South Africa Diana Dominguez

Official Languages of South Africa Afrikaans English isiNdebele isiXhosa isiZulu Sepedi Sesotho Setswana siSwati Tshivenda Xitsonga

Basic Facts Official Name: Republic of South Africa Total area: 470,462 square miles –About 1/8 th the size of the U.S. Population: 47.9 million (2007) –About 1/6 th the population of the U.S. 11 official languageslanguages 3 capitals: –Administrative-Pretoria –Legislative-Cape Town –Judicial-Bloemfontein

continued… Time: GMT plus 2 hours –7 hours ahead Currency: rand (R) Life Expectancy: –Women: 52 years –U.S. 81 years –Men: 49 years –U.S. 76 years Infant mortality rate: –58 per 1000 live births (2007) –U.S. 6 per 1000

continued… Unemployment: –21.9% (2008) –U.S. 7.2% (2008) Education is mandatory for children ages 7-15 Religions: –68% Christian –28.5% Indigenous beliefs and other –2% Muslim –1.5% Hindu

continued… Discrimination against women and people with HIV/AIDS –350,000 HIV/AIDS deaths (2007 est.) Violence against women and children

Climate and Terrain Climate: –Moderate –Similar to southern California Terrain: –Plateau –Savanna (grassland) –Desert –Mountains –Coastal Plains

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

Afrikaner Dictionary.com: –“an Afrikaans-speaking native of South Africa of European, esp. Dutch, descent.”

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 AfrikanersAfrikaners Has had racial segregation problems

Location 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 two-thirds of Africa’s electricity –40% of the continent’s phones are in South Africa

Bibliography omeInternal/139444/ omeInternal/139444/ cts.htmlhttp:// cts.html Khttp:// K world-factbook/print/sf.htmlhttps:// world-factbook/print/sf.html world-factbook/print/us.html Rosmarin, Ike, and Dee Rissik. South Africa. Benchmark Books, 2004.

Citations "south-africa-flag." flag. Young Samurai up for South African Prize - Young Samurai.16 Apr "610x." photograph. Oct Photo from AP Photo - News, Photos, topics, and quotes.16 Apr "{9211FB36-3F54-4C52-B5FD- A1AE769E7266}_SouthAfrica." map. Commonwealth Secretarait - South Africa.15 Apr "real_yellowwood." photograph. South Africa Holiday: National Animal, Fish & Tree.16 Apr "f00." photograph. yufera-birding in madrid.16 Apr "galjoen22." photograph. Nasionale simbole van Suid-Afrika.16 Apr "untitled." photograph. Seeds- Protea cynaroides Seeds (King Protea) Spring Blooming for sale in Port Elizabeth.16 Apr "springbuck." photograph. eMthunzini.16 Apr