The
Republic of South Africa is a large country in Southern Africa.
The South African economy is the largest and most well developed
of the entire African continent, with modern transportation,
communications, and infrastructure common in nearly all of the
country. South Africa is also arguably the most stable democracy
in Africa, especially after having emerged from years of apartheid
in 1994 after the first multi-racial elections made Nelson Mandela
the President. South Africa has become an important force for
diplomacy recently in Africa, particularly under the stewardship
of Thabo Mbeki. South Africa has the largest and most efficient
military in Africa, and is extensively involved in peacekeeping
operations in other parts of the continent. South Africa at
one time posessed weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear
weapons, but its stockpile was destroyed after the end of apartheid.
South
Africa is located in Africa at the extreme southern tip of the
continent. It borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique,
and Swaziland. The small nation of Lesotho is entirely contained
within South African territory. South Africa is one of the most
ethnically diverse countries in Africa and has the largest population
of people of European descent on the continent as well as the
largest Indian population outside of Asia. Racial and ethnic
strife between the white minority and the black majority have
played a large part in the country's history and politics, however
South Africa is now a racially unified country where each citizen
is equal before the law.
Official languages Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele,
Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda
Capitals Cape Town (legislative)
Pretoria (administrative)
Bloemfontein (judicial)
Largest City Johannesburg
President Thabo Mbeki
Area
- Total
- % water Ranked 24th
1,219,912 km²
Negligible
Population
- Total (2002)
- Density Ranked 26th
43,647,658
36/km²
Independence
-
Republic From the United Kingdom
31 May 1910
31 May 1961
Currency Rand (R)
Time zone UTC+2
National anthem Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika/Die Stem van Suid-Afrika
Internet TLD .za
Calling Code +27
South Africa was first unified as an independent country as
the Union of South Africa in 1910 as the direct result of the
Anglo-Boer Wars. The Union of South Africa included two British
provinces and two Afrikaner provinces. As the century progressed,
the Afrikaners came to have more political influence in the
country than the British, which was evident in South Africa's
decision by a referendum in 1961 to remove the British monarch
as head of state and to reincorporate as the Republic of South
Africa. Around this time, the Afrikaner government began to
implement the policies that become the policy of apartheid.
Apartheid ended in 1990 by Frederik Willem de Klerk after much
struggle by the black majority, as well as several influential
white South Africans Since then, South Africa has become a vibrant
multiracial as well as multicultural society.
South
Africa faces many problems ensuring its future, the most pressing
of which is the HIV/AIDS crisis. As much as 30 percent of adult
South Africans are HIV-positive, which will severely reduce
the number of people in South Africa who can work and hold jobs
in the coming years. The government of South Africa under Thabo
Mbeki has come under increasing criticism for opposition to
a nation-wide HIV medication programme, as he is not convinced
that the HIV virus causes AIDS. Furthermore, sustained economic
growth must occur in order to lift millions out of poverty.
From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa