer 2008/09. Durban: Health Systems Trust.

Deaths per 1,000 live births

North West

Deaths per 1,000 live births

100 80 62 60 40

U5MR

62

IMR 48

43

20 0

U5MR 2015 target = 20 IMR 2015 target = 18 1990

1993

1996

1999

2002

2005

2008

2011

2014

Note: The mortality trends are produced by compiling national estimates from the 1988–1992 Human Science Research Council (HSRC) Survey, the 1998 and the 2003 South Africa Demographic and Health Surveys, and the 2007 Community Survey. A regression curve is then fitted to these data points and extrapolated to a common reference year to produce a smooth trend.

410

400

380

300 230

260

200

100

0

MMR 2015 target = 100

1990

1995

2000

2005

2008

2015

Source: WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and World Bank (2010). Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2008.

Source: UN Inter-agency Group on Child Mortality Estimation (2010). Levels and Trends in Child Mortality.

Each year in South Africa …

• 4,300 mothers die due to complications of pregnancy and child birth.

• 20,000 babies are stillborn and another 23,000 die before they reach 1 month of age.

• In total, some 75,000 children die before their fifth birthday.

This toll of over 270 maternal and child deaths every day is mainly due to HIV and AIDS and poor implementation of existing packages of care.

Source: The Lancet (2009). Saving the lives of South Africa’s mothers, babies, and children: can the health system deliver?

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o L i f e a n d B a s i c H e a l t h 3 1

Most causes of under-five deaths are either preventable or treatable

Many child deaths are the result of avoidable factors, missed opportunities and substandard care

The lives of almost 50,000 newborn babies and children could be saved in 2015 if South Africa reached high, effective coverage of key packages of interventions such as PMTCT and neonatal care. This can be achieved at relatively little cost.

61% of avoidable factors in child deaths are related to health system failures (either by health personnel or administrators), such as poor assessment and management in hospitals. 39% of avoidable factors are related to caregiver and family actions, such as delay in seeking care or caregiver not realising the severity of illness.

Injuries

11% Diarrhoea

11% Other child illness

6%

5%

18%

Sepsis and meningitis

2% 13% Pre-term birth 6% Pneumonia

Percentage of modifiable factors related to actions by caregivers/family, health personnel or administrators, 2007

Infections

Neonatal 30%

6%

HIV/AIDS 35%

Birth asphyxia

3%

Congenital

2%

Other

Source: Department of Health, Medical Research Council, University of Pretoria, UNICEF, Save the Children (2008).

Every Death Counts: Saving the lives of South Africa’s mothers, babies and children. The Lancet (2009). Saving the lives of South Africa’s mothers, babies, and children: can the health system deliver?

39%

Avoidable factors related to cargiver and family Avoidable factors related to health personnel Avoidable factors related to administration for action

43%

Source: Stephen, Mulaudzi, Kauchali and Patrick (2009). Saving Children 2005–2007: A fourth survey of child healthcare in South Africa. Pretoria: University of Pretoria, MRC, CDC.

Government data suggest 30 of the 52 districts did not achieve the national target of 90% full immunisation coverage

Data from surveys suggest immunisation coverage has decreased compared to 1994

Percentage of children under 1 year who have received all their recommended vaccinations, 2008/09

National immunisation coverage among children 12–23 months by specific vaccines, 1994 and 2008

Gauteng enlarged

100

1994

Limpopo Immunisation coverage (%)

2008

Gauteng North West Mpumalanga Free State

KwaZulu-Natal Less than 70%

Northern Cape

70 – 79% Eastern Cape Western Cape

80 – 89% 90 – 99% 100% and over

3 2 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Source: Day, C; Monticelli, F; Barron, P; Haynes, R; Smith, J and Sello, E (eds) (2010).

The District Health Barometer 2008/09.

Durban: Health Systems Trust.

80

86

73 67 60

63

65 56

40

45 BCG

DTP1

DTP3

Polio3

Measles

HepB3

Hib3

Note: The Hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in 1995; earliest data point for HepB3 refers to 1998.

The Hib vaccine was introduced in 1999; earliest data point for Hib3 refers to 2000 (WHO/UNICEF, 2009).

Source: The South African Vitamin A Consultative Group (SAVACG, 1995). Children aged 6–71 months in South Africa, 1994: Their anthropometric, Vitamin A, iron and immunisation coverage status. Shisana O, et al.

(2010). South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey, 2008: The health of our children.

25 20

Free State

Northern Cape

Limpopo

Eastern Cape

Mpumalanga

Gauteng

North West

KwaZulu-Natal

Western Cape

0

1 in 10 children are underweight Percentage of children 1–9 years suffering from underweight (moderate and severe mixed acute and chronic malnutrition) by province, 1999 and 2005 38

40

National targets

25

1999 2005

24

Source: Department of Health (2000). The National Food Consumption Survey 1999; Department of Health (2007).

The National Food Consumption Survey 2005: Fortification Baseline (NFCS-FB). Estimates are calculated according to the NCHS/ WHO reference population.

20

10

15

15

15 10

9

9 6

5

5

11 6

7

8

8

12

12

14 14

8 4

National 2014 target

Northern Cape

Free State

North West

Limpopo

0 Mpumalanga

Percentage

30

Western Cape

MDG 1, Target 3: Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.

12

10

35

Related International goals/targets

2005

24

18

19

17

15

15

15

1999

20

20 19

18

15

Section 28(1): Every child has the right … (c) to basic nutrition ….

Key target by 2014: The rate of under-nutrition of children falls from 9.3% (2005 NFCS) to 5% in 2014.

23

28

Source: Department of Health (2000). The National Food Consumption Survey 1999; Department of Health (2007).

The National Food Consumption Survey 2005: Fortification Baseline (NFCS-FB). Estimates are calculated according to the NCHS/ WHO reference population.

5

Section 27(1): Everyone has the right to have access to … (b) sufficient food ….

DRDLR Service Delivery Agreement, output 7.2: Improved access to affordable and diverse food.

25 22

30 28

26

Eastern Cape

SA Constitution

30

Gauteng

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Articles 14(2)(c) and 20(2)(a).

30

KwaZulu-Natal

CRC, Article 27: (3) States Parties, in accordance with national conditions and within their means, shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child to implement this right and shall in case of need provide material assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to nutrition ….

Percentage of children 1–9 years suffering from stunting (moderate and severe chronic malnutrition) by province, 1999 and 2005

South Africa

CRC, Article 24: States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right and, in particular, shall take appropriate measures: (e) To ensure that all segments of society, in particular parents and children, are informed, have access to education and are supported in the use of basic knowledge of child health and nutrition, the advantages of breastfeeding ….

1 in 5 children are stunted, a consequence of chronic nutritional deprivation

South Africa

Rights

Status of child nutrition

Percentage

The Right to Food and Nutrition

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o L i f e a n d B a s i c H e a l t h 3 3

Close to 5% of children suffer from wasting and face a markedly increased risk of death

Younger children are most severely affected by malnutrition

Percentage of children 1–9 years suffering from wasting (moderate and severe acute malnutrition) by province, 1999 and 2005

Chronic undernutrition in early childhood results in diminished cognitive and physical development, which puts children at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives

19

20

Percentage of children 1–9 years suffering from stunting, underweight and wasting by age group, 2005 1999 2005

25

23

12

8

8

6

Source: Department of Health (2000). The National Food Consumption Survey 1999; Department of Health (2007).

