Empowerment through Economic Transformation

Although Africa is the most under-supplied region of the world for electricity, its economies are utterly dependent on it. There are enormous inequalities in electricity access, with industry receiving abundant supplies of cheap power while more than 80 per cent of the continent's population remain off the power grid. Africa is not unique in this respect, but levels of inequality are particularly pronounced here due to the inherent unevenness of 'electric capitalism' on the continent.

Both the government and the private sector have recognised the invaluable role that information and communication technology (ICT) plays in responding to national socio-economic imperatives. The importance of ICT skills to the economic, social and political trajectory in a globalised context cannot therefore be over-emphasised. The potential of, and limitations to, intermediate-level ICT skills in so far as they contribute to South Africas human resource capacity is considered essential to the current form and future trajectory of the countrys development.

This profile provides an understanding of the main developmental and institutional challenges that confront southern Africa. The authors highlight the political, economic and social conditions in the region and identify common trends. The paper also reviews the progress made in the promotion of greater regional integration.

From the perspective of the connections between this history and current conditions, Chinese naval voyages to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia today are a continuation and development of Zheng He’s voyages to Africa, highlighting China’s status in solving contemporary international issues and safeguarding global maritime security.