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Background: World population growth will be increasingly concentrated in the urban areas of the developing world; however, some scholars caution against the oversimplification of African urbanization noting that there may be "counter-urbanization" and a prevailing pattern of circular rural-urban migration. The aim of the paper is to examine the ongoing urban transition in South Africa in the post-apartheid period, and to consider the health and social policy implications of prevailing migration patterns., Methods: Two data sets were analysed, namely the South African national census of 2001 and the Agincourt health and demographic surveillance system. A settlement-type transition matrix was constructed on the national data to show how patterns of settlement have changed in a five-year period. Using the sub-district data, permanent and temporary migration was characterized, providing migration rates by age and sex, and showing the distribution of origins and destinations., Findings: The comparison of national and sub-district data highlight the following features: urban population growth, particularly in metropolitan areas, resulting from permanent and temporary migration; prevailing patterns of temporary, circular migration, and a changing gender balance in this form of migration; stepwise urbanization; and return migration from urban to rural areas., Conclusions: Policy concerns include: rural poverty exacerbated by labour migration; explosive conditions for the transmission of HIV; labour migrants returning to die in rural areas; and the challenges for health information created by chronically ill migrants returning to rural areas to convalesce. Lastly, suggestions are made on how to address the dearth of relevant population information for policy-making in the fields of migration, settlement change and health.

The importance of wild edible herbaceous species to resource poor households in most rural economies within savannas has been little studied. This is because most of the herbs grow in impoverished species communities and lands, often referred to as 'marginal lands'. The aim of this paper is to conceptualize how the economics of wild edible herbs to households can be used to add value to total livelihoods and conservation within traditional communal areas of South Africa. Analysis of the economics of the consumption of wild edible herbs in Thorndale (Bushbuckridge district) of the Limpopo province is presented. The majority of households consumed wild edible herbs, averaging 15.4 kg dried weight per household per year and valued at $167 per household. The herbs were mostly harvested from uncultivated areas of farms, and rangelands. There was little correlation between household characteristics and the dependence on wild herbs for food. The local people noted a decline in the availability of the species, although not much is known about attempts to cultivate them. The only reasons attributed to the decline were nutrient poor soils and insufficient rains. With this background, developing a local strategy to sustain the species through cultivation by households was found to be feasible. A multiple-use system for the herbs, their improvement and value addition towards commercialization and increased household usage may result in wider acceptance and subsequent cultivation. Species diversity will be enhanced whilst conserving the land on which they grow. This multiple use system may include species roles in soil and water conservation.

In this paper we present the results of a local HIV/AIDS demographic modelling exercise for Soweto, Johannesburg. The Doyle model was used to project the growth of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Soweto until the year 2010. High, medium and low AIDS scenarios are projected; these depend on reduction in the average number of sexual partners, increased condom use and effective treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. In 1993 the HIV prevalence was estimated to be 3% for all three of the low, medium and high AIDS scenarios, but differences emerge rapidly after this. By 2010 the projected HIV seroprevalences in the high, medium and low AIDS scenarios are 24%, 15% and 8% respectively, corresponding with 343,000, 222,000 and 118,000 HIV-infected people. By the year 2010, AIDS will have caused 135,000-270,000 deaths and during that year will account for 28-52% of all deaths. The total population will continue to increase in size, even in the high AIDS scenario, with the population growth rate ranging from 1.8% (low AIDS scenario) to 1% (high AIDS scenario) by the year 2010. This modelling exercise has demonstrated the enormous potential impact of timeous and effective implementation of currently available prevention strategies. The need to institute prevention programmes in the short term is therefore stressed. Recommendations are also made about the care of people with HIV/AIDS. Other areas are encouraged to attempt similar exercises in order to stimulate local and regional planning of HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

"This paper analyses various demographic and economic features of the urbanization process that is taking place in Third World (developing) and First World (developed) countries. A comparison of some demographic and economic differences between contemporary Third World urbanization and First World urbanization at a comparable stage of development is made. The aim is to see what South African urbanization can learn from the comparison between Third and First World urbanization.", (excerpt)