The National Food Consumption Survey 2005: Fortification Baseline (NFCS-FB). Estimates are calculated according to the NCHS/WHO reference population.

Northern Cape

Western Cape

1 Mpumalanga

North West

Free State

KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa

0

3

2

1

1

4

3

3

3

4

Limpopo

3

Eastern Cape

4

4

Gauteng

5

5

Stunting

20

10

10

Percentage

Percentage

15

16

15 11

10

Underweight

12

Wasting

5

5

0

1–3 years

9

8

5

3

4–6 years

7–9 years

Source: Department of Health (2007). The National Food Consumption Survey 2005: Fortification Baseline (NFCS-FB). Estimates are calculated according to the NCHS/WHO reference population.

Micronutrient deficiencies: vitamin A and iron deficiency has doubled between 1994 and 2005

South Africa faces a dual burden of over- and under-nutrition, especially among youth

Percentage of children 1–5 years affected by vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol level < 20 μg/dL)

Percentage of high school learners (in Grades 8–11) who are underweight (low weight for age); overweight (according to age-dependent BMI cut-off points) by province, 2008

33

South Africa Northern Cape Western Cape

2005

23 21

North West Mpumalanga

24

Gauteng

44

Limpopo 20%

40%

Western Cape

65

Limpopo Free State

76

38

KwaZulu-Natal

64

89 60%

80%

100%

Northern Cape 0 0%

1994

11

2

2005

8

5

KwaZulu-Natal

10

4 8 9 4

5%

15%

20%

Source: The South African Vitamin A Consultative Group (SAVACG, 1995). Children aged 6–71 months in South Africa, 1994: Their anthropometric, Vitamin A, iron and immunisation coverage status; Department of Health (2007). The National Food Consumption Survey 2005: Fortification Baseline (NFCS-FB).

3 4 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

16

12 14 14 14

Northern Cape 0%

17

10

Limpopo 10%

22

10

North West

16

7

20

7

Free State

14

26

7

Eastern Cape

12

22

5

Gauteng

12

20

5

Western Cape

11

7

8

South Africa Mpumalanga

9

4

Mpumalanga

62

31

Eastern Cape

0%

KwaZulu-Natal

52

27

Eastern Cape Gauteng

50

33

5

South Africa North West

44

32

Free State

1994

64

19

Percentage of children 1–5 years affected by iron deficiency anaemia (%Hb <11 and Ferritin <12)

5%

10%

15%

16

% of high school learners Underweight 18 20%

Overweight 25%

Source: Medical Research Council (2010). The 2nd South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 2008.

30%

Coverage of interventions to improve nutrition

Vitamin A supplementation coverage is low in all provinces Percentage of children (12–59 months) receiving a high dose of vitamin A by province, 2009

Continuum of infant feeding practices

Percentage of children put to the breast within 1 hour of delivery; exclusively breastfed; both breast-fed and receiving complementary foods; and continuing to breastfeed at specified ages Early initiation of breastfeeding (one hour of birth)

61

Exclusive breastfeeding (0-5 months old)

8

Complementary feeding (6-9 months old)

49

Continued breastfeeding (12-15 months old)

66

Continued breastfeeding (12-23 months old) 10%

20%

37

Mpumalanga

30

Northern Cape

32

Limpopo

32

North West

33

Eastern Cape

37

Western Cape

38

KwaZulu-Natal

38

Guateng

40

Free State

41

0%

31

0%

South Africa

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

80%

Source: Department of Health (2007). Demographic and Health Survey 2003.

Source: District Health Information System (DHIS, 2009) in Health Systems Trust (2010). South African Health Review.

Use of adequately iodised salt in households has improved

6 out of 10 children in public schools benefit from the School Nutrition Programme

Percentage of households using adequately iodated salt (> 15 ppm of iodine) by province, 1998 and 2005 100

1998 2005

80

Percentage

62

70

77

60

75

77

80

79

66

88

87

84

80

Percentage of children in public schools benefiting from the school nutrition programme by province, 2009

76 65

69

55 39

40

45

45

48

20

0

South Africa

Limpopo

Northern Cape

Gauteng

Eastern Mpumalanga Cape

North West

Free State

KwaZuluNatal

Source: Jooste L, Weight M and Lombard C (2001). A national survey of the iodine content of household salt in South Africa. Bull WHO 2001; 79:534–540; Department of Health (2007). The National Food Consumption Survey 2005: Fortification Baseline (NFCS-FB).

Western Cape

South Africa

62

Gauteng

45

Free State

51

Western Cape

59

North West

59

KwaZulu-Natal

61

Mpumalanga

67

Limpopo

69

Eastern Cape

70

Northern Cape

87

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o L i f e a n d B a s i c H e a l t h 3 5

Children and AIDS

CRC, Article 6 (1): States Parties recognise that every child has the inherent right to life. (2). States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.

Committee on the Rights of the Child – General Comment No. 3, Article 25: States parties are requested to ensure implementation of the strategies recommended by the United Nations agencies to prevent HIV infection in infants and young children. These include: (a) the primary prevention of HIV infection among parents-to-be; (b) the prevention of unintended pregnancies in HIV-infected women; (c) the prevention of HIV transmission from HIV-infected women to their infants; and (d) the provision of care, treatment and support to HIV-infected women, their infants and families.

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 5.

SA Constitution Section 11: Everyone has the right to life.

National targets DoH Service Delivery Agreement, Output 2.3: Combating HIV and AIDS and decreasing the burden of diseases from tuberculosis.

Key targets by 2014:

• Total number of patients (adults and children) on ART increases from 1.1 million to 3.2 million.

International goals/targets MDG Goal 6, Target 6.A: Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Rights

MDG Goal 6, Target 6.B: Achieve, by 2010, universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it.

South Africa has the largest burden of HIV and AIDS in the world 1 in 8 children infected with HIV globally live in South Africa

Summary of the AIDS epidemic, 2009

Number of people living with HIV Globally

South Africa

Share (%)

Total

33.3 million

5.6 million

17%

Adults

30.8 million

5.3 million

17%

Women

15.9 million

3.3 million

21%

Children (<15 years)

2.5 million

330,000

13%

Globally

South Africa

Share (%)

Total

2.6 million

390,000

15%

Adults

2.2 million

347,000

16%

370,000

43,000

12%

Globally

South Africa

Share (%)

People newly infected with HIV in 2009

Children (<15 years)

• Decrease HIV prevalence amongst 15–24 year old pregnant women.

AIDS deaths in 2009

• Decrease mother-to-child transmission rate from 10% to less than 5%.

Total

1.8 million

314,000

17%

Adults

1.6 million

284,000

18%

260,000

30,000

12%

• All eligible pregnant women to be initiated on ART at CD4 count of < 350.

3 6 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Children (<15 years)

Source: UNAIDS (2010). Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic and AIDS Info Database.

