Blog 10: South African Census shows that whites earn 6 times more than blacks

      This article was published in the Washington Post by the associated press on October 31^st. It is about the recent news proven by the South African Census; that is that white South Africans make 6 times more than black South Africans even still nearly two years after apartheid has ended. The article released a statement from South African President Jacob Zuma, “These figures tell us at the bottom of the rung is the black majority who continue to be confronted by deep poverty, unemployment, and inequality, despite the progress that we have made since 1994.” In 2011 according to the census the annual income of the average black household was 60,613 rand ($7,500). On the other hand the census recorded in 2011 showed that the average annual income for a white household in South Africa was 365,134 rand ($45,600). The article quotes Trevor Manuel a planning minister stating that the income distribution between the races and genders was the most startling of the census figures. When service figures were recorded by the census it was shown that 1.3 million households did not have any access to piped water and the majority of those households were black. However for the first time since three census recordings the number of people identifying themselves as colored was higher than the number identified as white. Colored is a term used by the government to classify people of a mixed race. President Zuma states that a National development plan has been launched to reduce inequality, poverty, and unemployment.

            The fact that there is still such a large gap between the income of black South Africans and that of white South Africans so long after the end of apartheid is unacceptable. This is indeed a major sign of racial inequality still present. Although the legal policy of segregation by race is no longer in place it is clear that those feelings of superiority and inferiority are still present. I do not in any way think that there is an excuse for such extreme racial inequality. The average white households annual income should not double that of the black household but the fact of the matter is it is nearly seven times higher. I am curious to find out the exact plan of action in president Zuma’s policy to reduce this grave inequality. I hope that the plan does indeed rectify the situation and gives blacks in South Africa without piped water and other basic necessities that they need.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/south-african-census-shows-that-whites-earn-6-times-more-than-blacks/2012/10/31/1ad9b700-2370-11e2-92f8-7f9c4daf276a_story.html