Introduction: South Africa is going through a process of transformation after many years of one of the most brutal socio-political systems, apartheid; affecting every sector of society, including medical education and the provision of health services (de Villiers, 1999). Apartheid was characterized by the division of the country based on skin color, privileging the white man. Until 1994, healthcare in South Africa was a dream for the majority of the black population. With a more humanitarian social system in place, the country is trying to overcome the difficulties of the present, which are even more difficult after half a century of destruction, disease and fraudulent administration. On the other hand, AIDS and violence are the main indicators of the mortality rate of the South African population. There were over twenty-one thousand homicides in 2002 and nearly eight million people were living with HIV/AIDS in 2006 (Dixon, 2006). Location and geography. South Africa is located at the southernmost point of the African continent. It is surrounded by the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. It is the 25th largest country on the planet and also has the 24th most populous country. It has several climate zones ranging from extremely desert to tropical-like climates. Population. With the size of the United Kingdom, France and Germany combined, South Africa has an estimated population of thirty-nine million people, of which thirty-two million are African, four million are white and another three million are mixed race. The literacy level is 82%; however, only 54% of the population follows an urban healthcare approach. BMC Family Practice, 13(1), 67-70.Gavaza, P., Rascati, K., Oladapo, A., & Khoza, S. (2012). The state of health economics research in South Africa: a systematic review. Pharmacoeconomics, 30(10), 925-940. Jooste, K., & Jasper, M. (2012). A South African perspective: Current position and challenges in health services management and nursing education. Journal Of Nursing Management, 20(1), 56-64.Klopper, H.C., Coetzee, S.K., Pretorius, R., & Bester, P. (2012). Practice environment, job satisfaction and burnout of critical care nurses in South Africa. Journal Of Nursing Management, 20(5), 685-695. Norman, R., Bradshaw, D. (2007). The high injury burden in South Africa. (2007). Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 85(9), 695-702. Onya, H. (2007). Health promotion in South Africa. Promotion and education, 14(4), 233-237.