JOHANNESBURG, Dec 10, 2006 (AFP) - South Africa has failed to provide its children with a way out of poverty, damning them to a life of violence and deprivation, a new report cited by a Sunday newspaper said.
The report by the African Union's Peer Review panel found that children in the country were facing an uphill struggle as families and schools disintegrate, leaving them without social support structures.
"Not only has parental leadership failed, the overall societal leadership is far from being inspiring to children," the Sunday Times cited from a confidential 300-page country review.
South Africa is the fourth country to submit to the African Peer Review Mechanism, a voluntary process introduced by the AU to improve governance on the continent.
While the report commended the country for having a good sense of developmental responsibility and accountability, it noted serious shortfalls in dealing with escalating crime and violence -- especially in schools.
"South African girls continue to be raped, sexually abused, sexually harassed and assaulted at school by male classmates and teachers," it said.
The report said too little had been done for South Africa's 1.2 million AIDS orphans, who make up almost ten percent of the world's 15 million such children.
"These children are extremely vulnerable. Many suffer severe deprivation, quit school, fail to access training and fall prey to abuse, exploitation, and risk HIV infection more than other children," the panel found.
The report, expected to be revealed in January, said South Africa's success story on the continent could be threatened by the many challenges it still faced.
These included large-scale unemployment and a severe skills shortage.
Political stability in the country was also under threat from increasing xenophobia against other Africans, perceived by South Africans as competition for jobs and resources.
"Foreigners, mostly of African descent, are being subjected to brutality and detention reminiscent of the worst excesses of the country's past," said the report.
While reconciliation in the country has been lauded internationally, the African panel found minorities felt marginalised and fears of ethnic domination abounded.
"Race relations remain brittle and sensitive. Minorities fear that government is not doing enough to assure the cultural, educational and language rights guaranteed by the constitution."
South Africa won approval for its excellent quality of infrastructure, and "tremendous growth potential in tourism and the service industry".
061210
AF061231
Copyright ©AFP 2006. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission. obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics. http://www.afp.com/
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
©1990, 2006 - AEGiS. AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
