South Africa - description of the country. south africa capitals south africa briefly
Primitiveness and modernity are combined here, and instead of one capital - three. The article below discusses in detail the EGP of South Africa, the geography and features of this amazing state.
General information
The state known in the world as the Republic of South Africa, the local population used to call Azania. This name arose during the segregation policy and was used by the indigenous African population as an alternative to the colonial one. In addition to the national name, there are 11 official names of the country, which is associated with a variety of state languages.
The EGP of South Africa is much more profitable than that of many other states on the continent. This is the only African country that is included in. People come here for diamonds and impressions. Each of the nine provinces of South Africa has its own landscape, natural conditions and ethnic composition, which attracts a huge number of tourists. The country has eleven national parks and many resorts.
The presence of three capitals, perhaps, adds to the uniqueness of South Africa. They divide among themselves various state structures. The government of the country is located in Pretoria, so the city is considered the first and main capital. The judicial branch, represented by the Supreme Court, is located in Bloemfontein. Cape Town is home to the parliament building.
EGP South Africa: briefly
The state is located in southern Africa, washed by the Indian and Atlantic oceans. In the northeast, South Africa's neighbors are Swaziland and Mozambique, in the northwest - Namibia, the country shares its northern border with Botswana and Zimbabwe. Not far from the Dragon Mountains is the enclave of the Kingdom of Lesotho.
In terms of area (1,221,912 sq. km), South Africa is in 24th place in the world. It is about five times the size of the UK. The description of the EGP of South Africa will not be complete without a description of the coastline, the total length of which is 2798 km. The mountainous coast of the country is not strongly dissected. In the eastern part is the bay of St. Helena and there are also bays and bays of St. Francis, Falsbay, Algoa, Walker, Dining Room. is the southernmost point of the continent.
Wide access to two oceans plays an important role in the EGP of South Africa. Along the coast of the state there are sea routes from Europe to Southeast Asia and the Far East.
History
The GWP of South Africa has not always been the same. Its changes were influenced by various historical events in the state. Although the first settlements appeared here at the beginning of our era, the most significant changes in the EGP of South Africa over time occurred from the 17th to the 20th century.
The European population, represented by the Dutch, Germans and French Huguenots, began to populate the territory of South Africa in the 1650s. Prior to that, Bantu, Khoi-Koin, Bushmen, and others lived on these lands. The arrival of the colonists caused a series of wars with the local population.
Since 1795, Great Britain has become the main colonizer. The British government pushes the Boers (Dutch peasants) to the Orange Republic and the Transvaal province, abolishes slavery. In the 19th century, wars began between the Boers and the British.
In 1910, the Union of South Africa was created, consisting of the British colonies. In 1948, the National Party (Boer) wins the elections and establishes an apartheid regime that divides the population into blacks and whites. Apartheid deprives the black population of almost all rights, even citizenship. In 1961, the country became the independent Republic of South Africa and eventually abolished the apartheid regime.
Population
The Republic of South Africa is home to approximately 52 million people. The EGP of South Africa has significantly influenced the ethnic composition of the country's population. Thanks to its favorable location and rich natural resources, the territory of the state attracted Europeans.
Now in South Africa, almost 10% of the population is made up of ethnic white Europeans - Afrikaners and Anglo-Africans, who are descendants of colonial settlers. represent the Zulu, Tsonga, Sotho, Tswana, Xhosa. They are about 80%, the remaining 10% are mulattoes, Indians and Asians. Most Indians are the descendants of workers brought to Africa to grow cane.
The population professes various religious beliefs. Most of the inhabitants are Christians. They support Zionist churches, Pentecostals, Dutch Reformers, Catholics, Methodists. Almost 15% are atheists, only 1% are Muslims.
There are 11 official languages in the republic. The most popular among them are English and Afrikaans. Literacy among men is 87%, among women - 85.5%. In the world, the country ranks 143rd in terms of education.
Natural conditions and resources
All types of landscapes and different climatic zones are represented in the Republic of South Africa: from subtropics to deserts. The Dragon Mountains, located in the eastern part, smoothly turn into a plateau. Monsoon and subtropical forests grow here. In the south are located. On the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the Namibia desert is located, along the northern bank of the Orange River stretches part of the Kalahari Desert.
There are significant reserves of mineral resources on the territory of the country. Gold, zirconium, chromites, diamonds are mined here. South Africa has reserves of iron, platinum and uranium ores, phosphorites, and coal. The country has deposits of zinc, tin, copper, as well as rare metals such as titanium, antimony and vanadium.
Economy
Features of the EGP of South Africa have become the most important factor for the country. 80% of metallurgical products are produced on the continent, 60% are in the mining industry. South Africa is the most developed country on the mainland, despite this, the unemployment rate is 23%.
Most of the population is employed in the service sector. About 25% of the population works in the industrial sector, 10% is agriculture. The financial sector, telecommunications, and the electric power industry are well developed in South Africa. The country has huge reserves natural resources, coal mining and export are best developed.
Among the main branches of agriculture are animal husbandry of goats, sheep, birds, cattle), winemaking, forestry, fishing (hake, sea bass, anchovies, moquel, mackerel, cod, etc.), crop production. The republic exports more than 140 types of fruits and vegetables.
The main trading partners are China, the USA, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, India and Switzerland. Among the African economic partners are Mozambique, Nigeria, Zimbabwe.
The country has a well-developed transport system, a favorable tax policy, developed banking and insurance business.
- The world's first successful heart transplant was performed in Cape Town by surgeon Christian Barnard in 1967.
- The largest depression on Earth is on the Vaal River in South Africa. It was formed as a result of the fall of a giant meteorite.
- The Cullinan diamond weighing 621 was found in 1905 in a South African mine. It is the largest gemstone on the planet.
- This is the only country in Africa that does not belong to the Third World.
- It was here that gasoline was first produced from coal.
- About 18,000 native plants grow on the territory of the country and 900 species of birds live.
- South Africa is the first country to voluntarily give up its existing nuclear weapons.
- The largest number of fossils is found in the Karoo region of South Africa.
Conclusion
The main features of the EGP of South Africa are the compactness of the territory, wide access to the oceans, location next to the sea route connecting Europe with Asia and Far East. Most of the residents are employed in the service sector. Due to the large reserves of natural resources in South Africa, the extractive industry is well developed. The country's population is only 5% of the total population of Africa, however, the country is the most developed on the continent. Due to its economic position, South Africa has a fairly strong position in the world.
South Africa - how many are there? And what interesting facts can you tell about them? This will be discussed in the article.
South African countries: list, regionalization approaches
By name, it is easy to guess that this region is located in the southern part of the "black continent". All countries have approximately the same natural and climatic conditions, as well as similar features of historical development.
It begins south of the watershed plateau of the Zambezi and Congo rivers. According to the UN zoning of our planet, the countries of South Africa are only five states (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland). According to another classification, this historical and geographical region also includes Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, as well as the exotic island state of Madagascar.
