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Do not fill this in! {{Short description|Country in Southern Africa}} {{About|the country|the geographical area|Southern Africa|other uses}} {{pp-move|small=yes}} {{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Use South African English|date=April 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox country | conventional_long_name = Republic of South Africa | common_name = South Africa | native_name = {{collapsible list | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:center;line-height:normal;font-size:86%; | title = 10 other official names<ref name="constitution">{{cite book|url=https://www.concourt.org.za/images/phocadownload/the_text/english-2013.pdf|title=The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa|publisher=Constitutional Court of South Africa|year=2013|edition=2013 English version|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=23 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823174423/https://www.concourt.org.za/images/phocadownload/the_text/english-2013.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> | {{Infobox | subbox=yes | bodystyle=font-size:77%;font-weight:normal; | rowclass1 = mergedrow | label1 = [[Zulu language|Zulu]]: | data1 = {{lang|zu|iRiphabhuliki yaseNingizimu Afrika}} | rowclass2 = mergedrow | label2 = [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]]: | data2 = {{lang|ss|iRiphabhlikhi yoMzantsi Afrika}} | rowclass3 = mergedrow | label3 = [[Afrikaans]]: | data3 = {{lang|af|Republiek van Suid-Afrika}} | rowclass4 = mergedrow | label4 = [[Northern Sotho language|Pedi]]: | data4 = {{lang|nso|Repabliki ya Afrika-Borwa}} | rowclass5 = mergedrow | label5 = [[Sotho language|Southern Sotho]]: | data5 = {{lang|st|Rephaboliki ya Afrika Borwa}} | rowclass6 = mergedrow | label6 = [[Tswana language|Tswana]]: | data6 = {{lang|tn|Rephaboliki ya Aforika Borwa}} | rowclass7 = mergedrow | label7 = [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]]: | data7 = {{lang|ts|Riphabliki ya Afrika Dzonga}} | rowclass8 = mergedrow | label8 = [[Swazi language|Swati]]: | data8 = {{lang|sw|iRiphabhulikhi yaseNingizimu-Afrika}} | rowclass9 = mergedrow | label9 = [[Venda language|Venda]]: | data9 = {{lang|ve|Riphabuḽiki ya Afurika Tshipembe}} | rowclass10 = mergedrow | label10 = [[Southern Ndebele language|Southern Ndebele]]: | data10 = {{lang|nr|iRiphabliki yeSewula Afrika}} }} }} | image_flag = Flag of South Africa.svg | alt_flag = | flag2_border = | image_coat = Coat of arms of South Africa (heraldic).svg | coa_size = 75 | alt_coat = | symbol_type = Coat of arms | national_motto = "{{lang|xam|ǃke e: ǀxarra ǁke}}" ([[ǀXam language|ǀXam]])<br />"[[Unity in diversity]]" | national_anthem = "[[National anthem of South Africa]]" <div style="padding-top:0.5em;" class="center">[[File:South Africa National Anthem.ogg]]</div> | image_map = {{Switcher|[[File:ZAF orthographic.svg|frameless]]|Show globe| [[File:South Africa adm location map.svg|frameless]]|Show map of South Africa|default=1}} | map_caption = | image_map2 = | capital = {{unbulleted list|[[Pretoria]] (executive)<ref name="South Africa at a glance">{{cite web|title=South Africa at a glance |url=https://www.gov.za/about-sa/south-africa-glance|website=South African Government |access-date=18 June 2020|archive-date=26 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526163527/https://www.gov.za/about-sa/south-africa-glance|url-status=live }}</ref>|[[Cape Town]] (legislative)<ref name="South Africa at a glance" />|[[Bloemfontein]] (judicial)<ref name="South Africa at a glance" />}} | largest_city = {{nowrap|[[Johannesburg]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/World.html|title=Principal Agglomerations of the World|publisher=Citypopulation.de|access-date=30 October 2011|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225073559/http://www.citypopulation.de/World.html|url-status=live }}</ref><!--end nowrap:-->}} | population_density_km2 = 50.8 | population_density_sq_mi = | population_density_rank = 169th | population_census = 62,027,503<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/P03014_Census_2022_Statistical_Release.pdf |title= Census 2022 (pg.14-15) |publisher=Government of South Africa |website=www.gov.za |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=18 October 2013}}</ref> | population_census_year = [[2022 South African census|2022]] | population_census_rank = 23rd | official_languages = '''[[Languages of South Africa|12 languages]]'''<ref name="constitution" /><ref name="parliament.gov.za">{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.gov.za/press-releases/na-approves-south-african-sign-language-12th-official-language|title=The NA Approves South African Sign Language as the 12th Official Language |website=Parliament of South Africa |date=3 May 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222131030/https://www.parliament.gov.za/press-releases/na-approves-south-african-sign-language-12th-official-language |archive-date= Dec 22, 2023 }}</ref> {{plainlist| * [[Afrikaans]] * [[South African English|English]] * [[Southern Ndebele language|Ndebele]] * [[Pedi language|Sepedi]] * [[Sotho language|Sesotho]] * [[Tswana language|Setswana]] * [[South African Sign Language]] * [[Swazi language|Swazi]] * [[Venda language|Tshivenda]] * [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] * [[Tsonga language|Xitsonga]] * [[Zulu language|Zulu]] }} {{collapsible list | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;padding-left:0.5em;font-size:100%;<!--size of [show]/[hide] link--> | liststyle = text-align:left;white-space:nowrap; | title=Languages with special status<ref name="constitution.1.6">{{cite book|url=https://www.concourt.org.za/images/phocadownload/the_text/english-2013.pdf|title=The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa|publisher=Constitutional Court of South Africa|year=2013|edition=2013 English version|at=ch. 1, s. 6|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=23 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823174423/https://www.concourt.org.za/images/phocadownload/the_text/english-2013.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>|[[Khoe languages]]| [[Khoekhoe language|Nama]]|[[Khoisan languages]]|[[German language|German]]|[[Greek language|Greek]]|[[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]|[[Hindi]]|[[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]|[[Urdu]]|[[Arabic]]|[[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]|[[Sanskrit]] }} | regional_languages = | languages2_type = | languages2 = | ethnic_groups_year = 2022<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |last=Mitchley |first=Alex |title=SA's population swells to 62 million - 2022 census at a glance |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/sas-population-swells-to-62-million-2022-census-at-a-glance-20231010 |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> | ethnic_groups = {{unbulleted list | {{nowrap|81.4% [[Bantu peoples of South Africa|Black]]}} | 8.2% [[Coloureds|Coloured]] | 7.3% [[White South Africans|White]] | 2.7% [[Asian South African|Indian or Asian]] }} | religion = {{ublist|item_style=white-space:nowrap; |{{Tree list}} * 78.0% [[Christianity in South Africa|Christianity]] ** 58.3% [[Protestantism in South Africa|Protestantism]] ** 19.7% other [[List of Christian denominations|Christian]] {{Tree list/end}} |10.9% [[Irreligion in South Africa|no religion]] |4.4% [[Traditional African religions|traditional faiths]] |1.7% [[Islam in South Africa|Islam]] |1.0% [[Hinduism in South Africa|Hinduism]] |2.7% other |1.4% undetermined}} | religion_year = 2016 | religion_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.datafirst.uct.ac.za/dataportal/index.php/catalog/611|title=South Africa – Community Survey 2016|website=www.datafirst.uct.ac.za|access-date=25 November 2018|archive-date=25 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125204526/https://www.datafirst.uct.ac.za/dataportal/index.php/catalog/611|url-status=live}}</ref> | demonym = {{hlist|[[Demographics of South Africa|South African]]}} | government_type = Unitary [[List of countries by system of government#Parliamentary republics with an executive presidency|parliamentary republic with an executive presidency]] | leader_title1 = [[President of South Africa|President]] | leader_name1 = [[Cyril Ramaphosa]] | leader_title2 = [[Deputy President of South Africa|Deputy President]] | leader_name2 = [[Paul Mashatile]] | leader_title3 = [[National Council of Provinces|Chairperson of the National Council]] | leader_name3 = [[Amos Masondo]] | leader_title4 = [[Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa|Speaker of the National Assembly]] | leader_name4 = Vacant | leader_title5 = [[Chief Justice of South Africa|Chief Justice]] | leader_name5 = [[Ray Zondo|Raymond Zondo]] | legislature = [[Parliament of South Africa|Parliament]] | upper_house = [[National Council of Provinces|National Council]] | lower_house = [[National Assembly of South Africa|National Assembly]] | sovereignty_type = Independence | sovereignty_note = {{nowrap|from the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]}} | established_event1 = [[Union of South Africa|Union]] | established_date1 = 31 May 1910 | established_event2 = [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster]] | established_date2 = 11 December 1931 | established_event3 = [[1960 South African republic referendum|Republic]] | established_date3 = 31 May 1961 | established_event4 = [[Constitution of South Africa|Current constitution]] | established_date4 = 4 February 1997 | area_km2 = 1,221,037 | area_footnote = | area_rank = 24th | area_sq_mi = 471,443 | percent_water = 0.380 | GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $1.038 trillion<ref name="IMFWEO.ZA">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2023/October/weo-report?c=199,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2020&ey=2028&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2023 Edition. (ZA) |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=12 October 2023}}</ref> | GDP_PPP_year = 2024 | GDP_PPP_rank = 32nd | GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $16,625<ref name="IMFWEO.ZA" /> | GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 95th | GDP_nominal = {{increase}} $401.466 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.ZA" /> | GDP_nominal_year = 2024 | GDP_nominal_rank = 38th | GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $6,426<ref name="IMFWEO.ZA" /> | GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 98th | Gini = 63.0 <!--number only--> | Gini_year = 2014 | Gini_change = decrease <!--increase/decrease/steady--> | Gini_ref = <ref name="wb-gini">{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=ZA|title=Gini Index|publisher=World Bank|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529083011/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=ZA|url-status=live }}</ref> | Gini_rank = <!-- 2nd --><!-- hid rank as source not clear --> | HDI = 0.717 <!--number only--> | HDI_year = 2022<!--Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year.--> | HDI_change = decrease <!--increase/decrease/steady--> | HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2023/24|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=13 March 2024|page=289|access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref> | HDI_rank = 110th | currency = [[South African rand]] | currency_code = ZAR | time_zone = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]] | utc_offset = +2 | utc_offset_DST = | DST_note = | time_zone_DST = | antipodes = | date_format = Short formats: * yyyy/mm/dd<ref>{{Cite web|title=Data Source Comparison for en-ZA|url=https://www.localeplanet.com/compare/en-ZA/index.html|access-date=5 May 2021|website=www.localeplanet.com|archive-date=16 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816213516/https://www.localeplanet.com/compare/en-ZA/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * yyyy-mm-dd<ref>{{Cite web|title=Data Source Comparison for af-ZA|url=https://www.localeplanet.com/compare/af-ZA/index.html|access-date=5 May 2021|website=www.localeplanet.com|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505092248/https://www.localeplanet.com/compare/af-ZA/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> | drives_on = left | calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in South Africa|+27]] | iso3166code = ZA | cctld = [[.za]] | today = }} '''South Africa''', officially the '''Republic of South Africa''' ('''RSA''' or '''R.S.A.'''), is the [[Southern Africa|southernmost]] country in [[Africa]]. It is bounded to the south by {{convert|2798|km|mi}} of [[coastline]] that stretches along the [[Atlantic Ocean|South Atlantic]] and [[Indian Ocean]]s;<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://www.samsa.org.za/|title=South African Maritime Safety Authority|publisher=South African Maritime Safety Authority|access-date=16 June 2008|archive-date=29 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229120804/http://www.samsa.org.za/|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2060.html|website=The World Factbook|title=Coastline|publisher=CIA|access-date=16 June 2008|archive-date=16 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716042040/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2060.html|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=safacts>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/about/facts.htm|title=South Africa Fast Facts|publisher=SouthAfrica.info|date=April 2007|access-date=14 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719213531/http://www.southafrica.info/about/facts.htm|archive-date=19 July 2008}}</ref> to the north by the neighbouring countries of [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]], and [[Zimbabwe]]; and to the east and northeast by [[Mozambique]] and [[Eswatini]]. It also completely [[Enclave and exclave|enclaves]] [[Lesotho]].<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Guy Arnold]]|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9113829/LESOTHO|title=Lesotho: Year In Review 1996 – Britannica Online Encyclopedia|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=30 October 2011|archive-date=15 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615085933/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/337131/Lesotho-Year-In-Review-1996|url-status=live }}</ref> It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the [[Old World]], and the [[List of countries and dependencies by population|second-most populous country]] located entirely south of the equator, after [[Tanzania]]. South Africa is a [[biodiversity hotspot]], with unique [[biomes]], plant and animal life. With over [[Demographics of South Africa|62 million people]], the country is the world's [[List of countries and dependencies by population|23rd-most populous nation]] and covers an area of {{convert|1221037|km2|mi2|abbr=off}}. [[Pretoria]] is the administrative capital, while [[Cape Town]], as the seat of Parliament, is the legislative capital. [[Bloemfontein]] has traditionally been regarded as the judicial capital.<ref name="Marais Twala 2020 pp. 49–62">{{cite journal | last1=Marais | first1=Lochner | last2=Twala | first2=Chitja | title=Bloemfontein: the rise and fall of South Africa's judicial capital | journal=African Geographical Review | publisher=Informa UK Limited | volume=40 | issue=1 | date=2020-05-07 | issn=1937-6812 | doi=10.1080/19376812.2020.1760901 | pages=49–62| s2cid=218929562 }}</ref> While the [[Constitutional Court of South Africa|Constitutional Court]], the country's highest court, is located in Johannesburg. About 80% of the population are [[Ethnic groups in South Africa|Black South Africans]].<ref name="auto2"/> The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of European ([[White South Africans]]), Asian ([[Indian South Africans]] and [[Chinese South Africans]]), and multiracial ([[Coloureds|Coloured South Africans]]) ancestry. South Africa is a multiethnic society encompassing a wide [[Culture of South Africa|variety of cultures]], [[Languages of South Africa|languages]], and [[Religion in South Africa|religions]]. Its pluralistic makeup is reflected in the [[Constitution of South Africa|constitution]]'s recognition of 12 official languages, the fourth-highest number in the world.<ref name=safacts /> According to the 2011 census, the two most spoken first languages are [[Zulu language|Zulu]] (22.7%) and [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] (16.0%).<ref name=cib11>{{cite book|title=Census 2011: Census in brief|url=http://www.statssa.gov.za/census/census_2011/census_products/Census_2011_Census_in_brief.pdf|publisher=Statistics South Africa|location=Pretoria|year=2012|isbn=978-0621413885|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513171240/http://www.statssa.gov.za/census/census_2011/census_products/Census_2011_Census_in_brief.pdf|archive-date=13 May 2015|url-status=live|pages=23–25 }}</ref> The next two are of European origin: [[Afrikaans]] (13.5%) developed from [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and serves as the first language of most Coloured and White South Africans; [[South African English|English]] (9.6%) is commonly used in public and commercial life, both reflecting the legacy of Dutch and British colonialism, respectively. [[Elections in South Africa|Regular elections]] have been held for almost a century in the country. However, the vast majority of Black South Africans were not [[Suffrage|enfranchised]] until [[1994 South African general election|1994]]. During the 20th century, the black majority sought to claim more rights from the dominant white minority, which played a large role in the country's recent [[History of South Africa|history]] and politics. The [[National Party (South Africa)|National Party]] imposed [[apartheid]] in 1948, institutionalising previous [[racial segregation]]. After a [[Internal resistance to apartheid|largely non-violent struggle]] by the [[African National Congress]] and other anti-apartheid activists both inside and outside the country, the repeal of discriminatory laws began in the mid-1980s. Since 1994, all ethnic and linguistic groups have held political representation in the country's [[liberal democracy]], which comprises a [[parliamentary republic]] and [[Provinces of South Africa|nine provinces]]. South Africa is often referred to as the "[[rainbow nation]]" to describe the country's multicultural diversity, especially in the wake of apartheid.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7512700.stm|title=Rainbow Nation – dream or reality?|access-date=10 August 2013|work=BBC News|date=18 July 2008|archive-date=8 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908141212/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7512700.stm|url-status=live }}</ref> According to the 2023 [[V-Dem Democracy indices]], South Africa is ranked the 51st electoral democracy worldwide and the 3rd [[democracy in Africa|electoral democracy in Africa]].<ref name="vdem_dataset">{{cite web |last=V-Dem Institute |date=2023 |title=The V-Dem Dataset |url=https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref> South Africa is a [[middle power]] (regional [[superpower]]) in international affairs; it maintains significant [[Regional power|regional influence]] and is a member of both the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] and the [[G20]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Cooper|first1=Andrew F|last2=Antkiewicz|first2=Agata|last3=Shaw|first3=Timothy M|title=Lessons from/for BRICSAM about South-North Relations at the Start of the 21st Century: Economic Size Trumps All Else?|journal=[[International Studies Review]]|date=10 December 2007|volume=9|issue=4|pages=675, 687|doi=10.1111/j.1468-2486.2007.00730.x}}</ref><ref name="Lynch2010">{{cite book|first=David A.|last=Lynch|title=Trade and Globalization: An Introduction to Regional Trade Agreements|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-MH-GEL425AC&pg=PA51|access-date=25 August 2013|year=2010|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|quote=Southern Africa is home to the other of sub-Saharan Africa's regional powers: South Africa. South Africa is more than just a regional power; it is currently the most developed and economically powerful country in Africa, and is able to use that influence in Africa more than during the days of apartheid, when it was ostracised from the rest of the world.|isbn=978-0-7425-6689-7|page=51|archive-date=11 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011173913/http://books.google.com/books?id=-MH-GEL425AC&pg=PA51|url-status=live}}</ref> It is a [[developing country]], ranking 109th on the [[Human Development Index]], the 7th highest on the continent. South Africa is the only African nation to legislate [[same-sex marriage]].<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/02/world/africa/samesex-unions-to-become-legal-in-south-africa.html|title=Same-Sex Unions to Become Legal in South Africa|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2 December 2005 |access-date=February 5, 2018|last1=Wines |first1=Michael }}</ref> It has been classified by the [[World Bank]] as a [[Newly industrialized country|newly industrialised country]] and has the [[List of African countries by GDP (nominal)|third-largest economy]] and the most industrialised, technologically advanced economy in Africa overall,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wong |first=B. H. |title=Offshore Support Vessels |chapter=A Most Complex and Technologically Advanced Vessel |date=2011 |chapter-url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3850/978-981-08-9731-4_osv2011-02 |pages=11–20 |location=Singapore |publisher=Research Publishing Services |doi=10.3850/978-981-08-9731-4_osv2011-02|isbn=978-981-08-9731-4 }}</ref> as well as the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|41st-largest economy in the world]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.worldbank.org/country/south-africa|title=South Africa|publisher=World Bank|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-date=1 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101050034/http://data.worldbank.org/country/south-africa|url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Waugh2000">{{cite book|first=David|last=Waugh|title=Geography: An Integrated Approach|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7GH0KZZthGoC|access-date=24 August 2013|year=2000|publisher=Nelson Thornes|isbn=978-0-17-444706-1|pages=563, 576–579, 633, 640|chapter=Manufacturing industries (chapter 19), World development (chapter 22)|archive-date=11 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011173925/http://books.google.com/books?id=7GH0KZZthGoC|url-status=live}}</ref> South Africa has the most [[List of World Heritage Sites in Africa|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]] in Africa. Since the end of [[apartheid]], government accountability and quality of life have substantially improved.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lieberman|first=Evan|url=https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691203003/until-we-have-won-our-liberty|title=Until We Have Won Our Liberty|date=2022|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-20300-3|language=en|access-date=25 November 2021|archive-date=24 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124200625/https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691203003/until-we-have-won-our-liberty|url-status=live}}</ref> However, [[Crime in South Africa|crime]], poverty, and [[Inequality in post-apartheid South Africa|inequality]] remain widespread, with about 40% of the total population being unemployed {{as of|2021|lc=y}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS?locations=ZA|title=Unemployment, total (% of labor force) (modeled ILO estimate) – South Africa|work=[[World Bank]]|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref> while some 60% of the population lived below the poverty line and a quarter lived below $2.15 a day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.NAHC?locations=ZA|title=Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) – South Africa|work=[[World Bank]]|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.DDAY?locations=ZA|title=Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15 a day (2017 PPP) (% of population) – South Africa|work=[[World Bank]]|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://databankfiles.worldbank.org/public/ddpext_download/poverty/33EF03BB-9722-4AE2-ABC7-AA2972D68AFE/Global_POVEQ_ZAF.pdf|title="World Bank" : South Africa|accessdate=7 April 2023}}</ref> Having the highest [[Gini coefficient]] of 63.0, South Africa is considered to be one of, if not the most, unequal countries in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Bank Open Data |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=1W-ZA&most_recent_value_desc=true |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=World Bank Open Data}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Francis |first1=David |last2=Webster |first2=Edward |date=2019-11-02 |title=Poverty and inequality in South Africa: critical reflections |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0376835X.2019.1666703 |journal=Development Southern Africa |language=en |volume=36 |issue=6 |pages=788–802 |doi=10.1080/0376835X.2019.1666703 |issn=0376-835X}}</ref> == Etymology == {{See also|List of official names of South Africa}} The name "South Africa" is derived from the country's geographic location at the southern tip of Africa. Upon formation, the country was named the [[Union of South Africa]] in English and {{lang|nl|Unie van Zuid-Afrika}} in [[Dutch language|Dutch]], reflecting its origin from the unification of four British colonies. Since 1961, the long formal name in English has been the "Republic of South Africa" and {{lang|af|Republiek van Suid-Afrika}} in [[Afrikaans]]. The country has an official name in [[Languages of South Africa|12 official languages]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.concourt.org.za/index.php/constitution/the-text|title=The text|website=www.concourt.org.za}}</ref><ref>[[South African Sign Language]] is also an official language</ref> {{anchor|Mzansi}} '''Mzansi''', derived from the [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] noun {{lang|xh|uMzantsi}} meaning "south", is a [[Colloquialism|colloquial name]] for South Africa,<ref>{{cite book|editor1-first=Sarah|editor2-first=Achille|last=Livermon|first=Xavier|title=Johannesburg: The Elusive Metropolis|chapter=Sounds in the City|year=2008|publisher=Duke University Press|location=Durham|isbn=978-0-8223-8121-1|page=283|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hNONyzwm420C|quote=''Mzansi'' is another black urban vernacular term popular with the youth and standing for South Africa.|editor-last=Nuttall|editor2-last=Mbembé|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502074447/https://books.google.com/books?id=hNONyzwm420C|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mzansi DiToloki|url=http://www.deafsa.co.za/mzansi_ditoloki/|publisher=Deaf Federation of South Africa|access-date=15 January 2014|quote=uMzantsi in Xhosa means 'south', Mzansi means this country, South Africa|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116135926/http://www.deafsa.co.za/mzansi_ditoloki/|archive-date=16 January 2014 }}</ref> while some [[Pan-Africanism|Pan-Africanist]] political parties prefer the term "[[Azania]]".<ref name="Azania">{{Cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/south-african-party-says-call-it-azania/1855679.html|title=South African Party Says Call Their Country 'Azania'|last=Taylor|first=Darren|newspaper=VOA|access-date=18 February 2017|language=en|archive-date=24 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624200956/http://www.voanews.com/content/south-african-party-says-call-it-azania/1855679.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ==History== {{Main|History of South Africa}} === Prehistoric archaeology === [[File:Maropeng_visitor_centre,_Cradle_of_Humankind,_South_Africa.jpg|thumb|Front of Maropeng at the [[Cradle of Humankind]]]] South Africa contains some of the oldest archaeological and [[List of human evolution fossils|human-fossil]] sites in the world.