Africa's success depended largely on how South Africa fared in the future, former Organisation of African Unity secretary-general Salim Ahmed Salim said yesterday.

"The mere fact that this nation could sustain and consolidate its democratic dispensation for 10 years, and to propel a dynamic economy, as well as strive to meet the needs of all her people...has also empowered and inspired the African people as a whole while at the same time underscoring the virtues of unity," he said.

Newly Appointed Foreign Affairs director-general Ayunda Ntsaluba promised in his address that the continent's empowerment would continue to remain an important focus of South Africa's foreign policy.

He and other speakers emphasised the inter-dependency between South Africa and the rest of the continent if there was to be sustainable development.

Ntsaluba said South Africa's role in world politics exceeded its theoretic standing, and the country was rated a "middle power" by developed countries.

He said the country used this platform to advance Africa's position, develop bridges between North and South and build South-South partnerships.

Ntsaluba said South Africa would in the future use its leverage to facilitate change in the United Nations Organisation, which he thought should regain its lost power.

"The organisation is currently not consistent with current global realities," and the five permanent members of the Security Council should look beyond their own national interests.

Salim said South African investment in other African countries had brought "modern technology and economic progress to many countries".

But South Africa told the conference it could not continue its current level of development and growth, averaging 2,8% since 1994.

"In real terms growth has been marked at one per cent," government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe told delegates.

He said there were four great concerns that if not dealt with correctly would leave the country with a very bleak future.

"And of prime concern was the degree of poverty," he said.

"South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world. It has a first world group and a developing group which, as the president says, is not joined by any staircase," he said.

Despite government having created two million jobs since 1994, the level of unemployment had increased from 19 to 30%, while population growth was two per cent a year.

More worrying was the increase in the number of those seeking work.

Netshitenzhe said this was due to an increasing number of rural women, no longer satisfied with being housewives and childbearing, migrating to urban areas and seeking work.

Secondly, he said, the economy had fundamentally changed from one using unskilled labour, to a more services-driven economy in which individuals required skills in order to find a job.

Thirdly, he said migration between rural and urban areas should be checked.

"Currently there is a 20% increase in the number of people immigrating to urban areas in search of work. This leaves the rural regions devoid of skills and economically active people," he warned, saying it also contributed to squatter development in towns.

In the next 10 years, government would concentrate its efforts on land redistribution.

This would not only supply people with land and thus stability but also provide them with earning potential.

Between 1994 and 2004, the government had spent R50-billion on redistributing wealth in the form of RDP housing and land.

Netshitenzhe said government would focus on changing the current class division that was "still largely based along racial lines".

"There is a very low rate of reinvestment in the country by South Africa's own residents," he said, ascribing it to a lack of trust in the government.

He said government was hoping to create a large black business class that would fill the role.

Lastly, Netshitenzhe said South Africa needed to create an environment conducive to international investment. – Sapa.