The epidemic has reached its peak and HIV prevalence has stabilised at a very high level National HIV prevalence in the adult population (15–49 years) and pregnant women (15–49 years), 1990–2009

In 5 districts in KwaZulu-Natal more than 40% of pregnant women are living with HIV

HIV prevalence rate (%) among pregnant woman (15–49 years) attending antenatal clinics by district, 2009

35

Source: Department of Health (2010). National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey 2009.

Pregnant women 30

Close to 30% of pregnant women are HIV positive

Adult population

Percentage

25

North West 30.0%

20

Mpumalanga 34.7% KwaZulu-Natal 39.5%

Free State 30.1%

15 HIV prevalence among pregnant women

10

Northern Cape 17.2%

< 10% 5

10% – 19.9%

Source: UNAIDS (2010). AIDS Info Database.

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

20% – 29.9% 1990

0

Limpopo 21.4%

Gauteng 29.8%

Western Cape 16.9%

30% – 39.9%

Eastern Cape 28.1%

> 40%

Average for South Africa = 29.4%

9 in 10 pregnant women living with HIV receive antiretrovirals for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV Estimated percentage of pregnant women living with HIV who received ARV for preventing MTCT, 2004–2009 Target = 100 100 88

80

Percentage

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

75 60 57 49

40 33 20 14 0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Source: Department of Health (2010). National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey 2009; UNAIDS (2010). AIDS Info Database.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o L i f e a n d B a s i c H e a l t h 3 7

HIV prevalence among children has decreased since 2002

Children’s access to antiretroviral therapy has increased substantially in recent years

2.5% of children 2–14 years old are living with HIV

Around 100,000 children living with HIV were receiving treatment in 2010

HIV prevalence among children 2–14 years by province, 2002 and 2008

Number of children on comprehensive HIV and AIDS treatment (public sector), 2005–2010

2002

7 Immunisation coverage (%)

Dec. 2006

Dec. 2007

Dec. 2008

Dec. 2009

May 2010

3,005

7,173

11,841

19,689

28,791

32,528

KwaZulu-Natal

8 2008

6 5 4

2.1 2.2

3 2

Dec. 2005

2.5 4.1

1

3.8

3.2

2.8

2.5

2.3

1.1 Free State

Mpumalanga

North West

KwaZulu-Natal

Limpopo

Northern Cape

Gauteng

Eastern Cape

Western Cape

South Africa

0

Gauteng

3,885

7,066

9,844

14,445

19,519

22,194

Eastern Cape

1,054

1,354

3,141

4,737

8,160

9,880

North West

616

1,804

3,502

5,530

7,319

8,123

Limpopo

441

1,068

2,061

4,136

5,897

6,618

Western Cape

1,877

2,649

3,505

4,496

5,389

5,883

Mpumalanga

261

899

1,874

2,983

5,033

5,695

Free State

465

806

806

2,066

3,601

4,638

Northern Cape

355

550

1,120

1,441

1,921

2,123

South Africa

11,959

23,369

37,694

59,523

85,630

97,682

Source: Department of Health (2010). National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS/Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Treatment Plan statistics.

Yet, only 54% of children needing antiretroviral therapy were receiving it in 2009 Estimated coverage of antiretroviral therapy among children (0–14 years old), 2005–2009 100

Source: Shisana O, et al. (2009). South African national HIV prevalence, incidence, behaviour and communication survey 2008: A turning tide among teenagers? Cape Town: HSRC Press.

Target = 100%

80

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Percentage

60

54 40

40 25 20

0

3 8 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

19 11

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Source: Department of Health (2010). National Strategic Plan for HIV and AIDS, Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Treatment Plan statistics (numerator). UNAIDS (2010).

Estimated number of children (0–14 years old) needing antiretroviral therapy based on UNAIDS/WHO methods (denominator).

HIV prevalence among youth is increasing in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga while decreasing in all other provinces HIV prevalence among youth 15–24 years by province, 2002 and 2008 20

2002 2008

Immunisation coverage (%)

15.3 15

13.5 11.8

11.2

11.6 9.2

8.7

10

10.1

7.2

6.3

5 3.8

0

Western Cape

6.6

Source: Shisana O, et al. (2009).

South African national HIV prevalence, incidence, behaviour and communication survey 2008: A turning tide among teenagers?

Cape Town: HSRC Press.

3.9

3.9

Free State

8.7

8.3

5.6

3.0

9.3

11.7

Limpopo Northern Cape

North West

Eastern Gauteng Mpum- KwaZulu- South Cape alanga Natal Africa

Women are disproportionately affected by HIV Female youth are 3.5 times more likely to be HIV positive than their male counterparts

HIV prevalence and behavioural determinants among youth 15–24 years by sex, 2008 100

Female youth 87 73

60

40 27 20

31

28

14

11 4

0

30

HIV prevalence

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Percentage

80

Male youth

6 1 Comprehensive Intercorrect generational knowledge sex of HIV

6 Multiple sexual partnerships

Condom use at last sex

Source: Shisana O, et al. (2009).

South African national HIV prevalence, incidence, behaviour and communication survey 2008: A turning tide among teenagers?

Cape Town: HSRC Press.

Sexual debut before age of 15 years

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o L i f e a n d B a s i c H e a l t h 3 9

Children’s Rights to Early Childhood Development and Education

The Right to Early Childhood Development Rights

National targets

CRC, Article 6(2): States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the … development of the child.

DoE Service Delivery Agreement, Output 1.3: Improve Early Childhood Development. Key target by 2014:

CRC, Article 18(2): … States Parties shall render appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities and shall ensure the development of institutions, facilities and services for the care of children.

The percentage of Grade 1 learners who have received formal Grade R increases from 80% to 100%.

Committee on the Rights of the Child General Comment No. 7, Article X: The Committee interprets the right to education during early childhood as beginning at birth and closely linked to young children’s right to maximum development (art. 6.2).

Linking education to development is elaborated in article 29.1: States parties agree that the education of the child shall be directed to: (a) the development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential. … The Committee calls on States parties to ensure that all young children receive education in the broadest sense (as outlined in paragraph 28 above), which acknowledges a key role for parents, wider family and community, as well as the contribution of organised programmes of early childhood education provided by the State, the community or civil society institutions.

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 20(2)(b) and (c).

4 0 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

International goals/targets EFA, Goal 1: Expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

Only 43% of children under 5 are exposed to an Early Childhood Development programme at home, a centre or elsewhere ECD is crucial in children’s mental development and in their readiness for school and life

35%

80

Gauteng

59%

70

Mpumalanga

42%

43%

67%

Northern Cape

60

KwaZuluNatal

33%

44%

Eastern Cape

38%

Percentage ≤ 35%

Western Cape

Ger in Grade R

North West

Free State

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Grade R (Reception Year) programmes are meant to prepare children for primary education

Participation in Grade R (Gross Enrolment Ratio) to sites attached to public and independent ordinary schools, 1999–2009

Limpopo

Percentage of children under 5 exposed to an ECD programme (anywhere) by province, 2009

Grade R enrolment increased from 15% in 1999 to 60% in 2009

60

50

49

40

40

30 20 10

22

23

2000

2001

27

31

53

44

35

15

35.1 – 50%

38%

51.1 – 60% Average for South Africa = 43%

> 60.1%

0

1999

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Source: Department of Education (2011). Education for All (EFA) Country Report South Africa, 2010.