<ref>{{cite book|last= Wymer|first= John|author2= Singer, R|year= 1982|title= The Middle Stone Age at Klasies River Mouth in South Africa|location= Chicago|publisher= University of Chicago Press|isbn= 978-0-226-76103-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Guide to Klasies River|page= 11|year= 2001|url= http://academic.sun.ac.za/archaeology/KRguide2001.PDF|author= Deacon, HJ|publisher= Stellenbosch University|access-date= 5 September 2009|archive-date= 21 February 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195519/http://academic.sun.ac.za/archaeology/KRguide2001.PDF|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/915/|title=Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=26 December 2019|archive-date=4 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204231517/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/915|url-status=live}}</ref> Archaeologists have recovered extensive fossil remains from a series of caves in [[Gauteng]] Province. The area, a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]], has been branded "the [[Cradle of Humankind]]". The sites include [[Sterkfontein]], one of the richest sites for [[hominin]] fossils in the world, as well as [[Swartkrans]], [[Gondolin Cave]], [[Kromdraai fossil site|Kromdraai]], [[Cooper's Cave]] and [[Malapa Fossil Site, Cradle of Humankind|Malapa]]. [[Raymond Dart]] identified the first hominin fossil discovered in Africa, the [[Taung Child]] (found near [[Taung]]) in 1924. Other hominin remains have come from the sites of [[Makapansgat]] in [[Limpopo]] Province; [[Cornelia, Free State|Cornelia]] and [[Florisbad]] in [[Free State (province)|Free State Province]]; [[Border Cave]] in [[KwaZulu-Natal]] Province; [[Klasies River Caves]] in [[Eastern Cape]] Province; and [[Pinnacle Point]], [[Saldanha man|Elandsfontein]] and Die Kelders Cave in [[Western Cape]] Province.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marean |first1=Curtis W. |title=Pinnacle Point Cave 13B (Western Cape Province, South Africa) in context: The Cape Floral kingdom, shellfish, and modern human origins |journal=Journal of Human Evolution |date=September 2010 |volume=59 |issue=3–4 |pages=425–443 |doi=10.1016/j.jhevol.2010.07.011 |pmid=20934095 }}</ref> These finds suggest that various hominid species existed in South Africa from about three million years ago, starting with ''[[Australopithecus africanus]],''<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1979/6/79.06.02.x.html|title= Hominid Evolution|publisher= Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute|first= Stephen P.|last= Broker|access-date= 19 June 2008|archive-date= 7 April 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080407181350/http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1979/6/79.06.02.x.html|url-status= live}}</ref> followed by ''[[Australopithecus sediba]]'', ''[[Homo ergaster]]'', ''[[Homo erectus]]'', ''[[Homo rhodesiensis]]'', ''[[Homo helmei]]'', ''[[Homo naledi]]'' and modern [[human]]s (''Homo sapiens''). Modern humans have inhabited Southern Africa for at least 170,000 years. Various researchers have located [[Oldowan|pebble tools]] within the [[Vaal River]] valley.<ref name=Langer>{{cite book| title = An Encyclopedia of World History| editor-last = Langer| editor-first = William L.| edition = 5th| publisher = Houghton Mifflin Company| location = Boston| year = 1972| isbn = 978-0-395-13592-1| page = [https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaworl00will/page/9 9]| url = https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaworl00will/page/9 }}</ref><ref> {{cite book | last1 = Leakey | first1 = Louis Seymour Bazett | author-link1 = Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey | chapter = Stone Age cultures of South Africa | title = Stone age Africa: an outline of prehistory in Africa | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=FsEiAAAAMAAJ | edition = reprint | publisher = Negro Universities Press | publication-date = 1936 | page = 79 | access-date = 21 February 2018 | quote = In 1929, during a brief visit to the Transvaal, I myself found a number of pebble tools in some of the terrace gravels of the Vaal River, and similar finds have been recorded by Wayland, who visited South Africa, and by van Riet Lowe and other South African prehistorians. | year = 1936 | isbn = 9780837120225 }} </ref> === Bantu expansion === {{Main|Bantu expansion}} [[File:MapungubweHill.jpg|thumb|[[Mapungubwe Hill]], the site of the former capital of the [[Kingdom of Mapungubwe]]]] Settlements of [[Bantu peoples of South Africa|Bantu-speaking peoples]], who were iron-using agriculturists and [[herder|herdsmen]], were present south of the [[Limpopo River]] (now the northern border with [[Botswana]] and [[Zimbabwe]]) by the 4th or 5th century CE. They displaced, conquered, and absorbed the original [[Khoisan]], [[Khoekhoe|Khoikhoi]] and [[San people|San]] peoples. The Bantu slowly moved south. The earliest [[ironworks]] in modern-day [[KwaZulu-Natal|KwaZulu-Natal Province]] are believed to date from around 1050. The southernmost group was the [[Xhosa people]], whose language incorporates certain linguistic traits from the earlier Khoisan people. The Xhosa reached the [[Great Fish River]], in today's Eastern Cape Province. As they migrated, these larger [[Iron Age]] populations displaced or assimilated earlier peoples. In [[Mpumalanga]] Province, several stone circles have been found along with a stone arrangement that has been named [[Blaauboschkraal stone ruins|Adam's Calendar]], and the ruins are thought to be created by the [[Bokoni|Bakone]], a [[Northern Sotho language|Northern Sotho]] people.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Alfred|first=Luke|title=The Bakoni: From prosperity to extinction in a generation|url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/the-bakoni-from-prosperity-to-extinction-in-a-generation-20180703|access-date=13 September 2020|website=Citypress|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020040304/https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/the-bakoni-from-prosperity-to-extinction-in-a-generation-20180703|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Adam's Calendar in Waterval Boven, Mpumalanga|url=https://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/mpumalanga/adams-calendar/|access-date=13 September 2020|website=www.sa-venues.com|archive-date=17 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217065507/https://www.sa-venues.com/things-to-do/mpumalanga/adams-calendar/|url-status=live}}</ref> === Portuguese exploration === {{see also|Portuguese discoveries}} [[File:F. Benda-The planting of cross by Bartholomew Dias in 1488-0681 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Portuguese explorer [[Bartolomeu Dias]] planting the cross at [[Cape Point]] after being the first to successfully round the [[Cape of Good Hope]].]] In 1487, the Portuguese explorer [[Bartolomeu Dias]] led the first European voyage to land in southern Africa.<ref name="domville-25">{{cite book|last=Domville-Fife|first=C.W.|title=The encyclopedia of the British Empire the first encyclopedic record of the greatest empire in the history of the world ed|year=1900|publisher=Rankin|location=London|page=25|url=https://archive.org/stream/encyclopediaofbr01domvuoft#page/24/mode/2up}}</ref> On 4 December, he landed at Walfisch Bay (now known as [[Walvis Bay]] in present-day Namibia). This was south of the furthest point reached in 1485 by his predecessor, the Portuguese navigator [[Diogo Cão]] ([[Cape Cross]], north of the bay). Dias continued down the western coast of southern Africa. After 8 January 1488, prevented by storms from proceeding along the coast, he sailed out of sight of land and passed the southernmost point of Africa without seeing it. He reached as far up the eastern coast of Africa as, what he called, {{lang|pt|Rio do Infante}}, probably the present-day [[Groot River (Eastern Cape)|Groot River]], in May 1488. On his return he saw the cape, which he named {{lang|pt|Cabo das Tormentas}} ('Cape of Storms'). King [[John II of Portugal|John II]] renamed the point {{lang|pt|Cabo da Boa Esperança}}, or [[Cape of Good Hope]], as it led to the riches of the [[East Indies]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mackenzie|first1=W. Douglas|last2=Stead|first2=Alfred|title=South Africa: Its History, Heroes, and Wars|publisher=The Co-Operative Publishing Company|location=Chicago|year=1899}}</ref> Dias' feat of navigation was immortalised in [[Luís de Camões]]' 1572 epic poem ''[[Os Lusíadas]]''. === Dutch colonisation === {{Main|Dutch Cape Colony|Boer Republics}} [[File:Charles Bell - Jan van Riebeeck se aankoms aan die Kaap.jpg|thumb|[[Charles Davidson Bell]]'s 19th-century painting of [[Jan van Riebeeck]], who founded the first European settlement in South Africa, arrives in [[Table Bay]] in 1652]] By the early 17th century, Portugal's maritime power was starting to decline, and English and Dutch merchants competed to oust Portugal from its lucrative monopoly on the [[spice trade]].<ref name="Pakeman">{{cite book| last = Pakeman, SA| title = Nations of the Modern World: Ceylon|edition= 1964|pages= 18–19| publisher = Frederick A Praeger, Publishers}}</ref> Representatives of the British [[East India Company]] sporadically called at the cape in search of provisions as early as 1601 but later came to favour [[Ascension Island]] and [[Saint Helena]] as alternative ports of refuge.<ref name="Kaap">{{cite book|first1=Alexander|last1=Wilmot|author2=John Centlivres Chase|name-list-style=amp| title = History of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope: From Its Discovery to the Year 1819|edition= 2010|pages= 1–548| publisher = Claremont: David Philip (Pty) Ltd| isbn= 978-1-144-83015-9}}</ref> Dutch interest was aroused after 1647, when two employees of the [[Dutch East India Company]] were shipwrecked at the cape for several months. The sailors were able to survive by obtaining fresh water and meat from the natives.<ref name="Kaap" /> They also sowed vegetables in the fertile soil.<ref name="zastudy">{{cite book|last=Kaplan|first=Irving|title=Area Handbook for the Republic of South Africa|pages=46–771|url=http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED056947.pdf|access-date=30 May 2015|archive-date=28 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428004403/http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED056947.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon their return to Holland, they reported favourably on the cape's potential as a "warehouse and garden" for provisions to stock passing ships for long voyages.<ref name="Kaap" /> In 1652, a century and a half after the discovery of the cape sea route, [[Jan van Riebeeck]] established a {{Wikt-lang|en|victual|victualling}} station at the Cape of Good Hope, at what would become [[Cape Town]], on behalf of the Dutch East India Company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his311/timeline/t-19saf.htm|title=African History Timeline|publisher=West Chester University of Pennsylvania|access-date=16 June 2008|archive-date=7 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107070748/http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his311/timeline/t-19saf.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Hunt1>{{cite book|last=Hunt|first=John|editor-last=Campbell|editor-first=Heather-Ann|title=Dutch South Africa: Early Settlers at the Cape, 1652–1708|date=2005|pages=13–35|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|location=Philadelphia|isbn=978-1-904744-95-5}}</ref> In time, the cape became home to a large population of {{lang|nl|vrijlieden}}, also known as {{lang|nl|vrijburgers}} ({{lit.|free citizens}}), former company employees who stayed in Dutch territories overseas after serving their contracts.<ref name=Hunt1 /> Dutch traders also brought thousands of [[slavery|enslaved people]] to the fledgling colony from [[Indonesia]], [[Madagascar]], and parts of eastern Africa.<ref name="Worden">{{cite book| last = Worden| first = Nigel| title = Slavery in Dutch South Africa|edition= 2010|pages= 40–43| publisher = Cambridge University Press| isbn = 978-0-521-15266-2| date = 5 August 2010}}</ref> Some of the earliest mixed race communities in the country were formed between {{lang|nl|vrijburgers}}, enslaved people, and indigenous peoples.<ref name="zimstudy">{{cite book|last=Nelson|first=Harold|title=Zimbabwe: A Country Study|pages=237–317}}</ref> This led to the development of a new ethnic group, the [[Cape Coloureds]], most of whom adopted the Dutch language and Christian faith.<ref name="zimstudy" /> The eastward expansion of Dutch colonists ushered in a series of wars with the southwesterly migrating Xhosa tribe, known as the [[Xhosa Wars]], as both sides competed for the pastureland near the Great Fish River, which the colonists desired for grazing cattle.<ref name=Stapleton2>{{cite book|last=Stapleton|first=Timothy|title=A Military History of South Africa: From the Dutch-Khoi Wars to the End of Apartheid|date=2010|pages=4–6|publisher=Praeger Security International|location=Santa Barbara|isbn=978-0-313-36589-8}}</ref> ''Vrijburgers'' who became independent farmers on the frontier were known as ''[[Boers]]'', with some adopting semi-nomadic lifestyles being denoted as {{lang|nl|[[trekboers]]}}.<ref name=Stapleton2 /> The Boers formed loose [[militia]]s, which they termed ''commandos'', and forged alliances with Khoisan peoples to repel Xhosa raids.<ref name=Stapleton2 /> Both sides launched bloody but inconclusive offensives, and sporadic violence, often accompanied by livestock theft, remained common for several decades.<ref name=Stapleton2 /> ===British colonisation and the Great Trek=== {{Main|Invasion of the Cape Colony|Cape Colony|Great Trek|British Bechuanaland|Colony of Natal}} Great Britain occupied Cape Town between 1795 and 1803 to prevent it from falling under the control of the [[French First Republic]], which had invaded the [[Low Countries]].<ref name=Stapleton2 /> After briefly returning to Dutch rule under the [[Batavian Republic]] in 1803, the cape was occupied again by the British in 1806.<ref name="Keegan">{{cite book| last = Keegan| first = Timothy| title = Colonial South Africa and the Origins of the Racial Order| year = 1996| url = https://archive.org/details/colonialsouthafr0000keeg| url-access = registration|edition= 1996|pages= [https://archive.org/details/colonialsouthafr0000keeg/page/85 85–86]| publisher = David Philip Publishers (Pty) Ltd| isbn = 978-0-8139-1735-1}}</ref> Following the end of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], it was formally ceded to Great Britain and became an integral part of the [[British Empire]].<ref name=Lloyd1>{{cite book|last=Lloyd|first=Trevor Owen|title=The British Empire, 1558–1995|date=1997|pages=201–203|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-873133-7}}</ref> British emigration to South Africa began around 1818, subsequently culminating in the arrival of the [[1820 Settlers]].<ref name=Lloyd1 /> The new colonists were induced to settle for a variety of reasons, namely to increase the size of the European workforce and to bolster frontier regions against Xhosa incursions.<ref name=Lloyd1 /> [[File:Charles Bell - Zoeloe-aanval op 'n Boerelaer - 1838.jpg|thumb|Depiction of a [[Weenen massacre|Zulu attack]] on a Boer camp in February 1838]] In the first two decades of the 19th century, the Zulu people grew in power and expanded their territory under their leader, [[Shaka]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historynet.com/wars_conflicts/19_century/3032216.html?page=4&c=y|title=Shaka: Zulu Chieftain|publisher=Historynet.com|access-date=30 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209113856/http://www.historynet.com/wars_conflicts/19_century/3032216.html?page=4&c=y|archive-date= 9 February 2008 }}</ref> Shaka's warfare indirectly led to the {{lang|zu|[[Mfecane]]}} ('crushing'), in which one to two million people were killed and the inland plateau was devastated and depopulated in the early 1820s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/537814/Shaka/537814rellinks/Related-Links|title=Shaka (Zulu chief)|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=30 October 2011|archive-date=11 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111043550/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/537814/Shaka/537814rellinks/Related-Links|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=W. D. Rubinstein|title=Genocide: A History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nMMAk4VwLLwC&pg=PA22|access-date=26 June 2013|year=2004|publisher=Pearson Longman|isbn=978-0-582-50601-5|page=22|archive-date=8 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808075142/http://books.google.com/books?id=nMMAk4VwLLwC&pg=PA22|url-status=live}}</ref> An offshoot of the Zulu, the [[Northern Ndebele people|Matabele]] people created a larger empire that included large parts of the [[highveld]] under their king [[Mzilikazi]]. During the early 19th century, many Dutch settlers departed from the [[Cape Colony]], where they had been subjected to British control, in a series of migrant groups who came to be known as {{lang|nl|[[Voortrekkers]]}}, meaning "pathfinders" or "pioneers". They migrated to the future [[Natal (province)|Natal]], Free State, and [[Transvaal (province)|Transvaal]] regions. The Boers founded the [[Boer republics]]: the [[South African Republic]], the [[Natalia Republic]], and the [[Orange Free State]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Orange Free State |volume=20 |last1= Hillier |first1= Alfred Peter |author-link1= Alfred Hillier |last2= Cana |first2= Frank Richardson |author-link2= |pages=151-160 |short=1}}</ref> The discovery of diamonds in 1867 and gold in 1884 in the interior started the [[Mineral Revolution]] and increased economic growth and immigration. This intensified British subjugation of the indigenous people. The struggle to control these important economic resources was a factor in relations between Europeans and the indigenous population and also between the Boers and the British.<ref>{{cite book|author=Williams, Garner F|title=The Diamond Mines of South Africa, Vol II|year=1905|publisher=B. F Buck & Co.|location=New York|pages=Chapter XX|url=http://www.farlang.com/diamonds/williams_diamond_mines_2/page_285|access-date=27 November 2008|archive-date=31 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731083954/http://www.farlang.com/diamonds/williams_diamond_mines_2/page_285|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[File:Cape Colony map 1876 - Eve of Confederation Wars.jpg|thumb|right|1876 map of South Africa]] On 16 May 1876, President [[Thomas François Burgers]] of the South African Republic declared war against the [[Pedi people]]. King [[Sekhukhune]] managed to defeat the army on 1 August 1876. Another attack by the Lydenburg Volunteer Corps was also repulsed. On 16 February 1877, the two parties signed a peace treaty at [[Botshabelo, Mpumalanga|Botshabelo]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=South African Military History Society – Journal- THE SEKUKUNI WARS|url=http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol025hk.html|access-date=15 August 2020|website=samilitaryhistory.org|archive-date=23 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723053419/http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol025hk.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Boers' inability to subdue the Pedi led to the departure of Burgers in favour of [[Paul Kruger]] and the British annexation of the South African Republic. In 1878 and 1879 three British attacks were successfully repelled until [[Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley|Garnet Wolseley]] defeated Sekhukhune in November 1879 with an army of 2,000 British soldiers, Boers and 10,000 Swazis. The [[Anglo-Zulu War]] was fought in 1879 between the British and the [[Zulu Kingdom]]. Following [[Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon|Lord Carnarvon]]'s successful introduction of [[Canadian Confederation|federation in Canada]], it was thought that similar political effort, coupled with military campaigns, might succeed with the African kingdoms, tribal areas and Boer republics in South Africa. In 1874, [[Henry Bartle Frere]] was sent to South Africa as the British [[High Commissioner for Southern Africa|High Commissioner]] to bring such plans into being. Among the obstacles were the presence of the independent states of the Boers, and the Zululand army. The Zulu nation defeated the British at the [[Battle of Isandlwana]]. Eventually Zululand lost the war, resulting in the termination of the Zulu nation's independence.<ref>{{cite book | last = Knight | first = Ian | title = Zulu Rising: The Epic Story of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s2mbl5xPOcUC&q=Zulu+Victory:+The+Epic+of+Isandlwana+and+the+cover-up | isbn = 9781447202233 | publisher = Pan Macmillan | date = 6 May 2011}}</ref> ===Boer Wars=== {{main|Boer Wars|First Boer War|Second Boer War}} [[File:Battle of Majuba Hill.jpg|thumb|The [[Battle of Majuba Hill]] was the last decisive battle during the [[First Boer War]], and saw the British defeated by the Boers after 2 hours of fighting.]] [[File:Boercamp1.jpg|thumb|Boer women and children in a [[Second Boer War concentration camps|British concentration camp]] during the [[Second Boer War]].]] The Boer republics successfully resisted British encroachments during the [[First Boer War]] (1880–1881) using [[guerrilla warfare]] tactics, which were well-suited to local conditions. The British returned with greater numbers, more experience, and new strategy in the [[Second Boer War]] (1899–1902) and, although they suffered heavy casualties through [[Attrition warfare|attrition]], they were ultimately successful. Over 27,000 Boer women and children died in the [[Second Boer War concentration camps|British concentration camps]].<ref>{{cite news|title=5 of the worst atrocities carried out by the British Empire|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/worst-atrocities-british-empire-amritsar-boer-war-concentration-camp-mau-mau-a6821756.html|work=The Independent|date=19 January 2016|access-date=22 September 2019|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927142647/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/worst-atrocities-british-empire-amritsar-boer-war-concentration-camp-mau-mau-a6821756.html|url-status=live }}</ref> South Africa's urban population grew rapidly from the end of the 19th century onward. After the devastation of the wars, Dutch-descendant Boer farmers fled into cities from the devastated [[Transvaal Colony|Transvaal]] and Orange Free State territories to become the class of the white urban poor.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Ogura|first=Mitsuo|date=1996|title=Urbanization and Apartheid in South Africa: Influx Controls and Their Abolition|journal=The Developing Economies|language=en|volume=34|issue=4|pages=402–423|doi=10.1111/j.1746-1049.1996.tb01178.x|pmid=12292280|issn=1746-1049|doi-access=free}}</ref> === Independence === {{See also|Union of South Africa|Military history of South Africa during World War I|Military history of South Africa during World War II}} Anti-British policies among white South Africans focused on independence. During the Dutch and British colonial years, [[racial segregation]] was mostly informal, though some legislation was enacted to control the settlement and movement of indigenous people, including the [[Native Location Act of 1879]] and the system of [[pass laws]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Bond|first=Patrick|title=Cities of gold, townships of coal: essays on South Africa's new urban crisis|publisher=Africa World Press|year=1999|page=140|isbn=978-0-86543-611-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|year=1906|title=Report of the Select Committee on Location Act|publisher=Cape Times Limited|url=https://archive.org/details/reportoftheselec00capeiala|access-date=30 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|last1=Godley |first1=Godfrey |first2=Welsh|last2=Archibald|last3=Thomson |first3=William |last4=Hemsworth |first4=H. D.|year=1920|title=Report of the Inter-departmental committee on the native pass laws|url=https://archive.org/stream/reportofinterdep00sout#page/2/mode/1up|publisher=Cape Times Limited|page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|institution=Great Britain Colonial Office; Transvaal (Colony). Governor (1901–1905: Milner)|date=January 1902|title=Papers relating to legislation affecting natives in the Transvaal|url=https://archive.org/details/transvaalpapersr00grea}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=De Villiers|first=John Abraham Jacob|title=The Transvaal |publisher=Chatto & Windus|location=London|year=1896|pages=[https://archive.org/details/transvaal00devi/page/30 30] (n46)|url=https://archive.org/details/transvaal00devi|access-date=30 July 2009}}</ref> Eight years after the end of the Second Boer War and after four years of negotiation, the [[South Africa Act 1909]] granted nominal independence while creating the [[Union of South Africa]] on 31 May 1910. The union was a [[dominion]] that included the former territories of the Cape, Transvaal and Natal colonies, as well as the Orange Free State republic.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|first=Frank Richardson|last=Cana|wstitle=South Africa|volume=25|page=467}}</ref> The [[Natives Land Act, 1913|Natives' Land Act]] of 1913 severely restricted the ownership of land by blacks; at that stage they controlled only 7% of the country. The amount of land reserved for indigenous peoples was later marginally increased.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/thisday/1913-06-19.htm|title=Native Land Act|publisher=South African Institute of Race Relations|date=19 June 1913|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014095049/http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/thisday/1913-06-19.htm|archive-date=14 October 2010 }}</ref> In 1931, the union became fully sovereign from the United Kingdom with the passage of the [[Statute of Westminster 1931|Statute of Westminster]], which abolished the last powers of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] to legislate in the country. Only three other African countries—Liberia, Ethiopia, and Egypt—had been independent prior to that point. In 1934, the [[South African Party]] and [[National Party (South Africa)|National Party]] merged to form the [[United Party (South Africa)|United Party]], seeking reconciliation between Afrikaners and English-speaking whites. In 1939, the party split over the entry of the union into World War II, as an ally of the United Kingdom, a move which National Party followers opposed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/national-party-np|title=National Party (NP) | South African History Online|website=www.sahistory.org.za}}</ref> === Apartheid era === {{Main|Apartheid}} {{Further|Disinvestment from South Africa}} [[File:ApartheidSignEnglishAfrikaans.jpg|thumb|"For use by white persons" – apartheid sign in English and Afrikaans]] In 1948, the National Party was elected to power. It strengthened the racial segregation begun under Dutch and British colonial rule. Taking Canada's [[Indian Act]] as a framework,<ref>Gloria Galloway, [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/chiefs-reflect-on-apartheid-and-first-nations-as-atleo-visits-mandela-memorial/article15902124/ "Chiefs Reflect on Apartheid"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502050752/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/chiefs-reflect-on-apartheid-and-first-nations-as-atleo-visits-mandela-memorial/article15902124/|date=2 May 2019 }}, ''The Globe and Mail'', 11 December 2013</ref> the [[Nationalism|nationalist]] government classified all peoples into three races (''Whites, Blacks, Indians and Coloured people (people of mixed race)'') and developed rights and limitations for each. The white minority (less than 20%)<ref>Beinart, William (2001). ''Twentieth-century South Africa.'' Oxford University Press. p. 202. {{ISBN|978-0-19-289318-5}}.</ref> controlled the vastly larger black majority. The legally institutionalised segregation became known as ''[[apartheid]]''. While whites enjoyed the highest [[standard of living]] in all of Africa, comparable to [[First World]] Western nations, the black majority remained disadvantaged by almost every standard, including income, education, housing, and life expectancy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=apartheid {{!