South Africa Diana Dominguez

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. 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

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

Culture and Social Issues 11 official languageslanguages 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)

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 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

Bibliography factbook/print/sf.html factbook/print/us.html / stm 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 "nelson-mandela." photograph. Stoked Quote Of The Day |.27 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