Children in the poorest households are only half as likely to benefit from ECD than children in the richest households Percentage of children under 5 exposed to an ECD programme (anywhere) by household income quintile, 2009 80 70 64 55

50 40 30

41

Note: In South Africa, ECD is defined as the emotional, cognitive, sensory, spiritual, moral, physical, social and communication development of a child.

44

36

20 10 0

Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

© Leonie Marinovich

Percentage

60

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010).

General Household Survey 2009. Analysis

by UNICEF South Africa.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o E a r l y C h i l d h o o d D e v e l o p m e n t a n d E d u c a t i o n 4 1

The Right to Education Related Rights

National targets

Related International goals/targets

CRC, Article 28: (1) States Parties recognise the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular: (a) Make primary education compulsory and available free to all; (b) Encourage the development of different forms of secondary education, including general and vocational education, make them available and accessible to every child, and take appropriate measures such as the introduction of free education and offering financial assistance in case of need; … (e) Take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates.

DoE Service Delivery Agreement, Output 1.1: Improve the quality of teaching and learning.

MDG 2, Target 2.A: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Articles 11 and 13.

SA Constitution Section 29(1): Everyone has the right – (a) to a basic education, including adult education; and (b) to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.

4 2 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

• Percentage of Grade 3 learners performing at the required literacy level according to the country’s Annual National Assessments increases from 48% to 60%.

MDG Goal 3, Target 3.A: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015.

• Average score obtained in Grade 6 in mathematics in the SACMEQ assessment increases from 495 to 520.

• Percentage of Grade 9 learners performing at the required mathematics level according to the country’s Annual National Assessments increases to 60%.

• Number of Grade 12 learners who become eligible for a Bachelor’s programme in the public national examinations increases from 110,000 to 175,000.

• The percentage of teachers who are able to attain minimum standards in anonymous and samplebased assessments of their subject knowledge (baseline and target to be determined).

• The percentage of learners having access to the required textbooks and workbooks for the entire school year increases to 100%.

• The percentage of learners in schools with a library or media centre fulfilling certain minimum standards increasing by 20 percentage points.

© UNICEF/Rebecca Hearfield

CRC, Article 23 (3): Recognising the special needs of a disabled child, assistance extended in accordance with paragraph 2 of the present article shall be provided free of charge, whenever possible, taking into account the financial resources of the parents or others caring for the child, and shall be designed to ensure that the disabled child has effective access to and receives education, training ….

Key targets by 2014:

School attendance among children has increased steadily in the past 15 years, but less so for the older age groups

Access to Education

1.20

100

Less than 90% of secondary-school-age children attend school

School attendance secondary-school-age children

1.10

80

1.05 1.00

60 GPI

School attendance among primary-school-age children

1.15 School attendance rate (%)

Percentage of children of primary school age (7–13 years) and secondary school age (14–18 years) attending an educational institution by province, 2009

2009

99 20 99

Northern Cape 83

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

0.85

1996

2001 12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Disparity in favour of girls

Gender parity achieved

0.95 0.90

40

99

Western Cape 82

Gender Parity Index (GPI) in primary and secondary education, 1997–2009

Percentage of children attending an educational institution by age, 1996; 2001 and 2009

Near universal primary education has been achieved in all provinces

South Africa 89

Gender parity has been achieved both in primary and secondary education

0.80

Disparity in favour of boys

Secondary education

Primary education

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Age Source: Statistics South Africa (1998; 2003; 2010). Census 1996; Census 2001; General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

98 North West 87

Source: The Presidency (2010). Development Indicators 2009.

98 Eastern Cape 87 99 KwaZulu-Natal 87 99 Free State 90 98 Mpumalanga 90 99 Gauteng 92 99 Limpopo 94 20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

© UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

0%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o E a r l y C h i l d h o o d D e v e l o p m e n t a n d E d u c a t i o n 4 3

Disability is a serious barrier to access basic education 10% of children with disabilities do not attend school

Percentage of children with disabilities 7–15 years old not attending an educational institution by province, 2009

Limpopo

12%

Gauteng

North West

12%

15%

Free State Northern Cape

7%

Mpumalanga

7%

KwaZulu-Natal

8%

27%

Percentage

Eastern Cape

≤ 5%

8%

5.1 – 10% 10.1 – 15% 15.1 – 20%

Western Cape

2%

© UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

> 20.1%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). Selected development indicators – A discussion document sourced from the General Household Survey, 2009.

4 4 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Average for South Africa = 10

Nationwide, some 662,000 children are out of primary and secondary school Number of children of primary/secondary school age not attending an educational institution, 2009

Lack of money is the most important reason why children are not attending school Reasons for children (7–18 years old) not attending school, 2009

Number of children not attending school

600,000

No money for fees Education is useless or not interesting

582,000 500,000

13% 28%

5%

300,000

5% 5%

200,000

6%

100,000 80,000 0

Children of primary school age

15% 6%

6%

7%

Children of secondary school age

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Percentage of learners attending public schools (primary/secondary) who do not pay school fees by province, 2009

South Africa

Unable to perform at school

4%

400,000

Yet 1 in 2 learners in public schools receive free education

Pregnancy Completed/satisfied with level of education Working at home or business/job Illness

Western Cape Mpumalanga Gauteng

Disability Family commitment (e.g.child minding) Failed exams

KwaZulu-Natal North West

Other Source: Statistics South Africa (2010).

General Household Survey 2009. Analysis

by UNICEF South Africa.

Northern Cape Limpopo Eastern Cape Free State 0%

55

45

40 33 41

31

43 29 46 35 48 30 53

49

67 66 77

59

80 77 10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Primary school Secondary school

© UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o E a r l y C h i l d h o o d D e v e l o p m e n t a n d E d u c a t i o n 4 5

Repetition rates are high, especially in Grade 10 and Grade 11

Efficiency and Quality of the Education System

Female learners generally have lower repetition rates than male learners

Percentage of learners who repeat the same grade by sex of learners and by grade, 2009 20

15% of secondary-school-age children attend primary school because of late entry or grade repetition

15

Percentage

10 7

6

8

7

9

8 6

6

7

4

5

10

10

10

5

8

9

7

7 5

4

7

6

5

9

8

8 5

6

6

8

9 7

4

9

Western Cape

12

Free State

0

13

North West KwaZulu-Natal

14

Northern Cape

14

Children in the poorest households are more likely to repeat the same grade

16

Mpumalanga

Repetition rates in primary and secondary school by household income quintile, 2009

24

Eastern Cape 5%

10%

Grade R/0 Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

15

Limpopo

0%

Female

12

15

Gauteng

Male

16 16 16

15

Percentage of children of secondary school age (14–18 years) attending primary school (Grade 1–7) by province, 2009 South Africa

Total

18 17

15%

20%

15

25%

Primary school 14

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Secondary school

13

12

Percentage

11 10

9 9 7 6

6

6 4

3

2 0

Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009. Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

4 6 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Violence at school is a barrier to quality education 27% of high school learners feel unsafe at school while 16% have been threatened with a weapon

Percentage of high school learners who have been threatened/injured with a weapon; felt unsafe at school by province, 2008 South Africa Gauteng KwaZulu-Natal Free State Eastern Cape Limpopo Western Cape Mpumalanga

16

27

14

23

15

27

16 20 16 33 16 28 16 25 17 28 17

North West Northern Cape

28 18

0%

30 5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Threatened with a weapon Felt unsafe at school

Š UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

Source: Medical Research Council (2010). Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 2008.