}} South Africa, Definition, Facts, Beginning, & End |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/apartheid|access-date=2022-05-15|website=Britannica|language=en}}</ref> The [[Freedom Charter]], adopted in 1955 by the [[Congress Alliance]], demanded a non-racial society and an end to discrimination. On 31 May 1961, the country became a republic following [[1960 South African republic referendum|a referendum]] (only open to white voters) which narrowly passed;<ref>{{cite web|title=Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/hendrik-frensch-verwoerd|publisher=South African History Online|quote=On 5 October 1960 a referendum was held in which White voters were asked: "Do you support a republic for the Union?" – 52 percent voted 'Yes'.|access-date=9 March 2013|archive-date=29 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129002322/http://www.sahistory.org.za/people/hendrik-frensch-verwoerd|url-status=live}}</ref> the British-dominated Natal province largely voted against the proposal. [[Elizabeth II]] lost the title [[Monarchy of South Africa|Queen of South Africa]], and the last [[Governor-General of South Africa|Governor-General]], [[C. R. Swart|Charles Robberts Swart]], became [[State President of South Africa|state president]]. As a concession to the [[Westminster system]], the appointment of the president remained an appointment by parliament and was virtually powerless until [[P. W. Botha]]'s [[South African Constitution of 1983|Constitution Act of 1983]], which eliminated the office of [[Prime Minister of South Africa|prime minister]] and instated a unique "strong presidency" [[Parliamentary system|responsible to parliament]]. Pressured by other [[Commonwealth of Nations]] countries, South Africa withdrew from the organisation in 1961 and rejoined it in 1994. Despite [[Internal resistance to apartheid|opposition to apartheid]] both within and outside the country, the government legislated for a continuation of apartheid. The security forces cracked down on internal dissent, and violence became widespread, with anti-apartheid organisations such as the [[African National Congress]] (ANC), the [[Azanian People's Organisation]], and the [[Pan Africanist Congress of Azania|Pan-Africanist Congress]] carrying out guerrilla warfare<ref name="Biko1">{{cite book|last1=Gibson|first1=Nigel|last2=Alexander|first2=Amanda|last3=Mngxitama|first3=Andile|title=Biko Lives! Contesting the Legacies of Steve Biko|date=2008|page=138|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|location=Hampshire|isbn=978-0-230-60649-4}}</ref> and urban sabotage.<ref name="Switzer">{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bUvA7PHnCrUC&q=breytenbach+dakar&pg=PA415| title=South Africa's Resistance Press: Alternative Voices in the Last Generation Under Apartheid. Issue 74 of Research in international studies: Africa series| publisher=Ohio University Press| author=Switzer, Les| year=2000| page=2| isbn=978-0-89680-213-1| access-date=19 October 2020| archive-date=11 December 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211144708/https://books.google.com/books?id=bUvA7PHnCrUC&q=breytenbach+dakar&pg=PA415| url-status=live }}</ref> The three rival resistance movements also engaged in occasional inter-factional clashes as they jockeyed for domestic influence.<ref name="Mitchell">{{cite book|last1=Mitchell|first1=Thomas|title=Native vs Settler: Ethnic Conflict in Israel/Palestine, Northern Ireland and South Africa|date=2008|pages=194–196|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|location=Westport|isbn=978-0-313-31357-8}}</ref> Apartheid became increasingly controversial, and several countries began to boycott business with the South African government because of its racial policies. These measures were later extended to international sanctions and the [[Disinvestment from South Africa|divestment of holdings]] by foreign investors.<ref name="Bridgland">{{cite book|first=Fred|last=Bridgland|title=The War for Africa: Twelve months that transformed a continent|year=1990|publisher=Ashanti Publishing|location=Gibraltar|page=32|isbn=978-1-874800-12-5}}</ref><ref name="Landgren">{{cite book| first = Signe| last = Landgren| title = Embargo Disimplemented: South Africa's Military Industry| edition = 1989| pages = [https://archive.org/details/embargodisimplem0000land/page/6 6–10]| publisher = Oxford University Press| isbn = 978-0-19-829127-5| year = 1989| url = https://archive.org/details/embargodisimplem0000land/page/6}}</ref> === Post-apartheid === {{Further|History of South Africa (1994–present)}} [[File:Frederik de Klerk with Nelson Mandela - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 1992.jpg|thumb|[[F. W. de Klerk|F.W. de Klerk]] and [[Nelson Mandela]] shake hands in January 1992]] The [[Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith]], signed by [[Mangosuthu Buthelezi]] and [[Harry Schwarz]] in 1974, enshrined the principles of [[peaceful transition of power]] and equality for all, the first of such agreements by black and white political leaders in South Africa. Ultimately, [[F. W. de Klerk|F.W. de Klerk]] opened bilateral discussions with [[Nelson Mandela]] in 1993 for a transition of policies and government. In 1990, the National Party government took the first step towards dismantling discrimination when it lifted the ban on the ANC and other political organisations. It released Nelson Mandela from prison after 27 years of serving a sentence for sabotage. A [[Negotiations to end apartheid in South Africa|negotiation process]] followed. With approval from the white electorate in a [[1992 South African apartheid referendum|1992 referendum]], the government continued negotiations to end apartheid. South Africa held its first universal [[1994 South African general election|elections in 1994]], which the ANC won by an overwhelming majority. It has been in power ever since. The country rejoined the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] and became a member of the [[Southern African Development Community]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sadc.int/member-states/south-africa#:~:text=The+Republic+of+South+Africa,first+time+in+August+1994|title=South Africa | SADC|website=www.sadc.int}}</ref> In post-apartheid South Africa, unemployment remained high. While many blacks have risen to middle or upper classes, the overall unemployment rate of black people worsened between 1994 and 2003 by official metrics but declined significantly using expanded definitions.<ref name="sach3">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/nft/2006/soafrica/eng/pasoafr/sach3.pdf|title=Post-Apartheid South Africa: the First Ten Years – Unemployment and the Labor Market|publisher=IMF|access-date=16 February 2013|archive-date=29 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729103119/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/nft/2006/soafrica/eng/pasoafr/sach3.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Poverty among whites, which was previously rare, increased.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-04-18-zuma-surprised-at-level-of-white-poverty|title=Zuma surprised at level of white poverty|website=Mail & Guardian|date=18 April 2008|access-date=30 May 2010|archive-date=29 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729140129/http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-04-18-zuma-surprised-at-level-of-white-poverty|url-status=live }}</ref> The government struggled to achieve the monetary and fiscal discipline to ensure both redistribution of wealth and economic growth. The United Nations [[Human Development Index]] rose steadily until the mid-1990s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_ZAF.html|title=South Africa|year=2006|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|website=Human Development Report|access-date=28 November 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129203325/http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_ZAF.html|archive-date=29 November 2007 }}</ref> then fell from 1995 to 2005 before recovering its 1995 peak in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2015_human_development_report.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222080742/http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/2015_human_development_report.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 December 2015|title=2015 United Nations Human Development Report|access-date=5 August 2018}}</ref> The fall is in large part attributable to the [[HIV/AIDS in South Africa|South African HIV/AIDS pandemic]] which saw South African life expectancy fall from a high point of 62 years in 1992 to a low of 53 in 2005,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?locations=ZA|title=South African Life Expectancy at Birth, World Bank|access-date=5 August 2018|archive-date=6 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806024743/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.IN?locations=ZA|url-status=live}}</ref> and the failure of the government to take steps to address the pandemic in its early years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sairr.org.za/wsc/pstory.htx?storyID=428|title=Ridicule succeeds where leadership failed on AIDS|publisher=South African Institute of Race Relations|date=10 November 2006}}{{dead link|date=May 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> [[File:Watching South Africa & France match at World Cup 2010-06-22 in Soweto 13.jpg|thumb|Supporters watching the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] with [[vuvuzela]]s in the [[Township (South Africa)|township]] of [[Soweto]], a [[Suburbs of Johannesburg|suburb of Johannesburg]]]] [[File:People's March Anti Xenophobia.jpg|thumb|March in [[Johannesburg]] against [[xenophobia in South Africa]], 23 April 2015]] In May 2008, riots left over 60 people dead.<ref name="Broke-on-Broke Violence">{{cite journal|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2193949/|title=Broke-on-Broke Violence|journal=Slate |date=20 June 2008 |access-date=6 July 2011|archive-date=8 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908002524/http://www.slate.com/id/2193949/|url-status=live|last1=Chance |first1=Kerry }}</ref> The [[Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions]] estimated that over 100,000 people were driven from their homes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abahlali.org/node/3612|title=COHRE statement on Xenophobic Attacks|date=2 June 2008 |access-date=6 July 2011|archive-date=18 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118140918/http://www.abahlali.org/node/3612|url-status=live}}</ref> The targets were mainly [[Immigration to South Africa|legal]] and [[Illegal immigration to South Africa|illegal migrants]], and refugees seeking asylum, but a third of the victims were South African citizens.<ref name="Broke-on-Broke Violence" /> In a 2006 survey, the South African Migration Project concluded that South Africans are more opposed to immigration than any other national group.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Southern African Migration Project|author2=Institute for Democracy in South Africa|author3=Queen's University|editor=Jonathan Crush|title=The perfect storm: the realities of xenophobia in contemporary South Africa|url=http://www.queensu.ca/samp/sampresources/samppublications/policyseries/Acrobat50.pdf|access-date=26 June 2013|year=2008|publisher=Idasa|isbn=978-1-920118-71-6|page=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730044247/http://www.queensu.ca/samp/sampresources/samppublications/policyseries/Acrobat50.pdf|archive-date=30 July 2013 }}</ref> The [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UN High Commissioner for Refugees]] in 2008 reported over 200,000 refugees applied for asylum in South Africa, almost four times as many as the year before.<ref name="unhcr.org">{{cite web|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|url=http://www.unhcr.org/4cd96a569.html|title=UNHCR Global Appeal 2011 – South Africa|publisher=UNHCR|access-date=30 October 2011|archive-date=11 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511000002/http://www.unhcr.org/4cd96a569.html|url-status=live }}</ref> These people were mainly from [[Zimbabwe]], though many also come from [[Burundi]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Rwanda]], [[Eritrea]], [[Ethiopia]] and [[Somalia]].<ref name="unhcr.org" /> Competition over jobs, business opportunities, public services and housing has led to tension between refugees and host communities.<ref name="unhcr.org" /> While [[xenophobia in South Africa]] is still a problem, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2011 reported that recent violence had not been as widespread as initially feared.<ref name="unhcr.org" /> Nevertheless, as South Africa continues to grapple with racial issues, one of the proposed solutions has been to pass legislation, such as the pending [[Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill|Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill]], to uphold South Africa's ban on racism and commitment to equality.<ref>Harris, Bronwyn (2004). ''Arranging prejudice: Exploring hate crime in post-apartheid South Africa''. Cape Town.</ref><ref>Traum, Alexander (2014). "Contextualising the hate speech debate: the United States and South Africa". ''The Comparative and International Law Journal of Southern Africa''. '''47''' (1): 64–88.</ref> By 2020, numerous warnings have been issued that South Africa is heading towards [[failed state]] status <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/9/10/south-africa-heading-towards-becoming-a-failed-state-report|title=South Africa heading towards becoming a failed state: Report|website=Aljazeera |last=Sguazzin |first=Anthony|date=10 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-10/south-africa-heading-toward-becoming-a-failed-state-group-says|title=South Africa Heading Toward Becoming a Failed State, Group Says|newspaper=Bloomberg |last=Sguazzin |first=Anthony |date=10 September 2020 |url-access=registration}}</ref> with unsustainable government spending, high unemployment, high crime rates, corruption, failing government owned enterprises and collapsing infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/642791/south-africa-is-slowly-collapsing/ |title=South Africa is slowly collapsing |work=BusinessTech |date=14 November 2022 |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/23/crime-worrying-in-south-africa-7000-murdered-in-three-months|title=Crime 'worrying' in South Africa: 7,000 murdered in three months|website=Aljazeera |date=23 November 2022}}</ref> In 2022, the World Economic Forum said that South Africa risks state collapse and identified five major risks facing the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/breaking-is-south-africa-military-coup-state-collapse-threats/|title=South Africa 'at risk of STATE COLLAPSE' – according to top experts|first=Tom|last=Head|date=12 January 2022|website=The South African}}</ref> The Director-General of the South African Treasury, Dondo Mogajane, has said that, "SA is showing the signs of a failing state more common in countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/breaking-south-africa-failed-state-treasury-warning/|title=SA heading towards 'failed state' territory – according to our own Treasury|first=Tom|last=Head|date=6 March 2022|website=The South African}}</ref> Former minister Jay Naidoo has said that South Africa is in serious trouble and is showing signs of a failed state, with record unemployment levels and the fact that many young people will not find a job in their lifetime.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mybroadband.co.za/news/investing/464455-south-africa-showing-signs-of-a-failed-state.html |title=South Africa showing signs of a failed state |work=My Broadband |date=13 October 2022 |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref> Efficient Group chief economist Dawie Roodt said the country is in deep trouble, "South Africans have been getting poorer for a decade". He said he is very concerned because "32 million people get an income from the state. The state cannot afford this anymore".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mybroadband.co.za/news/investing/461398-south-africa-is-in-deep-trouble-warns-economist.html |title=South Africa is in deep trouble, warns economist |work=My Broadband |date=21 September 2022 |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref> Neal Froneman, CEO of Sibanye-Stillwater, said that crime is out of control, with 'mafia-style shakedowns' for procurement contracts becoming the norm. "Government leadership has created this problem and they are doing nothing. The government can't deal with it because it goes against their ideology."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/business-opinion/565926/south-africa-is-practically-a-failed-state-ceo/ |title=South Africa is practically a failed state: CEO |work=BusinessTech |date=8 March 2022 |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref> Professor Eddy Maloka, from the Institute of Risk Management, "The ANC has left us in a mess. They've turned their crisis into ours... Government has collapsed in areas across the country. We are seeing inner-cities collapse and degenerate".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/breaking-south-africa-failing-state-why-expert-explains/|title='Our cities are collapsing!' – SA identified as 'failing state' by top expert|first=Tom|last=Head|date=11 April 2022|website=The South African}}</ref> Professor David Himbara said that "South Africa is a classic case of a de facto one-party state with mismanaged institutions and endemic crime and corruption".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theafricareport.com/35378/south-africa-a-sophisticated-failing-state/|title=South Africa: A sophisticated failing state|date=29 July 2020|website=The Africa Report.com}}</ref> In May 2023, the Executive Chairman of Sygnia, Magda Wierzycka, said that "warnings of South Africa becoming a failed state are lagging reality – we are already there".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/business-opinion/684085/south-africa-is-already-a-failed-state/|title=South Africa is already a failed state – BusinessTech}}</ref> == Geography == {{Main|Geography of South Africa}} [[File:South_Africa_sat.jpg|thumb|left|[[Satellite image]] of South Africa]] South Africa is in southernmost Africa, with a coastline that stretches more than {{convert|abbr=on|2500|km|mi|0}} and along two oceans (the South Atlantic and the Indian). At {{convert|abbr=on|1219912|km2|sqmi}},<ref>{{Cite web|title=Country Comparison|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=South%20Africa&countryCode=sf®ionCode=af&rank=32#sf|website=World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=4 September 2009|archive-date=1 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501164719/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=South%20Africa&countryCode=sf®ionCode=af&rank=32#sf|url-status=dead }}</ref> South Africa is the 24th-largest country in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Demographic Yearbook – 2015 |date=2016 |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2015.htm|access-date=12 December 2017|website=United Nations Statistics Division |archive-date=8 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708191849/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2015.htm|url-status=live }}</ref> Excluding the [[Prince Edward Islands]], the country lies between latitudes [[22nd parallel south|22°]] and [[35th parallel south|35°S]], and longitudes [[16th meridian east|16°]] and [[33rd meridian east|33°E]]. The interior of South Africa consists of a large, in most places almost flat plateau with an altitude of between {{convert|abbr=on|1000|m|ft}} and {{convert|abbr=on|2100|m|ft}}, highest in the east and sloping gently downwards towards the west and north, and slightly so to the south and south-west.<ref>McCarthy, T. & Rubidge, B. (2005). ''The story of earth and life''. p. 263, 267–268. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.</ref> This plateau is surrounded by the [[Great Escarpment, Southern Africa|Great Escarpment]]<ref name="Altas">Atlas of Southern Africa. (1984). p. 13. Reader's Digest Association, Cape Town</ref> whose eastern, and highest, stretch is known as the [[Drakensberg]].<ref>Encyclopædia Britannica (1975); Micropaedia Vol. III, p. 655. Helen Hemingway Benton Publishers, Chicago.</ref> [[Mafadi]] in the Drakensberg at {{convert|abbr=on|3450|m|ft}} is the highest peak. The KwaZulu-Natal–Lesotho international border is formed by the highest portion of the Great Escarpment which reaches an altitude of over {{convert|abbr=on|3000|m|ft}}.<ref>Atlas of Southern Africa. (1984). p. 151. Reader's Digest Association, Cape Town</ref> The south and south-western parts of the plateau (at approximately 1,100{{ndash}}1,800{{nbsp}}m above sea level) and the adjoining plain below (at approximately 700{{ndash}}800{{nbsp}}m above sea level{{snds}}see map on the right) is known as the [[Karoo|Great Karoo]], which consists of sparsely populated [[shrubland]]. To the north, the Great Karoo fades into the more arid Bushmanland, which eventually becomes the [[Kalahari Desert]] in the north-west of the country. The mid-eastern and highest part of the plateau is known as the [[Highveld]]. This relatively well-watered area is home to a great proportion of the country's commercial farmlands and contains its largest conurbation (Gauteng). To the north of Highveld, from about the 25°{{nbsp}}30'{{nbsp}}S line of latitude, the plateau slopes downwards into the [[Bushveld]], which ultimately gives way to the Limpopo River lowlands or [[Veld#Highveld and Lowveld|Lowveld]].<ref name="Altas" /> The coastal belt, below the Great Escarpment, moving clockwise from the northeast, consists of the Limpopo Lowveld, which merges into the Mpumalanga Lowveld, below the Mpumalanga Drakensberg (the eastern portion of the Great Escarpment).<ref>Atlas of Southern Africa. (1984). p. 186. Reader's Digest Association, Cape Town</ref> This is hotter, drier and less intensely cultivated than the Highveld above the escarpment.<ref name="Altas" /> The [[Kruger National Park]], located in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in north-eastern South Africa, occupies a large portion of the Lowveld covering 19,633 square kilometres (7,580 sq mi)<ref name="Kruger National Park">{{Cite web|title=Kruger National Park|url=http://www.africa.com/south-africa/travel/what-to-do/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218164142/http://www.africa.com/south-africa/travel/what-to-do/|archive-date=18 December 2014|access-date=16 December 2014|publisher=Africa.com}}</ref> [[File:South Africa - Drakensberg (16261357780).jpg|thumb|alt=Image depicting the Drakensberg|[[Drakensberg]], the eastern and highest portion of the [[Great Escarpment, Southern Africa|Great Escarpment]] which surrounds the east, south and western borders of the central plateau.]] [[File:Namaqualand, Goegap 0035.jpg|thumb|Spring flowers in [[Namaqualand]]]] The coastal belt below the south and south-western stretches of the Great Escarpment contains several ranges of [[Cape Fold Belt|Cape Fold Mountains]] which run parallel to the coast, separating the Great Escarpment from the ocean.<ref>McCarthy, T. & Rubidge, B. (2005). ''The story of earth and life''. p. 194. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.</ref><ref name="geological map">Geological map of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (1970). Council for Geoscience, Geological Survey of South Africa.</ref> (These parallel ranges of fold mountains are shown on the map, above left. Note the course of the Great Escarpment to the north of these mountain ranges.) The land between the [[Outeniqua Mountains|Outeniqua]] and [[Langeberg]] ranges to the south and the [[Swartberg]] range to the north is known as the [[Karoo|Little Karoo]],<ref name="Altas" /> which consists of semi-desert shrubland similar to that of the Great Karoo, except that its northern strip along the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains has a somewhat higher rainfall and is, therefore, more cultivated than the Great Karoo. The Little Karoo is famous for its ostrich farming around [[Oudtshoorn]]. The lowland area to the north of the Swartberg range up to the Great Escarpment is the lowland part of the Great Karoo, which is climatically and botanically almost indistinguishable from the Karoo above the Great Escarpment. The narrow coastal strip between the Outeniqua and Langeberg ranges and the ocean has a moderately high year-round rainfall, which is known as the [[Garden Route]]. It is famous for the most extensive areas of forests in South Africa (a generally forest-poor country). In the south-west corner of the country, the [[Cape Peninsula]] forms the southernmost tip of the coastal strip which borders the Atlantic Ocean and ultimately terminates at the country's border with Namibia at the [[Orange River]]. The Cape Peninsula has a [[Mediterranean climate]], making it and its immediate surrounds the only portion of [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] which receives most of its rainfall in winter.<ref>Encyclopædia Britannica (1975); Micropaedia Vol. VI, p. 750. Helen Hemingway Benton Publishers, Chicago.</ref><ref name="Altas1">Atlas of Southern Africa. (1984). p. 19. Reader's Digest Association, Cape Town</ref> The coastal belt to the north of the Cape Peninsula is bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and the first row of north–south running Cape Fold Mountains to the east. The Cape Fold Mountains peter out at about the 32°{{nbsp}}S line of latitude,<ref name="geological map" /> after which the Great Escarpment bounds the coastal plain. The most southerly portion of this coastal belt is known as the [[Swartland]] and Malmesbury Plain, which is an important wheat growing region, relying on winter rains. The region further north is known as [[Namaqualand]],<ref>Atlas of Southern Africa. (1984). p. 113. Reader's Digest Association, Cape Town</ref> which becomes more arid near the Orange River. The little rain that falls tends to fall in winter,<ref name="Altas1" /> which results in one of the world's most spectacular displays of flowers carpeting huge stretches of [[veld]] in spring (August{{ndash}}September). South Africa also has one offshore possession, the small [[Subantarctic|sub-Antarctic]] [[archipelago]] of the Prince Edward Islands, consisting of [[Marion Island]] ({{convert|abbr=on|290|km2|sqmi|disp=or}}) and Prince Edward Island ({{convert|abbr=on|45|km2|sqmi|disp=or}}) (not to be confused with the [[Prince Edward Island|Canadian province of the same name]]). === Climate === {{Main|Climate of South Africa}} [[File:South Africa Köppen.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types]] of South Africa]] South Africa has a generally [[temperate climate]] because it is surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides, because it is located in the climatically milder [[Southern Hemisphere]], and because its average elevation rises steadily toward the north (toward the equator) and further inland. This varied topography and oceanic influence result in a great variety of climatic zones. The climatic zones range from the extreme desert of the southern [[Namib]] in the farthest northwest to the lush subtropical climate in the east along the border with Mozambique and the Indian Ocean. Winters in South Africa occur between June and August. The extreme southwest has a climate similar to that of the [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] with wet winters and hot, dry summers, hosting the famous [[fynbos]] [[biome]] of shrubland and [[Albany thickets|thicket]]. This area produces much of the wine in South Africa and is known for its wind, which blows intermittently almost all year. The severity of this wind made passing around the Cape of Good Hope particularly treacherous for sailors, causing many shipwrecks. Further east on the south coast, rainfall is distributed more evenly throughout the year, producing a green landscape. The annual rainfall increases south of the Lowveld, especially near the coast, which is [[Subtropics|subtropical]]. The Free State is particularly flat because it lies centrally on the high plateau. North of the [[Vaal River]], the Highveld becomes better watered and does not experience subtropical extremes of heat. Johannesburg, in the centre of the Highveld, is at {{convert|abbr=on|1740|m|ft|0}} above sea level and receives an annual rainfall of {{convert|abbr=on|760|mm|in|1}}. Winters in this region are cold, although snow is rare.