South Africa

Geography

Area 1,218,360 sq.km.  Capital Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative) and Bloemfontein (judicial).  Other major cities: Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.  Urbanites 54%. 

Peoples

The South African population is approximately 41 million.  The African (black) population is 76.7% with the main people groups the Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi and Tswana.  The Caucasian population consists of 10.9%, the Coloured (mixed race) population 8.9%, Asian 2.6% and other 0.9% (many legal and illegal migrants).  Literacy is at 82%, functional literacy is around 62%. 

Language

The number of national languages is 11 (official), but 32 recognized. Most common languages used are English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa. The Biblical translations have been completed in 19 languages, 1 New Testament and 1 in progress.

Religion

There is much religious freedom, so much so that there has been given much focus to every religion and the interfaith movement has grown at the expense of Christianity.  The main religions are Christianity (73.5%), Traditional Ethnic religions (15%).  The churches with the highest membership are the Zion Christian, Catholic and the Dutch Reformed.

History

South Africa has had a tumultuous tribal and racial history and has emerged as a truly rainbow nation. The exploits of the Zulu warrior-king Shaka televised and documented over the years have immortalized the warrior spirit of the tribesmen that inhabit much of the east of the country. Today, Zulus like the other 10 major tribal groups, coexist and contribute efficiently to the most vibrant economy in Africa. Apartheid (separate but equal) as a system of separating the races was brought to an end by the first democratic elections held in 1994 and the subsequent election of the first black president of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. The pains of a complicated of racial integration can now be perceived only by those most keenly aware of the country’s ethnic journey.

Economy

South Africa is by far the most developed and most industrialized country in Africa (25% of Africa’s GNP and 40% of its industrial output) with road networks and cities that would rival those of any Western nation. South Africa is the world’s biggest exporter of non-petroleum minerals – especially gold, platinum, chrome, diamonds and coal.  Unemployment 25%

Politics

The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910. A white parliamentary republic was formed in 1961. The infamous apartheid system politically and economically marginalized non-whites and brought untold pain and suffering to the majority. The end of the Cold War and a worsening economic climate where part of a process that triggered a series of changes in the 1980’s. The last laws undergirding apartheid were repealed in 1991 paving the way for the country’s first free national democratic elections in 1994.

Climate

South Africa is a predominantly sunny country but when it gets cold you feel it due to a lack of indoor heating. Summer is September - March with warm days and mild evenings (days generally around 260C/800F). Winter falls April - August and brings mild days with often cool even cold evenings (avg. daily temp. 170C/600F).  Cape Town experiences a micro-climate quite different from the rest of the country. The proximity of two oceans (Atlantic and Indian) combined with the range of mountains gives the region a unique climate. The Western Cape experiences what is classified a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summer between September and March with a cool, wet winter between April and August.