All countries in South Africa are listed below with their capitals (according to the UN version). The list of states is submitted in order of decreasing area of the territory:
- South Africa (Pretoria).
- Namibia (Windhoek).
- Botswana (Gaborone).
- Lesotho (Maseru).
- Swaziland (Mbabane).
The largest state in the region
A multicultural and multinational state, one of the most developed on the mainland in economic terms. Often this republic is called the "rainbow country".
Most Interesting Facts about South Africa:
- every third diamond mined on Earth is extracted from the bowels of this particular country;
- in South Africa, the world's first human heart transplant operation took place (in 1967);
- citizens of the republic are endowed with broad rights in the field of the use of weapons for the purpose of protection, up to a flamethrower;
- South Africa ranks third in the world in terms of drinking water quality;
- one of the traditional South African dishes - monkey meat steaks;
- wife (the eighth president of South Africa) was the "first lady" twice (previously she was the wife of the president of Mozambique).
Swaziland - South Africa
Swaziland is a small state in the south of the continent, which borders only two countries - South Africa and Mozambique.
The most interesting facts about Swaziland:
- the head of this state is the real king, who is very loved and revered in Swaziland (his portraits can be seen here even on the clothes of local residents);
- Swaziland is a very poor country, but the roads here are of excellent quality;
- the oldest mathematical work was discovered in this country;
- the state leads the world in terms of the spread of HIV, every fourth adult resident here is a carrier of the virus;
- in Swaziland, husband and wife (or wives) live in separate houses.
The countries of South Africa are extremely interesting and colorful. There really is something to be surprised and amazed!
Republic of South Africa(South Africa) (Afrikaans Republiek van Suid-Afrika; English Republic of South Africa) is a state located in the southern part of the African continent. In the north it borders on Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, in the northeast on Mozambique and Swaziland. Inside the territory of South Africa is the state-enclave of Lesotho.
South Africa is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa and has the largest proportion of white, Indian and mixed populations on the continent. The country has rich mineral resources, and is also the most economically developed on the continent and has a relatively strong global position.
The most important point in the history and politics of South Africa was the racial conflict between the black majority and the white minority. It reached its climax after the apartheid regime (from Afrikaans apartheid) was established in 1948, which lasted until the 1990s. The initiator of the introduction of discriminatory laws was the National Party. This policy led to a long and bloody struggle in which black activists such as Steve Biko, Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela played a leading role. Later they were joined by many whites and coloreds (descendants of the mixed population) as well as South Africans of Indian origin. Pressure from the international community also played a certain role in the collapse of apartheid. As a result, the change of the political system took place relatively peacefully: South Africa is one of the few countries in Africa (and, more broadly, of the entire Third World) where there has never been a coup d'état.
The "New South Africa" is often referred to as the "Rainbow Country", a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (and endorsed by Nelson Mandela) as a metaphor for a new, multicultural and multiethnic society that transcends divisions dating back to the apartheid era.
South Africa is a country that developed nuclear weapons and subsequently abandoned them voluntarily.
Geography
South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa. The length of the coastline is 2,798 km. With an area of 1,219,090 km², South Africa is the 24th largest country in the world (after Mali). The highest point in South Africa is Mount Njesuti in the Dragon Mountains.
South Africa has a variety of climatic zones, from the dry Namib Desert to the subtropics in the east near the border with Mozambique and the coast of the Indian Ocean. To the east, the terrain rises rapidly, forming the Drakensberg Mountains and descending into a large inland plateau called the veld.
The interior of South Africa is a vast, relatively flat, and sparsely populated area known as the Karoo, which dries up as it approaches the Namib Desert. On the contrary, the east coast is perfectly humidified and has a climate close to tropical. In the extreme southwest of the country, the climate is extremely similar to the Mediterranean, with rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The famous fynbos biome is located there. It is here that South African wine is mainly produced. The region is also known for its constant winds throughout the year. This wind in the area of the Cape of Good Hope is so strong that it caused a lot of inconvenience to sailors and led to shipwrecks. Further east, the rainfall is more even, so the region is better stocked with vegetation. It is known as the "Way of the Gardens".
The Free State area is a particularly flat area located in the very center of a high plateau. North of the Waal river, the veld is better moistened and not exposed to too high temperatures. Johannesburg, located in the center of the veld at an altitude of 1740 meters, receives 760 mm of precipitation per year. In these places, winters are cold, although snow rarely falls.
To the north of Johannesburg, the high plateau of the veld passes into the bushveld, a region of dry mixed forests that lies relatively low above sea level. To the east of the high veld, a low veld descends to the Indian Ocean, which is characterized by high temperatures; In this region, intensive agriculture is carried out. From the southeast, the veld is bounded by the high Drakensberg Mountains, where you can even practice skiing. It is often believed that the coldest place in the country is Sutherland in the west of the Roggeveld Range, where temperatures can reach as low as -15° in winter, but in fact the lowest temperatures are witnessed in Beffelsfontein (Eastern Cape) -18.6°. The highest temperatures are found inland: in the Kalahari near Upington, a temperature of 51.7 °C was recorded in 1948.
Official names
Due to the fact that 11 languages are recognized in South Africa (the third country in terms of the number of languages after India and Bolivia), South Africa has 11 official names:
- Republiek van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans)
- Republic of South Africa (English)
- IRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika (Southern Ndebele)
- IRiphabliki yaseMzantsi Afrika (spit)
- IRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika (Zulu)
- Rephaboliki ya Afrika-Borwa (Northern Sotho)
- Rephaboliki ya Afrika Borwa (Sesotho)
- Rephaboliki ya Aforika Borwa (Tswana)
- IRiphabhulihi yeNingizimu Afrika (Swazi)
- Riphabuḽiki ya Afurika Tshipembe (Vendian)
- Riphabliki ra Afrika Dzonga (tsonga)
History
Man appeared on the territory of the country in ancient times (as evidenced by finds in caves near Sterkfontein, Kromdray and Makapanskhat); however, there is very little reliable information about the early history of this region. Before the arrival of the Bantu tribes (they reached the Limpopo River in the north of the country in the middle of the 1st millennium AD), this territory was inhabited by nomadic pastoral tribes of the Khoi (Hottentots) and Bushmen (San) gatherers. Bantu farmers moved southwest, destroying or assimilating the local population. Archaeological evidence of their presence in the current province of KwaZulu-Natal dates back to around 1050. By the time the Europeans arrived, the area of the Cape of Good Hope was inhabited by the Khoi, and the Bantu (Khosa tribes) had already reached the banks of the Great Fish River.
