Embassy of the United States

Policy News

Key Reports on Africa & South Africa

General Reports

South Africa: A Country Study
Library of Congress. 1996
Although published over ten years ago, it provides a comprehensive and detailed historical perspective, describing and analyzing S.A's political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions, and examining the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they were shaped by historical and cultural factors. The study was written by a multidisciplinary team of social scientists.

Background Notes
Department of State, Bureau of African Affairs
Comprehensive but concise coverage of all economic, political and social systems.

World Factbook
Central Intelligence Agency
Essential basic intelligence on South Africa. The entire World Factbook can be viewed here.

Topical Reports

Economics & Trade

Economic Fact Sheet
United States Embassy South Africa. March 2006 (updated)
Basic data on the South African economy and trade relations (PDF file: 2 pages).

Frequently Asked Economic Questions
United States Embassy South Africa. March 2006 (updated)
Questions on the South African economy, foreign investment, trade and business climate are briefly answered (PDF File: 7 pages)

2008 Comprehensive Report of the President on U.S. Trade and Investment Policy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa and Implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act
United States Trade Representative. May 2008
[View all USTR AGOA reports]

Sub-Saharan Africa: Factors Affecting Trade Patterns of Selected Industries
Second Annual Report. US International Trade Commission. April 2008 

U.S. Trade and Investment Relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa: The African Growth and Opportunity Act and Beyond
Congressional Research Service.  Oct 2008

United States - Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Background and Potential Issues
Congressional Research Service.  Jul 2008

Foreign Assistance

USAID Congressional Budget Justification 2009 (Africa)
United States Agency for International Development. January 2006
[View the complete document]

Foreign Policy

Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa
Congressional Research Service.  Jan 2009

South Africa: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
Congressional Research Service.  Oct 2008 
 

Health Issues

AIDS in Africa
Congressional Research Service. Feb 2008
Sub-Saharan Africa has been more severely affected by AIDS than any other part of the world... Experts relate the severity of the African epidemic to the region's poverty, women's relative lack of empowerment, high rates of male worker migration, and other factors. Health systems are ill-equipped for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 
 

Human Rights

2009 Human Rights Report: South Africa
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. February 25, 2009

Complete reports on all countries

Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: The U.S. Record 2005-2006
Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. April 5, 2006
This fourth annual submission complements the longstanding Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2005, and takes the next step, moving from highlighting abuses to publicizing the actions and programs the United States has employed to end those abuses.

Human Trafficking

Trafficking in Persons Report
Under Secretary for Global Affairs. Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. June 2009
The United States Department of State released the 2009 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on June 16.  South Africa’s ranking has been upgraded from Tier 2 Watchlist to Tier 2, indicating that this past year, the government made significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. 
[See extract from 2009 report, section covering South Africa (Scroll down).  View the complete 2009 report.]
[All reports]

Narcotics

International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2009
Department of State. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. March 2006
"South Africa is in a better position than much of the African continent to fight domestic and international drug trafficking, production, and abuse, but is facing serious problems with violent crime. The country is an important transit area for cocaine (from South America) and heroin (from Afghanistan and East Asia) primarily destined for Southern African and European markets. South Africa is a large producer of cannabis ... " (Extract from section covering South Africa)

Religious Freedom

International Religious Freedom 2008
Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. September 2008
The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respected this right in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report, and government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion. "
[Extract from section covering South Africa
 View the complete report.]

Terrorism

Country Reports on Terrorism 2007
Department of State. Counterterrorism Office. April 2008
"South Africa supported efforts to counter international terrorism and shared financial, law enforcement, and limited intelligence information with the United States. The South African government adopted broad counterterrorism legislation under the title “Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Bill” in 2004."
[Extract from the section covering South Africa. View complete report]

Travel

Consular Information Sheet [on travel in South Africa]
Department of State. Bureau of Consular Affairs
"South Africa is in many respects a developed country, but much of its population lives in poverty. All major urban areas have modern, world-class hotels and tourist facilities. Game parks and areas most often visited by tourists have a wide range of facilities. Food and water are generally safe, and a wide variety of consumer goods and pharmaceuticals are readily available..."