Living to 70 years of age is an achievable goal – Lehohla

THE life expectancy goal of 70 by 2030 as set out in the National Development Plan is achievable at the current rate of projections.

Statistician-general Pali Lehohla made this statement yesterday as he presented the mid-year population estimates for 2016.

In the report‚ Statistics SA said life expectancy was estimated at 59.7 years for males and 65.1 years for females.

He said there had been a decrease in the number of Aidsrelated deaths from 2007.

The report showed that Aidsrelated deaths numbered 315 959 in 2007 and this had decreased to 150 759 in 2016.

According to the report‚ the midyear population was estimated at 55.91 million people.

The black African population is in the majority at 45.11 million, and constituted about 81% of the total population. The white population is estimated at 4.52 million‚ the coloured population at 4.90 million and the Indian/Asian population at 1.39 million.

Just over 51% (28.53 million) of the population is female.

Lehohla said life and health conditions were improving‚ but the question for those who lived longer was‚ what was the use of living a long but miserable life.

“Life can be miserable. What we know is that life that has work‚ has play‚ and that will pass on to the next generation, is worth living‚” Lehohla said.

He said history had proven that irrespective of income levels‚ a life expectancy of 70 was achievable.

“The fact that people will live long puts a very serious question on the table. Will they live for 15 years without being productive?”

Lehohla said the challenge was ensuring black people were more educated. “Twenty-two years‚ it is almost a generation. That war is not being won‚ especially when you look at progression ratios in tertiary education. The question is how do we raise standards of living for black people?”

He said there should be more black people who were acquiring post-matric qualifications. “These are the things we should be focusing on.”