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/11/pure-magic-snow-falls-on-johannesburg-for-first-time-in-11-years#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt%20happens%20once%20every%2010,little%20rain%20in%20winter%20months |title='Pure magic': snow falls on Johannesburg for first time in 11 years |work=The Guardian |last=Sullivan |first=Helen |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref> The coldest place on mainland South Africa is Buffelsfontein in the [[Eastern Cape]], where a temperature of {{convert|abbr=on|-20.1|C|F}} was recorded in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 July 2018|title=These are the lowest ever temperatures recorded in South Africa|url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/lowest-temperature-recorded-south-africa/|access-date=11 September 2020|website=The South African|language=en-US|archive-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911142956/https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/lowest-temperature-recorded-south-africa/|url-status=live }}</ref> The Prince Edward Islands have colder average annual temperatures, but Buffelsfontein has colder extremes. The deep interior of mainland South Africa has the hottest temperatures: a temperature of {{convert|abbr=on|51.7|C|F|2}} was recorded in 1948 in the Northern Cape Kalahari near [[Upington]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Africa's geography|url=http://www.safrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608121736/http://www.safrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm|archive-date=8 June 2010|access-date=30 October 2011|publisher=Safrica.info}}</ref> but this temperature is unofficial and was not recorded with standard equipment; the official highest temperature is {{convert|abbr=on|48.8|C|F|2}} at [[Vioolsdrif]] in January 1993.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SMdzAAAAMAAJ|title=South Africa yearbook|publisher=South African Communication Service|year=1997|isbn=9780797035447|page=3|access-date=14 October 2015|archive-date=24 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124000311/https://books.google.com/books?id=SMdzAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live }}</ref> [[Climate change in South Africa]] is leading to increased temperatures and rainfall variability. [[Extreme weather]] events are becoming more prominent.<ref name=":4">Republic of South Africa, ''[https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/nationalclimatechange_adaptationstrategy_ue10november2019.pdf National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612014043/https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/nationalclimatechange_adaptationstrategy_ue10november2019.pdf|date=12 June 2021 }},'' Version UE10, 13 November 2019.</ref> This is a critical concern for South Africans as climate change will affect the overall status and wellbeing of the country, for example with regards to [[water resources]]. Speedy environmental changes are resulting in clear effects on the community and environmental level in different ways and aspects, starting with air quality, to temperature and weather patterns, reaching out to food security and disease burden.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|url=https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph|access-date=26 November 2020|website=www.mdpi.com|language=en|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610212414/https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph|url-status=live}}</ref> According to computer-generated climate modelling produced by the South African National Biodiversity Institute,<ref name="SANBI">{{Cite web|date=30 September 2011|title=South African National Biodiversity Institute|url=http://www.sanbi.org/|access-date=30 October 2011|publisher=Sanbi.org|archive-date=1 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901083818/http://www.sanbi.org/|url-status=live }}</ref> parts of southern Africa will see an increase in temperature by about {{Convert|1|C-change|}} along the coast to more than {{Convert|4|C-change|}} in the already hot [[hinterland]] such as the Northern Cape in late spring and summertime by 2050. The Cape Floral Region is predicted to be hit very hard by climate change. Drought, increased intensity and frequency of fire, and climbing temperatures are expected to push many rare species towards extinction. South Africa has published two national climate change reports in 2011 and 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 2017|title=South Africa's Second National Climate Change Report|url=https://www.environment.gov.za/otherdocuments/reports/southafricas_secondnational_climatechange|access-date=17 May 2020|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614170504/https://www.environment.gov.za/otherdocuments/reports/southafricas_secondnational_climatechange|url-status=live }}</ref> South Africa contributes considerable [[Greenhouse gas emissions|carbon dioxide emissions]], being the 14th largest emitter of carbon dioxide,<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|date=15 October 2018|title=The Carbon Brief Profile: South Africa|url=https://www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-south-africa|access-date=3 August 2020|website=Carbon Brief|language=en|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509123731/https://www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-south-africa|url-status=live}}</ref> primarily from its heavy reliance on coal and oil for [[Energy development|energy production]].<ref name=":32"/> As part of its international commitments, South Africa has pledged to peak emissions between 2020 and 2025.<ref name=":32"/> === Biodiversity === {{main|Biodiversity of South Africa}} {{See also|Wildlife of South Africa|Protected areas of South Africa|Marine biodiversity of South Africa}} [[File:South African Giraffes, fighting.jpg|thumb|[[South African giraffe]]s, Kruger National Park]] [[File:African Leopard Sabi Sands Fir0002 Oct18.jpg|thumb|The female [[African Leopard]] "Thandi" in the Djuma concession of the [[Sabi Sand Game Reserve]]]] South Africa signed the Rio [[Convention on Biological Diversity]] on 4 June 1994 and became a party to the convention on 2 November 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|title=List of Parties|url=http://www.cbd.int/convention/parties/list/|access-date=8 December 2012|archive-date=24 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124005746/http://www.cbd.int/convention/parties/list/|url-status=live }}</ref> It has subsequently produced a [[Biodiversity action plan|National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan]], which was received by the convention on 7 June 2006.<ref name="cbd.int">{{Cite web|title=South Africa's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan|url=http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/cm/cm-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf|access-date=10 December 2012|archive-date=2 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502141819/http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/cm/cm-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf|url-status=live }}</ref> The country is ranked sixth out of the world's seventeen [[megadiverse countries]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biodiversity of the world by countries|url=http://institutoaqualung.com.br/info_biodiversidade23.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101120514/http://institutoaqualung.com.br/info_biodiversidade23.html|archive-date=1 November 2010|access-date=30 May 2010|publisher=Institutoaqualung.com.br}}</ref> [[Ecotourism in South Africa]] has become more prevalent in recent years, as a possible method of maintaining and improving biodiversity. Numerous mammals are found in the Bushveld including lions, [[African leopard]]s, [[Southeast African cheetah|South African cheetahs]], [[Southern white rhinoceros|southern white rhinos]], [[blue wildebeest]], [[kudu]]s, [[impala]]s, [[hyena]]s, [[hippopotamus]]es and [[South African giraffe]]s. A significant extent of the Bushveld exists in the north-east including Kruger National Park and the [[Sabi Sand Game Reserve]], as well as in the far north in the [[Waterberg Biosphere]]. South Africa houses many [[Endemism|endemic species]], among them the critically endangered [[riverine rabbit]] (''Bunolagus monticullaris'') in the Karoo. Up to 1945, more than 4,900 species of [[Fungus|fungi]] (including [[Lichen#Fungi|lichen-forming]] species) had been recorded.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rong|first1=I. H.|last2=Baxter|first2=A. P.|year=2006|title=The South African National Collection of Fungi: Celebrating a centenary 1905–2005|journal=Studies in Mycology|volume=55|pages=1–12|doi=10.3114/sim.55.1.1|pmc=2104721|pmid=18490968}}</ref> In 2006, the number of fungi in South Africa was estimated at 200,000 species but did not take into account fungi associated with insects.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Crous|first1=P. W.|last2=Rong|first2=I. H.|last3=Wood|first3=A.|last4=Lee|first4=S.|last5=Glen|first5=H.|last6=Botha|first6=W. l|last7=Slippers|first7=B.|last8=De Beer|first8=W. Z.|last9=Wingfield|first9=M. J.|last10=Hawksworth|first10=D. L.|year=2006|title=How many species of fungi are there at the tip of Africa?|journal=Studies in Mycology|volume=55|pages=13–33|doi=10.3114/sim.55.1.13|pmc=2104731|pmid=18490969}}</ref> If correct, then the number of South African fungi dwarfs that of its plants. In at least some major South African ecosystems, an exceptionally high percentage of fungi are highly specific in terms of the plants with which they occur.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Marincowitz |first1=S.|last2=Crous|first2=P.W.|last3=Groenewald|first3=J.Z.|last4=Wingfield|first4=M.J.|year=2008|title=Microfungi occurring on Proteaceae in the fynbos. CBS Biodiversity Series 7|url=http://fabiserv.up.ac.za/webresources/pdf/02cccd42960c651fba2eee15dd3c180b.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729211209/http://fabiserv.up.ac.za/webresources/pdf/02cccd42960c651fba2eee15dd3c180b.pdf|archive-date=29 July 2013|access-date=26 June 2013|name-list-style=amp}}</ref> The country's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan does not mention fungi (including lichen-forming fungi).<ref name="cbd.int" /> With more than 22,000 different [[vascular plant]]s, or about 9% of all the known species of plants on Earth,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lambertini|first=Marco|title=A Anturalist's Guide to the Tropics|date=15 May 2000|publisher=University Of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-46828-0|edition=Revised edition (15 May 2000)|page=46|language=en|chapter=The Flora / The Richest Botany in the World}}</ref> South Africa is particularly rich in plant diversity. The most prevalent biome is the [[grassland]], particularly on the Highveld, where the plant cover is dominated by different [[Poaceae|grasses]], low shrubs, and [[acacia]], mainly camel-thorn (''[[Vachellia erioloba]]''). Vegetation is sparse towards the north-west because of low rainfall. There are numerous species of water-storing succulents, like [[aloe]]s and [[euphorbia]]s, in the very hot and dry Namaqualand area. And according to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|World Wildlife Fund]], South Africa is home to around a third of all succulent species.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Trenchard|first=Tommy|date=2021-07-31|title=In South Africa, Poachers Now Traffic in Tiny Succulent Plants|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/31/world/africa/south-africa-poachers-tiny-succulent-plants.html|access-date=2022-06-27|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The grass and thorn [[savanna]] turns slowly into a bush savanna towards the north-east of the country, with denser growth. There are significant numbers of [[Adansonia|baobab]] trees in this area, near the northern end of Kruger National Park.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Plants and Vegetation in South Africa|url=http://www.southafrica-travel.net/pages/e_plants.htm|access-date=30 October 2011|publisher=Southafrica-travel.net|archive-date=28 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028175454/http://www.southafrica-travel.net/pages/e_plants.htm|url-status=live }}</ref> The fynbos biome, which makes up the majority of the area and plant life in the [[Cape Floristic Region]], is located in a small region of the Western Cape and contains more than 9,000 of those species, or three times more plant species than found in the [[Amazon rainforest]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewton |first=Robin Cherry & Thomas |title=South Africa's flammable floral kingdom |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190304-south-africas-flammable-floral-kingdom |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}}</ref> making it among the richest regions on earth in terms of plant diversity. Most of the plants are [[evergreen]] hard-leaf plants with fine, needle-like leaves, such as the [[sclerophyll]]ous plants. Another uniquely South African flowering plant group is the genus ''[[Protea]]'', with around 130 different species. While South Africa has a great wealth of flowering plants, only 1% of the land is forest, almost exclusively in the humid [[KwaZulu–Cape coastal forest mosaic|coastal plain of KwaZulu-Natal]], where there are also areas of [[Southern Africa mangroves]] in river mouths. Even smaller reserves of forests are out of the reach of fire, known as [[Knysna–Amatole montane forests|montane forests]]. Plantations of imported tree species are predominant, particularly the non-native [[eucalyptus]] and pine. [[File:Flora at Cape Peninsula.JPG|thumb|left|[[Cape Floral Region Protected Areas]]]] South Africa has lost a large area of natural habitat in the last four decades, primarily because of overpopulation, sprawling development patterns, and deforestation during the 19th century. The country had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 4.94/10, ranking it 112th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{Cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|display-authors=1|year=2020|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|page=5978|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|issn=2041-1723|pmc=7723057|pmid=33293507|doi-access=free|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G }}</ref> South Africa is one of the worst affected countries in the world when it comes to invasion by [[Introduced species|alien species]] with many (e.g., [[Acacia mearnsii|black wattle]], [[Acacia saligna|Port Jackson willow]], ''[[Hakea]]'', ''[[Lantana]]'' and ''[[Jacaranda]]'') posing a significant threat to the native biodiversity and the already scarce water resources. Also [[woody plant encroachment]] of native plants in grasslands poses a threat to biodiversity and related ecosystem services, affecting over 7 million hectares.<ref>[https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/reports/indigenousbushencroachment.pdf Towards a policy on indigenous bush encroachment in South Africa (2019)], Department of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria, South Africa</ref> The original [[Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests|temperate forest]] found by the first European settlers was exploited until only small patches remained. Currently, South African hardwood trees like [[real yellowwood]] (''[[Podocarpus latifolius]]''), stinkwood (''[[Ocotea bullata]]''), and South African black ironwood (''[[Olea capensis]]'') are under strict government protection. Statistics from the [[Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries|Department of Environmental Affairs]] show a record 1,215 rhinos were killed in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news|date=22 January 2015|title=Progress in the war against poaching|work=Environmental Affairs|location=South Africa|url=https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarelease/molewa_waragainstpoaching2015|url-status=dead|access-date=22 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123231507/https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarelease/molewa_waragainstpoaching2015|archive-date=23 January 2015}}</ref> Since South Africa is home to a third of all succulent species (many endemic to the Karoo), it makes it a hotspot for plant poaching, leading to many species to be threatened with extinction.<ref name=":1" /> ==Demographics== {{Main|Demographics of South Africa}} [[File:South Africa 2011 population density map (hex cells).svg|thumb|Map of population density in South Africa{{Clear}} {{legend-col |{{legend|#ffffcc|<1 /km<sup>2</sup>}} |{{legend|#ffeda0|1–3 /km<sup>2</sup>}} |{{legend|#fed976|3–10 /km<sup>2</sup>}} |{{legend|#feb24c|10–30 /km<sup>2</sup>}} |{{legend|#fd8d3c|30–100 /km<sup>2</sup>}} |{{legend|#fc4e2a|100–300 /km<sup>2</sup>}} |{{legend|#e31a1c|300–1000 /km<sup>2</sup>}} |{{legend|#bc0026|1000–3000 /km<sup>2</sup>}} |{{legend|#800026|>3000 /km<sup>2</sup>}}}} ]] South Africa is a nation of about 62 million (as of 2022) people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/P03014_Census_2022_Statistical_Release.pdf|title=2022 Census Statistical Release|date=15 October 2023|website=[[Statistics South Africa]]|access-date=15 October 2023|archive-date=15 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015192129/https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/P03014_Census_2022_Statistical_Release.pdf}}{{dead link|date=December 2023}}</ref> The last [[South African National Census of 2022|census]] was held in 2022, with estimates produced on an annual basis. According to the United Nations' ''[[World Population Prospects]]'', South Africa's total population was 55.3 million in 2015, compared to only 13.6 million in 1950.<ref>{{Cite web|title=World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations|url=https://population.un.org/wpp/|website=population.un.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617000901/https://population.un.org/wpp/ |archive-date=17 June 2020 }}</ref> South Africa is home to an estimated five million [[Illegal immigration|illegal immigrants]], including some three million Zimbabweans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/23/africa/23saf.php|title=Anti-immigrant violence spreads in South Africa, with attacks reported in Cape Town – The New York Times|website=[[International Herald Tribune]]|date=23 May 2008|access-date=30 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221002431/http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/23/africa/23saf.php|archive-date=21 February 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/573086/escape-from-mugabe-zimbabwes-exodus|title=Escape From Mugabe: Zimbabwe's Exodus|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124000311/http://news.sky.com/story/573086/escape-from-mugabe-zimbabwes-exodus|archive-date=24 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?ArticleId=1518-25_2035097|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214052122/http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?ArticleId=1518-25_2035097|archive-date=14 February 2009|title=More illegals set to flood SA|publisher=Fin24|access-date=30 October 2011|url-status=dead }}</ref> A series of [[Xenophobia in South Africa|anti-immigrant riots]] occurred beginning in May 2008.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7396868.stm|title=South African mob kills migrants|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 May 2008|date=12 May 2008|archive-date=13 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313001302/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7396868.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Barry|last=Bearak|title=Immigrants Fleeing Fury of South African Mobs|date=23 May 2008|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/world/africa/23safrica.html?_r=1&ref=africa&oref=slogin|access-date=5 August 2008|archive-date=1 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501055725/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/world/africa/23safrica.html?_r=1&ref=africa&oref=slogin|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Statistics South Africa]] asks people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lehohla |first=Pali |title=Debate over race and censuses not peculiar to SA|url=http://www.statssa.gov.za/news_archive/05may2005_1.asp|date=5 May 2005|newspaper=Business Report|access-date=25 August 2013|quote=Others pointed out that the repeal of the Population Registration Act in 1991 removed any legal basis for specifying 'race'. The Identification Act of 1997 makes no mention of race. On the other hand, the Employment Equity Act speaks of 'designated groups' being 'black people, women and people with disabilities'. The Act defines 'black' as referring to 'Africans, coloureds and Indians'. Apartheid and the racial identification which underpinned it explicitly linked race with differential access to resources and power. If the post-apartheid order was committed to remedying this, race would have to be included in surveys and censuses, so that progress in eradicating the consequences of apartheid could be measured and monitored. This was the reasoning that led to a 'self-identifying' question about 'race' or 'population group' in both the 1996 and 2001 population censuses, and in Statistics SA's household survey programme.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814143522/http://www.statssa.gov.za/news_archive/05may2005_1.asp|archive-date=14 August 2007 }}</ref> The 2022 census figures for these groups were: [[Bantu peoples of South Africa|Black African]] at 81%, [[Cape Coloureds|Coloured]] at 8.2%, [[White South Africans|White]] at 7.3%, [[Indian South Africans|Indian or Asian]] at 2.7%, and Other/Unspecified at 0.5%.<ref name="auto1">https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/P03014_Census_2022_Statistical_Release.pdf</ref> The first census in 1911 showed that whites made up 22% of the population; this had declined to 16% by 1980.<ref>{{Cite book| author = ((Study Commission on U.S. Policy toward Southern Africa (U.S.)))| title = South Africa: time running out: the report of the Study Commission on U.S. Policy Toward Southern Africa| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=sq43lnbklEUC&pg=PA42| publisher = University of California Press| year = 1981| page = 42| isbn = 978-0-520-04547-7| access-date = 14 October 2015| archive-date = 24 January 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160124000311/https://books.google.com/books?id=sq43lnbklEUC&pg=PA42| url-status = live }}</ref> South Africa hosts a sizeable refugee and asylum seeker population. According to the ''World Refugee Survey 2008'', published by the [[U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants]], this population numbered approximately 144,700 in 2007.<ref name="World Refugee Survey 2008" /> Groups of refugees and asylum seekers numbering over 10,000 included people from Zimbabwe (48,400), the DRC (24,800), and Somalia (12,900).<ref name="World Refugee Survey 2008" /> These populations mainly lived in Johannesburg, Pretoria, [[Durban]], Cape Town, and [[Port Elizabeth]].<ref name="World Refugee Survey 2008">{{cite news|title=World Refugee Survey 2008|publisher=U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants|date=19 June 2008|url=http://www.refugees.org/resources/refugee-warehousing/archived-world-refugee-surveys/2008-world-refugee-survey.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019224639/http://www.refugees.org/resources/refugee-warehousing/archived-world-refugee-surveys/2008-world-refugee-survey.html|archive-date=19 October 2014 }}</ref> === Languages === {{Main|Languages of South Africa}} [[File:South Africa 2011 dominant language map (hex cells).svg|right|thumb|{{Collapsible list | title = Map showing the dominant [[Languages of South Africa|South African languages]] by area|{{legend|#80b1d3|[[Zulu language|Zulu]] (22.7%)}}|{{legend|#fb8072|[[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] (16.0%)}}|{{legend|#8dd3c7|[[Afrikaans]] (13.5%)}}|{{legend|#ffffb3|[[South African English|English]] (9.6%)}}|{{legend|#fdb462|[[Pedi language|Pedi]] (9.1%)}}|{{legend|#fccde5|[[Tswana language|Tswana]] (8.0%)}}|{{legend|#b3de69|[[Sotho language|Southern Sotho]] (7.6%)}}|{{legend|#ffed6f|[[Tsonga language|Tsonga]] (4.5%)}}|{{legend|#bc80bd|[[Swazi language|Swazi]] (2.5%)}}|{{legend|#ccebc5|[[Venda language|Venda]] (2.4%)}}|{{legend|#bebada|[[Southern Ndebele language|Southern Ndebele]] (2.1%)}}|{{legend|#d0d0d0|None dominant}}|{{legend|#ffffff|Areas of little or no population}} }}]] South Africa has 12 official languages:<ref name="parliament.gov.za"/> [[Zulu language|Zulu]], [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]], [[Afrikaans]], [[South African English|English]], [[Northern Sotho|Pedi]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 – Chapter 1: Founding Provisions {{!}} South African Government|url=https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/chapter-1-founding-provisions#5|access-date=26 July 2020|website=www.gov.za|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518042037/https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/chapter-1-founding-provisions#5|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tswana language|Tswana]], [[Sotho language|Southern Sotho]], [[Tsonga language|Tsonga]], [[Swazi language|Swazi]], [[Venda language|Venda]], and [[Southern Ndebele language|Southern Ndebele]] (in order of first language speakers), as well as South African Sign Language which was recognised as an official language in 2023.<ref name="parliament.gov.za"/>In this regard it is fourth only to [[Bolivia]], [[Official languages of India|India]], and [[Zimbabwe]] in number. While all the languages are formally equal, some languages are spoken more than others. According to the 2022 census, the three most spoken first languages are Zulu (24.4%), Xhosa (16.6%), and Afrikaans (10.6%).<ref name="auto1"/> Although English is recognised as the language of commerce and science, it is only the fifth most common home language, that of only 8.7% of South Africans in 2022; nevertheless, it has become the de facto [[lingua franca]] of the nation.<ref name="auto1"/> Estimates based on the 1991 census suggest just under half of South Africans could speak English.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/south-africa-fast-facts/geography-facts/languages|title=South Africa's languages|date=6 November 2007|access-date=21 February 2020|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626173847/https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/south-africa-fast-facts/geography-facts/languages|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the second most commonly spoken language outside of the household, after Zulu.