How South Africa’s White Population Has Declined Every Year Over The Past Decade

South Africa’s white population shrinks even further in 2017 The latest mid-year population estimates produced by Statistics South Africa.

South Africa’s white population shrinks even further in 2017

The latest mid-year population estimates produced by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) show that South Africa’s population is estimated at 56.5 million people.

Population estimates are necessary to ensure that government and various other sectors, including health, education and business, plan effectively for South Africa. The mid-year estimates provide an indication of the distribution of the population by sex, age, population group, and province.

The stats body’s survey showed that the country’s population is up from 40.6 million in 1996.

• 2001 – 44.8 million
• 2011 – 51.8 million
• 2015 – 54.9 million
• 2016 – 55.7 million
• 2017 – 56.5 million

Life expectancy at birth for 2017 is estimated at 61.2 years for males and 66.7 years for females.

Gauteng comprises the largest share of the South African population. Approximately 14.3 million people (or 25.3%) live in this province, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 11.1 million people (19.6%), while the Northern Cape remains the province with the smallest share of the South African population.

According to StatsSA, about 29.6% of the population is aged younger than 15 years, while the estimates indicate that the proportion of elderly (60 years and older) in South Africa is growing, reaching 8.1 % in 2017. According to the estimates, there are 4.6 million people in South Africa over the age of 60.

The mid-year population estimates show that regional variations of ageing exist in South Africa. While almost a quarter of the elderly live in Gauteng, they account for only 7.7% of the total Gauteng population.

In contrast, 12% of the elderly reside in Eastern Cape; however, nearly 10% of the Eastern Cape population comprises elderly persons. Mpumalanga’s population comprises 7% elderly, the lowest among the provinces.

Migration is an important demographic process in shaping the age structure and distribution of the provincial population. For the period 2016 – 2021, Gauteng and Western Cape are estimated to experience the largest inflow of migrants of approximately, 1,595,106 and 485,560 respectively.

StatsSA’s data showed a continuing theme among the country’s white population, which has been in steady decline over the past decade. The country ‘lost’ over 22,250 white South Africans over the past year, to an estimated 4.49 million total population.

There were 4.52 million white South Africans in 2016, as reported by Stats SA.

The data showed a big decline in the number of young white adults, while the only demographic showing any growth was recorded in the aging population – those people aged 70 and above.

Emigration experts have reported increases in the number of South Africans inquiring about immigrating to countries including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the US, and even Canada.

The main reasons cited include financial concerns, political concerns, high crime rates, concerns over the standard of education, and BEE requirements in doing business.

More recent concerns include recessionary woes, and downgrades by top rating firms.

Source: PeepOnline.com

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Cape Town dam levels show minimal increase post heavy rain

Cape Town - The average dam storage levels for the City of Cape Town increased to 29.5% by Friday after the recent rain, with no reports of the feared flooding and displacement.

The average dam storage levels is only a smidgen up from Monday's measurement of 29.4%, but it is higher than the 27.9% of the previous week.

Following a warning by the SA Weather Service of possible flooding and gale force winds on Thursday, city officials were relieved that nobody was left displaced or injured.

''We expected flooding in our low lying areas but there were no reports,'' said the city's Disaster Management spokesperson Mandy Thomas.

She attributed this to a combination of early preparation in high risk areas like shack settlements, and the drought that has left the water table much lower than in previous winters.

''With the drought happening now, the water is absorbing very quickly so we don't get that flooded situation any more,'' said Thomas.

In the meantime, the city needs people to continue saving water, and to use no more than 87 litres a day per person while Level 4b restrictions remain firmly in place.

Under the latest restrictions, bathing should be avoided, showers limited to two minutes, gardens should not be watered with drinking water and toilet flushing should be kept to a minimum.

Source: News24.com

#GuptaLeaks: How Ajay Gupta was trusted with crafting SA’s global image

From the time of the notorious 2013 Sun City wedding, the Guptas’ activities in South Africa have attracted a great deal of negative international media attention.

Indeed, the reputational damage caused by the Guptas’ state capture to the global image of South Africa is probably incalculable. But one man might be able to help calculate it: Ajay Gupta, who for a full decade – until 2016 – sat on the board of Brand South Africa. That’s the body responsible for crafting a positive image of South Africa overseas.

Brand South Africa is responsible for promoting a “South African Nation Brand identity that will advance South Africa’s long-term positive reputation and global competitiveness”, to quote its online mission statement. Its goals are lofty; in addition to making South Africa look good on the global stage, it also aims to instil “pride and patriotism among South Africans”.

 - VISIT the #GuptaLeaks website

The “official custodian of South Africa’s nation brand” is a government-funded entity which reports to the Minister of Communications. Established by Thabo Mbeki’s administration in 2000, it was originally known as the International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC). Its board of trustees is appointed by the President of South Africa.

In 2006, one of those appointed to the then-International Marketing Council board was a Mr Ajay Gupta.

This was confirmed by a 2016 statement issued by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, which read: “Mr Ajay Gupta joined the board of the then IMC by agreement of the board on the recommendation of then Minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad, who rightly or wrongly thought that [Gupta] had the skills, knowledge and capacity to facilitate the work of the Council – not because of his alleged proximity to the President.”

On an old page of the Brand SA website, Ajay Gupta is still listed as a trustee – though his tenure on the board ended in 2016.

Access to confidential information 

Investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s book The Republic of Gupta quotes former minister Pahad as explaining that Gupta’s “good understanding of India, also China and other parts of Asia” was what led Pahad to nominate him for the board.

The decision to nominate a man who has never been a South African citizen to the board of what is effectively the country’s PR firm seems surprising. Contacted for comment by Scorpio on whether this practice was routine, Brand SA’s chief financial officer Alice Puoane would only say: “The current board of trustees of Brand South Africa does not have a non-South African.”

Asked why Ajay Gupta would be considered an appropriate board member for Brand SA, Puoane replied: “All trustees of Brand South Africa are appointed by the President.”

The appeal of the position for Ajay Gupta is clear. The #GuptaLeaks emails show that as a board member of Brand South Africa, Gupta had access to confidential strategy documents, close communication channels with the Minister of Communications, and invitations to “board strategic planning sessions” involving guests like the national police commissioner and CEOs of state-owned entities.

In 2014, for instance, a document was circulated to Ajay Gupta and his fellow board members regarding a “Communication Strategy to respond to the trial of Oscar Pistorius”. It included the suggestion that the Oscar Pistorius trial be presented as “a triumph of our judicial system which is one of the most important pillars of our constitutional democracy”.

The document also included a note on what Cabinet’s approach to the Pistorius trial was: a directive not to comment until the trial was completed, which was advice clearly not heeded by a number of leading ANC figures.

In the same year, another memorandum circulated to the Brand SA board members informed them of “messaging in relation to the nation brand reputational issues emerging from the release of the Public Protector’s report” [on Nkandla]. The board was also circulated “draft key messages” for the BRICS summit in Brazil in July 2014.

Though Gupta may have received these communications with alacrity, there is little evidence that the businessman was a valuable addition to the board.

Ajay 'extremely inactive' in role

One of the only occasions on which Gupta may have made his voice heard on the board was before the 2010 state visit of President Jacob Zuma to India. At that time, news reports alleged, Gupta told the then-IMC board that his office – and not the IMC – would handle all matters relating to Zuma’s Indian trip.

Asked this week if the allegation was true, Puoane responded: “No such decision was ever taken by the board of trustees of Brand South Africa.”

A former Brand SA board member who spoke to Scorpio on condition of anonymity said that Gupta was extremely inactive in his role as trustee, especially after the 2013 Waterkloof scandal.

This is backed up by the #GuptaLeaks email trove. There is barely any evidence of correspondence with the Brand SA board from Ajay Gupta’s side, beyond a July 2013 email from Gupta’s personal assistant announcing that her boss had “only tentatively accepted travelling to Cape Town for the Consideration of Brand South Africa Report”.

Gupta’s inertia on the board was also confirmed by current Brand SA CFO Puoane, who said: “He was not very active.”

This itself raises questions, however. In particular: why was Ajay Gupta kept on the board for a full decade if he was contributing so little in formal terms?

Puoane confirmed that Gupta’s relationship with Brand SA is now over. “His term of office ended 12 March 2016,” she said.

Though Brand SA has not been shy to weigh in on contentious South African public affairs in the past, its website shows no trace of commentary about the scandalous revelations of the #GuptaLeaks emails over the past few months.

“The Gupta family has consistently failed to respond to questions about the #GuptaLeaks.”

