South AfricaDiana Dominguez

Basic Facts• Official Name: Republic of South Africa• Total area: 470,462 square miles

– About 1/8th the size of the U.S.

• Population: 47.9 million (2007)– About 1/6th the population of the U.S.

• 3 capitals:– Administrative-Pretoria– Legislative-Cape Town– Judicial-Bloemfontein

continued…• Time: GMT plus 2 hours

– 7 hours ahead

• Currency: rand (R)– One US dollar is about 8.8 rand

• Life Expectancy:– Women: 52 years– U.S. 81 years– Men: 49 years– U.S. 76 years

continued…• Infant mortality rate:

– 58 per 1000 live births (2007)– U.S. 6 per 1000

• Unemployment:– 21.9% (2008)– U.S. 7.2% (2008)

• Education is mandatory for children ages 7-15

Culture and Social Issues• 11 official languages• Religions:

– 68% Christian– 28.5% Indigenous beliefs and other– 2% Muslim– 1.5% Hindu

• Discrimination against women and people with HIV/AIDS– 350,000 HIV/AIDS deaths (2007 est.)

• Violence against women and children

More Culture and Tourism• Tourism promoters call South Africa the

“adventure capital of the world”• Cricket, soccer, and rugby are popular sports

– Hosted 1995 Cricket World Cup– Hosted 1999 Rugby World Cup– Will host 2010 FIFA World Cup (soccer)

• Has natural beauty and wildlife (sightseeing)• Known for wine making

Ethnic Groups• The largest ethnic groups in South Africa are:

– Zulus (21%)– Xhosas (17%)– Sotho (15%)

• Other minorities are:– Tswana, Venda, Ndebele, Swasi, and Pedi

• European descendants make up about 13% of the population, including:– French Huguenot refugees, Dutch, and Germans

Climate and Terrain• Climate:

– Moderate– Similar to southern California

• Terrain:– Plateau (elevated flat area)– Savanna (grassland)– Desert– Mountains– Coastal Plains (flat land, borders water)

Government• President: Kgalema Motlanthe

– In September of 2008, won the election with 269 votes, against Joe Seremane with 50 votes

• Has a multiparty parliamentary democracy– President and parliament share power– Parliament has 2 houses:

• The National Assembly• The National Council of Provinces

• Independence: May 31, 1910 (from UK)

History• Speakers of the Khoisan language are the oldest

surviving inhabitants, who settled around 100 AD

• Portuguese arrived in 1488

• Dutch East India Company established a settlement in 1652

• French Huguenot refugees, Dutch, and Germans began settling in South Africa and make up most of today’s Afrikaners

• Has overcome the apartheid system of racial segregation

Apartheid• Apartheid is an Afrikaans word that means

“separateness” in English• Apartheid was a system of segregation used by

the National Party, controlled by the white minority

• Apartheid finally ended in 1994 when Nelson Mandela was elected in a democratic, multi-racial election– Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for the

peaceful end of apartheid

Location• Southern tip of African continent• Borders

– Atlantic Ocean (west)– Namibia (northwest)– Botswana (north)– Zimbabwe (north)– Mozambique (northeast)– Swaziland (northeast)– Indian Ocean (west)

• Surrounds Lesotho

Economy• Exports:

– Gold– Diamonds– Platinum– Other metals and minerals– Machinery and equipment

• Income:– GDP per capita $10,000 (2008 est.)– U.S. GDP per capita $47,000 (2008 est.)

Natural Resources• Gold

• Chromium

• Antimony

• Coal

• Iron ore

• Manganese

• Nickel

• Phosphates

• Tin

• Uranium

• Gem diamonds

• Platinum

• Copper

• Vanadium

• Salt

• Natural gas

Flag• According to South Africa,

– “The colors reflect the four major political parties… The broad green stripes flowing into one symbolize the convergence of the past and future.”

National Symbols• National Tree: Real Yellowwood

• National Bird: Blue Crane

• National Fish: Galjoen

• National Flower: King Protea

• National Animal: Springbuck

Additional Facts• 20% of the world’s gold is mined in South

Africa• 728 Airports• South Africa generates 66% of Africa’s

electricity– 40% of the continent’s phones are in South

Africa

Bibliographyhttp://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2898.htmhttp://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookHomeInternal/139444/http://www.link2southafrica.com/Quick%20Facts.htmlhttp://www.info.gov.za/faq/symbols.htmhttp://www.daylife.com/photo/0du9fUd4d41EKhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/sf.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/us.htmlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/10/

newsid_2661000/2661503.stmhttp://www.oanda.com/convert/classichttp://www.jyu.fi/viesti/verkkotuotanto/kp/sa/peop_ethnicgrps.shtmlhttp://www1.southafrica.netRosmarin, Ike, and Dee Rissik. South Africa. Benchmark Books, 2004.

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<https://www.youngsamurai.com/site/YOUN/UploadedResources/south-africa-flag.gif>.

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