Demographic Trends and Exploitation of Natural Resources in South Africa - Essay Example

? Demographic trends and exploitation of natural resources in South Africa Demography and demographic trends arean important source of information to both students and academicians at large especially in the fields of Social Sciences, Politics and Policymaking and the Economic and Planning sectors. Demography entails the study of population structures, the growth, and spread of populations, socio-economic and political issues among a host of other factors. It entails in its core efforts, the study and analysis of population growth, the spread of human populace to different regions, due to the region’s specific characteristics and features, and socio-economic and political issues that have either positive or negative impacts to the spread and placement of a population (Barbier, 2011, p. 372). Resources are also a contributing factor to the spread and settlement of a population; this is because the availability of the resources means the availability of job opportunities for both the local populations and other migrant workers. Even though contraceptive use and family planning are crucial and useful to reduce fertility, they are only palliative solution because of the built-in population momentum. To grapple with the myriad youthful population growth at hand, socioeconomic factors such as poverty alleviation (people exploit the resources because they are poor and poverty encourage large family as a hedge against mortality, disease such as AIDS, to provide more workers and to ensure social security) and enhance the status of women should be considered. The environment is an essential tool here because it provides resources that influence demographic issues. Africa as a whole is experiencing a bust of sustainable growth and development- in both the rural and urban settings. Although still largely rural, the experience of major changes in terms of population composition and their distribution has had both positive and negative implications on the environment and on the continents’ development (Hassan, 2005, p. 222). Challenging, is the critical task of ensuring better and more equitable sustenance and provision of returns to the people, while at the same time taking care of the environment through proper exploitation and little or no degradation due to either farming or resource exploitation. The changing demography, particularly, the shift towards a younger age structure of the population, a high rate of urbanization and a steadily rising population size, in relation to economic growth are critical drivers of their economies and contribute to the environmental change that the continent is experiencing. It is thus critical to address the issue of population growth and the resultant structural changes, to reduce the spread of environmental degradation (Hassan, 2005). Each passing year, the population increases, but the amount of natural resources with which to sustain this growth in population, to improving the quality of lives and to better stand a chance of eliminating poverty still remain finite(LLC, 2010, p. 12). This in itself causes an increase in the challenges that face the sustainability of development. Demographic change contributes heavily to “land-cover change” with its most direct and primary impact being the opening up of new land for agricultural activities, for the settlement of new populations, for infrastructural expansion and development and for the mining and logging industries. Urbanization, that is rated to be increasingly rapidly, places strain on both infrastructure and other services. This is due to the fact that majority of the newly urbanized live in slums. There is thus, a growing and urgent need for integrated approaches to environmental planning and management (LLC, 2010, p. 12). South Africa is situated in the south of the continent of Africa and as a country; it is endowed with resources that are critical to its economic wellbeing. Its economy has been driven by its primary sectors – a favorable agricultural landscape and an immense reserve of mineral resources (Beinart, 2008, p. 5). However, there has been a structural shift in production, with the economy, since the early 1990s being driven by other sectors that include - wholesale and retail commerce, the telecommunications sector, and the tourism sector. In the 21st Century, the country is moving towards being a knowledge-based powerhouse with greater focus being placed on technology, e-commerce, and the provision of financial services among others. Among the key driving sectors of the economy contributing to the Gross Domestic Product include- manufacturing, financial services, agriculture, telecommunications, tourism, retail and mining sectors (Beinart, 2008, p. 35). South Africa enjoys a wide range of climates- from the semi-arid and dry weather, to sub-tropical weather. There is the processing of fresh aquaculture and marine culture, of indigenous and exotic meats, nuts, fruits, and herbs. It has both a more subsistence-based agricultural sector, which is based more widely in the rural areas, and a well-developed large-scale commercial farming sector. This biodiversity, and the 3000 kilometer long coastal line, favors the cultivation of a myriad of agricultural and marine based products- from deciduous, subtropical and citrus, to wool, cut flowers, livestock and game to grains(Hackett & Moore, 2011). In the manufacturing sector, South Africa has developed itself, through its resilience and potential to take its place in the global economy. This sector provides the much needed employment, job creation, and economic empowerment. Through this sector, the growth of other services/activities is stimulated. Industries that are dominant in this sector include- agro processing, automotive, chemical, electronics, clothing and footwear, textiles, metals, and information and communications technology (Hackett & Moore, 2011, p. 426). Key to South Africa’s growth and development is the automotive industry. Many multinationals are using the country’s world-class infrastructure and competitive input costs, the existence of preferential trade agreements such as the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that gives it access to the US market and also a free trade agreement with the European Union that