The first written record of a permanent European settlement dates from April 6, 1652, when Jan van Riebeeck, on behalf of the Dutch East India Company, founded a settlement on the "Cape of Storms", later called "Good Hope" (now Cape Town). In the 17th and 18th centuries, colonists from the Netherlands arrived in South Africa, as well as French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in their homeland, and settlers from Germany. In the 1770s the colonists encountered a scythe advancing from the northeast. A series of clashes followed, known as the border ("Kaffir") wars and caused mainly by the claims of white settlers to the lands of Africans. Slaves from other Dutch possessions, in particular from Indonesia and Madagascar, were also brought to the Cape Colony. Many slaves, as well as the autochthonous population of the Cape region, mixed with the white colonists. Their descendants are called "Cape Coloreds" and now make up 50% of the population in the Western Cape.
British colonization
Great Britain first gained dominance over the Cape Colony in 1795, during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War: then the Netherlands fell under the rule of Napoleon, and the British, fearing that the French would gain control of this strategically important region, sent an army under the command of General James Henry to Kapstad Craig to seize the colony on behalf of Stadtholder William V. The governor of Kapstad received no instructions, however, agreed to submit to the British. In 1803, the Peace of Amiens was concluded, under the terms of which the Batavian Republic (that is, the Netherlands, as they became known after the French conquest) left the Cape colony behind. After the renewal of the war in 1805, the British again decided to capture the colony, and as a result of the battle on the slopes of Table Mountain in 1806, British troops under the command of David Byrd entered the fort of Kapstad.
The British consolidated their presence on the eastern frontier of the Cape Colony by fighting the Xhos by building forts along the banks of the Great Fish River. To strengthen its power in these places, the British crown encouraged the arrival of settlers from the metropolis.
In 1806, under pressure from various forces within the country, the British Parliament banned slavery, and in 1833 this provision was extended to the colonies. Constant skirmishes at the borders, the abolition of slavery and other disagreements with the British forced many peasants of Dutch origin (called Boers, from the Dutch boer peasant) to go on the so-called Great Trek deep into the continent, to the high plateau-veld. There they encountered the Ndebele chiefdom led by Mzilikazi, a former associate of Chaka, who fled west during the so-called Mfekane, a migration of peoples caused by internecine wars in Southeast Africa (modern KwaZulu-Natal). In the end, the Boers founded their states in the continental part of South Africa, the Orange Republic and the Transvaal.
Boer Wars
The discovery of rich deposits of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) on the Witwatersrand led to the economic growth of the colony and an increase in the outflow of capital to Europe, a sharp increase in immigration to the Boer republics and a deterioration in the situation of the natives. These events, provoked and encouraged by the British government, eventually led to a conflict between the British and the Boers. In 1880-1881, the first Anglo-Boer War took place, during which the Boers managed to defend their independence largely due to the disinterest of Great Britain in drawing it into a protracted colonial war, since the territories of the Orange Republic and the Transvaal were not of significant strategic interest at that time. despite the discovery by that time of a diamond deposit in the Kimberley region. The "gold rush" in the rand (area of Johannesburg) began after the first Boer War. It is also impossible not to note the small number of British colonial troops at that time. Thus, the annexation of the Transvaal by Great Britain in 1877, which was the direct cause of the war, was carried out by an English detachment of only 25 people without firing a shot. At the same time, the British established themselves in Natal and Zululand, winning the war with the Zulus. In 1899-1902, the second Anglo-Boer War took place, in which the Boers, despite initial successes, still lost to the better trained and equipped British, who had an overwhelming numerical advantage. After the defeat of their semi-regulars, the Boers under Christian De Wet turned to guerrilla warfare tactics, which the British fought by setting up a network of blockhouses and also rounding up Boer women and children in concentration camps. Under the terms of the treaty at Vereniching, the British agreed to pay the three-million-dollar debt of the Boer governments. In addition, blacks were still denied the right to vote (except in the Cape Colony).
The war was reflected in the famous works of world literature - in the novel by L. Boussenard "Captain Break Head", where the Boers were presented as victims of the violent colonization policy of Great Britain, and in the historical work of A. Conan Doyle "War in South Africa", who is more advocating British policy (despite the author's efforts to be impartial, the book was used by the British government for propaganda purposes).
Creation of the Union of South Africa
After four years of negotiations, on May 31, 1910, the Union of South Africa was formed, which included the British Cape Colony, Natal, the Orange River Colony and the Transvaal. It became a dominion of the British Empire. In 1914 the SA joined the First world war. In 1934, the United Party was formed, which united the South African Party (pro-British) and the National Party (Boer). It collapsed in 1939 over disagreements over whether South Africa should follow Britain into World War II—the right-wing National Party sympathized with the Third Reich and advocated drastic racial segregation.
Independence of South Africa
In 1961, the Union of South Africa became an independent republic (Republic of South Africa) that emerged from the British-led Commonwealth. The exit was also due to the non-acceptance of the policy of apartheid in South Africa by other members of the Commonwealth (South Africa's membership in the Commonwealth was restored in June 1994).
Apartheid and its aftermath
In 1948, the National Party won the general election and passed some very strict laws restricting the rights of the black population: the ultimate goal of this policy was to create a "South Africa for whites", while blacks were supposed to be completely deprived of South African citizenship. During apartheid, blacks were effectively deprived of some or all of the following rights:
- The right to citizenship of South Africa (in most cases this has become a privilege)
- The right to vote and be elected
- The right to freedom of movement (Negroes were forbidden to go outside after sunset, and also to appear in "white" areas without special permission from the authorities, that is, in fact, they were forbidden to visit large cities, since they were in "white" areas)
- The right to mixed marriages
- The right to medical care (this right was not formally taken away from them, but they were forbidden to use medicine "for whites", while medicine "for blacks" was completely undeveloped, and in some areas was completely absent)
- The right to cultural and entertainment leisure (the main cinemas and other entertainment facilities were in "white" areas)
- The right to education (the main educational institutions were in "white" areas)
- The right to be hired (employers were formally granted the right to use racial discrimination in hiring)
Despite the end of apartheid, millions of black South Africans still live in poverty. This is because, due to historical reasons for educational attainment, social responsibility, and labor productivity, the majority of indigenous black Africans in current stage objectively unable to meet the standards of a developed post-industrial society. The level of street crime is extremely high, including the percentage of serious crimes, however, the authorities refuse to give in to the wishes of society and introduce the death penalty. True, the social housing program has yielded certain results, improving the living conditions of many citizens, which has led to an increase in tax collection.
At the beginning of the 21st century, the problem of illegal migration also became very acute in South Africa. After the abolition of apartheid and a significant weakening of control at external borders, a flow of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique and other countries of East Africa poured into the country. In total, in South Africa (at the beginning of 2008), according to various experts, there are from 3 to 5 million illegal migrants. The massive influx of foreigners causes dissatisfaction among the citizens of South Africa. Claims against migrants are mainly that they take away jobs from the citizens of the country, agreeing to work for lower wages, and also commit various crimes.
