The Republic of South Africa

South Africa is located in
the southern region of Africa

The Capital: Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloemfontein

Population:(20210 61,071,000

Religion: Christianity

Urban: (2020) 67.4% • Rural: 32.6%

Currency: Rand (R)

Language: Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu, Southern Sotho

People - Ethnic Group

South Africa is a country on the African continent’s southernmost tip, with various unique ecosystems. Big game can be found in Kruger National Park, an inland safari destination. Beaches, rich winelands around Stellenbosch and Paarl, rugged cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, forest and lagoons along the Garden Route, and the city of Cape Town, beneath flat-topped Table Mountain, are all available in the Western Cape.

The Population Registration Act, in effect from 1950 to 1991, included government-determined “racial” and ethnic classification, which was critical in determining the status of all South Africans under apartheid. The statute classified South Africans at birth into four “racial” categories: black, white, coloured (mixed race), and Asian. However, these classifications were mostly arbitrary, depending on factors such as family background, cultural acceptance, and appearance.

South Africa Languages

The Black African population is diverse, with four distinct linguistic groups. The largest group is the Nguni, which includes several peoples who speak Swati (mainly the Swazi peoples) as well as those who speak languages named for the peoples who speak them—the Ndebele, Xhosa, and Zulu (see also Xhosa language; Zulu language). They account for more than half of the country’s Black population and are the majority in numerous eastern and coastal regions, as well as the industrial Gauteng province.

The second largest is Sotho-Tswana, which includes a number of languages whose names are derived from the names of the people who mostly speak them—the Sotho, Pedi, and Tswana. Many Highveld areas are dominated by speakers of Sotho-Tswana languages. Tsonga (or Shangaan) speakers (mainly the Tsonga peoples) are concentrated in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, and Venda speakers (mostly the Venda peoples) are concentrated in Limpopo province.

There are two major language groupings among white South Africans. More than half of them speak Afrikaans and are descended from Dutch, French, and German pioneers. The remainder are primarily English speakers derived from British colonists, with a sizeable minority of Portuguese and smaller populations of Italians and others. The majority of the formerly coloured population speaks Afrikaans or, to a lesser extent, English.

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South Africa Trade

The South African economy is essentially based on private enterprise, but the state participates in many ways.The largest electrical provider, the Electrical Supply Commission (ESKOM), remains government-controlled, but numerous companies that were once government branches have been converted to public corporations, including Transnet, which operates the trains and harbours.

Agriculture is extremely important in South Africa. It contributes significantly to the home economy and generates a considerable share of exports.

Corn (maize), wheat, sugarcane, sorghum, peanuts (groundnuts), citrus and other fruits, and tobacco are among the principal crops. Sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs are farmed for food and other goods, including wool and meat (beef, lamb, mutton, and goat). Dairy (including butter and cheese) and egg production are also important, particularly in and around big cities.

South Africa has a well-developed financial system, with the South African Reserve Bank serving as the only issuing authority for the rand, the country’s currency.