South Africa

South Africa, officially theRepublic of South Africa(RSA), is thesouthernmostcountry inAfrica. Itsnine provincesare bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 miles) ofcoastlinethat stretches along theSouth AtlanticandIndian Ocean;to the north by the neighbouring countries ofNamibia,Botswana, andZimbabwe; to the east and northeast byMozambiqueandEswatini; and it enclosesLesotho.Covering an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres (471,445 square miles), the country has  over62 million people.Pretoriais the administrative capital, whileCape Town, as the seat ofParliament, is the legislative capital, andBloemfonteinis regarded as the judicial capital.The largest, most populous city isJohannesburg, followed by Cape Town andDurban.
Archaeological findingssuggest that varioushominidspecies existed in South Africa about 2.5 million years ago, andmodern humansinhabited the region over 100,000 years ago. The first known people were the indigenousKhoisan, andBantu-speaking peoplesfrom West and Central Africa latermigratedto the region 2,000 to 1,000 years ago. In the north, theKingdom of Mapungubweformed in the 13th century. In 1652, the Dutch established the first European settlementat Table Bay, and in1795and1806, the British occupied it. TheMfecane, a period of significant upheaval, led to the formation of various African kingdoms, including theZulu Kingdom. The region was further colonised, and diamonds and gold werediscovered, bringing a shift towards industrialisation and urbanisation. TheUnion of South Africawascreatedin 1910 out of the formerCape,Natal,Transvaal, andOrange Rivercolonies, becoming arepublicin1961. Though a system of multi-racial franchise hadexistedin the Cape, it was gradually eroded, and the vast majority of Black South Africans were notenfranchiseduntil 1994.
TheNational Partyimposedapartheidin 1948, institutionalising previousracial segregation. After alargely non-violent struggleby theAfrican National Congressand other anti-apartheid activists both inside and outside the country, the repeal of discriminatory laws began in the mid-1980s.Universalelectionstook place in 1994, following which all racial groups have held political representation in the country'sliberal democracy, which comprises aparliamentary republicand nine provinces.
South Africa is a multi-ethnic society encompassing a variety ofcultures,languages, andreligions; it is often called the "rainbow nation" to describe its multicultural diversity, especially in the wake of apartheid.Recognised as amiddle powerin international affairs, South Africa maintains significantregional influenceand is a member ofBRICS+, theAfrican Union,SADC,SACU, theCommonwealth of Nations, and theG20.Adeveloping,newly industrialised country, it has thelargesteconomy in Africa by nominal GDP,is tied withEthiopiafor the mostUNESCO World Heritage Sitesin Africa,and is abiodiversity hotspotwith uniquebiomes, plant, and animal life. Since the end of apartheid, government accountability andquality of lifehave substantially improved.However,crime,poverty, andinequalityremain widespread, with about 32% of the population unemployed as of 2024,while some 56% lived below the poverty line and 21% below $2.15 a day in 2014.Having the highestGini coefficientof 0.63, South Africa is considered one of the most unequal countries in the world, if not the most unequal.
The name "South Africa" is derived from the country's geographic location at the southern tip of Africa. Upon formation, the country was named theUnion of South Africain English andUnie van Zuid-AfrikainDutch, 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" andRepubliek van Suid-AfrikainAfrikaans. The country has an official name in12 official languages.
Mzansi, derived from theXhosanounuMzantsimeaning "south", is acolloquial namefor South Africa,while somePan-Africanistpolitical parties prefer the term "Azania".
South Africa contains some of the oldest archaeological andhuman-fossilsites in the world.Archaeologists have recovered extensive fossil remains from a series of caves inGautengProvince. The area, aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site, has been branded "theCradle of Humankind". The sites includeSterkfontein, one of the richest sites forhomininfossils in the world, as well asSwartkrans,Gondolin Cave,Kromdraai,Cooper's CaveandMalapa.Raymond Dartidentified the first hominin fossil discovered in Africa, theTaung Child(found nearTaung) in 1924. Other hominin remains have come from the sites ofMakapansgatinLimpopoProvince;CorneliaandFlorisbadinFree State Province;Border CaveinKwaZulu-NatalProvince;Klasies River CavesinEastern CapeProvince; andPinnacle Point,Elandsfonteinand Die Kelders Cave inWestern CapeProvince.
These finds suggest that various hominid species existed in South Africa from about three million years ago, starting withAustralopithecus africanus,followed byAustralopithecus sediba,Homo ergaster,Homo erectus,Homo rhodesiensis,Homo helmei,Homo nalediand modernhumans(Homo sapiens). Modern humans have inhabited Southern Africa for at least 170,000 years. Various researchers have locatedpebble toolswithin theVaal Rivervalley.
Settlements ofBantu-speaking peoples, who were iron-using agriculturists andherdsmen, were present south of theLimpopo River(now the northern border withBotswanaandZimbabwe) by the 4th or 5th century AD. The Bantu slowly moved south. The earliestironworksin modern-dayKwaZulu-Natal Provinceare believed to date from around 1050. The southernmost group was theXhosa people, whose language incorporates certain linguistic traits from the earlier Khoisan people. The Xhosa reached theGreat Fish River, in today's Eastern Cape Province. As they migrated, these largerIron Agepopulations displaced or assimilated earlier peoples. InMpumalangaProvince, several stone circles have been found along with a stone arrangement that has been namedAdam's Calendar, and the ruins are thought to be created by theBakone, aNorthern Sothopeople.
Around 1220, in theLimpopo-ShasheBasin, the elite ofK2moved to settle the flat-topped summit of Mapungubwe Hill, with the population settling below.Rainmakingwas crucial to the development ofsacral kingship. By 1250, the capital had a population of 5000 and the state covered 30,000 km² (11,500 square miles), growing wealthy through theIndian Ocean trade. The events around Mapungubwe's collapse circa 1300 are unknown, however trade routes shifted north from the Limpopo to theZambezi, precipitating the rise ofGreat Zimbabwe. The hill was abandoned and Mapungubwe's population scattered.
In 1487, the Portuguese explorerBartolomeu Diasled the first European voyage to land in southern Africa.On 4 December, he landed at Walfisch Bay (now known asWalvis Bayin present-day Namibia). This was south of the furthest point reached in 1485 by his predecessor, the Portuguese navigatorDiogo 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,Rio do Infante, probably the present-dayGroot River, in May 1488. On his return he saw the cape, which he namedCabo das Tormentas('Cape of Storms'). KingJohn IIrenamed the pointCabo da Boa Esperança, orCape of Good Hope, as it led to the riches of theEast Indies.Dias' feat of navigation was immortalised inLuís de Camões' 1572 epic poemOs Lusíadas.
