65% of urban South Africans aged 15-24 have some or complete confidence in Julius Malema. For those aged 25 or more, the proportion is 49%. (FutureFact 2009)

This week’s theme: Age in SA

2.7 million pensioners will receive the old age grant in the 2010/2011 budget year. This equates to roughly 70% of all South Africans aged 60 or more. (Treasury, GHS 2009)

This week’s theme: Age in SA

There are 2.5 million South Africans aged 65 or older. 13.9% of them live on their own. (AMPS2009A)

This week’s theme: Age in SA

The median age in South Africa is 24.7. In Japan it is 44.6, and in Uganda 15. (http://bit.ly/alydw9)

This week’s theme: Age in SA

Healthcare spending in South Africa in 2009 was R87 billion, approximately 8.9% of GDP. In the same year, the United States spent R20 748 billion, approximately 17.3% of their GDP. (www.treasury.gov.za, http://bit.ly/9xCxQp, http://bit.ly/djezSc)

This week’s theme: Health in South Africa

Life expectancy at birth in South Africa in 2008 was 55 for women and 52 for men, down from 68 and 59 in 1990 respectively. (World Health Statistics 2010)

This week’s theme: Health in South Africa

The total number of persons living with HIV in South Africa increased from 4.1 million in 2001 (9.4% of the total population) to 5.24 million in 2010 (10.5%). (Statistics South Africa, Mid-year population estimates 2010)

This week’s theme: Health in South Africa

Current data indicates that around 1 million children are affected by mental or physical defects as a result of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Prevalence rates in some Western Cape and Northern Cape communities are as high as 8.8% and 10.2% of live births respectively, compared to 0.2% in the rest of the world. (http://bit.ly/9t3Y13)

This week’s theme: Health in South Africa

The decrease from 26 877 to 16 834 murder cases between 1995/1996 and 2009/2010 represents a 50% reduction in the murder ratio (incidence of crime per 100 000 of the population). (South African Police Service Annual Report 2009/2010)

This week’s theme: SA then and now

Permanent employment fell in South Africa at an annual rate of 2.4% during August, the 18th consecutive monthly decline. (Adcorp Employment Index, August 2010)

This week’s theme: SA then and now