Source: News24.com/

SA investor quits CSA’s T20 league

Cape Town – Cricket South Africa will be detailing later on Friday “the way ahead” for the intended Stellenbosch (Boland region) franchise in its T20 Global League – due to start in around three months – after the confirmed withdrawal of one of the two South African owners.

Brimstone, the investment company initially announced at the glitzy London launch as owners of the franchise - one of eight earmarked for the competition - have issued a statement confirming earlier reports that they had “quietly pulled out” of the deal.

Sport24 attempted to contact them on Thursday, and in a follow-up inquiry on Friday Mustaq Brey, their co-founder and chief executive, said they had issued an overnight statement, which he then forwarded.

It reads: “Brimstone today announced that it will not be proceeding with the proposed acquisition of a T20 Global League franchise.

“The consortium led by Brimstone was announced as the successful bidder of the Stellenbosch/Paarl franchise by Cricket South Africa.

“Following the announcement in June this year, Brimstone continued its own internal process in regards to the proposed acquisition of the franchise. As a result of this process the company has decided not to proceed with this venture.”

It then quoted Brey: “We follow a rigorous investment process. This venture had to undergo the same process and be tested against our standard investment criteria as all other investment proposals.

“Our investment decisions take cognisance of the risks and benefits to all our stakeholders. We wish CSA well with the T20 Global League and will continue to support the development of, and access to, the sport in various other ways.”

In response, CSA’s communications chief Altaaf Kazi said they would issue a release later on Friday “on the Brimstone issue and the way forward for the Stellenbosch franchise … the release will be self-explanatory.”

Most of the investors in the franchises are Asian-based.

With Brimstone’s confirmed pull-out, South African involvement is currently limited to one franchise - Pretoria - with Osman Osman of Blu Blood events management company (though the ownership has also since been described as an “SA consortium”) the lone stake-holder from these shores.

Source: Sport24.co.za/

Benefits of Auto Insurance Quotes

Auto insurance quotes are a smart way to achieve the rate you've been waiting for, as, auto insurance is a very competitive market. This is due to the diversity in automobiles purchased where make, model and other various factors determine your premium rate. They are easy to secure nowadays. All you have to do is to get online and fill-out quote requests. They are not all created equal. They don't all contain the same types of coverage, and the rates for coverage can be as different as night and day.

They are great tools that can save you from spending too much on insurance coverage, and best of all, they are free. They are not unlike many other products for which you shop online. You truly need to shop around for them. They are made available to consumers by the companies and agencies. If you are seeking the lowest possible insurance rates, you need to start with the lowest possible quotes.

They are not unlike many other products for which you shop online. Later on you will learn about a procedure that ensures that you succeed in that. They are something that each and every person must look for before going out to buy an auto insurance policy. In older time people have to go to agents and brokers of all the different insurance firms, companies, agencies and providers to collect the quotes of various different auto insurance policies. They are really helpful for people that are new to this arena. Well, while going for free auto insurance quote the concerned insurance agency may ask you for few things.

Cheap car insurance for young people can be a scary idea, since buying auto insurance can be a big and daunting task in general. It can seem like something that is a lot harder than it actually is. Cheap auto insurance quotes are as important as insurance policy for the car. But if one doesn't have enough knowledge about buying cheap about insurance, sometimes it will cost a lot to the consumer. Some websites can show you the different rates offered by the top companies in your particular state. You might be surprised at how many different auto insurance companies exist and how much their rates can vary.

Car insurance cost is based, among other things, on what your car is worth and what the repair costs will add up to. Low cost auto insurance companies maintain a list of the most frequently stolen cars. Car insurance is mandatory, but you don't have to get ripped off. You can save a lot of money on auto insurance, but it will take a little bit of work. Car insurance, just comparison shop, and check your price every year.

Car insurance is one of the most important things required after purchasing a car. Although there are a variety of such insurance providers available, the main difficulty is in actually visiting each of them, collecting brochures and then deciding on the one which is best suited for you. Car rental insurance is something few people think about getting. Understanding car rental insurance is important so that you will not waste money buying coverage you do not need.

Companies look for total mileage before providing you with the final quote. You can get premium benefits on these types of policies. Companies look at how likely are you to make a claim and what could be the size of that claim. Since you have some control over both factors, you can affect the rates you pay.