With Portugal's declining maritime power in the early 17th century, English and Dutch merchants competed to dislodge Portugal’s lucrative monopoly on thespice trade.BritishEast India Companyrepresentatives sporadically called at the cape in search of provisions as early as 1601 but later came to favourAscension IslandandSaint Helenaas ports of refuge.Dutch interest was aroused after 1647, when two employees of theDutch East India Companywere shipwrecked at the cape for several months. The sailors were able to survive by obtaining fresh water and meat from the natives.They also sowed vegetables in the fertile soil.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.
In 1652, a century and a half after the discovery of the cape sea route,Jan van Riebeeckestablished avictuallingstation at the Cape of Good Hope, at what would becomeCape Town, on behalf of the Dutch East India Company.In time, the cape became home to a large population ofvrijlieden, also known asvrijburgers(lit.'free citizens'),former company employeeswho stayed in Dutch overseas territories  after serving their contracts.Dutch traders also brought thousands ofenslaved peopleto the fledgling colony from present-dayIndonesia,Madagascar, and eastern Africa.Some of the earliest mixed race communities in the country were formed betweenvrijburgers, enslaved people, and indigenous peoples.This led to the development of a new ethnic group, theCape Coloureds, most of whom adopted the Dutch language and Christian faith.
Conflicts over resources between South Africa’s indigenous Khoisan people and Dutch settlers began in the 17th century and continued for centuries.
Dutch colonists’ eastward expansion caused wars with the southwesterly migrating Xhosa tribe, known as theXhosa Wars, as both sides competed for the pastureland near the Great Fish River, which the colonists desired for grazing cattle.Vrijburgerswho became independent farmers on the frontier were known asBoers, with some adopting semi-nomadic lifestyles being denoted astrekboers.The Boers formed loosemilitias, which they termedcommandos, and forged alliances with Khoisan peoples to repel Xhosa raids.Both sides launched bloody but inconclusive offensives, and sporadic violence, often accompanied by livestock theft, remained common for several decades.
Great Britain occupied Cape Town between 1795 and 1803 to prevent it from falling under the control of theFrench First Republic, which had invaded theLow Countries.After briefly returning to Dutch rule under theBatavian Republicin 1803, the cape was occupied again by the British in 1806.Following the end of theNapoleonic Wars, it was formally ceded to Great Britain and became an integral part of theBritish Empire.British emigration to South Africa began around 1818, subsequently culminating in the arrival of the1820 Settlers.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.
In the early 1800s, theMfecane(lit. 'crushing') saw a heightened period of conflict, migration, and state formation among native groups, caused by the complex interplay of international trade, environmental instability, and European colonisation.Chiefdomsgrew wealthier and competed over trade routes and grazing land, leading to the formation of theNdwandweandMthethwaParamountcies in the east.Ndwandwe defeated Mthethwa which split into different groups, one of which was led byShakaof theamaZulu.The 1810s saw the fourth and fifthXhosa Warsas British colonisation expanded.Ndwandwe splintered amid costly raids and Shaka'sZulu Kingdomrose to fill the power vacuum.TheGaza kingdomformed. The Zulu totally defeated the Ndwandwe, however were repelled by Gaza.
During the early 19th century, many Dutch settlers departed from theCape Colony, where they had been subjected to British control, in a series of migrant groups who came to be known asVoortrekkers, meaning "pathfinders" or "pioneers". They migrated to the futureNatal, Free State, andTransvaalregions. The Boers founded theBoer republics: theSouth African Republic, theNatalia Republic, and theOrange Free State.In the interior, theCape Colonyexpanded at the expense of theBatswanaandGriqua, and Boer expansion caused great instability in the Middle Orange River region.TheMatabele kingdomcame to dominate the eastern interior, and raided theVendakingdom.
The discovery of diamonds in 1867 and gold in 1884 in the interior started theMineral Revolutionand 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.
On 16 May 1876, PresidentThomas François Burgersof the South African Republic declared war against thePedi people. KingSekhukhunemanaged 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 atBotshabelo.The Boers' inability to subdue the Pedi led to the departure of Burgers in favour ofPaul Krugerand the British annexation of the South African Republic. In 1878 and 1879 three British attacks were successfully repelled untilGarnet Wolseleydefeated Sekhukhune in November 1879 with an army of 2,000 British soldiers, Boers and 10,000 Swazis.
TheAnglo-Zulu Warwas fought in 1879 between the British and theZulu Kingdom. FollowingLord Carnarvon's successful introduction offederation 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 Frerewas sent to South Africa as the BritishHigh Commissionerto 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 theBattle of Isandlwana. Eventually Zululand lost the war, resulting in the termination of the Zulu nation's independence.
The Boer republics successfully resisted British encroachments during theFirst Boer War(1880–1881) usingguerrilla warfaretactics, which were well-suited to local conditions. The British returned with greater numbers, more experience, and new strategy in theSecond Boer War(1899–1902) and, although suffering heavy casualties due to Boerattrition warfare, they were ultimately successful due in part toscorched earthtactics andconcentration camps, in which 27,000 Boer civilians died due to a combination of disease and neglect.
South Africa's urban population grew rapidly from the end of the 19th century onward. After the devastation of the wars, Boer farmers fled intoTransvaaland Orange Free State cities and constituted a white urban poor class.
Anti-British policies among white South Africans focused on independence. During the Dutch and British colonial years,racial segregationwas mostly informal, though some legislation was enacted to control the settlement and movement of indigenous people, including theNative Location Act of 1879and the system ofpass laws.
Eight years after the end of the Second Boer War and after four years of negotiation, theSouth Africa Act 1909granted nominal independence while creating theUnion of South Africaon 31 May 1910. The union was adominionthat included the former territories of the Cape, Transvaal and Natal colonies, as well as the Orange Free State republic.TheNatives' Land Actof 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.
In 1931, the union became fully sovereign from the United Kingdom with the passage of theStatute of Westminster, which abolished the last powers of theParliament of the United Kingdomto legislate in the country. Only three other African countries—Liberia, Ethiopia, and Egypt—had been independent prior to that point. In 1934, theSouth African PartyandNational Partymerged to form theUnited 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.
In 1948, the National Party was elected to power. It strengthened the racial segregation begun under Dutch and British colonial rule. Taking Canada'sIndian Actas a framework,thenationalistgovernment 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%)controlled the vastly larger black majority. The legally institutionalised segregation became known asapartheid. While whites enjoyed the higheststandard of livingin all of Africa, comparable toFirst WorldWestern nations, the black majority remained disadvantaged by almost every standard, including income, education, housing, and life expectancy.TheFreedom Charter, adopted in 1955 by theCongress Alliance, demanded a non-racial society and an end to discrimination.
