Updated May 7, 2008

KEY UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT REPORTS ON AFRICA & SOUTH AFRICA

 

— GENERAL REPORTS —

Issue Paper Series

U.S. Embassy South Africa. May 2006

Background and information on what the U.S Diplomatic Mission is doing on key issues in South Africa (pdf format, approx. 100 Kb):

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)

2007 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 2007

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for substantially all products exported from 38 eligible sub-Saharan African countries. AGOA amends the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) statute with respect to AGOA-eligible beneficiaries by extending duty-free treatment until 2015 and expanding GSP product coverage (about 4,600 products) by more than 1,800 additional tariff lines. AGOA also exempts beneficiary countries from GSP competitive need limitations. In 2006, over 98 percent of U.S. imports from AGOA-eligible countries entered the United States duty-free.
(PDF file: 140 pages).
[All USTR AGOA reports]

U.S. Trade and Investment Relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa: The African Growth and Opportunity Act and Beyond

Congressional Research Service. September 2007

National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers 2006

United States Trade Representative, March 2006

The National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) is an annual report documenting foreign trade and investment barriers and U.S. efforts to reduce and eliminate those barriers.
The NTE covers 62 major trading partners in each region of the world (including SACU, the Southern African Customs Union) and provides an account of barriers and unfair trade practices to American exports of goods, services, and farm products.

U.S.-Trade and Investment with Sub-Saharan Africa. Fifth Annual Report

United States International Trade Commission. December 2004

Total US-Sub-Saharan Africa trade and investment flows, country economic profiles, changing trade and economic activities within countires and an assessment of regional integration.
[Other UNITC reports on Africa]

Foreign Assistance

USAID Congressional Budget Justification 2007

United States Agency for International Development. January 2006

"South Africa is an emerging market and regional powerhouse with abundant natural resources and well-developed financial, legal, energy, and transport sectors. Despite 11 years of democracy and 28 successive quarters of economic growth, deep economic and social fissures from the apartheid era persist. USAlD uses technical assistance, training and innovative partnerships to address South Africa's key constraints of high unemployment, uneven access to services, high crime rates and HIVIAIDS." (Extract from the entry for South Africa).
View the complete document here.

Africa: U.S. Foreign Assistance Issues

Congressional Research Service. March 2005

Under the Administrations FY2006 foreign assistance request, U.S. aid to sub-Saharan Africa would continue to grow... (PDF file: 19 pages).

Health Issues

AIDS in Africa

Congressional Research Service. May 2006

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. (PDF file: 19 pages).

Human Rights

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2007

Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. March 11, 2008

The [South African] government generally respected the human rights of its citizens. However, the government, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and local media reported the following serious human rights problems: police use of excessive force against suspects and detainees, which resulted in deaths and injuries; vigilante violence and mob justice; abuse of prisoners, including beatings and rape, and severe overcrowding of prisons; lengthy delays in trials and prolonged pretrial detention; forcible dispersal of demonstrations; pervasive violence against women and children, and societal discrimination against women and persons with disabilities; trafficking in persons; violence resulting from racial and ethnic tensions and conflicts with foreigners; and child labor, including forced child labor and child prostitution.
[Extract from South Africa entry. View the complete report here.]

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 2007

Under Secretary for Global Affairs. Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. June 2007
Secretary Rice

"South Africa is a source, transit, and destination country for trafficked men, women, and children ...

The Government of South Africa does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. South Africa is placed on Tier 2 Watch List for a third consecutive year for its failure to show increasing efforts to address trafficking over the last year. The government did not provide comprehensive data on trafficking crimes investigated or prosecuted or on resulting convictions or sentences during the year..."

[Extract from section covering South Africa (Scroll down). View the complete report.]

Narcotics

International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2008

Department of State. Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. February, 2008

"South Africa is committed to fighting domestic and international drug trafficking, production, and abuse. The country is an important transit area for cocaine (from South America) and heroin (from the Far East) primarily destined for Southern African and European markets. South Africa is a large producer of cannabis (the world's fourth largest according to the South African Institute for Strategic Studies), most of which is consumed in the Southern African region, but at least some of which finds its way to Europe (UK). It also may be the world's largest consumer of mandrax, a variant of methaqualone, an amphetamine-type stimulant. " (Extract from section covering South Africa)
[View all INCS Reports]

Religious Freedom

International Religious Freedom 2007

Department of State. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. September 2007

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 2007

"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..."

 

General Reports
Topical Reports