In May 2008, mass protests by South Africans against migrants took place in Johannesburg and Durban. Groups of the local population armed with clubs, stones and knives beat and killed migrants. During the week of riots in Johannesburg alone, more than 20 people were killed, thousands fled their homes. Migrants were forced to take refuge from angry local residents in police stations, mosques and churches. The local police actually completely lost control over the situation and were forced to turn to the president of the country with a request to involve the army to restore order. On May 22, 2008, South African President Thabo Mbeki authorized the use of troops to quell unrest in the country. For the first time since the abolition of apartheid, the South African army was used against citizens of their own state.
Population
In terms of population, the Republic of South Africa is in 25th place in the world - 49.1 million people live in the country (July 2010 estimate).
Over the past two decades, the country's population has remained almost unchanged (slight decline), due to high HIV infection, as well as a decrease in the number of whites.
The average life expectancy is 50 years for men, 48 years for women.
Ethno-racial composition (according to the 2001 census):
- black - 79%
- whites - 9.6%
- colored (mostly mulattoes) - 8.9%
- Indians and Asians - 2.5%
The religious composition of the population is quite variegated - there is no absolute religious majority in the country, and adherents of various religions and worldviews live: adherents of the Zionist churches (10%), Pentecostals (7.5%), Catholics (6.5%), Methodists (6.8 %), Dutch Reformed (6.7%), Anglicans (3.8%), other Christians (36%), Muslims (1.3%), adherents of other religions (2.3%), undecided (1.4 %), atheists (15.1%). (Data from 2001).
Demography
One of the central problems is the massive spread of HIV infection (mainly among the black population), in which South Africa ranks first in the world (according to UN data published in 2003 and 2007), while in terms of infection rate South Africa is on fourth place (after Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho). In total, about 5.7 million people are infected with HIV, which is 18.1% of the adult population of the country (in 2007). Because of AIDS, the death rate in the Republic of South Africa has long exceeded the birth rate (in 2010, the population decline was −0.05%, with an average fertility of 2.33 births per woman).
The number of whites in the country is gradually decreasing due to their emigration to North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand- in 1985-2005, about 0.9 million whites left South Africa, mostly under the age of 40 and their children. The proportion of the black population of South Africa is growing due to the influx of black emigrants from Zimbabwe.
Standard of living
The average income of the population is approaching the lower limit of the world average income. However, in general, the economic situation of society is extremely unstable. The apartheid regime that reigned here for a long time and the previous colonialism were reflected in the social and property stratification of society. About 15% of the population lives in the best conditions, while about 50% (mostly blacks) live in abject poverty, which may well be compared with the situation of the inhabitants of the poorest countries in the world. Not all residents have electricity and water supply, and poor sanitation in many settlements contributes to the spread of various diseases. Such sharp contrasts lead to tension in the social environment. South Africa has a fairly high crime rate. It is mainly present in poor areas. The average life expectancy in the country is only 49 years (2008), but it has increased significantly since 2000, when it was 43 years. An unusual fact is that women have a shorter life expectancy than men.
State structure
Now South Africa is a unitary state. The territory of the country is divided into 9 provinces.
Until 1994, South Africa was a federation and was divided into 4 provinces: Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal. This division reflected well the colonial past of South Africa.
In addition, from 1951 to 1994, so-called bantustans existed in South Africa - autonomies reserved for the residence of certain nationalities. Outside the bantustans, the rights of the black population were significantly limited. Four of them received “independence” (in connection with this, their residents were deprived of South African citizenship), which, however, was not recognized by any state except South Africa:
- Bophuthatswana (Tswana) - "independence" since December 6, 1977
- Transkei (spit) - "independence" since October 26, 1976
- Ciskei (spit) - "independence" since December 4, 1981
- Venda (venda) - "independence" since September 13, 1979
Pretoria is officially considered the "main" capital of South Africa, since the country's government is located there. The other two branches of government are located in the other two largest cities: Parliament - in Cape Town, the Supreme Court - in Bloemfontein. They are also considered capitals. This is due to the fact that initially South Africa was a confederate state, and in this regard, during the formation of the Union of South Africa (from the British possessions with the capital in Cape Town, the Orange Free State with the capital in Bloemfontein and the Republic of South Africa (Transvaal) with the capital in Pretoria) authorities were evenly distributed among the capitals of the states included in it.
It is sometimes claimed that Pretoria was renamed Tshwane. This is incorrect: Tshwane is the name of a city municipality, an administrative division below a province (in this case in the province of Gauteng). The municipality of Tshwane includes the cities of Pretoria, Centurion (formerly Verwoerdburg), Soshanguwe and a number of smaller areas.
Political regime
South Africa is a parliamentary republic. The president in almost all his decisions on most issues must rely on the support of parliament. A South African citizen over 30 years old can become a presidential candidate.
South Africa has a bicameral parliament, consisting of the National Council of Provinces (upper house - 90 members) and the National Assembly (400 members). Members of the lower house are elected by proportional voting system: half of the deputies go on national lists, half - on provincial ones. Each province, regardless of population, sends ten members to the National Council of Provinces. Elections are held every five years. The government is formed in the lower house, and the leader of the party that received the majority in it becomes president (now this post is occupied by Jacob Zuma). South Africa's current ruling party is the African National Congress, which received 65.9% of the vote in the 2009 general election and 66.3% of the vote in the 2006 municipal election. Its main rival is the Democratic Alliance party (16.7% in 2009; 14.8% in 2006). The leader of the Democratic Alliance is Helen Zille. The New National Party, the successor to the apartheid National Party, declined rapidly after 1994 and merged with the ANC on April 9, 2005. Also represented in Parliament are the Freedom Party-Inkata (4.6%), representing mainly Zulu voters, and the People's Congress (7.4%).
Right
The legal system of South Africa has absorbed elements of three legal families distinguished today at once: Romano-Germanic, Anglo-Saxon and traditional. In general, modern South Africa is dominated by Romano-Germanic law, that is, there is the rule of law over all legal decisions and a clear division of law into private and public. The country has a constitution adopted in 1996. It protects and guarantees all internationally recognized human rights. But the law of South Africa has not always been humane and tolerant. For a long time, discrimination against the black population, called "apartheid", found its reinforcement in it. As a result of the fall of the political foundation of apartheid and subsequent long processes in the 1990s, the legal system of South Africa was completely overhauled, and all discrimination based on race was excluded from it. In 1994, the Constitutional Court was established in the country.
Criminal law
The Republic of South Africa is one of the few countries where English-style criminal law operates. It is not codified. The judicial system consists of the following instances: the Supreme Court of Appeal, high courts and magistrates' courts. The Supreme Court of Appeal is the main court in South Africa for criminal matters. It is located in Bloemfontein, the "judicial capital" of the country. Under the apartheid regime, there were separate local courts for the black population ("courts of chiefs"), in which judges were also predominantly black. At the same time, in the general judiciary, the vast majority of judges were white. Particularly cruel punishments were provided for opponents of the political regime - up to and including the death penalty. It was allowed to detain people for 5 days without trial or investigation. After the fall of apartheid, many norms were revised. In 1994, the Internal Security Act was abolished, and in 1995, the death penalty. Until now, physical punishment of minors is officially applied - in the form of flogging. With a revision of the legal system in the 90s, homosexual marriage was legalized in the country, making it the only country of its kind in Africa.