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/319760/these-are-the-most-spoken-languages-in-south-africa-in-2019/|title=These are the most-spoken languages in South Africa in 2019|author=Staff Writer|website=businesstech.co.za|access-date=21 February 2020|archive-date=21 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221184630/https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/319760/these-are-the-most-spoken-languages-in-south-africa-in-2019/|url-status=live}}</ref> Other languages are spoken, or were widely used previously, including [[Fanagalo language|Fanagalo]], [[Khoe language|Khoe]], [[Lobedu language|Lobedu]], [[Nama language|Nama]], [[Northern Ndebele language|Northern Ndebele]], and [[Phuthi language|Phuthi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/about/people/language.htm|title=The languages of South Africa|publisher=SouthAfrica.info|date=4 February 1997|access-date=7 November 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304001836/http://www.southafrica.info/about/people/language.htm|archive-date=4 March 2011}}</ref> Many of the unofficial [[Khoisan languages|languages of the San and Khoekhoe]] peoples contain regional dialects stretching northwards into Namibia and Botswana, and elsewhere. These people, who are a physically distinct population from the Bantu people who make up most of the Black Africans in South Africa, have their own cultural identity based on their [[hunter-gatherer]] societies. They have been marginalised, and the remainder of their languages are in danger of becoming [[Extinct language|extinct]]. White South Africans may also speak European languages, including Italian, Portuguese (also spoken by black Angolans and Mozambicans), Dutch, German, and Greek, while some Indian South Africans and more recent migrants from South Asia speak [[Languages of India|Indian languages]], such as Gujarati, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. French is spoken by migrants from [[African French|Francophone Africa]]. === Religion === {{Main|Religion in South Africa}} {{bar box |title=Religion in South Africa (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/south-africa#/?affiliations_religion_id=11&affiliations_year=2010®ion_name=All+Countries&restrictions_year=2015|title=Religions in South Africa – PEW-GRF|website=www.globalreligiousfutures.org|access-date=9 December 2017|archive-date=10 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710102511/http://globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/south-africa#/?affiliations_religion_id=11&affiliations_year=2010®ion_name=All+Countries&restrictions_year=2015|url-status=live}}</ref> |titlebar= #Fcd116 |left1=religion |right1=percent |float=right |bars= {{bar percent|[[Protestantism]]|#B57EDC|73.2}} {{bar percent|[[Irreligion|No religion]]|black|14.9}} {{bar percent|[[Catholic Church in South Africa|Catholicism]]|darkblue|7.4}} {{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|1.7}} {{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|1.1}} {{bar percent|Other faith|silver|1.7}} }} According to the 2001 census, Christians accounted for 79.8% of the population, with a majority of them being members of various [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Christian denomination|denominations]] (broadly defined to include [[Syncretism|syncretic]] [[African-initiated church]]es) and a minority of [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] and other Christians. Christian category includes [[Zion Christian Church|Zion Christian]] (11.1%), [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] ([[Charismatic movement|Charismatic]]) (8.2%), [[Catholic Church in South Africa|Roman Catholic]] (7.1%), [[Methodist Church of Southern Africa|Methodist]] (6.8%), [[Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK)|Dutch Reformed]] (6.7%), and [[Anglican Church of Southern Africa|Anglican]] (3.8%). Members of remaining Christian churches accounted for another 36% of the population. [[Islam in South Africa|Muslims]] accounted for 1.5% of the population, [[Hinduism in South Africa|Hindus]] 1.2%,<ref name="state.gov" /> [[traditional African religions]] 0.3% and Judaism 0.2%. 15.1% had no religious affiliation, 0.6% were "other" and 1.4% were "unspecified."<ref name=factbook /><ref name="state.gov">{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51496.htm|title=South Africa – Section I. Religious Demography|publisher=U.S. Department of State|access-date=15 July 2006|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614133513/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51496.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2022-report-on-international-religious-freedom/south-africa/ |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Wessel|last1=Bentley|author2=Dion Angus Forster|title=Methodism in Southern Africa: A Celebration of Wesleyan Mission|year=2008|publisher=AcadSA|isbn=978-1-920212-29-2|pages=97–98|chapter=God's mission in our context, healing and transforming responses}}</ref> African-initiated churches formed the largest of the Christian groups. It was believed that many of the persons who claimed no affiliation with any organised religion adhered to a traditional African religion. There are an estimated 200,000 [[Traditional healers of Southern Africa|traditional healers]], and up to 60% of South Africans consult these healers,<ref>{{cite book|author=van Wyk, Ben-Erik|author2=van Oudtshoorn, Gericke N|year=1999|title=Medicinal Plants of South Africa|location=Pretoria|publisher=Briza Publications|isbn=978-1-875093-37-3|page=10}}</ref> generally called {{lang|bnt|sangoma}} ('diviner') or {{lang|bnt|inyanga}} ('herbalist'). These healers use a combination of [[Veneration of the dead|ancestral spiritual beliefs]] and a belief in the spiritual and medicinal properties of local fauna, flora, and funga commonly known as [[Traditional African medicine|{{lang|bnt|muti|nocat=true}}]] ('medicine'), to facilitate healing in clients. Many peoples have syncretic religious practices combining Christian and indigenous influences.<ref name="DoS">{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71325.htm|title=South Africa|publisher=State.gov|date=15 September 2006|access-date=30 October 2011|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614154706/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71325.htm|url-status=live }}</ref> South African Muslims comprise mainly Coloureds and Indians. They have been joined by black or white South African converts as well as those from other parts of Africa.<ref name=csmonitor /> South African Muslims describe their faith as the fastest-growing religion of conversion in the country, with the number of black Muslims growing sixfold, from 12,000 in 1991 to 74,700 in 2004.<ref name=csmonitor>{{cite journal|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0110/p13s1-woaf.html|title=In South Africa, many blacks convert to Islam / The Christian Science Monitor|journal=The Christian Science Monitor|date=10 January 2002 |access-date=30 October 2011|archive-date=30 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730173053/http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0110/p13s1-woaf.html|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.religionnewsblog.com/9398/muslims-say-their-faith-growing-fast-in-africa|title=Muslims say their faith growing fast in Africa|date=15 November 2004 |publisher=Religionnewsblog.com|access-date=7 November 2010|archive-date=1 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001060330/http://www.religionnewsblog.com/9398/muslims-say-their-faith-growing-fast-in-africa|url-status=live }}</ref> There is a substantial [[History of the Jews in South Africa|Jewish population]], descended from [[History of the Jews in Europe|European Jews]] who arrived as a minority among other European settlers. This population peaked in the 1970s at 118,000, though only around 75,000 remain today, the rest having emigrated, mostly to Israel.<ref>[https://www.sajbd.org/index.php?p=pages/sa-jewish-history SA Jewish history] South African Jewish Board of Deputies</ref> Even so, these numbers make the Jewish community in South Africa the twelfth largest in the world. === Education === {{Main|Education in South Africa}} [[File:UCT Upper Campus landscape view.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Cape Town]]]] The adult [[literacy]] rate in 2007 was 89%.<ref name=unescolit>{{cite web|title=National adult literacy rates (15+), youth literacy rates (15–24) and elderly literacy rates (65+)|url=http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=210|publisher=UNESCO Institute for Statistics|access-date=3 May 2013|archive-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029183908/http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=210|url-status=dead}}</ref> South Africa has a [[Three-tier education|three-tier system]] of education starting with primary school, followed by high school, and tertiary education in the form of (academic) universities and universities of technology. Learners have twelve years of formal schooling, from grade 1 to 12. Grade R, or grade 0, is a pre-primary foundation year.<ref name=edufacts0831>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/services/education/edufacts.htm|title=A parent's guide to schooling|access-date=31 August 2010|archive-date=22 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722160229/http://www.southafrica.info/services/education/edufacts.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Primary schools span the first seven years of schooling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/about/education/education.htm|title=Education in South Africa|publisher=SouthAfrica.info|access-date=20 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617125606/http://www.southafrica.info/about/education/education.htm|archive-date=17 June 2010 }}</ref> High school education spans a further five years. The [[Matriculation in South Africa|National Senior Certificate]] examination takes place at the end of grade 12 and is necessary for tertiary studies at a [[List of universities in South Africa|South African university]].<ref name=edufacts0831 /> Public universities are divided into three types: traditional universities, which offer theoretically oriented university degrees; [[Institute of technology|universities of technology]] (formerly called ''[[technikon]]s''), which offer vocationally-oriented diplomas and degrees; and comprehensive universities, which offer both types of qualification. There are 23 public universities in South Africa: 11 traditional universities, 6 universities of technology, and 6 comprehensive universities. Under apartheid, schools for black people were subject to discrimination through inadequate funding and a separate syllabus called ''[[Bantu Education Act, 1953|Bantu Education]]'' which only taught skills sufficient to work as labourers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/sidebar.php?id=3|title=Bantu Education|publisher=Overcoming Apartheid|access-date=20 June 2010|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815013451/https://overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/sidebar.php?id=3|url-status=live }}</ref> In 2004, South Africa started reforming its tertiary education system, merging and incorporating small universities into larger institutions, and renaming all tertiary education institutions "university". By 2015, 1.4 million students in higher education have been aided by a financial aid scheme which was promulgated in 1999.<ref name=Cele>{{cite news|last1=Cele|first1=S'thembile|last2= Masondo|first2=Sipho|title=Shocking cost of SA's universities|url=http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Shocking-cost-of-SAs-universities-20150118|access-date=19 January 2015|agency=City Press|publisher=fin24.com|date=18 January 2015|archive-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119205443/http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Shocking-cost-of-SAs-universities-20150118|url-status=live }}</ref> === Health === {{Main|Health in South Africa|Healthcare in South Africa}} [[File:Tygerberg from air.jpg|thumb|[[Tygerberg Hospital]] in [[Parow, South Africa|Parow, Cape Town]]]] According to the [[South African Institute of Race Relations]], the life expectancy in 2009 was 71 years for a white South African and 48 years for a black South African.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hsrc.ac.za/News-document-1426.phtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516165837/http://www.hsrc.ac.za/News-document-1426.phtml|url-status=dead|title=Peoples Budget Coalition Comments on the 2011/12 Budget|archive-date=16 May 2012}}</ref> The healthcare spending in the country is about 9% of GDP.<ref name="smartpl">{{cite web|title='Clinic-in-a-Box' seeks to improve South African healthcare|url=http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/global-observer/-8216clinic-in-a-box-seeks-to-improve-south-african-healthcare/12844|publisher=SmartPlanet|access-date=25 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730011508/http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/global-observer/-8216clinic-in-a-box-seeks-to-improve-south-african-healthcare/12844|archive-date=30 July 2013 }}</ref> About 84% of the population depends on the public healthcare system,<ref name="smartpl" /> which is beset with chronic human resource shortages and limited resources.<ref name="icap">{{cite web|title=South Africa|url=http://icap.columbia.edu/where-we-work/south-africa|publisher=ICAP at Columbia University|access-date=25 August 2013|archive-date=13 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713041358/http://icap.columbia.edu/where-we-work/south-africa|url-status=live}}</ref> About 20% of the population use private healthcare.<ref name="fmhealth" /> Only 16% of the population are covered by [[health insurance|medical aid schemes]];<ref name="medicl">{{cite web|title=What does the demand for healthcare look like in SA?|url=http://www.mediclinic.co.za/about/Documents/ECONEX%20NHInote%203.pdf|publisher=Mediclinic Southern Africa|access-date=25 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002145453/http://www.mediclinic.co.za/about/Documents/ECONEX%20NHInote%203.pdf|archive-date=2 October 2013 }}</ref> the rest pay for private care [[Out-of-pocket expense|out-of-pocket]] or through in-hospital-only plans.<ref name="fmhealth">{{cite web|title=Motsoaledi to reform private health care|url=http://www.fm.co.za/fm/CoverStory/2013/07/04/motsoaledi-to-reform-private-health-care|publisher=Financial Mail|access-date=25 August 2013|archive-date=7 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707152200/http://www.fm.co.za/fm/CoverStory/2013/07/04/motsoaledi-to-reform-private-health-care|url-status=live}}</ref> The three dominant hospital groups, [[Mediclinic International|Mediclinic]], [[LIFE Healthcare Group|Life Healthcare]] and [[Netcare]], together control 75% of the private hospital market.<ref name="fmhealth" /> ==== HIV/AIDS ==== {{Main|HIV/AIDS in South Africa}} [[File:Life expectancy in select African countries, 1950–2019.jpg|thumb|Life expectancy in select Southern African countries, 1950–2019. [[HIV/AIDS]] has caused a fall in life expectancy.]] According to the 2015 [[Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS|UNAIDS]] medical report, South Africa has an estimated seven million people who are living with HIV – more than any other country in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/southafrica|title=HIV and AIDS estimates (2015)|access-date=21 December 2014|archive-date=12 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212190759/http://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/southafrica|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, HIV prevalence—the percentage of people living with HIV—among adults (15–49 years) was 20.4%, and in the same year 71,000 people died from an AIDS-related illness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/southafrica|title=South Africa|website=www.unaids.org|language=en|access-date=9 November 2019|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828020358/https://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/southafrica|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2008 study revealed that HIV/AIDS infection is distinctly divided along racial lines: 13.6% of blacks are HIV-positive, whereas only 0.3% of whites have the virus.<ref name="ten">{{cite web|title=South Africa HIV & AIDS Statistics|url=http://www.avert.org/south-africa-hiv-aids-statistics.htm|publisher=AVERT.org|access-date=6 May 2013|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016190720/http://www.avert.org/south-africa-hiv-aids-statistics.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Most deaths are experienced by economically active individuals, resulting in many [[AIDS orphan]]s who in many cases depend on the state for care and financial support.<ref name="avertaids">{{cite web|url=http://www.avert.org/aidsorphans.htm|title=AIDS orphans|publisher=Avert|access-date=8 October 2006|archive-date=7 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707054438/http://www.avert.org/aidsorphans.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It is estimated that there are 1,200,000 orphans in South Africa.<ref name="avertaids" /> The link between HIV, a virus spread primarily by sexual contact, and AIDS was long [[HIV/AIDS denialism|denied]] by President [[Thabo Mbeki]] and his health minister [[Manto Tshabalala-Msimang]], who insisted that the many deaths in the country are caused by [[Malnutrition in South Africa|malnutrition]], and hence poverty, and not HIV.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/21094|title=Sack SA Health Minister – world's AIDS experts|publisher=afrol News|access-date=8 October 2006|archive-date=18 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018120544/http://www.afrol.com/articles/21094|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, in response to international pressure, the government made efforts to fight AIDS.<ref name="www.info.gov.za">{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.za/otherdocs/2007/aidsplan2007/situation_analysis.pdf|title=Situation Analysis. HIV & AIDS and STI Strategic Plan 2007–2011|publisher=info.gov.za|access-date=26 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530221742/http://www.info.gov.za/otherdocs/2007/aidsplan2007/situation_analysis.pdf|archive-date=30 May 2013 }}</ref> After the [[2009 South African general election|2009 general elections]], President Jacob Zuma appointed [[Aaron Motsoaledi]] as the health minister and committed his government to increasing funding for and widening the scope of HIV treatment,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unpan.org/Regions/Africa/PublicAdministrationNews/tabid/113/mctl/ArticleView/ModuleId/1460/articleId/21146/Zuma-Announces-NHI-AIDS-Reforms.aspx|title=Zuma announces AIDS reforms|publisher=UNPAN|access-date=9 March 2010|archive-date=27 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227121601/http://www.unpan.org/Regions/Africa/PublicAdministrationNews/tabid/113/mctl/ArticleView/ModuleId/1460/articleId/21146/Zuma-Announces-NHI-AIDS-Reforms.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> and by 2015, South Africa had made significant progress, with the widespread availability of [[Management of HIV/AIDS|antiretroviral drugs]] resulted in an increase in life expectancy from 52.1 years to 62.5 years.<ref name="conversationHIVExcelled">{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-excelled-in-treating-hiv-prevention-remains-a-disaster-51501|title=South Africa has excelled in treating HIV – prevention remains a disaster|first=Saiqa|last=Mullick|date=December 2015 |access-date=12 July 2018|archive-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712052403/https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-excelled-in-treating-hiv-prevention-remains-a-disaster-51501|url-status=live}}</ref> === Urbanization === One online database<ref>{{Cite web|title=South African Cities And Provinces – A Complete List|url=https://dirkstrauss.com/south-african-cities/|website=dirkstrauss.com|date=27 December 2018 |access-date=26 April 2021|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507050602/https://dirkstrauss.com/south-african-cities/|url-status=live}}</ref> lists South Africa having more than 12,600 cities and towns. The following are the largest cities and towns in South Africa. {{Largest cities of South Africa}} == Government and Politics == {{Main|Government of South Africa|Politics of South Africa|Law of South Africa}} {{Seealso|LGBT rights in South Africa|Human rights in South Africa}} [[File:Uniegebou.jpg|thumb|alt=Photo of the Union Buildings|[[Union Buildings]] in Pretoria, seat of the executive]] [[File:Cape_Town,_Houses_of_Parliament.JPG|thumb|Houses of [[Parliament of South Africa|Parliament]] in Cape Town, seat of the legislature]] [[File:Constitutional_Court_of_South_Africa.jpg|thumb|alt=Photo of the Constitutional Court|[[Constitutional Court of South Africa|Constitutional Court]] in Johannesburg]] South Africa is a [[parliamentary republic]], but unlike most such republics, the [[President of South Africa|president]] is both [[head of state]] and [[head of government]] and depends for their tenure on the [[Confidence and supply|confidence]] of [[Parliament of South Africa|Parliament]]. The executive, legislature, and judiciary are all subject to the supremacy of the [[Constitution of South Africa]], and the [[Courts of South Africa|superior courts]] have the power to strike down executive actions and acts of Parliament if they are unconstitutional. The [[National Assembly of South Africa|National Assembly]], the lower house of Parliament, consists of 400 members and is elected every five years by a system of [[party-list proportional representation]]. The [[National Council of Provinces]], the upper house, consists of ninety members, with each of the nine [[provincial legislature (South Africa)|provincial legislatures]] electing ten members. After each parliamentary election, the National Assembly elects one of its members as president; hence the president serves a term of office the same as that of the Assembly, normally five years. No president may serve more than two terms in office.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/node/6772433|title=Term Limits in Africa|newspaper=The Economist|date=6 April 2006|access-date=26 June 2013|archive-date=19 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019194644/http://www.economist.com/node/6772433|url-status=live }}</ref> The president appoints a [[Deputy President of South Africa|deputy president]] and [[Minister (government)|ministers]] (each representing a [[Ministry (government department)|department]]) who form the [[Cabinet of South Africa|cabinet]]. The National Assembly may remove the president and the cabinet by a [[motion of no confidence]]. In the [[2019 South African general election|most recent election]], held on 8 May 2019, the ANC won 58% of the vote and 230 seats, while the main opposition, the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]], won 21% of the vote and 84 seats. The [[Economic Freedom Fighters]], founded by [[Julius Malema]], former president of the [[African National Congress Youth League|ANC Youth League]] who was later expelled from the ANC, won 11% of the vote and 44 seats. The ANC has been the governing political party in South Africa since the end of apartheid.<ref>{{cite news |title=South Africa election: ANC wins with reduced majority |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48211598 |work=BBC News |date=11 May 2019}}</ref> {{Anchor|Capital}}South Africa has no legally defined capital city. The fourth chapter of the constitution states "The seat of Parliament is Cape Town, but an Act of Parliament enacted in accordance with section 76(1) and (5) may determine that the seat of Parliament is elsewhere."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons4.htm#42|title=Chapter 4 – Parliament|date=19 August 2009|access-date=3 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530232314/http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons4.htm|archive-date=30 May 2013 }}</ref> The country's three branches of government are split over different cities. Cape Town, as the seat of Parliament, is the legislative capital; Pretoria, as the seat of the president and cabinet, is the administrative capital; and Bloemfontein is the seat of the [[Supreme Court of Appeal (South Africa)|Supreme Court of Appeal]], and has traditionally been regarded as the judicial capital;<ref name="Marais Twala 2020 pp. 49–62"/> although the highest court, the [[Constitutional Court of South Africa]] has been based in Johannesburg since 1994. Most foreign embassies are located in Pretoria. Since 2004, South Africa has had many thousands of popular protests,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Peter |title=Protests and Police Statistics: Some Commentary |url=https://www.amandla.org.za/protests-and-police-statistics-some-commentary-by-prof-peter-alexander/ |work=Amandla |date=27 March 2012 }}</ref> some violent, making it, according to one academic, the "most protest-rich country in the world".<ref>{{cite web|first=Imraan|last=Buccus|url=http://abahlali.org/node/1898|title=Mercury: Rethinking the crisis of local democracy|date=27 August 2007 |publisher=Abahlali.org|access-date=30 October 2011|archive-date=19 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019160241/http://abahlali.org/node/1898|url-status=live }}</ref> There have been numerous incidents of [[Political repression in post-apartheid South Africa|political repression]] as well as threats of future repression in violation of the constitution, leading some analysts and [[civil society]] organisations to conclude that there is or could be a new climate of political repression.<ref>{{cite web|author=J. Duncan|url=http://www.sacsis.org.za/site/article/489.1|title=The Return of State Repression|publisher=South African Civil Society Information Services|date=31 May 2010|access-date=26 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630181604/http://www.sacsis.org.za/site/article/489.1|archive-date=30 June 2013|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fxi.org.za/content/view/47/51/|title=Increasing police repression highlighted by recent case|publisher=Freedom of Expression Institute|year=2006|access-date=26 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120181236/http://www.fxi.org.za/content/view/47/51/|archive-date=20 January 2013}}</ref> In 2022, South Africa placed sixth out of 48 sub-Saharan African countries on the [[Ibrahim Index of African Governance]]. South Africa scored well in the categories of [[Rule of law|Rule of Law]], [[Transparency (behavior)|Transparency]] and Corruption, and [[Public participation (decision making)|Participation]] and Human Rights, but score low in Safety and Security.<ref>{{cite web|title=South Africa's recent performance in the Ibrahim Index of African Governance|url=http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/south-africa/|publisher=Mo Ibrahim Foundation|access-date=16 February 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218132708/http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/south-africa/|archive-date=18 February 2013 }}</ref>{{update inline|date=September 2023}} In 2006, South Africa became the first and only African country to legalise [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6159991.stm|title=SA marriage law signed|work=BBC News|date=30 November 2006|access-date=26 June 2013|archive-date=20 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120235651/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6159991.stm|url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NYTimes"></ref> The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme rule of law in the country. The primary sources of [[Law of South Africa|South African law]] are [[Roman-Dutch law|Roman-Dutch mercantile law]] and personal law and [[English law|English Common law]], as imports of Dutch settlements and British colonialism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.llrx.com/features/southafrica.htm|title=Researching South African Law|access-date=23 June 2008|first1=Pamela|last1=Snyman|first2=Amanda|last2=Barratt|name-list-style=amp|date=2 October 2002|publisher=w/ Library Resource Xchange|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617154356/http://www.llrx.com/features/southafrica.htm|archive-date=17 June 2008 }}</ref> The first European-based law in South Africa was brought by the Dutch East India Company and is called Roman-Dutch law. It was imported before the [[Codification (law)|codification]] of European law into the [[Napoleonic Code]] and is comparable in many ways to [[Scots law]]. This was followed in the 19th century by English law, both [[Common law|common]] and [[Statutory law|statutory]]. After unification in 1910, South Africa had its own parliament which passed laws specific for South Africa, building on those previously passed for the individual member colonies. The judicial system consists of the [[Magistrate's court (South Africa)|magistrates' courts]], which hear lesser criminal cases and smaller civil cases; the [[High Court of South Africa|High Court]], which has divisions that serve as the courts of [[general jurisdiction]] for specific areas; the Supreme Court of Appeal; and the Constitutional Court, which is the highest court. === Foreign relations === {{Main|Foreign relations of South Africa}} [[File:Leaders BRICS summit 2019.jpg|thumb|left|President of South Africa, [[Cyril Ramaphosa]] (far left), poses with the [[BRICS]] heads of state and government during the [[11th BRICS summit]], 2019]] As the Union of South Africa, the country was a founding member of the United Nations (UN), with Prime Minister [[Jan Smuts]] writing the [[preamble to the United Nations Charter|preamble to the UN Charter]].