MAF in South Africa
South Africa has played a key part in the activities of MAF from the early beginnings, with staff joining the early operation in Sudan. Following peaceful elections in South Africa in 1994, there was a need to fly into other parts of southern Africa as churches and missions were free to reach out to Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia and Malawi.
Brief facts about MAF in South Africa
- Operations are based in Lanseria, near Johannesburg
- There are two aircraft in the fleet - 1 Cessna Grand Caravan and 1 Cessna 206
- There are 14 members of staff
Demographics
South Africa has the 57th lowest Human Development Index rating in the world.
- Population: 43, 786,115 (Nb: decreasing population due to AIDS) (UK:61 million)
- Birth rate: 18 births/1,000 population (UK: 11 births/1,000)
- Life expectancy at birth: 42 years (UK: 79 years)
- Population under 15 years: 29% (UK: 17%)
- High infant mortality: nearly 1 in 17 die at birth (UK: 1 in 200 die at birth)
- Population below the poverty line: 50%
- HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 21.5% of population (UK: 0.2%)
- Literacy rate: 86.4% (UK: 99%)
Infrastructure
South Africa’s modern infrastructure allows good access to its towns and cities – unlike its neighbouring countries
- Area of the country: 471,010 sq miles (UK: 94,525 sq miles)
- 224, 998 miles of roads, but only 45, 675 miles of paved roads (UK: 241,104 miles – all paved)
- 728 airstrips, of which only 146 are paved.
Economy
Despite economic growth, high unemployment, poverty and lack of economic empowerment among disadvantaged groups continues
- 30% of the population employed in agriculture, fishing and forestry
- Main exports include gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
Environment
There are a number of environmental issues affecting South Africa.
- A shortage of rivers and lakes results in the need for extensive water conservation and controls
- Growth in water usage outpacing supplies
- Pollution of rivers from agricultural run-off and urban discharge
- Air pollution resulting in acid rain
- Soil erosion
- Desertification, the result of reduction in plant cover caused by overgrazing
Climate
Other than the sub-tropical east coast, there is mostly a vast semi-arid interior plateau. Sunny days and cool nights coincide with
Religion
Freedom of religion. Religious equality has given minority religions a high profile at the expense of Christianity
- Protestant: 72.6
- Roman Catholic: 7.1%
- Islam: 1.5%
- other: 2.3%
- unspecified: 1.4%
- none: 15.1%