On 31 May 1961, the country became a republic followinga referendum(only open to white voters) which narrowly passed;the British-dominated Natal province largely voted against the proposal.Elizabeth IIlost the titleQueen of South Africa, and the lastGovernor-General,Charles Robberts Swart, becamestate president. As a concession to theWestminster system, the appointment of the president remained by parliament and was virtually powerless untilP. W. Botha'sConstitution Act of 1983, which eliminated the office ofprime ministerand instated a unique "strong presidency"responsible to parliament. Pressured by otherCommonwealth of Nationscountries, South Africa withdrew from the organisation in 1961. It would rejoin it in 1994, after the end of apartheid.
Despiteopposition to apartheidboth 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 theAfrican National Congress(ANC), theAzanian People's Organisation, and thePan-Africanist Congresscarrying out guerrilla warfareand urban sabotage.The three rival resistance movements also engaged in occasional inter-factional clashes as they jockeyed for domestic influence.Apartheid became increasingly controversial, and several countries began to boycott business with the South African government because of its racial policies. The boycotts and restrictions were later extended to international sanctions and thedivestment of holdingsby foreign investors.
TheMahlabatini Declaration of Faith, signed byMangosuthu ButheleziandHarry Schwarzin 1974, enshrined the principles ofpeaceful transition of powerand equality for all, the first of such agreements by black and white political leaders in South Africa. Ultimately,F.W. de Klerkopened bilateral discussions withNelson Mandelain 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. Anegotiation processfollowed. With approval from the white electorate in a1992 referendum, the government continued negotiations to end apartheid. South Africa held its first universalelections in 1994, which the ANC won by an overwhelming majority. It has been in power ever since. The country rejoined theCommonwealth of Nationsand became a member of theSouthern African Development Community.
In post-apartheid ANC-governed South Africa, unemployment skyrocketed to over 30% and income inequality increased.While many black people 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.Poverty among white South Africans, which was previously rare, increased.The government struggled to achieve the monetary and fiscal discipline to ensure both redistribution of wealth and economic growth. The United NationsHuman Development Indexrose steadily until the mid-1990s,then fell from 1995 to 2005 before recovering its 1995 peak in 2013.The fall is in large part attributable to theSouth African HIV/AIDS pandemicwhich saw South African life expectancy fall from a high point of 62 years in 1992 to a low of 53 in 2005,and the failure of the government to take steps to address the pandemic in its early years.
In May 2008, riots left over 60 people dead.TheCentre on Housing Rights and Evictionsestimated that over 100,000 people were driven from their homes.The targets were mainlylegalandillegal migrants, and refugees seeking asylum, but a third of the victims were South African citizens.In a 2006 survey, the South African Migration Project concluded that South Africans are more opposed to immigration than any other national group.TheUN High Commissioner for Refugeesin 2008 reported that over 200,000 refugees applied for asylum in South Africa, almost four times as many as the year before.These people were mainly fromZimbabwe, though many also come fromBurundi,Democratic Republic of the Congo,Rwanda,Eritrea,EthiopiaandSomalia.Competition over jobs, business opportunities, public services and housing has led to tension between refugees and host communities.Whilexenophobia in South Africais still a problem, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2011 reported that recent violence had not been as widespread as initially feared.Nevertheless, as South Africa continues to grapple with racial issues, one of the proposed solutions has been to pass legislation, such as the pendingHate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill, to uphold South Africa's ban on racism and commitment to equality.
On 14 February 2018, Jacob Zuma resigned the presidency. Since 15 February, ANC presidentCyril Ramaphosahas been President of South Africa. On 16 March 2018, just over a month afterPresidentJacob Zumaresigned from the presidency, National Director of Public ProsecutionsShaun Abrahamsannounced that Zuma would againface prosecutionon 16 criminal charges – 12 charges of fraud, two of corruption, and one each of racketeering and money laundering, just as in the 2006 indictment. A warrant was issued for his arrest in February 2020 after he failed to appear in court. In 2021he was found guiltyofcontempt of courtand sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment. In response, supporters of Zumaengaged in protestswhich led to riots, looting, vandalism and widespread violence, leaving 354 people dead.
TheZondo Commission, established in 2018 in order to investigate allegations of corruption and state capture released its findings in 2022. It found rampant corruption at every level of government, includingTransnet,Eskom, andDenel, as well aslaw enforcement,intelligence agencies, and thecivil service. It documented evidence ofsystemic corruption,fraud,racketeering,bribery,money laundering, and state capture. It investigated theAfrican National Congressparty and Jacob Zuma, whom it concluded were complicit in state capture through their direct assistance to theGupta family."The Commission estimated the total amount of money spent by the state which was 'tainted' by state capture to be around R57 billion. More than 97% of the R57 billion came from Transnet and Eskom. Out of these funds, the Gupta enterprise received at least R15 billion. The total loss to the state is difficult to quantify, but would far exceed that R15 billion."
South Africa has maintained a position of neutrality in regards to theRussia invasion of Ukrainein 2022 and theongoing war. On 29 December 2023, South Africa formally submittedits caseto theInternational Court of JusticeregardingIsrael's conduct in theGaza Stripas part of theIsrael–Hamas war, alleging that Israel had committed and was committinggenocide against Palestiniansin the Gaza Strip. South Africa has repeatedly hosted senior leaders ofHamas, the group responsible for theOctober 7th massacrein Israel.
Following the2024 general elections, the African National Congress saw its share of the national vote fall below 50% for the first time since the end of Apartheid, though it remained the single largest party in the South African Parliament.President Ramaphosa announced anational unity government, the first since theCabinet of Nelson Mandela, and entered a deal with theDemocratic Alliance, the previous main opposition party, and  other minor parties.Ramaphosa was reelected for a second term in office by theNational Assemblyagainst the leader of theEconomic Freedom Fighters,Julius Malema.
South Africa has been undergoing a period of intense political and economic crisis since 2020 with growing numbers of international institutions, businesses and political figures warning that the country risks collapsing into afailed statedue to high unemployment, low economic growth, low business investment, rising levels of violent crime, disorder, political corruption, andstate capture.The country has been undergoing anenergy crisissince 2007, resulting in routine rolling electricity blackouts due toloadshedding.According to theInternational Monetary Fund, South Africa is suffering from "massive corruption" and state capture.
South Africa is in southernmost Africa, with a coastline that stretches more than 2,500 km (1,553 mi) and along two oceans (the South Atlantic and the Indian). At 1,219,912 km(471,011 sq mi),South Africa is the 24th-largest country in the world.Excluding thePrince Edward Islands, the country lies between latitudes22°and35°S, and longitudes16°and33°E. The interior of South Africa consists of a large, in most places almost flat plateau with an altitude of between 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and 2,100 m (6,900 ft), highest in the east and sloping gently downwards towards the west and north, and slightly so to the south and south-west.This plateau is surrounded by theGreat Escarpmentwhose eastern, and highest, stretch is known as theDrakensberg.Mafadiin the Drakensberg at 3,450 m (11,320 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 3,000 m (9,800 ft).