<ref name="gildersleeve">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.columbia.edu/cu/alumni/Magazine/Summer2001/Gildersleeve.html|title=Virginia Gildersleeve: Opening the Gates (Living Legacies)|first=Rosalind|last=Rosenberg|date=Summer 2001|magazine=Columbia Magazine|access-date=14 December 2009|archive-date=2 January 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040102153832/http://www.columbia.edu/cu/alumni/Magazine/Summer2001/Gildersleeve.html|url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Schlesinger">{{cite book|author=Schlesinger, Stephen E.|title=Act of Creation: The Founding of the United Nations: A Story of Superpowers, Secret Agents, Wartime Allies and Enemies, and Their Quest for a Peaceful World|publisher=Westview, Perseus Books Group|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts|year=2004|pages=236–7|isbn=978-0-8133-3275-8 }}</ref> South Africa is one of the founding members of the [[African Union]] (AU) and has the [[List of African countries by GDP (nominal)|third largest economy of all the members]]. It is a founding member of the AU's [[New Partnership for Africa's Development]]. After apartheid ended, South Africa was readmitted to the [[Commonwealth of Nations]]. The country is a member of the [[Group of 77]] and chaired the organisation in 2006. South Africa is also a member of the [[Southern African Development Community]], [[South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone]], [[Southern African Customs Union]], [[Antarctic Treaty System]], [[World Trade Organization]], International Monetary Fund, [[G20]], [[G8+5]], and the [[Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa]]. South Africa has played a key role as a mediator in African conflicts over the last decade, such as in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Comoros, and Zimbabwe. President [[Jacob Zuma]] and Chinese President [[Hu Jintao]] upgraded bilateral ties between the two countries in 2010 when they signed the Beijing Agreement which elevated South Africa's earlier "strategic partnership" with China to the higher level of "comprehensive strategic partnership" in both economic and political affairs, including the strengthening of exchanges between their respective ruling parties and legislatures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capetown.china-consulate.org/eng/gdxw/t726883.htm|title=China, South Africa upgrade relations to "comprehensive strategic partnership"|publisher=Capetown.china-consulate.org|date=25 August 2010|access-date=26 June 2013|archive-date=31 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731050004/http://capetown.china-consulate.org/eng/gdxw/t726883.htm|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/global/brics/brics-080411.htm|title=New era as South Africa joins BRICS|publisher=Southafrica.info|date=11 April 2011|access-date=26 June 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418004139/http://www.southafrica.info/global/brics/brics-080411.htm|archive-date=18 April 2011}}</ref> In 2011, South Africa joined the Brazil-Russia-India-China ([[BRICS]]) grouping of countries, identified by Zuma as the country's largest trading partners and also the largest trading partners with Africa as a whole. Zuma asserted that BRICS member countries would also work with each other through the UN, G20, and the India, Brazil South Africa ([[IBSA Dialogue Forum|IBSA]]) forum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/global/brics/brics-140411.htm|title=SA brings 'unique attributes' to BRICS|publisher=Southafrica.info|date=14 April 2011|access-date=26 June 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709031314/http://www.southafrica.info/global/brics/brics-140411.htm|archive-date=9 July 2011}}</ref> === Military === {{Main|South African National Defence Force}} {{Multiple image | image1 = SAAF-Gripen-001 (cropped).jpg | alt1 = | caption1 = [[South African Air Force]] [[JAS-39|Saab Gripen]] | image2 = Rooivalk in flight (cropped).jpg | caption2 = South African-made [[Denel Rooivalk|Rooivalk]] attack helicopter | image3 = SAS Spioenkop during Exercise IBSAMAR V (cropped).JPG | caption3 = [[SAS Spioenkop|SAS ''Spioenkop'' (F147)]], one of the four [[Valour-class frigate|Valour-class]] stealth guided-missile frigates of the [[South African Navy]] | total_width = | perrow = 2 | caption4 = The [[Denel Rooivalk]] attack helicopter | direction = vertical | width = 220 }} The [[South African National Defence Force]] (SANDF) was created in 1994<ref name="constitution-1993-224">{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/93cons.htm#SECTION224|title=Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 200 of 1993 (Section 224)|access-date=23 June 2008|year=1993|publisher=South African Government|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612100516/http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/93cons.htm|archive-date=12 June 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.issafrica.org/Pubs/ASR/6No2/VanStade.html|title=Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge|access-date=23 June 2008|year=1997|author=L. B. van Stade|publisher=Institute for Security Studies|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316204323/https://issafrica.org/pubs/asr/6no2/vanstade.html|archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref> as a [[volunteer military]] composed of the former [[South African Defence Force]], the forces of the African nationalist groups ({{lang|xh|[[uMkhonto we Sizwe]]|italics=no}} and [[Azanian People's Liberation Army]]), and the former Bantustan defence forces.<ref name="constitution-1993-224" /> The SANDF is subdivided into four branches, the [[South African Army]], the [[South African Air Force]], the [[South African Navy]], and the [[South African Military Health Service]].<ref name="act-42-2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.za/gazette/acts/2002/a42-02.pdf|title=Defence Act 42 of 2002|access-date=23 June 2008|date=12 February 2003|publisher=South African Government|page=18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624211758/http://www.info.gov.za/gazette/acts/2002/a42-02.pdf|archive-date=24 June 2008|url-status=dead }}</ref> The SANDF consists of around 75,000 [[Standing army|professional soldiers]] as of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Career Descriptions – S. A. National Defence Force |url=https://www.bmdnet.co.za/S/S_%20A_%20National%20Defence%20Force.htm |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=www.bmdnet.co.za}}</ref> In recent years, the SANDF has become a major [[peacekeeping]] force in Africa,<ref name="dod-sep2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.dod.mil.za/media/media2005/sep/media_statements5sep2005.htm|title=Address by the Minister of Defence at a media breakfast at Defence Headquarters, Pretoria|access-date=23 June 2008|first=Mosiuoa|last=Lekota|date=5 September 2005|publisher=Department of Defence|archive-date=14 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214012305/http://www.dod.mil.za/media/media2005/sep/media_statements5sep2005.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> and has been involved in operations in Lesotho, the DRC,<ref name="dod-sep2005" /> and Burundi,<ref name="dod-sep2005" /> amongst others. It has also served in multinational [[United Nations peacekeeping|UN Peacekeeping forces]] such as the [[United Nations Force Intervention Brigade|UN Force Intervention Brigade]]. In 2022 the nation spent US$3.069 billion on its armed forces which is about 0.86% of the nation's entire GDP. Over the years, [[Military budget|defence expenditure]] has been cut as the nation currently faces no external military threats.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Guy |date=2021-05-05 |title=SA defence budget falling to only .86% of GDP |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/sa-defence-budget-falling-to-only-86-of-gdp/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=defenceWeb |language=en-ZA}}</ref> The SANDF are often deployed in crime fighting and whenever the [[South African Police Service]] (SAPS) are no longer able to control the situation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SANDF deployment to prevent & combat crime; Update on security situation in the country; with Minister {{!}} PMG |url=https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/33303/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=pmg.org.za |language=en}}</ref> During the [[2021 South African unrest]], South Africa's worst violence since the end of [[apartheid]], saw the deployment of 25,000 troops, more than a dozen military helicopters and heavily armed vehicles deployed in the nation's [[KwaZulu-Natal]] and [[Gauteng]] provinces to assist the South African Police in ending the riots and looting, this was one of the nation's largest military deployments since 1994, the largest deployment of troops since the end of apartheid was in March 2020, when 70,000 troops were deployed to enforce the nation's strict lockdown laws to combat the spread of [[COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa|COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-15 |title=25,000 troops deployed to quell South Africa riots, 117 dead |url=https://apnews.com/article/africa-south-africa-59f7817632563dcf19d7e212de8046c9 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> South Africa has a lot of [[List of South African military bases|military bases]] distributed all over the nation, this includes two naval bases, nine air force bases and the army maintains large bases in all nine provinces of the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Husseini |first=Talal |date=2019-06-13 |title=Air force bases in South Africa: past and present operations |url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/air-force-bases-in-south-africa/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Airforce Technology |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Defence industry of South Africa|South African Defence Industry]] is the most advanced on the African continent and one of the most advanced in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lionel |first=Ekene |date=2017-11-28 |title=Here are some of South African Made weapons |url=https://www.military.africa/2017/11/here-are-some-of-south-african-made-weapons/ |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Military Africa |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa: An Overview of the Defence Industry |url=https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/sa/sa_july01ber01.html |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu}}</ref> As of 2020 South Africa is the world's 24th largest arms exporter, the only nation in Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arms exports by country, around the world |url=https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/arms_exports/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=TheGlobalEconomy.com |language=en}}</ref> The nation designs many types of weapons that range from armored fighting vehicles to [[ballistic missile]]s, notable South African-made weapons include the [[Ratel IFV]], the world's first wheeled [[infantry fighting vehicle]], South Africa also made its own [[attack helicopter]] known as the "[[Denel Rooivalk|Rooivalk]]" which is known to be one of the most advanced attack helicopters in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lionel |first=Ekene |date=2017-11-28 |title=Here are some of South African Made weapons |url=https://www.military.africa/2017/11/here-are-some-of-south-african-made-weapons/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=Military Africa |language=en-US}}</ref> In recent years a R16 billion ($1 billion) contract was signed with the local defence industry which aims to produce 244 units of [[Badger IFV]] for the SANDF.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Guy |date=2020-11-06 |title=Hoefyster the biggest threat to Denel – Hlahla |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/hoefyster-the-biggest-threat-to-denel-hlahla/ |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=defenceWeb |language=en-ZA}}</ref> South Africa is the only African country to have successfully developed [[South Africa and weapons of mass destruction|nuclear weapons]]. It became the first country (followed by Ukraine) with nuclear capability to voluntarily renounce and dismantle its programme and in the process signed the [[Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons|Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]] in 1991.<ref name="fas-ocp27" /> South Africa undertook a [[Nuclear programme of South Africa|nuclear weapons programme]] in the 1970s.<ref name="fas-ocp27">{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/nuke/guide/rsa/nuke/ocp27.htm|title=Out of (South) Africa: Pretoria's Nuclear Weapons Experience|access-date=23 June 2008|author=Roy E. Horton III|date=October 1999|publisher=USAF Institute for National Security Studies|archive-date=6 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506144626/http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/rsa/nuke/ocp27.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> South Africa is [[Vela incident|alleged to have conducted]] a nuclear test over the Atlantic in 1979,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB190/01.pdf|title=South Atlantic Nuclear Event (National Security Council, Memorandum)|access-date=23 June 2008|first=Christine|last=Dodson|date=22 October 1979|publisher=George Washington University under Freedom of Information Act Request|archive-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629172818/http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB190/01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> although this is officially denied; de Klerk maintained that South Africa had "never conducted a clandestine nuclear test."<ref name="South Africa comes clean">{{cite book|author=Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science, Inc.|title=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQwAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3|access-date=26 June 2013|date=May 1993|publisher=Educational Foundation for Nuclear Science, Inc.|pages=3–4|chapter=South Africa comes clean|series=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Science and Public Affairs|issn=0096-3402|archive-date=11 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011173919/http://books.google.com/books?id=qQwAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3|url-status=live}}</ref> Six nuclear devices were completed between 1980 and 1990 but all were dismantled by 1991.<ref name="South Africa comes clean" /> In 2017, South Africa signed the UN treaty on the [[Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons|Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en|title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament – No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons|publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection|date=7 July 2017|access-date=10 August 2019|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813020027/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en|url-status=live }}</ref> === Law enforcement and crime === {{Main|Law enforcement in South Africa|Crime in South Africa}} [[File:South african police may 2010.jpg|thumb|left|Officers of the [[South African Police Service]] with [[R4 assault rifle|Vektor R5]] rifles on parade in Johannesburg, 2010]] Law enforcement in South Africa is primarily the responsibility of the [[South African Police Service]] (SAPS), South Africa's national police force. SAPS is responsible for investigating crime and security throughout the country. The South African Police Service has over 1,154 police stations across the country and over 150,950 officers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa Yearbook 2019/20 {{!}} Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) |url=https://www.gcis.gov.za/content/resourcecentre/sa-info/south-africa-yearbook-201920 |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=www.gcis.gov.za}}</ref> In 2023 the [[Special Task Force (SAPS)]] placed 9th at the international SWAT competition out of 55 law enforcement teams from across the world making it the best in Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchley |first=Alex |title=Best in Africa: SAPS' Special Task Force Unit places ninth at international SWAT competition |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/best-in-africa-saps-special-task-force-unit-places-ninth-at-international-swat-competition-20230226 |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> South Africa has the world's largest [[Private security industry in South Africa|private security industry]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Guy |date=2012-10-30 |title=South Africa has world's largest private security industry; needs regulation – Mthethwa |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/industry/industry-industry/south-africa-has-worlds-largest-private-security-industry-needs-regulation-mthethwa/ |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=defenceWeb |language=en-ZA}}</ref> with over 10,380 private security companies and 2.5 million private security personnel of which over 556,000 are active,<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 May 2021 |title=Security guards vs police officers in South Africa |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/489295/security-guards-vs-police-officers-in-south-africa/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=BusinessTech}}</ref> making it bigger than the South African Police Force and Military combined.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eastwood |first=Victoria |date=2013-02-08 |title=Bigger than the army: South Africa's private security forces {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/02/08/business/south-africa-private-security/index.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Private security mainly provide assistance to the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat crime throughout the country. Over the years there has been tremendous growth in the private security industry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recent Growth In The Private Security Industry |url=https://www.buildingsecurity.com/blog/recent-private-security-growth/ |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=Building Security Services |language=en}}</ref> As of February 2023, South Africa has the sixth highest crime rate in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2023 |title=The safest and most dangerous countries in the world – and where South Africa ranks |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/661833/the-safest-and-most-dangerous-countries-in-the-world-and-where-south-africa-ranks/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20platform's%20ranking,by%20gunshot%20per%20100%2C000%20people. |website=BusinessTech}}</ref> From April 2017 to March 2018, on average 57 murders were committed each day in South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/271997/heres-how-south-africas-crime-rate-compares-to-actual-warzones/|title=Here's how South Africa's crime rate compares to actual warzones|author=Staff Writer|website=businesstech.co.za|language=en-US|access-date=19 July 2019|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719182304/https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/271997/heres-how-south-africas-crime-rate-compares-to-actual-warzones/|url-status=live }}</ref> In the year ended March 2017, there were 20,336 murders and the murder rate was 35.9 per 100,000 – over five times higher than the global average of 6.2 per 100,000.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dataunodc.un.org/GSH_app|title=Global Study on Homicide – Statistics and Data|website=dataunodc.un.org|access-date=19 July 2019|archive-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715203654/https://dataunodc.un.org/GSH_app|url-status=dead }}</ref> More than 526,000 South Africans were murdered from 1994 to 2019.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Douglas|title=SA's murder rate is worse than the coronavirus mortality rate|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/opinion/sas-murder-rate-is-worse-than-the-coronavirus-mortality-rate-43987823|agency=IOL|publisher=iol.co.za|date=3 March 2020|access-date=4 August 2021|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804174704/https://www.iol.co.za/news/opinion/sas-murder-rate-is-worse-than-the-coronavirus-mortality-rate-43987823|url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:Smash and Grab Hot Spot, Retreat (South Africa).jpg|thumb|Smash and Grab Hot Spot sign in [[Retreat, Cape Town]]]] South Africa has a high rape rate, with 43,195 rapes reported in 2014/15, and an unknown number of [[sexual assault]]s going unreported.<ref name="africaCheckRapeStats">{{cite web|url=https://africacheck.org/factsheets/guide-rape-statistics-in-south-africa/|title=GUIDE: Rape statistics in South Africa – Africa Check|access-date=11 July 2018|archive-date=25 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325164521/https://africacheck.org/factsheets/guide-rape-statistics-in-south-africa/|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2009 survey of 1,738 men in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape by the Medical Research Council found one in four men admitted to raping someone,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8107039.stm| work=BBC News| title=South African rape survey shock| date=18 June 2009| access-date=23 May 2010| archive-date=17 August 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817141650/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8107039.stm| url-status=live }}</ref> and another survey of 4,000 women in Johannesburg by CIET Africa found one in three said they had been raped in the past year.<ref name="bbc1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/258446.stm|title=South Africa's rape shock|work=BBC News|date=19 January 1999|access-date=30 May 2010|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402230527/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/258446.stm|url-status=live }}</ref> Rape occurs most commonly within relationships, but many men and women say that rape cannot occur in relationships; however, one in four women reported having been abused by an intimate partner.<ref name="Abrahams">{{cite web|url=http://www.arsrc.org/downloads/sia/sep04/sep04.pdf|title=Sexual Violence Against Women in South Africa.|publisher=Sexuality in Africa 1.3|year=2004|access-date=29 February 2012|archive-date=18 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018202051/http://www.arsrc.org/downloads/sia/sep04/sep04.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Rapes are also perpetrated by children (some as young as ten).<ref name="medscape">{{cite web|url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/444213|title=Child rape in South Africa|publisher=Medscape|access-date=31 December 2010|archive-date=29 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229174131/http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/444213|url-status=live }}</ref> The incidence of [[Child sexual abuse|child and infant rape]] is among the highest in the world, largely as a result of the [[virgin cleansing myth]], and a number of high-profile cases (sometimes as young as eight months)<ref name="medscape" /> have outraged the nation.<ref name="time">{{cite magazine|last=Perry|first=Alex|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1680715,00.html?xid=feed-yahoo-full-world|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818063455/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1680715,00.html?xid=feed-yahoo-full-world|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2009|title=Oprah scandal rocks South Africa|magazine=Time|date=5 November 2007|access-date=15 May 2011}}</ref> Between 1994 and 2018, there were more than 500 [[Xenophobia|xenophobic]] [[Xenophobia in South Africa|attacks against foreigners]] in South Africa.<ref>{{cite news|title=After a Week of Xenophobic Attacks, South Africa Grapples for Answers|url=https://www.voanews.com/africa/after-week-xenophobic-attacks-south-africa-grapples-answers|work=VOA News|date=6 September 2019|access-date=22 September 2019|archive-date=22 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922075016/https://www.voanews.com/africa/after-week-xenophobic-attacks-south-africa-grapples-answers|url-status=live }}</ref> The [[2019 Johannesburg riots]] were similar in nature and origin to the [[May 2008 South Africa riots|2008 xenophobic riots]] that also occurred in Johannesburg.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/gauteng-xenophobia-attacks-akin-to-2008-crisis-institute-of-race-relations-20190905|title=Gauteng xenophobia attacks akin to 2008 crisis – Institute of Race Relations|date=5 September 2019|website=News24|language=en|access-date=22 September 2019|archive-date=15 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915032441/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/gauteng-xenophobia-attacks-akin-to-2008-crisis-institute-of-race-relations-20190905|url-status=dead}}</ref> === Administrative divisions === {{Main|Administrative divisions of South Africa|Provinces of South Africa}} [[File:Map of South Africa with English labels.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.6|[[Provinces of South Africa]]]] Each of the nine provinces is governed by a [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[provincial legislature (South Africa)|legislature]], which is elected every five years by [[party-list proportional representation]]. The legislature elects a [[Premier (South Africa)|premier]] as head of government, and the premier appoints an [[Executive Council (South Africa)|Executive Council]] as a provincial cabinet. The powers of provincial governments are limited to topics listed in the constitution; these topics include such fields as health, education, public housing and transport. The provinces are in turn divided into 52 [[Districts of South Africa|districts]]: 8 [[Metropolitan municipality (South Africa)|metropolitan]] and 44 [[District municipality (South Africa)|district municipalities]]. The district municipalities are further subdivided into 205 [[Local municipality (South Africa)|local municipalities]]. The metropolitan municipalities, which govern the largest urban agglomerations, perform the functions of both district and local municipalities. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: right" |- ! Province ! Provincial capital ! Largest city ! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/StatsInBrief/StatsInBrief2010.pdf |title=Stats in Brief, 2010 |publisher=Statistics South Africa |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-621-39563-1 |location=Pretoria |page=3 |access-date=14 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820132652/http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/StatsInBrief/StatsInBrief2010.pdf |archive-date=20 August 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> ! Population (2016)<ref name="2016CS">{{cite web |title=Community Survey 2016 In Brief |url=http://cs2016.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/CS-in-brief-14-07-2017-with-cover_1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516231635/http://cs2016.statssa.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/CS-in-brief-14-07-2017-with-cover_1.pdf |archive-date=16 May 2018 |access-date=28 April 2018 |publisher=Statistics South Africa}}</ref> ! Population (2020)<ref>''Stats in Brief, 2020'': Mid 2020 official estimates from Statistics South Africa, Pretoria.