South Africa
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CultureGramsTM Republic of World Edition 2014 South Africa provisions station at Cape Town. It supplied ships with fresh BACKGROUND foods as they sailed around the tip of the continent. French Huguenot refugees joined the Dutch colony in 1688 and Land and Climate Germans came later. The colonists became known as Boers Area (sq. mi.): 470,693 (farmers). They clashed at times with indigenous groups but Area (sq. km.): 1,219,090 stayed mainly in coastal areas. Britain gained formal possession of the Cape Colony in 1814. Dissatisfaction with South Africa is about the size of Peru, or slightly larger than British rule led many Boers to migrate to the interior between the U.S. states of Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma 1835 and 1848. Their migration, which they call the Great combined. The country's large interior plateau averages about Trek, led to war with the indigenous Zulu, Xhosas, and other 5,000 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level. Primarily savanna Africans. The Boers won most of the battles and took control and semidesert, the plateau is rimmed by a narrow coastal of large tracts of land. belt, which is subtropical along the east coast and has a After the discovery of gold and diamonds in these Boer Mediterranean climate along the southwestern cape. South territories in the late 19th century, Britain annexed parts of Africa's most important rivers are the Orange, Vaal, and the area. Tension erupted into the First Boer War (1880–81) Limpopo. and the Second Boer War (1899–1902), which is also called Snow is confined to the Drakensberg and Maluti the South African War. The Boers were ultimately defeated, mountains, in the east. Seasons run opposite those in the and the Boer republics of Orange Free State and Transvaal Northern Hemisphere. Humidity is generally low, except in become self-governing British colonies. In 1910, Britain the KwaZulu-Natal province, along the east coast. The combined its Cape and Natal colonies with the Boer republics country is noted for its long beaches, green forests, and to create the Union of South Africa. rugged mountains. Diversity among plants and wildlife adds Independence and Apartheid to its stunning scenic beauty. The Kingdom of Lesotho, Following its election to power in 1948, South Africa's surrounded by South Africa, sits on a high plateau. South National Party (NP) devised the apartheid system that Africa also nearly engulfs the Kingdom of Swaziland. separated the country's population into racial groups: whites, blacks, coloureds (people of mixed race), and Indians. In History 1961, the country gained independence from Britain and Colonization and the Boer Wars subsequently withdrew from the British Commonwealth over The Khoikhoi, San, and other indigenous Africans lived in criticism of its racial policies. southern Africa for thousands of years, although little is For the next three decades, South Africa was a scene of known of their history. In 1652, the Dutch established a turmoil and violence. The African National Congress (ANC), 1 TM CultureGrams South Africa first organized in 1912, was banned in 1960 for its communist •Elections: In May 2014, South Africans voted in general views and antiapartheid activities. The ANC then launched, elections that marked 20 years of multiracial elections. The with other groups, an armed struggle against the government. ANC won by the smallest margin in its history but still Many ANC leaders, including Nelson Mandela, were jailed. garnered 62 percent of the vote, returning Jacob Zuma to a In the 1970s and 1980s, international sanctions damaged the second term as president. economy and isolated the country. Frederik Willem (F. W.) de Klerk took office in 1989 and began to reform the government. He freed Mandela and other THE PEOPLE political prisoners, desegregated public facilities, and gave the ANC legal status. Mandela later suspended the ANC's armed Population struggle and dropped its socialist ideology. Violent clashes Population: 48,375,645 between rival African groups, among other factors, threatened Population Growth Rate: -0.48% progress toward greater political change. However, most Urban Population: 63% apartheid provisions were abolished in 1991, and negotiations for a new constitution began in 1992. Mandela and de Klerk South African law prior to 1991 divided the population into shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. four racial categories: Africans (blacks), whites, coloureds Reform and Current Challenges (people of mixed race), and Asians (or Indians). Many South Despite sporadic violence, multiracial and multiparty Africans still view themselves and each other according to elections were held peacefully in April 1994. Mandela was these categories. The