South Africa: addressing the legacy of apartheid

This chapter traces the legacy of the apartheid system in South Africa, pointing out draconian social and economic policies and their ramifications for the health of different groups in the population. The high infant mortality level and nearly fivefold disparity in infant mortality rates between richer and poorer ethnic groups in the population are but two of the most obvious health impacts. South Africa is now trying to deal with the legacy of apartheid by developing policies with explicit equity objectives. The chapter takes a critical stance as to whether the government's policies are sufficient to redress the inequities of the past. In particular, it questions the potential impact of the macroeconomic restructuring and what must be done to develop a effective health equity monitoring system for such overarching policies.