Languages: 11 official languages, the major ones being English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sesotho, Setswana
Major religions: Christanity, Islam and indigenous beliefs
Life expectancy: 49 years (men) 50 years (women)
GNI per capita: US$4.960 (World Bank 2006)
The reality of life for the poor in South Africa
According to the Basic Income Grant Lobby Group (BIG), around half of South Africa's 47 milion people are poor. The goverment welfare scheme for child grants, pensions, foster children & disability payments only reach 11 million people. Child support grants pay only R190 per child per month, roughly R6 a day. This money often supports a whole family.
