To what extent does a group you have studied experience socio-economic inequality? (20 marks)

Question 1

introduction

Answer 1

As a result of apartheid, South Africa still faces large challenges regarding socio-economic inequalities. This essay will analyse and evaluate the effect of socio-economic inequality on the black ethnic group in South Africa, in areas such as education, health, crime and economy.

Question 2

education

Answer 2

• white people mainly make up fee schools, black people mainly make up poor schools
• poor schools severely lack basic infrastructure, pit toilets still used at more than 3,300
• classrooms in poor schools overcrowded and have severe lack of teachers, qualified teachers tend to work in best schools, instead of those in poor areas, teachers often unprofessional and unreliable
• terribly low attainment results: exhibited through the countries’ literacy and numeracy skills: SA placed 146th/148 for literacy and numeracy skills, statistics come from poor schools attended by black students

Question 3

health

Answer 3

• country’s strong private healthcare sector created another division between black people and white people, white people being able to afford it, black people being unable to afford it
• WC highly urbanised and has best health care provision. Western Cape: 38 doctors per 100,000 people, Limpopo: 11 doctors per 100,000 people
• In poorer, less urbanised provinces like Limpopo, there is a great lack of doctors and nurses
• SA’s lack of doctors stems from a lack of pay and resource, which has resulted in a ‘brain drain’, as those who are qualified tend to move away and work where conditions are better
• HIV/AIDS is biggest health and social issue facing South Africa: over 5 million living with it and around 1,000 dying from it each day
• Most infected are black, resulted in a stigma among young black people, causing them to shy away from receiving help

Question 4

crime

Answer 4

• ‘have nots’ turn to crime against the ‘haves’ due to gross wealth inequality
• prisons dominated by black people, with 98% of people in prison being non-white
• often due to black people having a lack of education, as violence is a common way of life for many black youths who have no prospects because of the poor education system
• SA has high rates of robbery, rape, assault and murder, with 49 people being murdered a day
• Most murdered are black, again stems from a lack of education and surge of poverty among black ethnic group
• police brutality and corruption are rife within South Africa, further contributing to the high murder and assault rates

Question 5

economy
(economic inequality)

Answer 5

• Millions of black South Africans not benefited from country’s economic progress, with 64.2% of black people in poverty
• Around 50% of youths in South Africa unemployed, tends to spark crime due to youth being involved in gangs and drugs
• unhealthy cycle of youths in poverty turning to crime
• some progress has been made with emerging black middle class termed ‘black diamonds’, which was not possible under apartheid