South Africa

Presidential poverty nodes as published in a 2007 report of the Department of Provincial and Local Government, South Africa.

In South Africa, one of the major epicentres of the disease, an estimated 5.7 million people are living with HIV/AIDS (2007).

The estimated HIV prevalence among African females in South Africa aged 20-34 is 32.7%. It is our estimate that prevalence is likely to be much higher in the area in which Tholulwazi Uzivikele operates, due to high levels of poverty and poor access to health care services.

According to the SAIRR, South Africa´s life expectancy decreased from 62 years in 1990 to 50 years in 2007. This is ascribed to HIV/AIDS. Only Zimbabwe had a worse trend for life expectancy. Life expectancy in Kwa-Zulu Natal is much lower.

Estimates are that by 2015, up to 5,700,000 or 32% of all children in South Africa, would have lost one or both parents due to HIV/AIDS. We have estimated that there are more than 3,000 orphans in the area.

National HIV education strategy appears to be failing. ´Between 2005 and 2008, there has been a drastic drop in knowledge about the transmission and prevention of HIV among all age groups.

Kwa-Zulu Natal

The HIV prevalence in Kwa-Zulu Natal in is estimated at 15,8% (2008). Of all provinces, the number of orphans is highest in Kwa-Zulu Natal. 26.1% of all children (defined as persons aged 0 – 17 years) are orphaned. (maternal, paternal and double orphans)

“The province that displays the worst health indicators overall is KwaZulu-Natal, with the highest mortality rates for both adults and children, the greatest number of HIV infections, the greatest number of AIDS deaths, the greatest number of reported cases of TB, and the largest number of people living without a medical aid. “

Kwa-Zulu Natal had the lowest life expectancy at birth in 2009 at 43 years
In Kwa-Zulu Natal, at least 25.8% of the population in the age group between 15 and 49 is HIV positive.  In South Africa HIV testing below this age is restricted by legislation.

Umhlabuyalingana

“Over two thirds (68%) of the labour force of the Umhlabuyalingana district is not economically active.” .  This makes most households dependant on survival through subsistence agriculture and social support grants.

Approximately 70% of all in-patient deaths of Manguzi Hospital are HIV- related
TB and HIV/AIDS are both highly prevalent in the area.

Of the population in the age group above 20 years, 69% has either had only primary level schooling (the minority), with most people from this population group having had no schooling at all.

HIV has had a significant impact on the community, decimating household structures and traditional systems of community care.

Location

Map of South Africa, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Umhlabuyalingana Sub-district (in blue), where Tholulwazi Uzivikele works.

Tholulwazi Uzivikele is based in  Manguzi, but operates throughout the  Umhlabuyalingana municipal sub district.

Area

The area in which Tholulwazi Uzivikele operates covers approximately 4800 square kilometres, divided into 49 isigodi, loosely defined areas of induna (chief) influence. It is estimated that there is less than 120 km of paved road, the rest being deep sand tracks and poorly maintained dirt roads, which are often flooded during the rainy season.

Population

The 2008 Integrated Development Planning Report of the Umkhanyakude District Municipality reports on the half-yearly census carried out in the area. According to this report, the population of the Umkhanyakude District is estimated at 610,000. It is estimated that approximately 134 000 people live in the Umhlabunyalingana sub district.

In 2001, the then President announced an initiative to address underdevelopment in the most severely impoverished areas (“Presidential poverty nodes”) in South Africa. The Umkhanyakude district was identified as a Presidential Poverty Node. It is estimated that these nodes (rural and urban) are home to around 10 million people. The map shows the Rural Presidential Poverty Nodes in dark grey and the Urban Presidential Poverty Nodes in light grey. The blue area marks the area in which Tholulwazi Uzivikele is active.