majority of the population (79 percent) elected president and launched a Masakhane (Nguni for “Let is comprised of black Africans, mostly from nine ethnic us build together”) campaign. In 1996, a new constitution, groups. The Zulus are the largest group, followed by the with an extensive bill of rights guaranteeing equality for all Xhosas, North Sothos, South Sothos, Tswanas, who live in South Africa, was ratified. In 1999 national Shangaan-Tsongas, Swazis, Ndebeles, and Vendas. Each elections, the ANC won all but one seat needed for a ethnic group has its own cultural heritage, language, and two-thirds (constitutional) majority, allowing Thabo Mbeki to national identity. Before migration patterns led groups to mix assume the presidency as Mandela retired. Mbeki won with one another, most lived in distinct areas of southern reelection in 2004 but was forced to resign in September 2008 Africa. This division inspired the apartheid concept of after losing the support of the ANC. His detractors alleged he “homelands”; blacks could only buy and occupy land within a had interfered in a corruption case against ANC leader Jacob specified area and had to carry a pass for identification Zuma. After the ANC won elections in April 2009, Zuma was outside their homeland. The homeland concept was abolished inaugurated as president. in 1992. South Africa has long been among the strongest People of mixed race (9 percent) are most often economies in Africa, which has led to large flows of descendants of early white settlers, native Khoikhoi, and immigrants from the rest of southern Africa (particularly slaves imported from the Dutch East Indies during South Zimbabwe) in search of better economic opportunities. Africa's colonial period. Indians (2 percent) are generally However, recent economic difficulties and high descendants of indentured laborers brought from India during unemployment rates have created tensions in society. In 2008, the 19th century or of Indian immigrants who came between violence toward foreigners swept the country, causing 1860 and 1911. Whites (10 percent) include English-speaking thousands of immigrants to flee to their home countries. descendants of English, Irish, and Scottish settlers, and Strikes by workers in various sectors have occurred, including Afrikaners, Afrikaans-speaking descendants of Dutch, French, violent mining-sector strikes in 2012. In addition to economic and German colonials. A large population of illegal difficulties, South Africa continues to have the world’s largest immigrants from neighboring African states also resides in population of people living with HIV/AIDS, despite South Africa. government efforts to improve the situation. A bright spot in South Africa’s recent past was its 2010 hosting of the soccer Language World Cup, becoming the first African nation to do so. Native South African languages are roughly divided into four Recent Events and Trends families: Nguni; Sotho; Tsonga, or Shangana; and Venda. •Nelson Mandela's death: On 5 December 2013, former Most black South Africans speak a Nguni language: Zulu and South African president Nelson Mandela died at the age of Xhosa are the most prominent languages, followed by 95. His memorial service was attended by more than 90 Ndebele and Swazi. Sotho languages (South Sotho, North current and former heads of state. Mandela is considered the Sotho, and Setswana) dominate the central part of the father of democratic South Africa and is credited with ending country. Also, a few mixed languages have developed to apartheid in the country. facilitate communication between groups. Typical is a •Protests: Protests, a common occurrence in South Africa, mixture of Zulu and Xhosa or Zulu and Sotho. People speak have recently grown dramatically in number. In February their original languages at home or within their own groups. 2014, authorities recorded some 3,000 protests in the previous Afrikaans (a Dutch derivation) is widely spoken among 90 days. Most protestors are shantytown residents seeking people of mixed race and whites. English is commonly used improved economic and living conditions; at least 10 have in business, between some ethnic groups, and as the primary died in clashes with police. language of instruction in secondary schools. The vocabulary 2 TM CultureGrams South Africa and pronunciation of South African English reflects a unique African and European fashions. relationship between English and other languages spoken in White South Africans wear Western-style clothing, usually South Africa. English and Afrikaans are more common in made from lightweight cotton. They tend to be well dressed in urban areas than rural regions. Some whites are now learning public. Men wear suits or shirts and trousers. In rural areas, a major African language to help them become more aware of they may prefer