Economy and national economy
South Africa is the most developed on the African continent and at the same time the only country that is not classified as a Third World. GDP for 2008 amounted to 491 billion dollars (26th in the world). GDP growth was at the level of 5%, in 2008 - 3%. The country is still not among the developed countries of the world, despite the fact that its market is actively expanding. In terms of purchasing power parity, it ranks 78th in the world according to the IMF (Russia 53rd), according to the World Bank 65th, according to the CIA 85th. It has a huge stock of natural resources. Telecommunications, electric power industry, financial sphere are widely developed.
Currency: South African rand, equal to 100 cents. There are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, 1, 2, 5 rand, banknotes - 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand.
Main import items: oil, foodstuffs, chemical products; exports: diamonds, gold, platinum, machinery, vehicles, equipment. Imports ($91 billion in 2008) exceed exports ($86 billion in 2008).
It is a member of the international organization of ACT countries.
Work force
Of the 49 million people in South Africa, only 18 million are able to work. Unemployed - 23% (in 2008).
65% of the working population is employed in the service sector, 26% in industry, 9% in agriculture (in 2008).
Extractive industry
South Africa owes its rapid development to a large extent to the wealth of natural resources. About 52% of exports come from the mining industry. Manganese, platinum group metals, gold, chromites, aluminoglucates, vanadium and zirconium are widely mined. Coal mining is very developed - in terms of the use of coal for the production of electricity, South Africa ranks 3rd in the world (due to the lack of oil, about 80% of South Africa's energy resources are based on the use of coal). In addition, the country has concentrated reserves of diamonds, asbestos, nickel, lead, uranium and other important minerals.
Agriculture
Since most of the country has an arid climate, only 15% of its area is suitable for agriculture. However, it can be said that, unlike most other countries in Africa, where soil erosion occurs, this 15% is used wisely - advanced agrotechnical achievements of South Africa and the leading countries of the world are used to protect soils and efficient agriculture. This led to surprising results: South Africa fully meets domestic food needs, and is also one of the leading (and by some parameters, the leading) suppliers of agricultural products - the country exports about 140 types of fruits.
Winemaking
In South Africa, there are three zones for winemaking. The Northwest (Northern Cape) and East Coast (KwaZulu-Natal) are not considered to be the best wine sources, as they have a very hot and arid climate. But the South-West of South Africa (Western Cape) has a wonderful climate for winemaking.
animal husbandry
Meat and dairy production is concentrated in the north and east of the Free State province, in the hinterland of Hoteng province and in the southern part of Mpumalanga province. Meat breeds are common in the Northern and Eastern Cape. The arid areas of the Northern and Eastern Capes, the Free State and Mpumalanga account for areas of sheep breeding. Astrakhan sheep skins are supplied to the world market.
Goats are bred in large numbers, mainly - 75% - Angora, whose wool is highly valued in the West (up to 50% of the world's mohair production is in South Africa). The other most common breed is the Boer goat, which is bred for meat. In terms of goat wool shearing (92 thousand tons per year), South Africa ranks 4th in the world.
Compared to predominantly extensive sub-sectors such as cattle and sheep raising, poultry and hog raising are more intensive and prevalent on farms near the major cities of Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
IN last years- mainly in the province of the Free State - ostrich breeding is actively developing. The export from South Africa of meat, skin and feathers of this bird is gradually increasing.
Fishing
In terms of fish catch (about 1 million tons per year), South Africa occupies a leading position in Africa. The main fishery objects are sardines, herring, hake, anchovies, sea bass, mackerel, cod, Cape salmon, mackerel, monkfish. In addition, shrimp, lobsters, tuna, lobsters, oysters, octopuses, sharks, whose fins are in demand in countries South-East Asia and the Cape seal. Fishing is carried out mainly off the western coast of South Africa, washed by the Benguela Ocean Current, in a fishing zone 200 nautical miles wide. About 40% of the catch falls on freshwater fish caught in the rivers Elands, Limpopo and others, as well as by breeding in artificial reservoirs.
Forestry
The main zone is the southern part of the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Natural forests occupy 180,000 hectares, that is, only 0.14% of the country's territory. Most of the commercial wood comes from forest plantations, which cover only 1% of the territory of South Africa. Approximately half of the forest plantations are planted with pine, 40% with eucalyptus and 10% with mimosa. Yellow and ebony, Cape laurel, assegai and camassi are also grown. Trees reach marketable condition in an average of 20 years - in contrast to trees growing in the Northern Hemisphere, where this process lasts from 80 to 100 years. The annual volume of wood entering the market is 17 million cubic meters. More than 240 woodworking and timber industry enterprises operate in South Africa.
Agriculture accounts for 35-40% of all exports and accounts for 5% of South Africa's GDP.
Economic policy of the state
It is generally recognized that the main political course of the state is aimed at stabilizing the economy. According to the statistics of The Heritage Foundation, the republic is in 57th position in the world in terms of economic freedom. South Africa has a relatively high income tax (up to 40% depending on income level).
culture
South African culture is traditionally diverse. First of all, it is a combination of two cultures: traditional and modern.
Many indigenous peoples contributed to it, such as the Bantu, Bushmen and Hottengots. The protea flower is the national symbol of South Africa.
Sport
The South African Grand Prix was repeatedly held in South Africa: in the period 1934-1939 with the participation of the world's leading racers of the pre-war period, and from 1962 to 1993 already as part of the Formula 1 World Championship. World-class racing was held at the East London and Kyalami circuits. South African Jody Scheckter in 1979, speaking for the Ferrari team, became the first and only Formula 1 world champion originally from Africa. And his compatriot Desiree Wilson, driving Williams in 1980, became the first and only woman in history to win a Formula One race. True, the stage held at the Brands Hatch track was held as part of the British Formula 1 Championship.
Rugby and football are very popular sports in the country. So, in 2007, the South African national rugby union team (Springbox) became a two-time World Cup winner, beating England in the final with a score of 15:6 [source].
In 2010, South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup.
SOUTH AFRICA
state in southern Africa. On May 31, 1910, the Union of South Africa was created, which included self-governing British colonies (Cape, Natal) and the Boer republics (Orange Free State and Transvaal). On May 31, 1961, the country was proclaimed a republic, and on April 27, 1994, democracy triumphed in South Africa.
Republic of South Africa. The capital is Pretoria. Population - 47.5 million people (1997). The population density is 39 people per 1 sq. km. km. Urban population - 62%, rural - 38%. Area - 1,223,404 sq. km. The highest point is Mount Enjesuti (3446 m). Main languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa (total 11 official languages). The main religion is Protestantism. Administrative-territorial division - 9 provinces. Monetary unit: rand = 100 cents. National holiday: Constitution Day - 27 April. National anthems: "God Bless Africa" and "The Call of South Africa".