provides for generous opportunities and benefits, as some of the factors that endear the country to foreign investments. The country’s automotive industry is a global sector for the manufacture and export of vehicles and their components. Such vehicle manufacturers such as BMW, Ford, Daimler-Chrysler, Toyota, and Volkswagen have established production and assembly plants in the country. Other component manufacturers have also put up production plants in the country. This industry takes advantage of the low production costs, coupled with new markets access because of the trade agreements with the European Union and the South African Development Community free trade area, to boost its outputs and sales in the global economy (Hassan, 2005, p. 222). Also, of vital importance is the chemicals industry. It was shaped by the political and regulatory dynamics that created a philosophy of protectionism and isolationism during the apartheid era (Fuggle & Rabie, 1983, p. 120). This fostered an inward approach and shift in focus on replacement of imports in the local markets that encouraged the building of local small-scale plants that are capable of meeting the local demand. The Information and Communication Technology industry (ICT) and the electronics sector are also major contributors to the country’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The country’s software developers are world leaders in innovation, production, and cost efficiency- and are aided by the excellent local infrastructure. The local IT industry is boosted by its leadership in the fields of electronic banking and services, with companies leading in the pre-payment, fraud prevention, revenue management and manufacture of set-top boxes that are all successfully exported globally (Fuggle & Rabie, 1983, p. 120). Key to the growth of the country’s economy is the metals sector. It is a well-developed industry, coupled with the vast natural resources available and a supportive infrastructure. It accounts for roughly a third of all of the country’s manufacturing. It is comprised of basic iron ore and steel, non-ferrous metals and metal products amongst others. The basic industries involve the manufacture of primarily iron and steel products. The non-ferrous metal industry is composed of aluminum and other metals (including copper, lead, zinc, tin and brass). Going hand in hand with the above is the mining sector. The country is endowed with an abundance of mineral resources, with it being among nations with big production of gold, platinum, and diamonds. It is also leading in the production of coal and base metals (Sterner, 2003, p. 45). Due to the country’s immense and wide diversification, from environmental diversity to the ‘melting pot’ of different cultures, there is a trend of rural urban migration, especially of the black South Africans from the rural and primarily agricultural areas to the urban areas. Drivers of this trend include job opportunities in the mining industries, manufacturing sectors, telecommunications, and the ICT sector among a host of other industries. There is thus, ‘a pull’ of the population towards the urban and semi-urban areas. The formation of dangerous and unhealthy slum areas and shanty towns is as a direct result of this population shift, this best exemplified by the Soweto Township. It is situated 15 kilometers southwest of the city of Johannesburg. It was designed and created so as to keep the black urban populace out of the city, which in the times of apartheid, was home, predominantly, to the white South Africans (Moss, 2008). The black South Africans, who mainly composed the workforce needed in the industries, had to ensure that at all times they carried their permits. These documents were proof of their legal status that permitted them to live in Soweto and move into and out of the industrial, commercial, and residential areas of the city of Johannesburg. All blacks aged above 16 years were required to carry their permits at all times. These methods of urban policing were rooted in the aim of separating areas of residency to the different races present in Johannesburg during the time of apartheid (Moss, 2008, p. 34). Poor housing and sanitation coupled with little connection to electricity means that the majority of its residents use firewood, especially on the cold winter nights when the temperatures are freezing. For lighting, there is use of candles and paraffin lamps that contribute to environmental degradation in the form of carbon emissions. Due to overcrowding and poverty, there is the common overdependence on natural resources (Beinart, 2008, p. 35). The presence of a much younger society, and the lack of employment and other livelihood opportunities, as well as lack of cheap and quality provision of social amenities especially in the education, health and other vital sectors, means that the population will increasingly rely heavily on natural resources. The degradation of the environment further, may spur more socio-economic conflicts and hardships. Increase in population growth poses a major challenge due to the patterns of production and consumption as well as the problems of pervasive poverty. It affects ‘the base’ of natural resources in a myriad of ways. There is first, the increase in demand for food, water, arable land and other essential commodities i.e. firewood as the main source of heating, cooking. Secondly, there is expansion of agricultural activities that result in the encroachment of forests and woodlands. Thirdly, the degradation caused to the environment has direct and painful consequences on the livelihoods of the population, but the hardest hits are the rural communities (Beinart, 2008, p. 35). The UNHCR states that in 2008 only South Africa received more than 207,000 asylum entries and 222,300 in 2009. These were caused by the entry of Zimbabweans and other seekers from East and Central Africa. The UNHCR took protection needs assessments in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Pretoria in the middle of 2009, to describe the challenges faced by urban refugees and asylum-seekers (Hackett & Moore, 2011, p. 426). This table shows the UNHCR data records for asylum seekers and refugees in South Africa. 