C h i l d r e n â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s R i g h t s t o E a r l y C h i l d h o o d D e v e l o p m e n t a n d E d u c a t i o n 4 7

Grade 3 learners’ achievement in national assessments is generally very poor

South Africa’s Grade 6 learner achievement levels are poor compared to many other countries in the region

Average percentage scores of learners in literacy and numeracy in Grade 3 Systemic Evaluations by province, 2001 and 2007

Average reading and mathematics scores for Grade 6 learners in SACMEQ countries, 2007

Not achieved 30

North West

35

31

38

KwaZulu-Natal

38

Gauteng

32 29

33 20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0%

South Africa

42 42

Uganda

482 479

Mozambique

478 476

20%

40%

60%

Mean numeracy percentage score

2001 literacy

2001 numeracy

2007 literacy

2007 numeracy

80%

100%

Zambia Malawi 400

520

497

Reading Mathematics

477 468

Lesotho

49

535

495 495

32

Western Cape

Mean literacy percentage score

Namibia

557

534 508

471

36

Free State 48

486

Zimbabwe

31

27

Western Cape

521

Zanzibar

34 36

33

43

543

Botswana

29

35

541 549

Kenya

25

Eastern Cape

35

Outstanding achievement

25

623

574

Swaziland

29 31

24

Gauteng

0%

Northern Cape

Mauritius

26 24

Mpumalanga

29

KwaZulu-Natal

Free State

Outstanding achievement

34

Satisfactory achievement

32 23

North West Eastern Cape

Partial achievement

28

Mpumalanga Northern Cape

Limpopo

578 575

35

Satisfactory achievement

27 29

Limpopo

551

Seychelles

30

South Africa

36

Partial achievement

South Africa

553

Tanzania

Not achieved

National 2014 target for Maths = 520

435 434 434

447 450

500

550

600

650

Average scores

Note: Attainment score bands: Not achieved: 0–34; Partial achievement: 35–49; Satisfactory achievement: 50–69; Outstanding achievement: 70–100.

Source: Department of Education (2005; 2008). National Protocol on Assessment; Grade 3 Systematic Evaluation Report.

Note: A linear transformation of the reading and mathematics scores was undertaken that resulted in the mean and standard deviation of pupil scores being 500 and 100, respectively (for the pooled data with equal weight given to each country). As a result, a score of 500 is equal to the average of all country mean scores.

Source: Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (2010). SACMEQ III Project Results: Pupil achievement levels in reading and mathematics.

4 8 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Children living in poor households have lower achievement levels in school Girls tend to perform better than boys

Average reading and mathematics scores for South African Grade 6 learners in SACMEQ assessment by pupil sex, and socioeconomic status (SES), 2007

Children in the poorest households are nearly 3 times less likely to complete secondary schooling than children in the richest households

Completion of primary and secondary schooling Over 90% of youth has completed primary schooling. Yet, only 40% has finished secondary schooling

Percentage of youth (20–24 years old) who have completed primary/secondary education by province, 2009

Percentage of youth (20–24 years old) who have completed primary/secondary education by province, 2009

Reading

80

Mathematics

74 Percentage

Mean score

650

87

600

606

National 2014 target for Maths = 520

550

579

Eastern Cape 26

491

506

498

423

Girls

Poorest 25%

50 40

20

446

38 29

26

91 North West 37

400 Boys

60

88 Northern Cape 32

500 484

98

96

92

90

89

92 South Africa 40

450

100

0

Richest 25%

92

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

Secondary school

KwaZulu-Natal 42 Source: Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (2010). SACMEQ III Project Results: Pupil achievement levels in reading and mathematics.

Poorest 20%

Primary school

92 Limpopo 26

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

94 Gauteng 53 94 Free State 40 94 Mpumalanga 37 96 Western Cape 50 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Primary school Secondary school Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o E a r l y C h i l d h o o d D e v e l o p m e n t a n d E d u c a t i o n 4 9

The Right to Parental or Family Care

Children’s Rights to a Family Environment and Alternative Care

Rights CRC, Article 5: States Parties shall respect the responsibilities, rights and duties of parents or, where applicable, the members of the extended family or community as provided for by local custom, legal guardians or other persons legally responsible for the child, to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the child of the rights recognised in the present Convention.

ensure the development of institutions, facilities and services for the care of children.

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 18, 19 and 20.

SA Constitution Section 28(1): Every child has the right … (b) to family care or parental care.

CRC, Article 7(1): The child shall … have … as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.

CRC, Article 18: 1. States Parties shall use their best efforts to ensure recognition of the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child.

Parents or, as the case may be, legal guardians, have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child. The best interests of the child will be their basic concern. 2. For the purpose of guaranteeing and promoting the rights set forth in the present Convention, States Parties shall render appropriate assistance to parents and legal guardians in the performance of their child-rearing responsibilities and shall

5 0 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

© UNICEF/Rebecca Hearfield

CRC, Article 8(1): States Parties undertake to respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognised by law without unlawful interference.

The majority of children (80%) not living with either parent reside with their grandparents or relatives

Percentage of children living in the same household with both their biological parents; their mother only; their father only; or neither biological parent by province, 2009

Child’s relationship to head of the household when both biological parents are absent, 2009

29

4

15

Gauteng 50

31

4

15

Grandchild

Free State 34

36

27

Northern Cape 31

41

Other relative (e.g. in-laws or aunt/uncle)

North West 30

35

Mpumalanga 28

42

KwaZulu-Natal 25

43

Limpopo 23

45

Eastern Cape 21

39

South Africa 32

38

0%

20% Both parents

40% Mother only

25

3

4

28

2

30

2,000,000

19

(Step-) brother or sister Stepchild or adopted child

9

26

4

Total number of children who have lost one or both parents due to AIDS, 2000–2009

61

9

31

4

1.9 million children have lost one or both parents due to AIDS

Non-related persons

1

Head/acting head

1

AIDS orphans

Western Cape 52

3

The AIDS epidemic is an important driver of the growing number of orphans

4

26

60%

80%

Father only

0%

100%

1,000,000

500,000

36

3

1,500,000

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

0

Neither parent

Note: Numbers may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

1 in 5 children have lost one or both parents Number and percentage of children who have lost one or both parents due to all causes by province, 2009

Percentage of children not living with either parent; who have lost one or both parents due to all causes by household income quintile, 2009

18%

Gauteng

13%

423,875

404,070 North West

19%

35

Mpumalanga

30

22%

322,280

Free State

23%

240,540

33

Not living with either parent

Lost one or both parents

29

25

KwaZuluNatal

Percentage

243,000

15%

Source: UNAIDS (2010) Estimates.

Poor children are less likely to live with their biological parents Limpopo

Northern Cape

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Only 1 in 3 children live with both biological parents

25%

1,058,745

24 20

23

23

17

15

66,730

Eastern Cape

Percentage of children who have lost a parent

687,045

≤ 10%

25%

Western Cape Source: Statistics South Africa (2010).