The south and south-western parts of the plateau (at approximately 1,100–1,800m above sea level) and the adjoining plain below (at approximately 700–800m above sea level – see map on the right) is known as theGreat Karoo, which consists of sparsely populatedshrubland. To the north, the Great Karoo fades into the more arid Bushmanland, which eventually becomes theKalahari Desertin the north-west of the country. The mid-eastern and highest part of the plateau is known as theHighveld. 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°30'S line of latitude, the plateau slopes downwards into theBushveld, which ultimately gives way to the Limpopo River lowlands orLowveld.
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).This is hotter, drier and less intensely cultivated than the Highveld above the escarpment.TheKruger 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)
The coastal belt below the south and south-western stretches of the Great Escarpment contains several ranges ofCape Fold Mountainswhich run parallel to the coast, separating the Great Escarpment from the ocean.(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 theOuteniquaandLangebergranges to the south and theSwartbergrange to the north is known as theLittle Karoo,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 aroundOudtshoorn. 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 theGarden 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, theCape Peninsulaforms the southernmost tip of the coastal strip which borders the Atlantic Ocean and ultimately terminates at the country's border with Namibia at theOrange River. The Cape Peninsula has aMediterranean climate, making it and its immediate surrounds the only portion ofSub-Saharan Africawhich receives most of its rainfall in winter.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°S line of latitude,after which the Great Escarpment bounds the coastal plain. The most southerly portion of this coastal belt is known as theSwartlandand Malmesbury Plain, which is an important wheat growing region, relying on winter rains. The region further north is known asNamaqualand,which becomes more arid near the Orange River. The little rain that falls tends to fall in winter,which results in one of the world's most spectacular displays of flowers carpeting huge stretches ofveldin spring (August–September).
South Africa also has one offshore possession, the smallsub-Antarcticarchipelagoof the Prince Edward Islands, consisting ofMarion Island(290 kmor 110 sq mi) and Prince Edward Island (45 kmor 17 sq mi).
South Africa has a generallytemperate climatebecause it is surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides, because it is located in the climatically milderSouthern 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 southernNamibin 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 theMediterraneanwith wet winters and hot, dry summers, hosting the famousfynbosbiomeof shrubland andthicket. 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 issubtropical. The Free State is particularly flat because it lies centrally on the high plateau. North of theVaal River, the Highveld becomes better watered and does not experience subtropical extremes of heat. Johannesburg, in the centre of the Highveld, is at 1,740 m (5,709 ft) above sea level and receives an annual rainfall of 760 mm (29.9 in). Winters in this region are cold, although snow is rare.
The coldest place on mainland South Africa is Buffelsfontein in theEastern Cape, where a temperature of −20.1 °C (−4.2 °F) was recorded in 2013.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 51.7 °C (125.06 °F) was recorded in 1948 in the Northern Cape Kalahari nearUpington,but this temperature is unofficial and was not recorded with standard equipment; the official highest temperature is 48.8 °C (119.84 °F) atVioolsdrifin January 1993.
Climate change in South Africais leading to increased temperatures and rainfall variability.Extreme weatherevents are becoming more prominent.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 towater 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.According to computer-generated climate modelling produced by the South African National Biodiversity Institute,parts of southern Africa will see an increase in temperature by about 1 °C (1.8 °F) along the coast to more than 4 °C (7.2 °F) in the already hothinterlandsuch 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.South Africa contributes considerablecarbon dioxide emissions, being the 14th largest emitter of carbon dioxide,primarily from its heavy reliance on coal and oil forenergy production.As part of its international commitments, South Africa has pledged to peak emissions between 2020 and 2025.
South Africa signed the RioConvention on Biological Diversityon 4 June 1994 and became a party to the convention on 2 November 1995.It has subsequently produced aNational Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which was received by the convention on 7 June 2006.The country is ranked sixth out of the world's seventeenmegadiverse countries.Ecotourism in South Africahas 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 leopards,South African cheetahs,southern white rhinos,blue wildebeest,kudus,impalas,hyenas,hippopotamusesandSouth African giraffes. A significant extent of the Bushveld exists in the north-east including Kruger National Park and theSabi Sand Game Reserve, as well as in the far north in theWaterberg Biosphere. South Africa houses manyendemic species, among them the critically endangeredriverine rabbit(Bunolagus monticullaris) in the Karoo.
Up to 1945, more than 4,900 species offungi(includinglichen-formingspecies) had been recorded.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.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.The country's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan does not mention fungi (including lichen-forming fungi).
With more than 22,000 differentvascular plants, or about 9% of all the known species of plants on Earth,South Africa is particularly rich in plant diversity. The most prevalent biome is thegrassland, particularly on the Highveld, where the plant cover is dominated by differentgrasses, low shrubs, andacacia, mainly camel-thorn (Vachellia erioloba). Vegetation is sparse towards the north-west because of low rainfall. There are numerous species of water-storing succulents, likealoesandeuphorbias, in the very hot and dry Namaqualand area. And according to theWorld Wildlife Fund, South Africa is home to around a third of all succulent species.The grass and thornsavannaturns slowly into a bush savanna towards the north-east of the country, with denser growth. There are significant numbers ofbaobabtrees in this area, near the northern end of Kruger National Park.
The fynbos biome, which makes up the majority of the area and plant life in theCape 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 theAmazon rainforest,making it among the richest regions on earth in terms of plant diversity. Most of the plants areevergreenhard-leaf plants with fine, needle-like leaves, such as thesclerophyllousplants. Another uniquely South African flowering plant group is the genusProtea, 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 humidcoastal plain of KwaZulu-Natal, where there are also areas ofSouthern Africa mangrovesin river mouths. Even smaller reserves of forests are out of the reach of fire, known asmontane forests. Plantations of imported tree species are predominant, particularly the non-nativeeucalyptusand pine.
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 2019Forest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 4.94/10, ranking it 112th globally out of 172 countries.South Africa is one of the worst affected countries in the world when it comes to invasion byalien specieswith many (e.g.,black wattle,Port Jackson willow,Hakea,LantanaandJacaranda) posing a significant threat to the native biodiversity and the already scarce water resources. Alsowoody plant encroachmentof native plants in grasslands poses a threat to biodiversity and related ecosystem services, affecting over 7 million hectares.The originaltemperate forestfound by the first European settlers was exploited until only small patches remained. Currently, South African hardwood trees likereal yellowwood(Podocarpus latifolius), stinkwood (Ocotea bullata), and South African black ironwood (Olea capensis) are under strict government protection. Statistics from theDepartment of Environmental Affairsshow a record 1,215 rhinos were killed in 2014.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.
South Africa is a nation of about 62 million (as of 2022) people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions.The lastcensuswas 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.South Africa is home to an estimated five millionillegal immigrants, including some three million Zimbabweans.A series ofanti-immigrant riotsoccurred beginning in May 2008.
Statistics South Africaasks people to describe themselves in the census in terms of five racial population groups.The 2022 census figures for these groups were:Black Africanat 81%,Colouredat 8.2%,Whiteat 7.3%,Indian or Asianat 2.7%, and Other/Unspecified at 0.5%.The first census in 1911 showed that whites made up 22% of the population; this had declined to 16% by 1980.
South Africa hosts a sizeable refugee and asylum seeker population. According to theWorld Refugee Survey 2008, published by theU.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, this population numbered approximately 144,700 in 2007.Groups of refugees and asylum seekers numbering over 10,000 included people from Zimbabwe (48,400), the DRC (24,800), and Somalia (12,900).These populations mainly lived in Johannesburg, Pretoria,Durban, Cape Town, andPort Elizabeth.
South Africa has 12 official languages:Zulu,Xhosa,Afrikaans,English,Pedi,Tswana,Southern Sotho,Tsonga,Swazi,Venda, andSouthern Ndebele(in order of first language speakers), as well as South African Sign Language which was recognised as an official language in 2023.In this regard it is fourth only toBolivia,India, andZimbabwein 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%).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 factolingua francaof the nation.Estimates based on the 1991 census suggest just under half of South Africans could speak English.It is the second most commonly spoken language outside of the household, after Zulu.
Other languages are spoken, or were widely used previously, includingFanagalo,Khoe,Lobedu,Nama,Northern Ndebele, andPhuthi.Many of the unofficiallanguages of the San and Khoekhoepeoples 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 theirhunter-gatherersocieties. They have been marginalised, and the remainder of their languages are in danger of becomingextinct.
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 speakIndian languages, such as Gujarati, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. French is spoken by migrants fromFrancophone Africa.
According to the 2001 census, Christians accounted for 79.8% of the population, with a majority of them being members of variousProtestantdenominations(broadly defined to includesyncreticAfrican-initiated churches) and a minority ofRoman Catholicsand other Christians. The Christian category includesZion Christian(11.1%),Pentecostal(Charismatic) (8.2%),Roman Catholic(7.1%),Methodist(6.8%),Dutch Reformed(6.7%), andAnglican(3.8%). Members of the remaining Christian churches accounted for another 36% of the population.Muslimsaccounted for 1.5% of the population,Hindus1.2%,traditional African religions0.3% andJudaism0.2%. 15.1% had no religious affiliation, 0.6% were "other" and 1.4% were "unspecified."
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 200,000traditional healers, and up to 60% of South Africans consult these healers,generally calledsangoma('diviner') orinyanga('herbalist'). These healers use a combination ofancestral spiritual beliefsand a belief in the spiritual and medicinal properties of local fauna, flora, and funga commonly known asmuti('medicine'), to facilitate healing in clients. Many peoples have syncretic religious practices combining Christian and indigenous influences.
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.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.
There is a substantialJewish population, descended fromEuropean Jewswho arrived as a minority amongst 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.Even so, these numbers make the Jewish community in South Africa the twelfth largest in the world.
The adultliteracyrate in 2007 was 89%.South Africa has athree-tier systemof 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.Primary schools span the first seven years of schooling.High school education spans a further five years. TheNational Senior Certificateexamination takes place at the end of grade 12 and is necessary for tertiary studies at aSouth African university.Public universities are divided into three types: traditional universities, which offer theoretically oriented university degrees;universities of technology(formerly calledtechnikons), 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. There are also a large amount of FET (Further Education and Training) andTVET(Technical and Vocational Education and Training)colleges in South Africa.
Under apartheid, schools for black people were subject to discrimination through inadequate funding and a separate syllabus calledBantu Educationwhich only taught skills sufficient to work as labourers.
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.
According to theSouth 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.The healthcare spending in the country is about 9% of GDP.About 84% of the population depends on the public healthcare system,which is beset with chronic human resource shortages and limited resources.About 20% of the population use private healthcare.Only 16% of the population are covered bymedical aid schemes;the rest pay for private careout-of-pocketor through in-hospital-only plans.The three dominant hospital groups,Mediclinic,Life HealthcareandNetcare, together control 75% of the private hospital market.
According to the 2015UNAIDSmedical report, South Africa has an estimated seven million people who are living with HIV – more than any other country in the world.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.
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.Most deaths are experienced by economically active individuals, resulting in manyAIDS orphanswho in many cases depend on the state for care and financial support.It is estimated that there are 1,200,000 orphans in South Africa.
The link between HIV, a virus spread primarily by sexual contact, and AIDS was longdeniedby PresidentThabo Mbekiand his health ministerManto Tshabalala-Msimang, who insisted that the many deaths in the country are caused bymalnutrition, and hence poverty, and not HIV.In 2007, in response to international pressure, the government made efforts to fight AIDS.After the2009 general elections, President Jacob Zuma appointedAaron Motsoaledias the health minister and committed his government to increasing funding for and widening the scope of HIV treatment,and by 2015, South Africa had made significant progress, with the widespread availability ofantiretroviral drugsresulted in an increase in life expectancy from 52.1 years to 62.5 years.
One online databaselists South Africa having more than 12,600 cities and towns. The following are the largest cities and towns in South Africa.
South Africa is aparliamentary republic, but unlike most such republics, thepresidentis bothhead of stateandhead of governmentand depends for their tenure on theconfidenceofParliament. The executive, legislature, and judiciary are all subject to the supremacy of theConstitution of South Africa, and thesuperior courtshave the power to strike down executive actions and acts of Parliament if they are unconstitutional. TheNational Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, consists of 400 members and is elected every five years by a system ofparty-list proportional representation. TheNational Council of Provinces, the upper house, consists of ninety members, with each of the nineprovincial legislatureselecting 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.The president appoints adeputy presidentandministers(each representing adepartment) who form thecabinet. The National Assembly may remove the president and the cabinet by amotion of no confidence. In themost recent election, held on 29 May 2024, the ANC lost its majority for the first time since the end of Apartheid,winning only 40% of the vote and 159 seats, while the main opposition, theDemocratic Alliance(DA), won 22% of the vote and 87 seats.uMkhonto weSizwe, a new party founded by formerPresidentand ANC leaderJacob Zuma, won 14.6% of the vote and 58 seats, while theEconomic Freedom Fighters, founded byJulius Malema, former president of theANC Youth Leaguewho was later expelled from the ANC, won 9.5% of the vote and 39 seats.  After the election, the ANC formed aGovernment of National Unitywith the DA and several smaller parties.
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."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 theSupreme Court of Appeal, and has traditionally been regarded as the judicial capital;although the highest court, theConstitutional Court of South Africahas been based in Johannesburg since 1994. Most foreign embassies are located in Pretoria.
Since 2004, South Africa has had many thousands of popular protests,some violent, making it, according to one academic, the "most protest-rich country in the world".There have been numerous incidents ofpolitical repressionas well as threats of future repression in violation of the constitution, leading some analysts andcivil societyorganisations to conclude that there is or could be a new climate of political repression.
In 2022, South Africa was placed sixth out of 48 sub-Saharan African countries on theIbrahim Index of African Governance. South Africa scored well in the categories ofRule of Law,Transparency, Corruption,Participationand Human Rights, but scored low in Safety and Security.In 2006, South Africa became one of the first jurisdictions in the world to legalisesame-sex marriage.
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme rule of law in the country. The primary sources ofSouth African lawareRoman-Dutch mercantile lawand personal law andEnglish Common law, as imports of Dutch settlements and British colonialism.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 thecodificationof European law into theNapoleonic Codeand is comparable in many ways toScots law. This was followed in the 19th century by English law, bothcommonandstatutory. 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 themagistrates' courts, which hear lesser criminal cases and smaller civil cases; theHigh Court, which has divisions that serve as the courts ofgeneral jurisdictionfor specific areas; the Supreme Court of Appeal; and the Constitutional Court, which is the highest court.
As the Union of South Africa, the country was a founding member of the United Nations (UN), with Prime MinisterJan Smutswriting thepreamble to the UN Charter.South Africa is one of the founding members of theAfrican Union(AU) and has thelargest economy of all the members. It is a founding member of the AU'sNew Partnership for Africa's Development. After apartheid ended, South Africa was readmitted to theCommonwealth of Nations. The country is a member of theGroup of 77and chaired the organisation in 2006. South Africa is also a member of theSouthern 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 thePort 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, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
PresidentJacob Zumaand Chinese PresidentHu Jintaoupgraded 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.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) forum.
TheSouth African National Defence Force(SANDF) was created in 1994as avolunteer militarycomposed of the formerSouth African Defence Force, the forces of the African nationalist groups (uMkhonto we SizweandAzanian People's Liberation Army), and the former Bantustan defence forces.The SANDF is subdivided into four branches, theSouth African Army, theSouth African Air Force, theSouth African Navy, and theSouth African Military Health Service.The SANDF consists of around 75,000professional soldiersas of 2019.In recent years, the SANDF has become a majorpeacekeepingforce in Africa,and has been involved in operations in Lesotho, the DRC,and Burundi,amongst others. It has also served in multinationalUN Peacekeeping forcessuch as theUN 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,defence expenditurehas been cut as the nation currently faces no external military threats.
The South African Army is the largest branch of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), focusing onland warfare. Established in 1912, it is one of the oldest armies in Africa and has a long history of involvement in peacekeeping missions, counter-insurgency operations, and regional defence.
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is theaerial warfarebranch and is responsible for protecting the country's airspace, supporting ground forces, and conducting humanitarian and peacekeeping operations. It operates around230 aircraftincluding helicopters, fighter jets, combat drones and training jets, notable aircraft of the SAAF include the advancedJAS-39 Gripenmulti-role fighter jet and the South African-madeDenel Rooivalkattack helicopter. Established in 1920, the SAAF is one of the oldest air forces in the world.
The South African Navy is thenaval warfarebranch and is responsible for protecting the country’s vast coastline, securing maritime trade routes, and conducting peacekeeping and anti-piracy operations. The South African Navy operates a modern and well-equipped fleet of vessels, some of the key naval assets include theValour-classstealth guided-missile frigates and theHeroine-classattack submarines making the South African Navy one of the most capable navies in the African Region.The South African Navy is headquartered atSimon's Town Naval Base, the largest naval facility in Africa, located near Cape Town.
TheSouth African Military Industryis the most advanced on the African continent and one of the most advanced in the world.As of 2020 South Africa is the world's 24th largest arms exporter, the only nation in Africa.The Military industry is made up of several key companies that specialize in various aspects of military manufacturing, ranging from aerospace and shipbuilding to armored vehicles and weapon systems as well as missile and radar systems.Some of the main companies in South African military innovation include,Armscor,Denel,Paramount Group,Milkor,Sandock-AustralandBAE Systems South Africa.
South Africa is the only African country to have successfully developednuclear weapons. It became the first country (followed by Ukraine) with nuclear capability to voluntarily renounce and dismantle its programme and in the process signed theNuclear Non-Proliferation Treatyin 1991.South Africa undertook anuclear weapons programmein the 1970s.South Africa isalleged to have conducteda nuclear test over the Atlantic in 1979,although this is officially denied; de Klerk maintained that South Africa had "never conducted a clandestine nuclear test."Six nuclear devices were completed between 1980 and 1990 but all were dismantled by 1991.In 2017, South Africa signed the UN treaty on theProhibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Law enforcement in South Africa is primarily the responsibility of theSouth 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.In 2023 theSpecial 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.
South Africa has the world's largestprivate security industry,with over 10,380 private security companies and 2.5 million private security personnel of which over 556,000 are active,making it bigger than the South African Police Force and Military combined.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.
As of February 2023, South Africa has the sixth highest crime rate in the world.From April 2017 to March 2018, on average 57 murders were committed each day in South Africa.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.More than 526,000 South Africans were murdered from 1994 to 2019.
South Africa has a high rape rate, with 43,195 rapes reported in 2014/15, and an unknown number ofsexual assaultsgoing unreported.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,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.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.Rapes are also perpetrated by children (some as young as ten).The incidence ofchild and infant rapeis among the highest in the world, largely as a result of thevirgin cleansing myth, and a number of high-profile cases (sometimes as young as eight months)have outraged the nation.
Between 1994 and 2018, there were more than 500xenophobicattacks against foreignersin South Africa.The2019 Johannesburg riotswere similar in nature and origin to the2008 xenophobic riotsthat also occurred in Johannesburg.
Each of the nine provinces is governed by aunicamerallegislature, which is elected every five years byparty-list proportional representation. The legislature elects apremieras head of government, and the premier appoints anExecutive Councilas 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 52districts: 8metropolitanand 44district municipalities. The district municipalities are further subdivided into 205local municipalities. The metropolitan municipalities, which govern the largest urban agglomerations, perform the functions of both district and local municipalities.
South Africa has amixed economy. Its economy is Africa's largest, most technologically advanced and industrialised. It also has a relatively high gross domestic product (GDP) per capita compared to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa US$16,080 atpurchasing power parityas of 2023 ranked 95th. However, 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 forincome inequality,measured by theGini coefficient.
South Africa is ranked 40th bytotal 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 byEgyptwith $307 billion andNigeriawith $228 billion.
Approximately 55.5% (30.3 million people) of the population is living in poverty at the national upperpoverty linewhile a total of 13.8 million people (25% of the population) are experiencing food poverty.
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.
Unlike most of the world's poor countries, South Africa does not have a thrivinginformal economy. Only 15% of South African jobs are in theinformal sector, compared with around half inBrazilandIndiaand nearly three-quarters inIndonesia. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) attributes this difference to South Africa's widespread welfare system.World Bankresearch shows that South Africa has one of the widest gaps between per capita GDP versus itsHuman Development Indexranking, with only Botswana showing a larger gap.