</ref> |- | align="left" | [[Eastern Cape]]|| align="left" |[[Bhisho]]|| align="left" |[[Gqeberha]]|| 168,966|| 6,996,976|| 6,734,000 |- | align="left" |[[Free State (South African province)|Free State]]|| align="left" |[[Bloemfontein]]|| align="left" |Bloemfontein|| 129,825|| 2,834,714|| 2,929,000 |- | align="left" |[[Gauteng]]|| align="left" |[[Johannesburg]]|| align="left" |Johannesburg|| 18,178|| 13,399,724|| 15,488,000 |- | align="left" |[[KwaZulu-Natal]]|| align="left" |[[Pietermaritzburg]]|| align="left" |[[Durban]]|| 94,361|| 11,065,240|| 11,532,000 |- | align="left" |[[Limpopo]]|| align="left" |[[Polokwane]]|| align="left" |Polokwane|| 125,754|| 5,799,090|| 5,853,000 |- | align="left" |[[Mpumalanga]]|| align="left" |[[Mbombela]]|| align="left" |Mbombela|| 76,495|| 4,335,964|| 4,680,000 |- | align="left" |[[North West (South African province)|North West]]|| align="left" |[[Mahikeng]]|| align="left" |[[Klerksdorp]]|| 104,882|| 3,748,435|| 4,109,000 |- | align="left" |[[Northern Cape]]|| align="left" |[[Kimberley, South Africa|Kimberley]]|| align="left" |Kimberley|| 372,889|| 1,193,780|| 1,293,000 |- | align="left" |[[Western Cape]]|| align="left" |[[Cape Town]]|| align="left" |Cape Town|| 129,462|| 6,279,730|| 7,006,000 |} == Economy == {{Main|Economy of South Africa}} [[File:Johannesburg Stock Exchange.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The [[JSE Limited|Johannesburg Stock Exchange]] (JSE) is the largest [[stock exchange]] on the African continent and the [[List of stock exchanges|17th largest]] in the world with a [[market capitalization]] of $1.36 trillion<ref>{{Cite web |title=JSE Trading Hours & Market Holidays [2023] |url=https://www.tradinghours.com/markets/jse |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=www.tradinghours.com}}</ref>]] South Africa has a [[mixed economy]], South Africa's economy is the most industrialized and technologically advanced in Africa respectively,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.investsa.gov.za/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=InvestSA |language=en-US}}</ref> it has the [[List of African countries by GDP (nominal)|second largest]] economy in Africa, after Nigeria and the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|39th largest]] in the world. It also has a relatively high gross domestic product (GDP) per capita compared to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa US$16,080 at [[purchasing power parity]] as of 2023 ranked 95th. Despite this, South Africa is still burdened by a relatively high rate of poverty and unemployment and is ranked in the top ten countries in the world for [[Economic inequality|income inequality]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/indicators/161.html|title=Inequality in income or expenditure / Gini index, Human Development Report 2007/08|publisher=Hdrstats.undp.org|date=4 November 2010|access-date=26 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234423/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/indicators/161.html|archive-date=16 January 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html|title=Distribution of family income – Gini index|publisher=Cia.gov|access-date=26 June 2013|archive-date=13 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613005439/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2172.html|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/business/business-news/south-africa-has-widest-gap-between-rich-and-poor-1.707558|title=South Africa has highest gap between rich and poor|publisher=Business Report|date=28 September 2009|access-date=7 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023162404/http://www.iol.co.za/business/business-news/south-africa-has-widest-gap-between-rich-and-poor-1.707558|archive-date=23 October 2011 }}</ref> measured by the [[Gini coefficient]]. South Africa is ranked 40th by [[List of countries by total wealth|total Wealth]], making it the second wealthiest country in Africa, in terms of private wealth South Africa has a private wealth of $651 billion making South Africa's population the richest in Africa followed by [[Egypt]] with $307 billion and [[Nigeria]] with $228 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title=South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria account for 56% of Africa's wealth |url=https://qz.com/three-countries-account-for-56-of-africa-s-wealth-1849538625 |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref> Approximately 55.5% (30.3 million people) of the population is living in poverty at the national upper [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]] while a total of 13.8 million people (25% of the population) are experiencing food poverty.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://databankfiles.worldbank.org/public/ddpext_download/poverty/33EF03BB-9722-4AE2-ABC7-AA2972D68AFE/Global_POVEQ_ZAF.pdf|title=World bank : South Africa|accessdate=7 April 2023}}</ref> In 2015, 71% of net wealth are held by 10% of the population, whereas 60% of the population held only 7% of the net wealth, and the Gini coefficient was 0.63, whereas in 1996 it was 0.61.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/southafrica/overview|title=The World Bank In South Africa|access-date=17 May 2020|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528020105/https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/southafrica/overview|url-status=live }}</ref> Unlike most of the world's poor countries, South Africa does not have a thriving [[informal economy]]. Only 15% of South African jobs are in the [[Informal economy|informal sector]], compared with around half in [[Economy of Brazil|Brazil]] and [[Economy of India|India]] and nearly three-quarters in [[Economy of Indonesia|Indonesia]]. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ([[OECD]]) attributes this difference to South Africa's widespread welfare system.<ref name="economist1">{{cite news|title=South Africa's economy: How it could do even better.|url=https://www.economist.com/node/16647365|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=17 October 2011|date=22 July 2010|archive-date=12 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312021959/http://www.economist.com/node/16647365|url-status=live}}</ref> [[World Bank]] research shows that South Africa has one of the widest gaps between per capita GDP versus its [[Human Development Index]] ranking, with only Botswana showing a larger gap.<ref>{{cite web|title=DEPWeb: Beyond Economic Growth|url=http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/beyond/global/chapter15.html|publisher=The World Bank Group|access-date=17 October 2011|archive-date=6 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106020301/http://www.worldbank.org/depweb/english/beyond/global/chapter15.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[File:Johannesburg Skyline.jpg|thumb|[[Johannesburg]], the financial capital of South Africa and the African continent<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oluwole |first=Victor |date=2022-04-14 |title=Top 10 wealthiest cities in Africa |url=https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/top-10-wealthiest-cities-in-africa/2l5l5t4 |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Business Insider Africa |language=en}}</ref>]] After 1994, government policy brought down inflation, stabilised public finances, and some foreign capital was attracted; however, growth was still subpar.<ref name="assessment2008-2">{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/63/0,3343,en_2649_34577_40981951_1_1_1_1,00.html|title=Economic Assessment of South Africa 2008: Achieving Accelerated and Shared Growth for South Africa|publisher=OECD|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809083550/http://www.oecd.org//document//63//0%2C3343%2Cen_2649_34577_40981951_1_1_1_1%2C00.html|archive-date= 9 August 2009 }}</ref> From 2004 onward, economic growth picked up significantly; both employment and [[capital formation]] increased.<ref name="assessment2008-2" /> During the presidency of [[Jacob Zuma]], the government increased the role of [[state-owned enterprise]]s (SOEs). Some of the biggest SOEs are [[Eskom]], the electric power monopoly, [[South African Airways]] (SAA), and [[Transnet]], the railroad and ports monopoly. Some of these SOEs have not been profitable, such as SAA, which has required bailouts totaling R30 billion (${{To USD|30|ZAF}} billion) over the 20 years preceding 2015.<ref>"Commanding Plights." ''The Economist'' 29 August 2015: 37–38. Print.</ref> Principal international trading partners of South Africa—besides other African countries—include Germany, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Spain.<ref name=factbook>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-africa/|title=South Africa|website=The World Factbook|publisher=CIA|access-date=23 January 2021|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110042951/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-africa|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2020 [[Financial Secrecy Index]] ranked South Africa as the 58th safest [[tax haven]] in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Financial Secrecy Index 2020: Narrative Report on South Africa|url=https://fsi.taxjustice.net/PDF/SouthAfrica.pdf|access-date=28 February 2021|website=[[Financial Secrecy Index]]|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417064406/https://fsi.taxjustice.net/PDF/SouthAfrica.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Agriculture in South Africa|South African agricultural industry]] contributes around 10% of formal employment, relatively low compared to other parts of Africa, as well as providing work for casual labourers and contributing around 2.6% of GDP for the nation.<ref name="HRW">{{cite book|title=Unequal protection the state response to violent crime on South African farms|year=2001|publisher=Human Rights Watch|isbn=978-1-56432-263-0|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/safrica2/|access-date=4 December 2016|archive-date=1 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201151617/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/safrica2/|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to the [[arid]]ity of the land, only 13.5% can be used for crop production, and only 3% is considered high potential land.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mohamed|first=Najma|editor=Ben Cousins|title=At the Crossroads: Land and Agrarian Reform in South Africa Into the 21st Century|year=2000|publisher=Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS)|isbn=978-1-86808-467-8|chapter=Greening Land and Agrarian Reform: A Case for Sustainable Agriculture}}</ref> In August 2013, South Africa was ranked as the top African Country of the Future by ''[[fDi Intelligence]]'' based on the country's [[economic potential]], labour environment, cost-effectiveness, infrastructure, business friendliness, and [[foreign direct investment]] strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fdiintelligence.com/Locations/Middle-East-Africa/African-Countries-of-the-Future-2013-14|title=African Countries of the Future 2013/14|publisher=fDiIntelligence.com|access-date=4 December 2013|archive-date=11 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211072835/http://www.fdiintelligence.com/Locations/Middle-East-Africa/African-Countries-of-the-Future-2013-14|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Mining=== {{main|Mining in South Africa}} [[File:Platinum Mining.jpg|thumb|An aerial view of the [[Two Rivers mine]] in [[Steelpoort]], [[Limpopo]], owned by both African Rainbow Minerals and Impala Platinum holdings limited.]] South Africa has always been a mining powerhouse. Until 2006 South Africa was the [[List of countries by gold production|world's largest gold producer]] for almost a century, by the end of 2009 gold mining in South Africa had declined rapidly having produced 205 metric tons (mt) of gold in 2008 compared to 1,000 metric tons produced in 1970 (almost 80% of the world's mine supply at the time).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Decline of South African Gold Mining {{!}} E & MJ |url=https://www.e-mj.com/features/the-decline-of-south-african-gold-mining/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=www.e-mj.com}}</ref> Despite this, the country still has 6,000 tonnes of gold reserves<ref>{{Cite web |title=South African production: important but no longer globally significant |url=https://www.gold.org/goldhub/gold-focus/2019/06/south-african-production-important-no-longer-globally-significant |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=World Gold Council |date=18 June 2019 |language=en}}</ref> and is still number 5 in gold production and remains a cornucopia of mineral riches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold Statistics and Information {{!}} U.S. Geological Survey |url=https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/gold-statistics-and-information |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=www.usgs.gov}}</ref> South Africa is home to worlds deepest gold mine, [[Mponeng Gold Mine]], reaching nearly 4000m depth. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.harmony.co.za/operations/south-africa/underground/mponeng/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=www.harmony.co.za}}</ref>It is the world's largest producer<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/|title=USGS Minerals Information: Mineral Commodity Summaries|website=minerals.USGS.gov|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-date=7 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207190225/https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/|url-status=live}}</ref> of [[Chromium|chrome]], [[manganese]], [[platinum]], [[vanadium]] and [[vermiculite]]. It is the second largest producer<ref name="auto"/> of [[ilmenite]], [[palladium]], [[rutile]] and [[zirconium]]. It is the world's third largest coal exporter.<ref name="platts.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.platts.com/Coal/highlights/2006/coalp_ee_091106.xml|title=''South Africa's coal future looks bright''|website=Platts.com|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-date=29 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329012315/http://www.platts.com/Coal/highlights/2006/coalp_ee_091106.xml|url-status=live}}</ref> It is a huge producer of iron ore; in 2012, it overtook India to become the world's third-biggest iron ore supplier to China, the world's largest consumers of iron ore.<ref name=mwsa>{{Citation | url = http://www.miningweekly.com/article/sa-replaces-india-as-chinas-no-3-iron-ore-supplier-2013-01-21 | title = SA replaces India as China's No 3 iron-ore supplier | year = 2013 | publisher = [[Mining Weekly]] | publication-place = International | access-date = 31 May 2021 | archive-date = 13 December 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201213113139/https://www.miningweekly.com/article/sa-replaces-india-as-chinas-no-3-iron-ore-supplier-2013-01-21 | url-status = live }}</ref> === Tourism === {{Excerpt|Tourism in South Africa}} == Infrastructure == === Roads === [[File:Mandela Bridge, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.jpg|thumb|The [[Nelson Mandela Bridge]] in [[Johannesburg]]]] South Africa has a total road network of 750,000 kilometres, the largest of any African country and the [[List of countries by road network size|12th largest in the world]]. According to [[SANRAL]], the road network is valued at more than R2.1 trillion. SANRAL manages national roads and has a network of 22 197 kilometres of paved roads. Provinces are responsible for 222 951 kilometres while, according to the DoT, the municipal network is estimated at 275 661 kilometres of the proclaimed network. The rest are unproclaimed gravel roads (mainly serving rural communities) and are therefore not owned or maintained by any road authority. The country has more than 12 million motor vehicles with an average density of 16 motor vehicles per kilometre. The provincial road network is about 222 951 kilometres in length, consisting of 170 837 kilometres of unpaved and 52 114 kilometres of paved roads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.treasury.gov.za/default.aspx|title=National Treasury|website=www.treasury.gov.za|accessdate=7 April 2023}}</ref> === Railways === {{Main|Rail transport in South Africa}} [[File:Gautrain..., O R Tambo Intl Airport South Africa.jpg|thumb|[[Gautrain]] [[Higher-speed rail|higher-speed]] commuter rail]] Rail transport in South Africa is an important element of the country's [[Transportation infrastructure|transport infrastructure]]. All major cities are connected by rail. [[Transnet Freight Rail]] mainly operates freight services while [[Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa|PRASA]] operates commuter services. State-owned utility Transnet Freight Rail is the largest freight rail transport operator on the African continent, the company maintains a rail network of approximately 31,000 kilometres but only 20,900 kilometres of this are in use.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa Transnet Freight Rail |url=https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/south-africa-transnet-freight-rail |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=www.trade.gov |date=5 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref> South Africa's railway system is the most developed and largest in Africa as well as the [[List of countries by rail transport network size|13th largest in the world]]; however, freight, passenger and port capacity shortages remain a severe constraint in domestic and regional trade.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa – Rail Infrastructure |url=https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/south-africa-rail-infrastructure |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=www.trade.gov |language=en}}</ref> Coal and iron ore are mainly transported on these lines, the country's rail network carried nearly 230 million tons of freight in 2017 however, this has declined to 179 million tons in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daniel |first=Compiled by Luke |title=SA's railways have lost a quarter of its freight in five years – making already bad roads worse |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/bi-archive/more-trucks-on-south-african-roads-because-of-rail-collapse-2022-7 |access-date=2023-03-07 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> === Airports === {{Main|List of airports in South Africa}} [[File:South African Airways Airbus A340-313 ZS-SXE MUC 2015 01.jpg|thumb|[[South African Airways]] [[Airbus A340]] at [[Munich Airport]]]] South Africa has international airports in six cities: [[Johannesburg]], [[Cape Town]], [[Durban]], [[Gqeberha|Port Elizabeth]], [[Kimberley Airport|Kimberley]] and [[Nelspruit Airport|Nelspruit]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yadav |first=Lalit |date=2021-12-02 |title=These 7 Awesome Airports In South Africa Are Making Travel Easy |url=https://traveltriangle.com/blog/airports-in-south-africa/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |language=en-US}}</ref> As of 2021, South Africa had 407 airports, making it the leading country in Africa in terms of airport ownership and the country ranked 20th globally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airports – The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/airports/country-comparison |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=www.cia.gov}}</ref> The four [[List of South African airports by passenger movements|major]] airports in South Africa are: [[O. R. Tambo International Airport|O.R. Tambo International Airport]] in Johannesburg, [[Cape Town International Airport]], [[King Shaka International Airport]] in Durban and [[Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport]] in Port Elizabeth. O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg is Africa's largest and busiest airport which receives over 21 million passengers a year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-08 |title=Top 10 largest airports in Africa |url=https://theafricalogistics.com/2019/07/08/top-10-largest-airports-in-africa/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=The Africa Logistics |language=en-US}}</ref> During the 2022 [[Skytrax]] World Airport Awards, Cape Town International Airport was voted the best airport on the African continent for the seventh consecutive year, Durban's King Shaka International Airport was voted the second best in Africa and Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport came third place.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daniel |first=Luke |title=Cape Town voted best airport in Africa – for 7th year in a row – but its global rank slides |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/bi-archive/cape-town-airport-still-best-in-africa-but-drops-globally-2022-6 |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}</ref> === Energy === {{main|Energy in South Africa}} {{See also|Eskom|List of power stations in South Africa}} [[File:Koebergnps.jpg|thumb|The [[Koeberg Nuclear Power Station|Koeberg Power Station]], the only [[nuclear power plant]] on the entire African continent]] South Africa has a very large energy sector and is currently the only country on the African continent that possesses a [[Koeberg Nuclear Power Station|nuclear power plant]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Refurbishment – NS Energy |url=https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/koeberg-nuclear-power-station-refurbishment/ |access-date=2022-08-05 |language=en-US}}</ref> The country is the largest producer of electricity on the African continent and it ranks 21st globally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Electricity – production – Country Comparison – TOP 100 |url=https://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?v=79&t=100 |access-date=2022-08-05 |website=www.indexmundi.com |language=en}}</ref> South Africa is the [[List of countries by coal production|7th largest coal producer]] in the world and produces in excess of 248 million [[tonne]]s of [[coal]] and consumes almost three-quarters of that domestically. Around 77% of South Africa's energy needs are directly derived from coal and 92% of coal consumed on the African continent is mined in South Africa. South Africa is also the world's 14th largest emitter of [[greenhouse gas]]es.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prater |first=Tom |date=2018-10-15 |title=The Carbon Brief Profile: South Africa |url=https://www.carbonbrief.org/the-carbon-brief-profile-south-africa/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=Carbon Brief |language=en}}</ref> The country's primary electricity generator is Eskom, the utility is the largest producer of electricity in [[Africa]], and is among the top seven utilities in the world in terms of generation capacity and among the top nine in terms of sales.<ref name=as>{{Cite web |first1=Antony |last1=Sguazzin |first2=Prinesha |last2=Naidoo |first3=Paul |last3=Burkhardt |title=Eskom turns 100 next year – here's how it went from world best to SA's biggest economic risk |url=https://www.news24.com/fin24/economy/eskom-turns-100-next-year-heres-how-it-went-from-world-best-to-sas-biggest-economic-risk-20220927 |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=Business |language=en-US}}</ref> It is the largest of [[State-owned enterprises of South Africa|South Africa's state owned enterprises]]. Eskom generates approximately 95% of electricity in South Africa and operates a number of notable [[power station]]s, including the [[Koeberg Nuclear Power Station]] in Cape Town, the only nuclear power plant in Africa, [[Kendal Power Station]], the largest dry-cooled power station in the world,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-11 |title=100 Years – Eskom Heritage |url=https://www.eskom.co.za/heritage/ |access-date=2023-04-22 |website=www.eskom.co.za |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as [[Duvha Power Station]] which became the first power station in the world to be retrofitted with [[Dust collector#Reverse jet|pulse jet fabric filter]] plants.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-16 |title=Coal fired power stations – Eskom |url=https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-divisions/gx/coal-fired-power-stations/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=www.eskom.co.za |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2001 Eskom was named the best electricity utility in the entire world.<ref name=as /> ==== Energy crisis ==== {{Main|South African energy crisis}} [[File:Kusilekragsentrale, Mpumalanga, 2019, a.jpg|thumb|The [[Kusile Power Station]] was built as a response to the energy crisis. When fully operational it will be the 4th largest [[coal-fired power station]] in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Engineering News – Kusile power plant project, South Africa – update |url=https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/print-version/kusilepower-plant-project-south-africa-update-2023-02-24#:~:text=The%20Kusile%20power%20station%20project,power%20station%20in%20the%20world. |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=Engineering News |language=en}}</ref>]]Due to severe mismanagement and [[Corruption in South Africa|corruption]] at Eskom, the company is R392bn ($22bn) in debt and is unable to meet the demands of the South African power grid.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Problems at Eskom Identified as a Main Cause of SA's Energy Crisis |url=https://caes.ukzn.ac.za/news/problems-at-eskom-identified-as-a-main-cause-of-sas-energy-crisis/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science |language=en-ZA}}</ref> Due to this, Eskom implemented [[loadshedding]], which is periodically switching off electricity to specific power grids in specific time frames. In South Africa, load shedding is done to prevent a failure of the entire system when the demand for electricity strains the capacity of Eskom's power generating system. Load shedding is characterized by periods of widespread national-level rolling blackouts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Eskom & The Government Can Put An End To Loadshedding in South Africa |url= https://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/blogs/53187/how-the-government-eskom-can-put-an-end-to-load-shedding/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website= Greenpeace Africa |language=en}}</ref> Eskom's latest energy availability factor (EAF) data reveals that mismanagement, corruption, poor maintenance, and sabotage caused power station breakdowns.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/14194/eskoms-coal-fired-power-station-breakdown-lie/|title=Eskom's coal-fired power station breakdown lie – Daily Investor}}</ref> In 2023 the [[South African National Defence Force|South African Military]] was deployed to protect Eskom's power stations from sabotage and theft.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Army guards four Eskom power stations |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-17/south-africa-deploys-army-at-four-eskom-power-stations |access-date=2023-04-02 |newspaper=Bloomberg |date=17 December 2022 |language=en-ZA}}</ref> In 2007 Eskom started the construction of the "[[Kusile Power Station|Kusile]]" and "[[Medupi Power Station|Medupi]]" power stations, the two mega power stations will be the largest dry-cooled power stations in the world and among the largest power stations in the world scheduled for completion in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=David |date=2021-08-17 |title=Explosion at Eskom's New Power Unit 'Medupi' May Push South Africa Blackouts to Record |url=https://auctusmetals.com/explosion-at-eskoms-new-power-unit-medupi-may-push-south-africa-blackouts-to-record/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=Auctus Metals: Expert Precious Metal Portfolio Management Services |language=en-US}}</ref> However, these power stations have never met their deadline date with only half of their six units completed and operational mainly caused by long delays and massive cost overruns exceeding more than R300 billion ($16bn) for the two power stations combined, and are only expected to be completed by 2024 or 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-29 |title=Energy crisis: Another R33-billion needed to complete Medupi and Kusile |url=https://mg.co.za/news/2022-09-29-energy-crisis-another-r33-billion-needed-to-complete-medupi-and-kusile/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}</ref> === Science and technology === {{Main|Science and technology in South Africa}} [[File:Mark Shuttleworth NASA.jpg|thumb|[[Mark Shuttleworth]] in space]] Several important scientific and technological developments have originated in South Africa. South Africa was ranked 59th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2023, up from 63rd in 2019.