The territory of South Africa is located in tropical and subtropical zones. In the west, the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and in the south and east by the waters of the Indian Ocean. In the northwest it borders on Namibia, which South Africa ruled from 1920-1966 under a League of Nations mandate. South Africa retained control of Namibia until 1990, when it gained independence. In the north, South Africa borders on Botswana, in the northeast on Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland. South Africa is home to the independent state of Lesotho. On December 24, 1947 and January 4, 1948, Great Britain transferred its rights to the Marion and Prince Edward Islands in Antarctica to South Africa.
The capital of the country is Pretoria. Before the multiracial democracy regime was established in South Africa in 1994, its territory was administratively divided into four provinces - Cape, Transvaal, Natal and Orange. In 1994, the Cape and Transvaal were divided into seven new provinces, and Natal was renamed KwaZulu-Natal. In 1995, Orange Province became known as the Free State. According to the results of the 1996 census, the population of nine provinces of South Africa was (in thousand people): Eastern Cape - 6302.5, Free State - 2633.5, Gauteng - 7348.4, KwaZulu-Natal - 8417.0, Mpumalanga - 2800 ,7, North Cape - 840.3, Northern - 4929.4, Northwestern - 3354.8 and Western Cape - 3956.8 people.
Relief features. The central plateau is saucer-shaped and mostly composed of almost horizontal sedimentary rocks. Its central part is at heights of approx. 600 m above sea level, and the edges are raised by more than 1500 m. The surface of the plateau is predominantly gently undulating, above it in many places rise flat-topped hills with steep slopes, called table mountains, and bizarre remnants dotted with boulders, called spears (in translation - "heads"). The plateau is almost entirely drained by two rivers. The Orange River (with a tributary of the Vaal) flows west through the Northern Cape and further along the border with Namibia rushes into the Atlantic Ocean. The Limpopo River flows northeast along the borders with Botswana and Zimbabwe and then follows through the territory of Mozambique into the Indian Ocean. With the exception of these rivers and some of their tributaries, most of the rivers on the plateau only flow during the wet season. In the west and northwest, some rivers are lost in shallow basins that remain dry most of the year and fill with water only during the rainy season.
The Great Escarpment is a 2,250 km mountain arc that rises above the coastal lowlands of South Africa. Each part here has its own name. The Kamisberh and Bockefeldberg mountains in Namaqualand stand out; the Rohhefeldberg and Komsberg mountains near Sutherland; the Niuwefeldberg range near Beaufort West; the Kouefeldberge (2130 m) and Snieuberge (2504 m) mountains above Hraff Reinet and the Stormberge mountains north of Queenstown. The Great Escarpment reaches its highest heights in the Dragon Mountains near the eastern border of Lesotho, where in several places there are marks above 3350 m. located in Lesotho. In this area, the Great Ledge is a system of jagged buttresses and deep amphitheaters that form one of South Africa's most scenic landscapes.
Namaqualand is a very dry area in the west of the Northern Cape and Western Cape. This flat platform drops from the Great Ledge towards the Atlantic Ocean. Granite remnants and isolated low, but dissected mountain ranges often rise above its surface. In coastal parts, the platform is covered with a thick cover of pebbles.
Cape and Southern Coastal Regions. As noted above, these areas are similar in relief. Linear mountain ranges stand out here, composed mainly of sedimentary rocks and extending in the latitudinal direction through the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces, and the ridges alternate with longitudinal valleys. The ridges themselves are narrow and strongly dissected, with numerous peaks rising above 1830 m above sea level. The flat bottoms of many valleys are lined with thick layers of alluvium, formed as a result of the destruction of the surrounding mountains. Between the mountains and the foot of the Great Ledge there is an area called the Great Karoo, which is a series of wide flat-bottomed interconnected basins, confined to altitudes of 600-900 m above sea level. and having a runoff through narrow gorges towards the ocean.
The southeastern coastal region is located between the Great Escarpment and the Indian Ocean. Its surface is a complex combination of rounded hills. In many places the hills come directly to the coast, where steep ledges and small beaches alternate. The coastal plain is developed only in the far north, near the border with Mozambique.
Transvaal Low Weld. The southeast coast hills continue north into the Transvaal Low Weld. Low undulating hills dominate, overgrown with sparse trees and shrubs, as well as grass. The vast bottoms of the valleys of large rivers are flattened.
Climate. General characteristics. In winter (in July), the center of the high pressure area is located above the Central Plateau. At this time of the year it is cold there, and the winds blowing from there contribute to the establishment of dry cold cloudless weather in many parts of South Africa. However, in the far south (Cape and Southern Coastal Regions), winter is a season of frequent cold torrential rains, and there the sky is almost constantly covered with clouds.
In summer (January) the center of low pressure is above the Central Plateau. Humid air is drawn in from the Indian Ocean. At the same time, moisture-bearing winds contribute to rainfall in the southeastern and eastern parts of the Great Escarpment and on the Central Plateau. However, in the Cape region, dry and hot weather sets in in summer.
Precipitation amounts decrease west of 1900 mm by eastern slopes Drakensberg mountains to less than 25 mm on the coast of Namaqualand. Due to the uneven topography, the Cape and Southern Coastal Regions show large local differences in rainfall.
Temperatures in South Africa decrease from east to west. Under the influence of the cold Benguela current, following along the west coast, temperatures drop significantly. The average annual temperature in Port Nollot is 14°C, however, on the east coast, under the influence of the warm Indian Ocean, temperatures are high, and in Durban the average annual temperature is 22°C. On the other hand, the temperature difference between the northern and southern regions is small, as the altitudes increase north. The southern tip of the mainland (Cape Agulhas) and Johannesburg (located 1450 km to the north, but at an altitude of 1740 m above sea level) have an average annual temperature of approx. 16° C.
The central plateau is characterized by a sharply continental climate with pronounced contrasts of daily and annual temperatures. The summer is hot with blindingly bright sunlight and occasional severe thunderstorms. Kimberley, at an altitude of 1220 m above sea level, in January has an average maximum temperature of 32 ° C and an average minimum temperature of 17 ° C. On the other hand, during the winter there is pleasant warm weather (the average maximum temperature in July is 19 ° C) due to bright sunlight, but the nights are cold (the minimum temperature in July is 2°C). Winters are very dry, with little to no rain in June, July and August.
Namaqualand is a very dry area: the amount of precipitation ranges from a maximum value of 200 mm in the mountains of the interior to a minimum of less than 25 mm on the coast. On the coast, the weather is cool and temperatures are fairly constant. Outside the zone of influence of the coastal breeze, temperatures rise strongly in summer.