General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

8%

10.1 – 15 %

18 12

10

8

5 0

5 Poorest 20%

Second 20%

Middle 20%

Fourth 20%

Richest 20%

15.1 – 20%

147,155 Average for South Africa = 19% Total numbers for South Africa = 3,593,440

> 20%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o a F a m i l y E n v i r o n m e n t a n d A l t e r n a t i v e C a r e 5 1

The Right to Alternative Care in the Absence of Family Care

Over 88,600 children were declared in need of care by a children’s court during 2009/10 These children can be placed in foster care, in a children’s home, in a school of industry or back into the parents’ or guardians’ care, under the supervision of a social worker. Orphaned and abandoned children may also be adopted.

Number of children declared to be in need of care and protection by a children’s court, 2006/07–2009/10 100,000

Rights

CRC, Article 25: States Parties recognise the right of a child who has been placed by the competent authorities for the purposes of care, protection or treatment of his or her physical or mental health, to a periodic review of the treatment provided to the child and all other circumstances relevant to his or her placement.

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Articles 24 and 25.

SA Constitution Section 28(1): Every child has the right … (b) to … appropriate alternative care when removed from the family environment.

88,619 80,000 60,051

60,000 Number

CRC, Article 20(1);(2) and (3): (1) A child temporarily or permanently deprived of his or her family environment, or in whose own best interests cannot be allowed to remain in that environment, shall be entitled to special protection and assistance provided by the State. (2) States Parties shall in accordance with their national laws ensure alternative care for such a child. (3) Such care could include, inter alia, foster placement, kafalah of Islamic law, adoption or if necessary placement in suitable institutions for the care of children. When considering solutions, due regard shall be paid to the desirability of continuity in a child’s upbringing and to the child’s ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic background.

40,000

33,408

32,776

20,000

0

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

Close to 500,000 children live with foster parents and benefit from the Foster Child Grant Number of Foster Child Grants by province, Jan. 2011

14,420

Northern Cape

20,805

Western Cape

25,830

Mpumalanga

38,390

North West

40,830

Free State

51,920

Limpopo

58,510

Gauteng

101,760

Eastern Cape

127,970

KwaZulu-Natal 0

5 2 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Source: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (2007–2010). Annual Reports 2006/07–2009/10.

30,000

60,000

90,000

120,000

150,000

Source: South African Social Security Agency (2011).

Statistical Report No. 38 on Social Grants (January 2011).

The number of adoptions has increased to over 5,850 annually

Approximately 13,250 children stay in registered child and youth care centres.

The number of children in unregistered centres is unknown.

Number of adoptions and intercountry adoptions dealt with in children’s courts, 2006/07–2009/10

Number of children in registered child and youth care centres by centre type, 2010 12,000 10,400

6,000 5,853

Adoptions 5,000

Intercountry adoptions

10,000

5,217 8,000

3,779

3,757

Number

Number

4,000 3,000

4,000

2,000 1,003

1,000 0

Note: This number is equivalent to only 76% of the total capacity of registered child and youth care centres, but 95% of the total number of children accommodated on the last weekday night during the time of the survey.

6,000

845

608

1,550

2,000

1,300

No data 2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

0

2009/10

Children's homes

Places of safety

Source: Department of Social Development, UNICEF (2010).

Baseline Study on Registered Child and Youth Care Centres.

Shelters

Source: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (2007–2010).

Annual Reports 2006/07–2009/10.

Close to half of children (45%) are admitted to registered child and youth care centres because of abandonment or neglect Main reason for admission of child to registered child and youth care centres, 2010

1%

15%

Abandoned or neglected Abused

3%

Orphaned

4% 45%

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

5%

Living/working on street Illness of parent or guardian Unaccompanied minor In trouble with the law

14% 14%

Other

Source: Department of Social Development, UNICEF (2010).

Baseline Study on Registered Child and Youth Care Centres.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o a F a m i l y E n v i r o n m e n t a n d A l t e r n a t i v e C a r e 5 3

Registered child and youth care centres are not equitably distributed across the country Number of registered child and youth care centres by province, type, and per 100,000 child population, 2010

The Right to be Protected from all Forms of Violence Rights

54

CRC, Article 19: States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.

Number of centres per province Shelters Places of safety

Limpopo 0.7

Homes Centres per 100,000 children

12

<1

38

1.1 - 2

3

2.1 - 3 > 3.1

0

Gauteng 2.3

5

14

3

43

7

3

9

5

CRC, Article 34: States Parties undertake to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.

2

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 16.

Mpumalanga 1.0

North West 0.5 8

8 1

1

Northern Cape

9 5

3 Free State 4.9

KwaZulu-Natal 1.3

2.5

JCPS Delivery Agreement, Output 3.1: Address overall levels of crime and reduce the levels of contact and trio crimes.

19 5

8

Key target by 2014:

Eastern Cape 1.2

4

• Reduce reported serious crimes from 3,924 (1,910,847 crimes) to at least 3,767 per 100,000 people.

Western Cape 2.3 Source: Department of Social Development, UNICEF (2010). Baseline Study on Registered Child and Youth Care Centres.

5 4 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Section 28(1): Every child has the right … (d) to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.

National targets

32

5

SA Constitution

• Reduce contact crimes from 1,407 (685,185 crimes) to 930 per 100,000 people whilst reducing trio crimes from 97,1 (47,273 crimes) to 67 per 100,000 people.

Violence against children is pervasive in South Africa Over 56,500 children were reported to be victims of violent crime in 2009/10, yet many more crimes remain unreported. People closest to them perpetrate the majority of cases of child sexual and physical abuse

Reported crimes against children by crime category, 2006/07–2009/10

Over 4,000 cases of child neglect or ill-treatment are reported to the police annually Reported cases of neglect and ill-treatment of children by province, 2009/10

25,428

All sexual offences

0

2006/07

14,982 12,062

2007/08

2008/09

17.2

847

15.8

Free State

450

15.5

1,057

10.0

270

7.8

Eastern Cape

356

5.4

Mpumalanga

164

4.5

KwaZulu-Natal

455

4.4

Limpopo

218

4.2

4,014

8.1

Source: South African Police Service (2010). Crime Situation in South Africa.

South Africa

Source: South African Police Service (2010). Crime Statistics: April 2009 – March 2010.

The number of cases of neglect and ill-treatment reported to the police has decreased since 2003 Number of reported cases of neglect and ill-treatment of children, 2003/04–2009/10

12,000

8,000

10,967 (40%)

10,000

8,061 (29%)

8,390 (31%)

7,000 Reported cases

Reported cases

197

Western Cape

North West

29% of all sexual offences against children involve children aged 0–10 years old

6,000

Northern Cape

Gauteng

Sexual offences are often committed against young children

8,000

Ratio per 100,000 population

Attempted murder

2009/10

Reported sexual offences against children by age group, 2009/10

Reported cases

Common assault

Murder

1,113 965

782 843

889 972

5,000

14,544 12,422

10,000

Assault GBH

852 1,015

15,000

16,091 13,625

16,871 13,947

20,000

20,141

22,124

25,000

27,417

30,000

4,000

6,504

6,000

5,568 4,828

5,000

4,258

4,106

4,034

4,014

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

4,000 3,000 2,000

2,000

1,000 0

0-10 years

11-14 years

Source: South African Police Service (2010). Crime Situation in South Africa.

15-17 years

0

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

2006/07

Source: South African Police Service (2010). Crime Statistics: April 2009 – March 2010.

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o a F a m i l y E n v i r o n m e n t a n d A l t e r n a t i v e C a r e 5 5

Children’s Rights to Special Protection

The Right to Special Protection When in Conflict with the Law Rights CRC, Article 40: (1) States Parties recognise the right of every child alleged as, accused of, or recognised as having infringed the penal law to be treated in a manner consistent with the promotion of the child‘s sense of dignity and worth, which reinforces the child’s respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of others and which takes into account the child’s age and the desirability of promoting the child’s reintegration and the child’s assuming a constructive role in society ….

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Articles 15, 27, 28 and 29.

SA Constitution Section 28(1): Every child has the right … (g) to not to be detained except as a measure of last resort, in which case … the child may be detained only for the shortest appropriate period of time, and has the right to be (i) kept separately from detained persons over the age of 18 years; and (ii) treated in a manner, and kept in conditions, that take account of the child’s age.

5 6 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Some facts on children in conflict with the law: • On average, between 9,000 and 13,000 children are arrested by the South African Police Service on a monthly basis.

• Approximately 4,500 to 5,000 cases per month are converted into Children’s Court Inquiries in terms of the Child Care Act, 1983 (Act 74 of 1983).

Of the remaining numbers of children in the criminal justice system, between 3,000 and 5,500 children go through the courts on a monthly basis.

• On average, 1,900 children per month are diverted from the mainstream criminal justice system. This means that where a child acknowledges wrong-doing, the prosecutor provisionally withdraws charges, on condition that the child attends diversion programmes such as life skills and anger management programmes.

Source: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (2008). Annual Report 2007/08.

Approximately 33,000 children awaited trial in detention during 2008/09

The number of children in correctional facilities has decreased substantially

Number of children in conflict with the law awaiting trial by place of detention, 2008/09

Average number of children detained in correctional service facilities by sentence status at any given point, 2003–2010

20,000 16,970

1,810

2003

2,334 1,710

2004

15,000

1,923 1,237 1,336

Number

2005 1,099

2006

10,000

1,149

8,649

895

2007

1,166

5,871 5,000

2008

No data available

2009

No data available

2010*

290

Unsentenced

1,343 0

Secure care centres

Home-based supervision

Correctional service facilities

Places of safety

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Number Note: 2010 data refers to children in detention on the last day of October 2010, while 2003–2007 data refers to the average number of children in detention at any given point within that year.

Source: Department of Correctional Services (2008). Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Children in Conflict with the Law (2003–2007 data) and DCS Statistical Information at http://www.dcs.gov.za/AboutUs/StatisticalInformation.aspx (2010 data).

© UNICEF/Giacomo Pirozzi

Source: National Treasury (2009). Provincial Budgets and Expenditure Review 2005/06 – 2011/12. Annexure B: Nonfinancial (performance) information.

Sentenced

632

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o S p e c i a l P r o t e c t i o n 5 7

The Right to Special Protection in Situations of Exploitation Rights

CRC, Article 33: States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislative, administrative, social and educational measures, to protect children from the illicit use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties and to prevent the use of children in the illicit production and trafficking of such substances.

CRC, Article 34: States Parties undertake to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. For these purposes, States Parties shall in particular take all appropriate national, bilateral and multilateral measures to prevent: (a) The inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity; (b) The exploitative use of children in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices; (c) The exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials.

5 8 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

CRC, Article 35: States Parties shall take all appropriate national, bilateral and multilateral measures to prevent the abduction of, the sale of or traffic in children for any purpose or in any form.

CRC, Article 36: States Parties shall protect the child against all other forms of exploitation prejudicial to any aspects of the child’s welfare.

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Articles 15, 27, 28 and 29.

SA Constitution Section 28. Every child has the right … (e) to be protected from exploitative labour practices; (f) not to be required or permitted to perform work or provide services that – (i) are inappropriate for a person of that child’s age; or (ii) place at risk the child’s well-being, education, physical or mental health or spiritual, moral or social development.

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

CRC, Article 32: (1) States Parties recognise the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.

No recent data on child labour is available for South Africa. A 1999 survey found that 36% of children above 5 years of age were engaged in at least one form of work activity Percentage of children aged 5–17 years engaged in children’s work activities (higher cut-off points), 1999 South Africa 36

More than 1 in 10 high school learners has taken at least one illegal drug such as dagga, heroin, or cocaine before Percentage of high school learners (in Grades 8–11) who have ever used illegal drugs, 2008

Ever used dagga 13

Gauteng 12 North West 21

Ever used mandrax 7

Western Cape 24 KwaZulu-Natal 35 Free State 36 Limpopo 40 Mpumalanga 44 Easten Cape 60 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Source: Department of Labour and Statistics South Africa (2001). Survey of Activities of Young People (SAYP), 1999.

Source: Medical Research Council (2010). The 2nd South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 2008.

Ever used cocaine 7 Ever used heroin 6 Ever used over-the-counter/prescription drugs 12 Ever taken drugs like heroin, mandrax, sugars, tik 12 0%

5%

10%

15%

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Note: To be classified as engaged in work, a child would have been involved in at least one activity, according to the following cut-off points: three hours per week for economic activities, seven hours per week for household chores, and five hours per week for school maintenance.

Northern Cape 23

C h i l d r e n ’s R i g h t s t o S p e c i a l P r o t e c t i o n 5 9

The Right to Birth Registration

Percentage of births registered within year of birth, 1998–2009

Rights CRC, Article 7: The child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents.

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 6.

100

80

80

82

85

72 66

60

51

57

44 38

40

SA Constitution Section 28(a): Every child has the right to a name and nationality from birth.

Target = 100 88

Percentage

The Civil Rights and Freedoms of Children

Birth registration has improved steadily over the past decade

31 25

20

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Source: Statistics South Africa (2007). Coverage and quality of birth registration 1998–2005; Statistics South Africa (2010). Recorded live births, 2009.

The lowest levels of birth registration are found in predominantly rural provinces Percentage of births registered within year of birth by province, 2005

South Africa 72 KwaZulu-Natal 62 Easten Cape 66 North West 67 Limpopo 67 Mpumalanga 70 Free State 75 Gauteng 81 Northern Cape 82 Western Cape 97 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2007) Coverage and quality of birth registration 1998–2005.

6 0 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

Though prohibited by law, nearly 1 in 5 children experience corporal punishment at school

Children in the poorest households are more likely to experience corporal punishment by teachers

Percentage of children attending school experiencing corporal punishment by teachers by province, 2009

Percentage of children attending school experiencing corporal punishment by teachers by household income quintile, 2009 25

South Africa 17 Western Cape 3

Also see African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, Article 20(1)(c); 21(1).

SA Constitution Section 12: Everyone has the right to freedom and security of the person, which includes the right … (c) to be free from all forms of violence from either public or private sources; … (d) not to be tortured in any way; and … (e) not to be treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way.

Section 28(d): Every child has the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.