<ref>{{Cite book |last=WIPO |title=Global Innovation Index 2023, 15th Edition |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=www.wipo.int |date=2 November 2023 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |isbn=9789280534320 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Innovation Index 2019|url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2019/index.html|access-date=2 September 2021|website=www.wipo.int|language=en|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902101818/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2019/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=28 October 2013|title=Global Innovation Index|url=https://knowledge.insead.edu/entrepreneurship-innovation/global-innovation-index-2930|access-date=2 September 2021|website=INSEAD Knowledge|language=en|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902101622/https://knowledge.insead.edu/entrepreneurship-innovation/global-innovation-index-2930|url-status=live}}</ref> The first human-to-human [[Heart transplantation|heart transplant]] was performed by cardiac surgeon [[Christiaan Barnard]] at [[Groote Schuur Hospital]] in December 1967; [[Max Theiler]] developed a [[Yellow fever vaccine|vaccine]] against [[yellow fever]], [[Allan MacLeod Cormack]] pioneered X-ray computed tomography ([[CT scan]]); and [[Aaron Klug]] developed [[Electron crystallography|crystallographic electron microscopy]] techniques. Cormack and Klug received [[Nobel Prize]]s for their work. [[Sydney Brenner]] won in 2002, for his pioneering work in [[molecular biology]]. [[Mark Shuttleworth]] founded an early Internet security company [[Thawte]]. It is the objective of the government to transition the economy to be more reliant on high technology, based on the realization South Africa cannot compete with Far Eastern economies in manufacturing, nor can it rely on its mineral wealth.{{cn|date=December 2023}} South Africa has cultivated a burgeoning [[astronomy]] community. It hosts the [[Southern African Large Telescope]], the largest [[optical telescope]] in the [[Southern Hemisphere]]. South Africa is currently building the [[MeerKAT|Karoo Array Telescope]] as a pathfinder for the €1.5 billion [[Square Kilometre Array]] project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skatelescope.org/news/2nd-april-news/|title=SKA announces Founding Board and selects Jodrell Bank Observatory to host Project Office|publisher=SKA 2011|date=2 April 2011|access-date=14 April 2011|archive-date=29 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029041532/http://www.skatelescope.org/news/2nd-april-news/|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Transport=== {{Main|Transport in South Africa}} [[File:MyCiti Bus system Civic Centre station 2.JPG|thumb|[[MyCiTi]] Bus in [[Cape Town]]]] Modes of transport include roads, railways, airports, water, and pipelines for petroleum oil. The majority of people in South Africa use informal [[Share taxi|minibus taxis]] as their main mode of transport. [[Bus rapid transit]] has been implemented in some cities in an attempt to provide more formalised and safer public transport services. These systems have been widely criticised{{by whom|date=February 2024}} because of their large capital and operating costs. South Africa has many major ports including Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth that allow ships and other boats to pass through, some carrying passengers and some carrying [[Oil tanker|petroleum tankers]]. === Water supply and sanitation === {{Main|Water supply and sanitation in South Africa}} Two distinctive features of the South African water sector are the policy of free basic water and the existence of [[Water Board (South Africa)|water boards]], which are bulk water supply agencies that operate pipelines and sell water from reservoirs to municipalities. These features have led to significant problems concerning the financial sustainability of service providers, leading to a lack of attention to maintenance. Following the end of apartheid, the country had made improvements in the levels of access to water as those with access increased from 66% to 79% from 1990 to 2010.<ref name="JMP">[[WHO]]/[[UNICEF]]:[[Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation]]:[http://www.wssinfo.org/data-estimates/table/ Data table South Africa] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209002836/http://www.wssinfo.org/data-estimates/table/|date= 9 February 2014 }}, 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2012</ref> Sanitation access increased from 71% to 79% during the same period.<ref name="JMP" /> However, water supply and sanitation has come under increasing pressure in recent years despite a commitment made by the government to improve service standards and provide investment subsidies to the water industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/688965/?sc=c59|title=Professor Says Cape Town Crisis Should Serve as a 'Wakeup Call to All Major U.S. Cities'|website=www.newswise.com|access-date=14 June 2018|archive-date=14 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614121654/http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/688965/?sc=c59|url-status=live}}</ref> The eastern parts of South Africa suffer from periodic droughts linked to the [[El Niño]] weather phenomenon.<ref name="whyCapeTownDroughtConversation">{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/why-cape-towns-drought-was-so-hard-to-forecast-84735|title=Why Cape Town's drought was so hard to forecast|first=Bruce|last=Hewitson|date=19 October 2017 |access-date=11 July 2018|archive-date=11 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711112014/https://theconversation.com/why-cape-towns-drought-was-so-hard-to-forecast-84735|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2018, Cape Town, which has different weather patterns to the rest of the country,<ref name="whyCapeTownDroughtConversation"/> faced a water crisis as the city's water supply was predicted to run dry before the end of June. Water-saving measures were in effect that required each citizen to use less than {{Convert|50|l|gal}} per day.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-42982959 "The 11 cities most likely to run out of drinking water – like Cape Town"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213225140/https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-42982959|date=13 February 2018 }} 11 February 2018. BBC News.</ref> Cape Town rejected an offer from Israel to help it build [[desalination]] plants.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saundersonmeyer-drought-commentary/commentary-in-drought-hit-south-africa-the-politics-of-water-idUSKBN1FP226 In drought-hit South Africa, the politics of water] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122202625/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saundersonmeyer-drought-commentary/commentary-in-drought-hit-south-africa-the-politics-of-water-idUSKBN1FP226|date=22 November 2018 }}, Reuters, 25 January 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/cape-town-may-dry-up-because-of-an-aversion-to-israel-1519254816 Cape Town May Dry Up Because of an Aversion to Israel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214053920/https://www.wsj.com/articles/cape-town-may-dry-up-because-of-an-aversion-to-israel-1519254816|date=14 December 2021 }}, Wall St. Journal, 21 February 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.aish.com/jw/me/The-Cape-Town-Water-Crisis-and-Hating-Israel.html The Cape Town Water Crisis and Hating Israel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214053921/https://www.aish.com/jw/me/The-Cape-Town-Water-Crisis-and-Hating-Israel.html|date=14 December 2021 }}, aish, 11 February 2018</ref><ref>[https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/South-African-stupidity-540605 South African stupidity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214053918/https://www.jpost.com/opinion/south-african-stupidity-540605|date=14 December 2021 }}, Jerusalem Post, 3 February 2018</ref> == Culture == {{Main|Culture of South Africa}} The South African black majority still has a substantial number of rural inhabitants who lead largely impoverished lives. It is among these people that cultural traditions survive most strongly; as blacks have become increasingly urbanised and [[Western world|Westernised]], aspects of traditional culture have declined. Members of the middle class, who has historically been predominantly white but whose ranks include growing numbers of Black, Coloured and Indian people,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-25_2117122|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822120841/http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-25_2117122|archive-date=22 August 2007|title=Black middle class explodes|date=22 May 2007|publisher=FIN24|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-04 |title=South Africa Black Middle-Class Demographic Study 2023 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/south-africa-black-middle-class-131300018.html |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}</ref> have lifestyles similar in many respects to that of people found in Western Europe, North America and [[Australasia]]. === Arts === [[File:San Rock Art - Cederberg.jpg|thumb|[[Rock art|Rock painting]] by the [[San people]], [[Cederberg]]]] [[South African art]] includes the oldest art objects in the world, which were discovered in a South African cave and dated from roughly 75,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/16/artsandhumanities.arts|title=World's Oldest Jewellery Found in Cave|publisher=Buzzle.com|access-date=16 April 2011|location=London|first=Tim|last=Radford|date=16 April 2004|archive-date=12 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212095737/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/apr/16/artsandhumanities.arts|url-status=live }}</ref> The scattered tribes of the Khoisan peoples moving into South Africa from around 10,000 BC had their own fluent art styles seen today in a multitude of cave paintings. They were superseded by the Bantu/Nguni peoples with their own vocabularies of art forms. Forms of art evolved in the mines and townships: a dynamic art using everything from plastic strips to bicycle spokes. The Dutch-influenced folk art of the Afrikaner [[Trekboer|{{lang|af|trekboers|nocat=true}}]] and the urban white artists, earnestly following changing European traditions from the 1850s onwards, also contributed to this eclectic mix which continues to evolve to this day. === Popular culture === {{Further information|Music of South Africa}} The [[Mass media in South Africa|South African media]] sector is large, and South Africa is one of Africa's major media centres. While the many broadcasters and publications reflect the diversity of the population as a whole, the most commonly used language is English. However, all ten other official languages are represented to some extent or another. [[File:2014-11-26 traditional Zulu performance 02 anagoria.JPG|left|thumb|[[Zulus]] performing a traditional dance]] There is great diversity in [[Music of South Africa|South African music]]. Black musicians have developed unique styles called [[Kwaito]] and [[Amapiano]], that is said to have taken over radio, television, and magazines.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2822/is_3_28/ai_n15648564/pg_5|title=South African music after Apartheid: kwaito, the "party politic," and the appropriation of gold as a sign of success|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613074154/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2822/is_3_28/ai_n15648564/pg_5|archive-date=13 June 2013 }}</ref> Of note is [[Brenda Fassie]], who launched to fame with her song "[[Weekend Special]]", which was sung in English. More famous traditional musicians include [[Ladysmith Black Mambazo]], while the [[Soweto String Quartet]] performs classical music with an African flavour. South Africa has produced world-famous jazz musicians, notably [[Hugh Masekela]], [[Jonas Gwangwa]], [[Abdullah Ibrahim]], [[Miriam Makeba]], [[Jonathan Butler]], [[Chris McGregor]], and [[Sathima Bea Benjamin]]. Afrikaans music covers multiple genres, such as the contemporary [[Steve Hofmeyr]], the [[punk rock]] band [[Fokofpolisiekar]], and the singer-songwriter [[Jeremy Loops]]. South African popular musicians that have found international success include [[Manfred Mann (musician)|Manfred Mann]], [[Johnny Clegg]], rap-rave duo [[Die Antwoord]], rock band [[Seether]] and rappers such as [[AKA (rapper)|AKA]], [[Nasty C]] and [[Cassper Nyovest]] gained notoriety in other avenues like the BET Awards for best African acts. Although few [[Cinema of South Africa|South African film]] productions are known outside South Africa, many foreign films have been produced about South Africa. Arguably, the most high-profile film portraying South Africa in recent years was ''[[District 9]]'' and its upcoming sequel, as well as ''[[Chappie (film)|Chappie]]''. Other notable exceptions are the film {{lang|fly|[[Tsotsi]]}}, which won the [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Academy Award for Foreign Language Film]] at the [[78th Academy Awards]] in 2006, as well as {{lang|xh|[[U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha]]}}, which won the [[Golden Bear]] at the 2005 [[Berlin International Film Festival]]. In 2015, the [[Oliver Hermanus]] film [[The Endless River (film)|''The Endless River'']] became the first South African film selected for the [[Venice Film Festival]]. === Literature === {{Main|South African literature}} [[File:Alan Paton.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Alan Paton]], [[Internal resistance to apartheid|anti-apartheid]] activist and writer]] [[South African literature]] emerged from a unique social and political history. One of the first well known novels written by a black author in an African language was [[Sol Plaatje|Solomon Thekiso Plaatje]]'s ''[[Mhudi]]'', written in 1930. During the 1950s, ''[[Drum (South African magazine)|Drum]]'' magazine became a hotbed of political satire, fiction, and essays, giving a voice to the urban black culture. Notable white South African authors include [[Alan Paton]], who published the novel ''[[Cry, the Beloved Country]]'' in 1948. [[Nadine Gordimer]] became the first South African to be awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]], in 1991. [[J. M. Coetzee|J.M. Coetzee]] won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003. When awarding the prize, the [[Swedish Academy]] stated that Coetzee "in innumerable guises portrays the surprising involvement of the outsider."<ref name="Swedish Academy">{{cite news|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2003/press.html|title=The Nobel Prize in Literature: John Maxwell Coetzee|date=2 October 2003|publisher=Swedish Academy|access-date=2 August 2009|archive-date=7 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307025506/http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/2003/press.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The plays of [[Athol Fugard]] have been regularly premiered in [[fringe theatre]]s in South Africa, London ([[Royal Court Theatre]]) and New York. [[Olive Schreiner]]'s ''[[The Story of an African Farm]]'' (1883) was a revelation in [[Victorian literature]]: it is heralded by many as introducing feminism into the novel form. [[Breyten Breytenbach]] was jailed for his involvement with the guerrilla movement against apartheid. [[André Brink]] was the first Afrikaner writer to be [[banned book|banned]] by the government after he released the novel ''[[A Dry White Season (novel)|A Dry White Season]]''. === Cuisine === {{Main article|South African cuisine}} {{See also|South African wine}}{{Multiple image | direction = horizontal | total_width = 280 | image1 = Bobotie, South African dish.jpg | caption1 = [[Bobotie]] | image2 = Melktert.jpg | caption2 = [[Melktert]] | image3 = The Potjie is ready.JPG | caption3 = [[Potjiekos]] | image4 = Koesisters Cape Malay South Africa.jpg | caption4 = [[Koe'sister]] | perrow = 2 | caption_align = center }} The cuisine of South Africa is diverse, and foods from many different cultures and backgrounds are enjoyed by all communities, and especially marketed to tourists who wish to sample the large variety available. The cuisine is mostly meat-based and has spawned the distinctively South African social gathering known as the {{lang|af|[[braai]]}}, a variation of the [[barbecue]]. South Africa has also developed into a major [[South African wine|wine producer]], with some of the best [[vineyard]]s lying in valleys around [[Stellenbosch]], [[Franschhoek]], [[Paarl]] and [[Barrydale]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewinedoctor.com/regionalguides/southafrica.shtml|title=South African Wine Guide: Stellenbosch, Constantia, Walker Bay and more|publisher=Thewinedoctor.com|access-date=30 October 2011|archive-date=18 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118223726/http://www.thewinedoctor.com/regionalguides/southafrica.shtml|url-status=live }}</ref> === Sports === {{Main|Sport in South Africa}} <!--- Note to editors: per [[WP:ENGVAR]], do not change "soccer" to "football", at least not without prior discussion on the talk page. ---> [[File:South Africa - Cape Town Drieankerbaai from Lion's head.jpg|thumb|alt=Aerial view of the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa|[[Cape Town Stadium]] is the 5th-largest stadium in South Africa, with a capacity of 55,000]] South Africa's most popular sports are [[association football]], [[rugby union]] and [[cricket]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/sportsa.htm|title=Sport in South Africa|publisher=SouthAfrica.info|access-date=28 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629152527/http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/sportsa.htm|archive-date=29 June 2010}}</ref> Other sports with significant support are swimming, athletics, golf, boxing, tennis, [[rugby league]], [[ringball]], [[field hockey]], surfing and [[netball]]. Although football (soccer) commands the greatest following among the youth, other sports like basketball, judo, softball and skateboarding are becoming increasingly popular amongst the populace.<ref>[https://www.topendsports.com/world/countries/south-africa.htm Sport in South Africa] topendsports.com, accessed 3 December 2020.</ref> Association football is the most popular sport in South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/103113/blacks-like-soccer-whites-like-rugby-in-sa/|title=Blacks like soccer, whites like rugby in SA|access-date=27 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525104157/https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/103113/blacks-like-soccer-whites-like-rugby-in-sa/|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.enca.com/south-africa/sa-sport-not-unifier-it-once-was-survey|title=SA sport not the unifier it once was: survey|access-date=27 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525101120/https://www.enca.com/south-africa/sa-sport-not-unifier-it-once-was-survey|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://punditarena.com/football/thepateam/cant-south-africa-produce-better-football-team/|title=Analysis: Bafana Bafana Struggling To Make Needed Improvements|date=11 June 2016|access-date=27 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525101142/https://punditarena.com/football/thepateam/cant-south-africa-produce-better-football-team/|url-status=live }}</ref> Footballers who have played for major foreign clubs include [[Steven Pienaar]], [[Lucas Radebe]], [[Philemon Masinga]], [[Benni McCarthy]], [[Aaron Mokoena]], and [[Delron Buckley]]. South Africa hosted the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], and FIFA president [[Sepp Blatter]] awarded South Africa a grade 9 out of 10 for successfully hosting the event.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cooper|first=Billy|title=South Africa gets 9/10 for World Cup|url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-07-12-sa-gest-910-for-world-cup|website=[[Mail & Guardian]]|date=12 July 2010|access-date=9 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715063001/http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-07-12-sa-gest-910-for-world-cup|archive-date=15 July 2010 }}</ref> Player Benni McCarthy is also a first-team coach for the English football club [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Benni McCarthy appointed as first-team coach|url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/benni-mccarthy-joins-manchester-united-as-coach|website=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |first=Adam |last=Marshall|date=30 July 2022 |access-date=30 July 2022 }}</ref> It hosted the [[1996 African Cup of Nations]], with the national team [[South Africa national soccer team|Bafana Bafana]] going on to win the tournament. In 2022, the [[South Africa women's national soccer team|women's team]] also won the [[2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations|Women's Africa Cup of Nations]], beating [[Morocco women's national football team|Morocco]] 2–1 in [[2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations Final|the final]]. The women's team went on to reach the last 16 at the [[2023 FIFA Women's World Cup]], beating [[Italy women's national football team|Italy]] and tying with [[Argentina women's national football team|Argentina]] in the group stage. Famous [[combat sport]] personalities include Baby Jake [[Jacob Matlala]], [[Vuyani Bungu]], [[Welcome Ncita]], [[Dingaan Thobela]], [[Corrie Sanders]], [[Gerrie Coetzee]], [[Brian Mitchell (boxer)|Brian Mitchell]] and [[Dricus du Plessis]]. Durban surfer [[Jordy Smith]] won the 2010 Billabong J-Bay Open making him the highest ranked surfer in the world. South Africa produced [[Formula One]] motor racing's 1979 world champion [[Jody Scheckter]]. Famous active [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]] personalities include [[Brad Binder]] and his younger brother [[Darryn Binder]]. Well-known active cricket players include [[Kagiso Rabada]], [[David Miller (South African cricketer)|David Miller]], [[Keshav Maharaj]], [[Quinton de Kock]], [[Rilee Rossouw]], [[Anrich Nortje]], [[Reeza Hendricks]] and [[Faf du Plessis]]; most also participate in the [[Indian Premier League]]. [[File:Bokke Webb Ellis-beker toer JHB 20191107 145608.jpg|thumb|The [[South Africa national rugby union team|Springboks]] on their tour of the country after winning the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]]]] South Africa has produced numerous world class rugby players, including [[Francois Pienaar]], [[Joost van der Westhuizen]], [[Danie Craven]], [[Os du Randt]], [[Frik du Preez]], [[Naas Botha]], [[Frans Steyn]], [[Victor Matfield]], [[Bryan Habana]], [[Tendai Mtawarira]], [[Eben Etzebeth]], [[Cheslin Kolbe]] and [[Siya Kolisi]]. South Africa has won the [[Rugby World Cup]] four times, the most wins of any country. South Africa first won the [[1995 Rugby World Cup]], which it hosted. They went on to win the tournament again in 2007, 2019 and 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/67252413|title=New Zealand 11-12 South Africa: Springboks win record fourth Rugby World Cup in dramatic final|date=28 October 2023|work=BBC Sport|accessdate=1 November 2023}}</ref> Cricket is one of the most played sports in South Africa. It has hosted the [[2003 Cricket World Cup]], the [[ICC World Twenty20|2007 World Twenty20 Championship]]. South Africa's national cricket team, the [[South Africa national cricket team|Proteas]], have also won the inaugural edition of the [[1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy]] by defeating [[West Indies national cricket team|West Indies]] in the final. The [[2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cup]] was hosted in South Africa and the [[South Africa women's national cricket team|women's team]] came in second place. [[South Africa national blind cricket team|South Africa's national blind cricket team]] also went on to win the inaugural edition of the [[Blind Cricket World Cup]] in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blindcricketsa.co.za/|title=Blind Cricket South Africa|website=www.blindcricketsa.co.za}}</ref> In 2004, the swimming team of [[Roland Schoeman]], [[Lyndon Ferns]], [[Darian Townsend]] and [[Ryk Neethling]] won the gold medal at the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games in Athens]], simultaneously breaking the world record in the 4×100 [[Freestyle Relay]]. [[Penny Heyns]] won Olympic Gold in the 1996 [[Atlanta Olympic Games]], and more recently, swimmers [[Tatjana Schoenmaker]] and [[Lara van Niekerk]] have both broken world records and won gold medals at the Olympic and [[Commonwealth Games]]. In 2012, [[Oscar Pistorius]] became the first double amputee sprinter to compete at the [[2012 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games in London]]. [[Gary Player]] is regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time, having won the [[Grand Slam (golf)|Career Grand Slam]], one of five to have done so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/players-won-golf-grand-slam-154520|title=Which Players Have Won A Golf Grand Slam?|author1=Mike Hall|date=18 May 2022|website=Golf Monthly Magazine}}</ref> == See also == {{Portal|South Africa}} <!-- {{Main|Outline of South Africa|Index of South Africa-related articles}} --> * [[Timeline of South Africa]] == References == {{Reflist}} == Further reading == {{refbegin|30em}} * ''A History of South Africa, Third Edition''. Leonard Thompson. [[Yale University Press]]. 2001. 384 pages. {{ISBN|0-300-08776-4}}. * ''Economic Analysis and Policy Formulation for Post-Apartheid South Africa: Mission Report, Aug. 1991''. International Development Research Centre. IDRC Canada, 1991. vi, 46 p. Without ISBN. * ''Emerging Johannesburg: Perspectives on the Postapartheid City''. Richard Tomlinson, et al. 2003. 336 pages. {{ISBN|0-415-93559-8}} * ''Making of Modern South Africa: Conquest, Segregation and Apartheid''. Nigel Worden. 2000. 194 pages. {{ISBN|0-631-21661-8}}. * ''South Africa: A Narrative History''. [[Frank Welsh (writer)|Frank Welsh]]. Kodansha America. 1999. 606 pages. {{ISBN|1-56836-258-7}} * ''South Africa in Contemporary Times''. [[Godfrey Mwakikagile]]. New Africa Press. 2008. 260 pages. {{ISBN|978-0-9802587-3-8}}. * ''The Atlas of Changing South Africa''. A. J. Christopher. 2000. 216 pages. {{ISBN|0-415-21178-6}}. * ''The Politics of the New South Africa''. Heather Deegan. 2000. 256 pages. {{ISBN|0-582-38227-0}}. * ''Twentieth-Century South Africa''. William Beinart [[Oxford University Press]] 2001, 414 pages, {{ISBN|0-19-289318-1}}. {{refend}} == External links == {{Sister project links|South Africa|voy=South Africa|species=South Africa|d=Q258}} {{Scholia|country}} * [http://www.gov.za/ Government of South Africa] * [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/south-africa/ South Africa]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20081026035604/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/southafrica.htm South Africa] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs'' * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14094760 South Africa] from the [[BBC News]] * [https://www.scottdunn.com/south-africa/guides South Africa luxury travel] from Scott Dunn * {{wikiatlas|South Africa}} * {{osmrelation-inline|87565}} {{South Africa topics}} {{Navboxes |list= {{Countries of Africa}} {{G8 nations}} {{G20}} {{BRICS}} {{World Trade Organization}} {{Southern African Development Community}} {{African Union}} {{Countries and territories bordering the Indian Ocean}} {{Peri-Antarctic countries and overseas territories}} {{The Commonwealth}} {{English official language clickable map}} }} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|-30|25|display=title|type:country}} [[Category:South Africa| ]] [[Category:BRICS nations]] [[Category:Countries in Africa]] [[Category:Countries and territories where English is an official language]] [[Category:G20 members]] [[Category:Member states of the African Union]] [[Category:Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations]] [[Category:Member states of the United Nations]] [[Category:Newly industrializing countries]] [[Category:Republics in the Commonwealth of Nations]] [[Category:Southern African countries]] [[Category:States and territories established in 1910]] Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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