State Auto Insurance Online can show you the different rates offered by the top companies in your particular state. You might be surprised at how many different auto insurance companies exist and how much their rates can vary. Online auto insurance quotes are a great way to get cheap car insurance without leaving the comfort of your home. You simply fill out and submit the form, and within no time at all you will start receiving online auto insurance quotes that can help you save big.

Online you can actually get enough information to enable you know exactly what you are likely to spend. Visit quotes comparison sites online and get quotes from several insurance companies.

Compare internet auto insurance quotes to find the company that will be friendliest to a driver like you! One driver may get a great discount for having a clean driving history, while another may benefit from having a good credit report. Compare each insurer's rates, features and coverage to get the best car insurance policy for your needs.

Asking for insurance quotes is the first action you should take if you want to get a good plan at the best rate possible. Years ago it was a hard and time consuming task, contacting by phone with dozens of insurance companies or agents to get several quotes to compare with.

Check online and make sure you understand how much coverage you should carry on your vehicle based on age, wear and tear, etc. You want to get value for your money. Checking out the financial strength of an auto insurance company is necessary before you start paying them your hard-earned dollars.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article. Information shared here does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice. This article is intended to provide general information only and does not give advice which relates to your individual circumstances. Gurmit is an insurance and mortgage expert.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/

How To Compare Auto Insurance Quotes

The growth of internet has made the comparison of insurance quotes easy. The best place to compare auto insurance quotes is through the internet. The security of the vehicle is very important for the owners. The right way to maintain the security is to buy an auto insurance plan.

There are several insurers around the world, which offers auto insurance policies to the automobile owners. All these companies have their own their coverage plans and rates.

The comparison of auto quotes helps a person to understand the rate and the suitable policies. Most of the insurance websites allow the person to compare the auto insurance quote without any charge, while some others charge small service fee. The idea of both the insurance websites are similar. It is better to choose the free quote websites for the comparison process at the initial stage.

The comparison websites compare both, auto insurance quotes and the policies. The online auto coverage quote helps a person to save both time and money. A person can avoid paying the commission to agent. Thus, with the help of an auto quote comparison, the role of an agent is unnecessary. A person gets clear idea about the plan and the rates, with the comparison of the online auto quotes.

Tips To Compare Auto Insurance Quotes:

It is essential to compare the auto coverage quotes, to ensure that a person gets the lowest auto insurance quote. Numerous quotes are available on the internet. However, people need to keep in mind, certain tips to compare auto insurance quotes.

As an initial step, a person has to fill some personal information in online registration form. The registration is important, to request free comparison chart of auto quotes. Compare auto insurance quotes for the all the desired coverage plans with different companies.

The insurance rate is only a basic factor to buy auto insurance. Evaluate the stability of the car insurer in automobile area. Most of the new insurance companies provide lower auto insurance quotes. A person has to make sure that these companies offer good customer service and holds strong financial stability.

A person has to build up the credit history before requesting an auto quote. A bad credit history creates unpleasant impression on the insurer and as a result, insurer will give high rate insurance quotes.

Stick to the current company for a longer period, to cut down the insurance quote. When a person has to buy new type of insurance policy, a long-term stay with an insurance company provides lower quotes for them. The history of traffic law violation and two accidents will lead to a higher auto insurance quote.

Conclusion:

The comparison of auto insurance quotes with the help of local agents is a time consuming process. Therefore, the best place to compare auto insurance quote is the internet. In brief, a person needs to compare auto insurance quotes online, to access an affordable auto coverage policy. For more on this topic and actually getting a quote you can always refer to the resources below.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/

Purchasing the Best Car Insurance

In the past, car insurance was not a necessity, as some people went for it and some did not. However, today an auto coverage policy is one of the crucial things in your life, if you own a car. People need proper coverage, no matter how luxurious or modest their car is.

The way people buy insurance has also changed. In the past, buying a car insurance just meant to meet your neighborhood agent and ask him for it. But now, it is somewhat different, as you have got lots of other options at your disposal from where you can get your vehicle insured, with some entirely new coverage choices.

Buying car insurance: Which method to choose?

When you want insurance for your car, you might be puzzled as from where you should get it. Should you deal with an insurance agent or should you go online? You can choose among different options for getting your car insurance. This includes:

1. Buying from captive agents
2. Buying from independent agents
3. Buying online

People, who prefer personal services and like to form face-to-face relationships, should certainly purchase their policy from an agent. But, since there are different agents, they need to decide which one is the best for them.