After 1994, government policy brought down inflation, stabilised public finances, and some foreign capital was attracted; however, growth was still below expectations.From 2004 onward, economic growth picked up significantly; both employment andcapital formationincreased.During the presidency ofJacob Zuma, the government increased the role ofstate-owned enterprises(SOEs). Some of the biggest SOEs areEskom, the electric power monopoly,South African Airways(SAA), andTransnet, the railroad and ports monopoly. Some of these SOEs have not been profitable, such as SAA, which has required bailouts totaling R30 billion ($2.03 billion) over the 20 years preceding 2015.Principal international trading partners of South Africa—besides other African countries—include Germany, the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Spain.The 2020Financial Secrecy Indexranked South Africa as the 58th safesttax havenin the world.
TheSouth African agricultural industrycontributes 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.Due to thearidityof the land, only 13.5% can be used for crop production, and only 3% is considered high potential land.
In August 2013, South Africa was ranked as the top African Country of the Future byfDi Intelligencebased on the country'seconomic potential, labour environment, cost-effectiveness, infrastructure, business friendliness, andforeign direct investmentstrategy.
Mining has been a major component of South Africa's economy throughout its history. Until 2006 South Africa had been theworld's largest gold producerfor 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).Despite this, the country still has 6,000 tonnes of gold reservesand is still number 5 in gold production whilst remaining a supplier of a wide range of important mineral resources.South Africa is home to the world's deepest gold mine,Mponeng Gold Mine, reaching nearly 4000m depth.In 2015, South Africa's gold production was 145 metric tonnes.It is the world's largest producerofchrome,manganese,platinum,vanadiumandvermiculite. It is the second largest producerofilmenite,palladium,rutileandzirconium. It is the world's third largest coal exporter.It is a major 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.
South Africa has a total road network of 750,000 kilometres, the largest of any African country and the12th largest in the world. According toSANRAL, 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.
Rail transport in South Africa is an important element of the country'stransport infrastructure. All major cities are connected by rail.Transnet Freight Railmainly operates freight services whilePRASAoperates 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.
South Africa's railway system is the most developed and largest in Africa as well as the13th largest in the world; however, vandalism, theft, and underinvestment has left the overall condition of the majority of networks in a poor state.Freight, passenger and port capacity shortages remain a severe constraint in domestic and regional trade.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,and it is likely that efforts will be made to revitalize these transport sectors through private sector partnerships.
South Africa has international airports in six cities:Johannesburg,Cape Town,Durban,Port Elizabeth,KimberleyandNelspruit.
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.
The fourmajorairports in South Africa are:O.R. Tambo International Airportin Johannesburg,Cape Town International Airport,King Shaka International Airportin Durban andChief Dawid Stuurman International Airportin Port Elizabeth.
O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg is Africa's largest and busiest airport, receiving over 21 million passengers a year.During the 2022SkytraxWorld 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.
South Africa has a very large energy sector and is currently the only country on the African continent that possesses anuclear power plant.The country is the largest producer of electricity on the African continent and it ranks 21st globally.South Africa is the7th largest coal producerin the world and produces in excess of 248 milliontonnesofcoaland 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 ofgreenhouse gases.
The country's primary electricity generator is Eskom, the utility is the largest producer of electricity inAfrica, and is among the top seven utilities in the world in terms of generation capacity and among the top nine in terms of sales.It is the largest ofSouth Africa's state owned enterprises. Eskom generates approximately 95% of electricity in South Africa and operates a number of notablepower stations, including theKoeberg Nuclear Power Stationin Cape Town, the only nuclear power plant in Africa,Kendal Power Station, the largest dry-cooled power station in the world,as well asDuvha Power Stationwhich became the first power station in the world to be retrofitted withpulse jet fabric filterplants.In 2001 Eskom was named the best electricity utility in the entire world.
Due to severe mismanagement andcorruptionat Eskom, the company is R392bn ($22bn) in debt and is unable to meet the demands of the South African power grid.Due to this, Eskom implementedloadsheddingfor the first time in 2007, which is periodically switching off electricity to specific power grids in specific time frames. This was 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.Crime such as theft, and sabotage at Eskom power stations had also been a significant issue contributing to South Africa's energy crisis.
The government and Eskom have made significant strides toward resolving the issues that have plagued the power system for years. Key to this progress has been a focus on improving maintenance of its coal-fired power plants, reducing frequent breakdowns that caused widespread load shedding. In addition, there has been a noticeable increase in the contribution of renewable energy sources, such assolarandwind, from independent power producers (IPPs), which has helped diversify South Africa's energy mix and reduce reliance on coal.
In addition, energy supply has stabilized, with no (planned power cuts) since late March 2024. Prior to this, electricity supply shortages had constrained South Africa’s growth for several years. The cumulated duration of the outages due to rotational load shedding, each of which lasted 2 to 4 hours, was equivalent to 289 days in 2023, up from 157 in 2022 and 48 in 2021. This severe electricity shortfall disrupted economic activity and increased operating costs for businesses, many of which rely on costly diesel generators. However, there are subsequent improvements in electricity supply which have been attributed to improvements in the management of the national power utility Eskom, and high-level political support from the President and the Minister of Electricity.
Several important scientific and technological developments have originated in South Africa. South Africa was ranked 69th in theGlobal Innovation Indexin 2024.The first human-to-humanheart transplantwas performed by cardiac surgeonChristiaan BarnardatGroote Schuur Hospitalin December 1967;Max Theilerdeveloped avaccineagainstyellow fever,Allan MacLeod Cormackpioneered X-ray computed tomography (CT scan); andAaron Klugdevelopedcrystallographic electron microscopytechniques. Cormack and Klug receivedNobel Prizesfor their work.Sydney Brennerwon in 2002, for his pioneering work inmolecular biology.Mark Shuttleworthfounded an early Internet security companyThawte.
South Africa has cultivated a burgeoningastronomycommunity. It hosts theSouthern African Large Telescope, the largestoptical telescopein theSouthern Hemisphere. South Africa is currently building theKaroo Array Telescopeas a pathfinder for the €1.5 billionSquare Kilometre Arrayproject.
Modes of transport include roads, railways, airports, water, and pipelines for petroleum oil. The majority of people in South Africa use informalminibus taxisas their main mode of transport.Bus rapid transithas been implemented in some cities in an attempt to provide more formalised and safer public transport services. 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 carryingpetroleum tankers.
Two distinctive features of the South African water sector are the policy of free basic water and the existence ofwater 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.Sanitation access increased from 71% to 79% during the same period.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.
The eastern parts of South Africa suffer from periodic droughts linked to theEl Niñoweather phenomenon.In early 2018, Cape Town, which has different weather patterns to the rest of the country,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 50 litres (13 US gal) per day.Cape Town rejected an offer from Israel to help it builddesalinationplants.
