Issues - South Africa

It’s easy to find differences between South Africa and Ireland. When Irish people think of South Africa they think of things like elephants, lions, gold, diamonds and safari parks. What do South Africans think of when they think of Ireland?

Both countries saw enormous change in the twentieth century, particularly in the last twenty years. South African and Irish young people in school today are living in countries that are unrecognisable compared to the countries in which their parents grew up.

The South African population totals over 47 million, comprising a melting-pot of people: the Nguni (consisting of the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi people); the Sotho-Tswana, who include the Southern, Northern and Western Sotho (Tswana people); the Tsonga; Venda; Afrikaners; English; coloureds; Indians; and those who have immigrated to South Africa from the rest of Africa, Europe and Asia.

There are nine provinces in South Africa - Gauteng, Mpumlanga, Limpopo, North West, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern and Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Each province has its own legislature, premier and executive council.

In its 13 years of freedom, South Africa has become a vibrant expression of freedom, equality and unity.  South Africa is often called the Cradle of Humankind, for this is where archaeologists discovered 2,5-million-year-old fossils of our earliest ancestors, as well as the 100 000-year-old remains of modern man. The unique enchantment of the country derives from such deep legacies encoded in its history and also by moments of monumental change and strides of dynamic progress brought about by a people united in diversity - a winning nation committed to building a better South Africa and a better world.

Amawele’s twinning programme is a way of helping pupils and teachers, in both cultures, to see that we all want similar things from life – we have hopes, dreams, ambitions and goals, that education can help turn into realities.

Outside of the actual school network, Amawele will be helping young South Africans to access and benefit from education. This support ranges from facilities and materials within schools, to teacher training, food, health care and support structures within the home.