Among these, some are called 'independent agents,' who sell insurance for numerous companies and some are 'captive agents,' who sell insurance for just one firm. Let us see the different features of these agents, so that you can decide easily and quickly the right agent for yourself.

1. Buying from captive agents

You should buy your coverage from a captive agent, if you are dedicated to a specific insurance firm. Since captive agents deal with only one company, they will know all the different insurance options offered by that company. And, thus they can assist you to build the right package based on your needs. However, captive agents may take more time to respond to your questions and to know your needs as compared to independent agents who work for commission.

2. Buying from independent agents

You should buy a policy from an independent agent, if you want to check out the different insurances provided by different companies, as independent agents deal with several companies and not just one particular insurance firm. This way you can get a better rate.

And, since independent agents are not directly employed by any one firm, they would not push one specific product and will tell you the right things about all the insurances. Thus, independent agents can aid you to find inexpensive coverage for your car. However, since they work for commission, they are under more pressure to grab a deal as soon as possible.

3. Buying online

The third option is to skip insurance agents completely and to work directly with the company online. However, for this you have to do most of the work yourself. You have to conduct a thorough research on different coverage providers, what they offer, the rates of their insurance, and what all their policies covers. Then, you can talk to the company, that best fits your needs to procure the coverage itself.

Among these, some insurance companies that employ agents do not necessitate you to work with them and a few of them do not employ agents at all. Buying auto insurance online is one of the best options for you if you do not have much time and want to get inexpensive car insurance, as it saves you from paying commission to an insurance agent. If you are not sure about your car insurance needs, then buying car insurance online, without an insurance agent can cause you to buy the wrong, too little, or too much insurance.

Select your type of coverage

Besides deciding which company to go with, you must also consider which policy you want. There are three main types of policies, including traditional, usage-based, and per-mile car insurance. So, have a look at these three car insurance coverage programs before you settle for one particular car insurance.

1. Traditional auto insurance

In this type of auto insurance, the insurers determine the quotes for the policy with the help of various personal factors, such as your age, driving history, gender, credit score, etc. Generally, the more risk you have as a driver as per these factors, the more high your insurance rates will be. In this, you can opt for a minimum coverage amount as per the state law or else you can select from a long list of different types of auto insurance coverage.

2. Usage-based auto insurance

As opposed to the traditional car insurance, where insurers presume your driving skills depending on a list of different risk factors and your accident history, usage-based car insurance providers offer you car insurance by seeing you in action in real. In this type of car insurance, like Allstate's Drivewise or Progressive's Snapshot, you get a telematic device, which you have to plug-in your car. This device records how you drive and your driving behavior, especially your bad driving habits like accelerating or hard braking.

So, if the device records that you are a low-risk driver, then you can save your money with usage-based car insurance. However, if it records that you frequently drive late at night or you drive fast, then it would not help you save money with your car insurance. Additionally, many usage-based car insurance programs are not available in each state. Therefore, if you are devoted to one insurance company, then you may have to switch your company, in case you move to a different state.

3. Per-mile auto insurance

Per-mile auto insurance providers also use a telematic device, but they focus on just one thing, that is how little or how much you use your car. However, this car insurance type is still new and is not available in every state. Among others, Metromile is the best provider of per-mile car insurance and is available in seven states until now, which are California, Illinois, Oregon, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington, and Virginia.

Additionally, per-mile providers use the same elements as traditional insurers in determining your car insurance rates, but you can save some money through its telematic device. If you do not use your car much and use it only for emergencies, then your premium may be cut significantly. However, if you normally drive your car, then there are fewer chances of you saving money from it.

Shop around

No matter how you purchase your insurance, whether you go for a dedicated agent or you directly sign up with a car insurance provider, you must shop around in order to get the best rates. Do some homework and do not just settle for the first deal that comes your way. This is because rates for the same policy can differ from one company to the other by thousands of dollars. Therefore, comparing different car insurance offers is the best possible way to land up a good deal.

Taking the time to pick the right insurance coverage can definitely save you money and hassle down the road. Buck and Affiliates Insurance can help meet your auto insurance needs in the Spokane, Washington area.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/