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 black people have become increasingly urbanised andWesternised, aspects of traditional culture have declined. Members of the middle class, who have historically been predominantly white but whose ranks include growing numbers of black, Coloured and Indian people,have lifestyles similar in many respects to that of people found in Western Europe, North America andAustralasia.
South African artincludes the oldest art objects in the world, which were discovered in a South African cave and dated from roughly 75,000 years ago.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 Afrikanertrekboersand 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.
TheSouth African mediasector 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.
There is great diversity inSouth African music. Black musicians have developed unique styles calledKwaitoandAmapiano, that is said to have taken over radio, television, and magazines.Of note isBrenda Fassie, who launched to fame with her song "Weekend Special", which was sung in English. More famous traditional musicians includeLadysmith Black Mambazo, while theSoweto String Quartetperforms classical music with an African flavour. South Africa has produced world-famous jazz musicians, notablyHugh Masekela,Jonas Gwangwa,Abdullah Ibrahim,Miriam Makeba,Jonathan Butler,Chris McGregor, andSathima Bea Benjamin. Afrikaans music covers multiple genres, such as the contemporarySteve Hofmeyr, thepunk rockbandFokofpolisiekar, and the singer-songwriterJeremy Loops. South African popular musicians that have found international success includeManfred Mann,Johnny Clegg, rap-rave duoDie Antwoord,Tyla, and rock bandSeether. Rappers such asAKA,Nasty CandCassper Nyovestgained notoriety in other avenues like the BET Awards for best African acts.
Although fewSouth African filmproductions 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 wasDistrict 9, as well asChappie. Other notable exceptions are the filmTsotsi, which won theAcademy Award for Foreign Language Filmat the78th Academy Awardsin 2006, as well asU-Carmen e-Khayelitsha, which won theGolden Bearat the 2005Berlin International Film Festival. In 2015, theOliver HermanusfilmThe Endless Riverbecame the first South African film selected for theVenice Film Festival.
South African literatureemerged from a unique social and political history. One of the first well-known novels written by a black author in an African language wasSolomon Thekiso Plaatje'sMhudi, written in 1930. During the 1950s,Drummagazine became a hotbed of political satire, fiction, and essays, giving a voice to the urban black culture.
Notable white South African authors include anti-apartheid activistAlan Paton, who published the novelCry, the Beloved Countryin 1948.Nadine Gordimerbecame the first South African to be awarded theNobel Prize in Literature, in 1991.J.M. Coetzeewon the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003. When awarding the prize, theSwedish Academystated that Coetzee "in innumerable guises portrays the surprising involvement of the outsider."
The plays ofAthol Fugardhave been regularly premiered infringe theatresin South Africa, London (Royal Court Theatre) and New York.Olive Schreiner'sThe Story of an African Farm(1883) was a revelation inVictorian literature: it is heralded by many as introducing feminism into the novel form.
Breyten Breytenbachwas jailed for his involvement with the guerrilla movement against apartheid.André Brinkwas the first Afrikaner writer to bebannedby the government after he released the novelA Dry White Season.
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 thebraai, a variation of thebarbecue. South Africa has also developed into a majorwine producer, with some of the bestvineyardslying in valleys aroundStellenbosch,Franschhoek,PaarlandBarrydale.
South Africa's most popular sports areassociation football,rugby unionandcricket.Other sports with significant support are swimming, athletics, golf, boxing, tennis,ringball,field hockey, surfing andnetball. 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.
Association football is the most popular sport in South Africa.Footballers who have played for major foreign clubs includeSteven Pienaar,Lucas Radebe,Philemon Masinga,Benni McCarthy,Aaron Mokoena, andDelron Buckley. South Africa hosted the2010 FIFA World Cup, and FIFA presidentSepp Blatterawarded South Africa a grade 9 out of 10 for successfully hosting the event.Player Benni McCarthy is also a first-team coach for the English football clubManchester United.It hosted the1996 African Cup of Nations, with the national teamBafana Bafanagoing on to win the tournament. In 2022, thewomen's teamalso won theWomen's Africa Cup of Nations, beatingMorocco2–1 inthe final. The women's team went on to reach the last 16 at the2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, beatingItalyand tying withArgentinain the group stage.
Famouscombat sportpersonalities include Baby JakeJacob Matlala,Vuyani Bungu,Welcome Ncita,Dingaan Thobela,Corrie Sanders,Gerrie Coetzee,Brian MitchellandDricus du Plessis. Durban surferJordy Smithwon the 2010 Billabong J-Bay Open making him the highest ranked surfer in the world. South Africa producedFormula Onemotor racing's 1979 world championJody Scheckter. Famous activeGrand Prix motorcycle racingpersonalities includeBrad Binderand his younger brotherDarryn Binder. Well-known active cricket players includeKagiso Rabada,David Miller,Keshav Maharaj,Quinton de Kock,Lungi Ngidi,Anrich Nortje,Aiden MarkramandFaf du Plessis; some also participate in theIndian Premier League.
South Africa has produced numerous world class rugby players, includingFrancois Pienaar,Joost van der Westhuizen,John Smit,Os du Randt,Jean de Villiers,Chester Williams,Frans Steyn,Victor Matfield,Bryan Habana,Tendai Mtawarira,Eben Etzebeth,Cheslin KolbeandSiya Kolisi. South Africa has won theRugby World Cupfour times, the most wins of any country. South Africa first won the1995 Rugby World Cup, which it hosted. They went on to win the tournament again in 2007, 2019 and 2023.
Cricket is one of the most played sports in South Africa. It has hosted the2003 Cricket World Cup, the2007 World Twenty20 Championship. South Africa's national cricket team, theProteas, have also won the inaugural edition of the1998 ICC KnockOut Trophyby defeatingWest Indiesin the final. The2023 ICC Women's T20 World Cupwas hosted in South Africa and thewomen's teamwon silver. The men's team won silver at the2024 ICC T20 World Cup.South Africa's national blind cricket teamalso went on to win the inaugural edition of theBlind Cricket World Cupin 1998.
In 2004, the swimming team ofRoland Schoeman,Lyndon Ferns,Darian TownsendandRyk Neethlingwon the gold medal at theOlympic Games in Athens, simultaneously breaking the world record in the 4×100Freestyle Relay.Penny Heynswon Olympic Gold in the 1996Atlanta Olympic Games, and more recently, swimmersTatjana Smith(née Schoenmaker),Lara van Niekerk,Akani SimbineandWayde van Niekerkhave all broken records and won medals at both the Olympic andCommonwealth Games, with Wayde van Niekerk being the world record holder in400 metressince 2016. In 2012,Oscar Pistoriusbecame the first double amputee sprinter to compete at theOlympic Games in London.Gary Playeris regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time, having won theCareer Grand Slam, one of five to have done so.
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