Percentage

CRC, Article 17: No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Gauteng 12 North West 13 Limpopo 15 Free State 20

15

16

10

10

5

KwaZulu-Natal 24

4

Eastern Cape 25 0%

21 19

Mpumalanga 8

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

0

Poorest 20% Second 20% Middle 20%

Fourth 20% Richest 20%

Source: Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009.

Analysis by UNICEF South Africa.

1 in 3 parents use severe corporal punishment in the form of beatings Percentage of parents who smack their children with their hand; beat their children with a strap, belt, stick or similar object, 2005 60 50 Gini coefficient

Rights

20

Northern Cape 6

57

40 33

30

© UNICEF/Karin Schermbrucker

The Right to Protection From Corporal Punishment and Other Cruel or Degrading Forms of Punishment

20 10 0

% of parents who smack their children

% of parents who beat their children with a strap, belt or stick

Source: Dawes, A., De Sas Kropiwnicki, Z., Kafaar, Z. and Richter, L. (2005).

Corporal punishment of children: a South African national survey.

The Civil Rights and Freedoms of Children 61

Technical Note While South Africa is a relatively data-rich country, published statistics usually focus on the entire population or on households, not specifically on children. Additional analysis of the raw General Household Survey (GHS) 2009 dataset was therefore undertaken to collate disaggregated statistics using children as the unit of analysis. The GHS was selected because of its sample size, annual frequency and the topics it covers. This note provides a brief description of the dataset and main approaches followed during the analysis.

Description of the GHS1 The GHS is a household survey that has been executed annually by Stats SA since 2002. It is designed to measure multiple facets of the living conditions of South African households and covers six broad areas, namely: education, health, social development, housing, household access to services and facilities, food security and agriculture.

The survey covers private households in all nine provinces of South Africa, and residents in workers’ hostels. A household is defined as a person, or group of persons, who occupy a common dwelling unit (or part of it) for at least four nights in a week on average during the past four weeks prior to the survey interview. The survey does not cover other collective living quarters such as students’ hostels, old age homes, hospitals, prisons and military barracks. The GHS is therefore only representative of non-institutionalised and non-military persons or households in South Africa. These exclusions, however, should not have a noticeable impact on the findings in respect of children.

The sample design for the GHS 2009 was based on a master sample that was originally designed for the QLFS and was used for the first time for the GHS in 2008. The sample was stratified first by province and then by district council. A total of 25,303 households were successfully interviewed during the face-toface interviews conducted in July, August and September 2009. Information was captured on 94,263 persons, including 35,494 children under the age of 18 years.

Analysing the GHS 2009 The GHS 2009 data are available in two separate data files that can be accessed and downloaded from StatsOnline at www.statssa.gov.za. The ‘Person’ file contains demographic information (sex, age, population group, etc.) and biographical information (education, health, social grants, and economic activities) of every member in the household. The ‘House’ file contains household information (housing, water and sanitation, electricity, environmental issues, services, etc.) and data on food security, household income sources and expenditure. The microdata files also contain a number of derived variables calculated by 1 Statistics South Africa (2010). General Household Survey 2009: Metadata.

6 2 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Technical Note Stats SA, as well as household and person weights. Data were analysed using the software package SPSS Statistics 17.0.

An important part of the equity analysis for this Report entailed disaggregating data by economic status in order to compare the situation of the poorest and the richest children. From the spectrum of indicators of economic status, household income was selected as the indicator of choice. The analysis relied on a derived variable on estimated total household income that was included in the ‘House’ file by Stats SA. This derived variable is a combination of total reported earnings, income from social grants, and income from remittances. Stats SA combined estimated monthly incomes of R20,000 and higher as the questionnaire was not designed to capture incomes from more complex sources such as rentals, interest, etc. that are typical of higher income households.

Data on total household income was missing for 8.4 per cent of households. When analysing inequality, ignoring households with unspecified household income can lead to biased results. A method called multiple imputation was therefore applied at household level to deal with missing values. The imputation model used the following variables as predictors of household income: province, race and sex of the household head, dwelling type, fuel for cooking, sanitation, water source, refuse removal, telephone, internet connection, means of transport, and economically active household members. The model was run 15 times and the imputed datasets were pooled to provide estimates that are generally more accurate than they would be with only one imputation.

Next, household income was converted into per capita income in order to compensate for differences in household size. All households were then ordered by household per capita income, and the distribution was divided into quintiles each containing 20% of households. Each household was assigned a quintile score with 1 referring to the poorest 20% of households, and 5 referring to the richest 20 % of households.

Finally, the data from the two separate data files (‘House’ and ‘Person’) were linked on the basis of a unique household identifier (UqNr), pre-classified by Stats SA, in order to allow for extensive analysis using children as the unit of analysis. All records with a given unique household identifier, no matter which file they are in, belong to the same household. This means that common household data, for example, on access to water or the quintile category, was applied to each individual household member in the merged dataset. Tabulations were then produced for the child indicators presented in this Report. Throughout the analysis, weights provided by Stats SA were applied to give representative estimates by province, population group and gender.

63

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Dawes A, De Sas Kropiwnicki Z, Kafaar Z and Richter L (2005). Corporal Punishment of Children: A South African National Survey. Cape Town: Child Youth and Family Development, Human Sciences Research Council.

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Department of Health (2002). South Africa Demographic and Health Survey 1998.

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Department of Social Development, UNICEF (Forthcoming). Baseline Study on Registered Child and Youth Care Centres.

Finn, Leibbrandt and Woolard (2009).

Income and Expenditure Inequality: Analysis of the NIDS Wave 1 Dataset.

Fonn S, Padarath A (eds) (2010). South African Health Review 2010. Durban: Health Systems Trust.

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Shisana O, Rehle T, Simbayi LC, Zuma K, Jooste S, Pillay-van-Wyk V, Mbelle N, Van Zyl J, Parker W, Zungu NP, Pezi S and the SABSSM III Implementation Team (2009). South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey 2008: A Turning Tide among Teenagers? Cape Town: HSRC Press.

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65

Database on Child Rights Indicators The database available in the CD-ROM attached to this report contains key indicators to monitor the fulfilment of child rights in South Africa. By installing the database on your computer, you are literally just a few mouse clicks away from: • Getting facts to help make better decisions based on evidence; • Analyzing national, provincial and district data for monitoring and evaluation purposes; • Producing high-quality tables, graphs and maps for inclusion in reports, presentations and advocacy materials.

System requirements The recommended hardware requirements to install this software application are: • Pentium IV • 512 MB of RAM • 1 GB of free hard disk space • Display resolution 1024 x 768 • Microsoft Windows XP or above • Microsoft Office XP is recommended but not required.

Installing the database To install the application on your computer, follow these steps: • Insert the CR-ROM into the CD drive.

• Wait for Auto-run to launch the Setup screen.

• Follow the instructions on the screen to complete setup.

If the setup program does not load automatically, then do the following: • Click Start and then click Run. • Type d:\setup (where ‘d’ is the location of your CD drive) and press Enter.

• Follow the instructions on the screen to complete setup.

After installation, double-click on the desktop to start the application.

icon on your

To view the User’s Guide in .pdf format, click and select Help.

6 7 S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C H I L D R E N

Database on Child Rights Indicators