The Cape region has the same favorable climate as the Mediterranean coast of Europe and southern California. Rainy weather sets in in winter, and dry in summer. Precipitation occurs in May - September. On the coast, they usually fall as rain, but in the higher mountains (for example, on the Table Mountain near Cape Town) there are occasional snowfalls. Their number varies greatly depending on the nature of the relief. In Cape Town, the average annual rainfall reaches 630 mm, while some high mountains usually receive 2540 mm. Temperatures in Cape Town vary greatly throughout the year. In July (winter) the average minimum temperature is 9°C and the average maximum is 17°C; in January (summer) the average minimum temperature is 16°C, and the average maximum temperature is 27°C. Within the region, however, large temperature contrasts are observed, which depends on exposure to the moderating influence of the ocean; in the interior valleys, summers are hotter and winters colder than on the coast.
The Southern Coastal Region receives as much rainfall in winter as the Cape Region and in summer as much as the Southeast Coastal Region.
The Southeast Coastal Region receives most of its rainfall during the summer months, but no month is truly dry. In Durban, 1140 mm of liquid precipitation falls annually, with an average of 150 mm in March and only 40 mm in July. Summer is very warm and humid with an average maximum temperature of 28°C and an average minimum of 21°C in January. Winters are mild and pleasant with an average maximum temperature of 22°C and an average minimum of 13°C in July.
The Transvaal Low Weld receives a high amount of precipitation in summer, up to 2030 mm in some places. Winters are dry and sunny. High temperatures prevail throughout the year.
Vegetation. Much of the Central Plateau is short grass steppe, or grassy veld. However, vast areas of this once fertile steppe have been disturbed by severe overgrazing for more than a century, as well as severe erosion caused by ill-conceived crop cultivation. The subsequent degradation of agriculture in this area was accompanied by the penetration of economically low-value plants into the grassy weld.
In the semi-desert Northern Cape, a type of vegetation commonly referred to as "karu" is widespread. It is characterized by a sparse, low grass cover, as well as low shrubs and numerous succulent plants. It is usually believed that this area used to have a denser vegetation cover, mainly from cereals, and its current state is due to pasture digression.
A shrubland of sparse trees and abundant grass, known as the bushveld, occupies the northwestern part of the Central Plateau and continues eastward in a crescent-shaped area across the Transvaal Low Weld into northern KwaZulu-Natal. The main components of the bushveld are shrubby and woody forms of acacias, giant baobabs and mopanes. Much of the arid Northwest Province is covered in thorny shrubs (mostly various types of acacias), grasses, and solitary trees. This area is known as the Kalahari bushveld.
The general aridity of Namaqualand predetermines the development of desert types of vegetation, but due to frequent fogs, numerous succulents are common here, especially mesembryanthemums.
The Cape region is dominated by a shrubby vegetation known as fynbos or machia, which is very similar to the maquis of southern France and chaparral. Southern California. This area has a complex floristic composition with a wide variety of species. Most of the plants are well adapted to survive the long, hot, dry summers. These plants have hard, leathery leaves and resinous sap. Cereals and bulbous plants are also common. Numerous callas grow in the wild.
In its natural state, the southern and southeastern coastal regions were covered with dense subtropical forests. The main tree species were legcarps, used in the construction and furniture industries, bubbly okotea, also used for making furniture, and multi-purpose ironwood. With the advent of dark-skinned pastoralists and black and white farmers over the past two centuries, almost all forests have been cut down or burned for arable land. However, the remains of indigenous forests have been preserved in some places on steep slopes, and especially near Knysna. Plantations of acacia, pine and eucalyptus (consisting of introduced species) were planted in places. At low altitudes, thickets of shrubs have now been preserved, which are severely affected by overgrazing. At high altitudes, grass stands of tall grasses are common. Dense forests of low-growing trees (less than 9 m high) extend directly near the coast, in addition, palm trees, bananas, obovate mimosops, and mangrove trees stand out in the drying zone at the mouths of the rivers.
Soils. There are three large soil regions: Vostochny, east of 26° E; Coastal, coinciding with the Cape and South Coastal regions noted above; And Western District, west of 26°E The eastern region has a humid warm climate with heavy summer rains. In the soils, signs of laterites are clearly expressed: lack of soluble salts, especially calcium, due to leaching; low humus content; the concentration of iron and aluminum oxides and, in general, the clay structure. Exceptions to this general rule are some of the fertile black soils of the northern Transvaal, the less leached soils of the Transvaal Low Weld, and the podzolic soils developed under locally waterlogged conditions in the Drakensberg Mountains and coastal strip of KwaZulu-Natal.
The Cape and Southern coastal regions have rather infertile acidic soils, mainly on shales and sandstones. However, the bottoms of some large valleys are lined with fertile loams, which form some of the most fertile soils in the country.
Most of the plateau west of 26° E differs semiarid and arid climate. Similar conditions are common further south, in the Karoo, and further west, along the coast. The soils of these arid regions are similar to desert soils in other areas: there are many soluble salts and little humus, cementation of the upper horizons is observed - where calcium carbonate precipitates during evaporation.
Fauna. Before the advent of Europeans, the fauna of the territory of South Africa was fabulously rich. However, over the past two centuries of intensified hunting, the diversity of the animal world has become very poor. Some species were knocked out, and most of the large animals moved to the mountainous and desert regions of the northern Transvaal, in particular to the territory of the Kruger National Park.
Previously, elephants lived throughout the country, excluding Namaqualand; now the miserable remnants of their herds live only in the forest of Knysna and the scrublands of the Addo National Park in the southeast of the country (near Port Elizabeth), although large populations can be found in the Kruger National Park. White rhinos, once numerous in the interior of the country, are now represented by only a few individuals in one of the KwaZulu-Natal reserves. Lions, widely distributed in the past, can only be found in the Kruger National Park and along the border with Botswana. A huge number of antelopes and zebras once grazed on the graslands of the Central Plateau, and today tiny herds of antelopes are found only along the border with Botswana and in the eastern part of the northern Transvaal, and zebras have almost disappeared. The Kalahari-Gemsbok National Park in the Northern Cape provides refuge to a number of animals, including the springbok antelope, cheetah and hyena. Baboons, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs and several small felines are still abundant in the rugged highlands, and monkeys inhabit the forests of KwaZulu-Natal. Leopards, once numerous, were threatened with extinction by the mid-1970s.
On the islands off the west coast, washed by cold waters, penguins are found. Parrots and hornbills are found along the entire warm east coast. Ostriches were common and of great commercial importance half a century ago; they have now moved into the sparsely populated hinterland.
Numerous reptiles. Crocodiles are found in the coastal rivers of northern KwaZulu-Natal, and there are many venomous snakes including African vipers, cobras, tree snakes and mambas.
POPULATION
According to the 1996 census, 40.6 million people lived in South Africa: Africans - 77%, whites - 11%, mestizos (descendants of mixed marriages of Europeans and Africans, the so-called "colored") - 9%, immigrants from Asia, in mostly Indians, - ca. 3%.