2011 UNHCR planning figures for South Africa TYPE OF POPULATION ORIGIN JAN 2011 DEC 2011 TOTAL IN COUNTRY OF WHOM ASSISTED BY UNHCR TOTAL IN COUNTRY OF WHOM ASSISTED BY UNHCR Total 470,800 83,700 494,800 85,800 Refugees Somalia 21,300 4,300 22,700 4,500 Dem. Rep. of the Congo 11,200 2,200 12,000 2,400 Ethiopia 5,000 1,000 6,500 1,300 Various 15,600 3,100 16,900 3,400 Asylum-seekers Zimbabwe 261,500 45,300 266,500 46,200 Malawi 33,100 4,900 40,100 5,000 Ethiopia 22,600 4,300 27,600 4,400 Various 100,500 18,600 102,500 18,600 HIV/AIDS has had a great impact on the human capacity of not only South Africa, but also the Sub-Saharan African region at large. The direct impacts, which are severe, have been felt on the economic, social, and environmental sectors, with grave consequences. In South Africa, the threat is particularly severe (Nattrass, 2004, p. 150).This in turn reduces the life expectancy even further. The productive labor sector has been hit particularly hard by the high mortality rate that features prominently in the 20-50 years age bracket. The directly linked loss of productive capacity is great and this results to a decrease in disposable income, increased food insecurity, and the increase of dependency on natural resources. This coupled with the loss of the most knowledgeable and productive age groups, due to the disease, have had direct impacts on the management of the environment. There is a higher prevalence rate among women, due to the unequal educational opportunities and inequitable gender relations. This disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on women is of particular significance especially from the environmental perspective, as women in majority of Sub-Saharan Africa contribute immensely to responsible natural resource stewardship (Nattrass, 2004, p. 150). Conflicts have effects on the distribution of populations and are a major cause of internal migration. This places new pressures on the available environmental resources. In crisis situations, there may be large displacements of populations within a short period of time; this causing a high level of stress being exerted on the environment in the areas of their relocation due to the increased demand and the lack of preparedness (Moss, 2008, p. 34). Thus the depletion and deterioration of the areas, where the camps are located, are more often than not related to the high demand for wood that is for use as a source of energy and for shelter provision. There is because of this, the inherent competition between local communities and the forced migrants over access to the limited natural resources. This competition may lead to a polarization of social relations in the refugee settlement areas and thus, cause an undermining of both collaborative and management opportunities in environmental preservation; an example being the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa in the recent past. Overpopulation pressures the available resources that can only support a given density of population (Moss, 2008, p. 34). Poverty may also depend on the individual country’s mix of population density and agricultural productivity. High birth rates are also a major contributing factor to overpopulation especially in the developing nations. Children, especially boys, are viewed as assets to many poor families; this being because the children are seen as a potential labor force, especially for farming. The cultural norms and traditions of traditionally rural societies commonly advocate for the value of large families. This coupled with the governments’ (of these developing nations) little or no effort in providing financial, political, and social support like family planning services enhances this growth outburst (Fuggle & Rabie, 1983, p. 120). The problems associated with poverty are massive and pervasive. The lack of education and illiteracy are common in poor developing countries. The lack of government capacity to provide good public schools, especially in rural areas, contributes majorly to this. There are therefore lesser enrollments of school-going children to the elementary schools available. Poor people often forego schooling to concentrate on making better livelihoods. Coupled with this, is the provision of few employment opportunities, especially for women; thus, people see little or no reason to gaining an education. There is thus a connecting factor between overpopulation, poverty, unemployment, and overexploitation of the available limited natural resources. In conclusion, as stated above demography and demographic trends are an important source of information to both students and academicians at large especially in the fields of Social Sciences, Politics and Policymaking and the Economic and Planning sectors. South Africa as a large country with many resources, both in production and agricultural sectors attracts many people who are in search of better living conditions. Because of this, demographic trends change forcing South Africa to change its policies to meet the demands of the demographic trends. However, dealing with poverty, gender issues, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases is the main challenge to South African government. References Barbier, E. B., 2011. Scarcity and Frontiers: How Economies Have Developed Through Natural Resource Exploitation. London: Cambridge University Press. Beinart, W., 2008. The Rise of Conservation in South Africa: Settlers, Livestock, and the Environment 1770-1950. London: Oxford University Press. Fuggle, R. F., & Rabie, M. A., 1983. Environmental concerns in South Africa: technical and legal perspectives. Johannersberg: Juta. Hackett, S. C., & Moore, M. C., 2011. Enviromental and Natural Resources Economics: Theory, Policy, and the Substantial Society. London: M.E. Sharpe. Hassan, R. M., 2005. Ecosystems and human well-being: current state and trends : findings of the Condition and Trends Working Group of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. New York: Island Press. LLC, G. B., 2010. Demographics of South Afric: Demographics of South Africa, Afrikaans \ Speaking Population in South Africa. New York: General Books LLC. Moss, V., 2008. Housing finance system in South Africa, Volume 8. Geneva: UN-HABITAT. Nattrass, N., 2004. The moral economy of AIDS in South Africa. London: Cambridge University Press. Sterner, T., 2003. Policy instruments for environmental and natural resource management. Johannesberg: Resources for the Future, . Read More