The main ethnic groups of the black population are Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Tswana, Suto, Venda, Ndebele, Pedi and Tsonga. About 59% of whites speak Afrikaans, 39% speak English. Afrikaners are the descendants of the Dutch, French Protestants (Huguenots) and German settlers who began to settle South Africa from 1652. After Great Britain took possession of the Cape Colony in 1820, the influx of settlers from England intensified. The ancestors of the colored people were the indigenous inhabitants of southern Africa - the Hottentots (Koykoin) and the Bushmen (San), as well as Malay slaves from the Netherlands East Indies and the first European settlers. The Asian population is mainly the descendants of Asians recruited to work on the sugar plantations of Natal, mainly Indians, who began to arrive in South Africa from 1860, as well as merchants, mainly from Bombay, who appeared there later. South Africa has 11 official languages.
demographic statistics. Old birth, death and vital statistics did not take into account Africans, who made up more than three-quarters of the country's population, and therefore cannot be considered reliable. The white minority government and some statistical organizations published separate data for whites, people of color, and Asians. The most objective are the results of the 1996 census, when the population of villages and temporary settlements was taken into account for the first time.
Africans. During the period 1948-1991, the African population of South Africa was subjected to systematic oppression and repression by the ruling minority. Many Africans retained their ethnic identity. This is especially true of the Zulu people, whose ruler retains significant influence. Tensions between some ethnic groups of the African population and political rivalry on the eve of the elections held in April 1994 resulted in numerous armed clashes. After the formation of a new government, passions subsided somewhat, but tensions in interethnic relations remain.
During the 1980s and early 1990s, about half of the African population lived in ten bantustans, which were created by the white minority government to deprive Africans of South African citizenship. Each bantustan was inhabited by one or more ethnic groups, headed by a leader, whose candidacy was approved by the South African government. The white minority government recognized as independent states four bantustans (Bophutthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei and Venda), but none of them received international recognition. Economically, the bantustans were underdeveloped and intended to regulate the influx of black workers into the white-controlled South African economy. When the country became a multi-racial democracy in 1994, all Bantustans were eliminated. According to 1996 data, the African population prevailed in seven out of nine provinces, and in four it was over 90%.
During apartheid, many Africans could only live separately from whites, in special townships - townships. Africans who worked as domestic servants for whites, in gold and diamond mines, and in the steel industry, were otkhodniks, their families remained in the villages. In the mining industry, they worked on a contract basis and lived in special compounds near the place of work.
The forced migration of first black men, and then women to look for work in "white" areas and large cities, had a detrimental effect not only on the traditional way of life, but also on family relationships. The population of the Bantustans was predominantly women, children and the elderly, as most of the men between the ages of 16 and 60 worked to provide for their families or save money for a wedding. A significant part of the funds needed to ensure the subsistence minimum for the residents of bantustans came from otkhodniks.
From the moment the Union of South Africa was created in 1910 until 1994, the white population was the politically dominant group and still holds a dominant position in the economy. The white population of South Africa consists of two main groups.
Afrikaners, also called Boers (Dutch. "peasants"), are numerically predominant among whites everywhere except in some areas of KwaZulu-Natal. Most of them are in the provinces of Gauteng and the Western Cape. In 1991, most Afrikaners lived in cities. The profitability of Boer farms was declining, especially in the 1920s, and many Boers were forced to move permanently to the cities. With unemployment rising in the 1930s, the government and unions of whites reserved jobs for them in certain sectors of the economy.
Afrikaners form a tightly knit community. Almost all of them are followers of the Dutch Reformed Church, which until 1990, when apartheid was anathematized, justified the idea of white supremacy and the practice of racial discrimination. Afrikaners speak Afrikaans, which is based on the Dutch language.
Anglo-Africans. Compared to Afrikaners, the English-speaking white population lives more compactly. In parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, Anglo-Africans are engaged in agriculture, but most of them live in cities. In addition to a small (100 thousand people), but influential Jewish community, English-speaking whites belong to the Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic churches. Some Anglo-Africans remain attached to Great Britain, but most consider South Africa their homeland. This group of the white population includes all recent settlers who do not speak Dutch.
Asian population. Asians are intermediate between blacks and whites. Most Asians live in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and in the suburbs of Johannesburg. Part of the Asian population still works on the sugar plantations in KwaZulu-Natal or in the factories and institutions of Durban, the province's main seaport, while the other part are prosperous merchants and owners of large real estate. Under the Stratification Act, which was repealed in 1991, many property owners were not allowed to live in their own homes. The first campaigns of civil disobedience were carried out in order to improve the situation of the Asian population of the country. The South African Indian Congress and the Natal Indian Congress have worked closely with the African National Congress for a long time.
Cities and urban areas. Africans make up the majority of the population in many major cities and urban areas. Prior to 1994, urban blacks were not counted in censuses or included in statistical reports because the white minority government considered them to be residents of bantustans, and not of the urban areas where they actually lived. Black or colored townships located on the outskirts of large cities, even if they were larger in area and population than the city itself, were often not included in the list of settlements. According to the 1991 census and other sources, which contain reliable data on the size of the urban African population, the largest cities in South Africa are (in thousand people): Cape Town - 854.6 (with suburbs 1.9 million), Durban - 715.7 (1 .74 million), Johannesburg - 712.5 (4 million), Soweto - 596.6, Pretoria - 525.6 (1.1 million), Port Elizabeth - 303.3 (810), Umlazi - 299 ,3, Idhaiy - 257.0, Mdantsane - 242.8, Dipmedow - 241.1, Likoa - 217.6, Tembisa - 209.2, Catlehong - 201.8, Evaton - 201.0, Rudepoort-Mareburg - 162 .6, Kwamashu - 156.7, Pietermaritzburg - 156.5 (265), Mamelodi - 154.8, Dayviton - 151.7, Soshanguwe - 146.3, Germiston - 134.0, Bloemfontein - 126.9 (280, 0), Alexandra - 124.6, Boksburg - 119.9, Carltonville - 118.7 (175.0), Bochabelo 117.9, Benoni - 113.5, Kempton Park - 106.6, East London - 102 .3 (365.0) and Ntuzuma - 102.3.
See below
SOUTH AFRICA. GOVERNMENT AND POLICY
SOUTH AFRICA. ECONOMY
SOUTH AFRICA. EDUCATION AND CULTURE
SOUTH AFRICA. HISTORY
SOUTH AFRICA. HISTORY since 1949
LITERATURE
Morett F. Equatorial, Eastern and Southern Africa. M., 1951 Moiseeva G.M. South African Republic: economic and geographical characteristics. M., 1966 Davidson A.B. South Africa. Formation of protest forces, 1870-1924. M., 1972 Vyatkina R.R. Creation of the Union of South Africa (1902-1910). M., 1976 Gorodnov V.P. Black residents of the "white" city. Life and struggle of the African ghetto. M., 1983
Collier Encyclopedia. - Open society. 2000 .
Synonyms: