Country Information on  South Africa 

Terrain

Two thirds of South Africa are covered by an inland plateau called "Veld", which is surrounded by the Great Escarpment mountain chain, and the Drakenberg mountains, which are part of it, separate the coastal areas from the highlands. The country's highest peak, Champagne Castle (3,375 m) is located there. The country can be divided into four regions: the mountains (Hochveld), the forests (Bushveld), the subtropical valleys (Middleveld), and a flat subtropical region in the east (Lowveld), which is prone to droughts. The mountainous area covers most of the plateau and most of it is at 1,525 m above sea level. Part of the Kalahari Desert is in the north west of South Africa and part of the Namib Desert covers the west of the country. The largest rivers are the Orange, the Vaal and the Limpopo.

Climate

South Africa has a subtropical climate, which is more moderate as a result of ocean currents, which vary according to the region. The whole country (apart from the extreme south west) is influenced by south-easterly monsoons, which are responsible for about 80% of the annual precipitation of the eastern Lowveld, the eastern Highveld, and the Drakenberg mountains. The influence of a warm ocean current is noticeable in Durban, where in January temperatures average 24°C as a result of the Agulhas current which flows from the north. Although Johannesburg is situated nearer to the equator, further inland, temperatures reach a maximum of 19°C due to the altitude (1,753 m). Temperatures in Cape Town, on the southern coast, average 21°C due to the influence of the cold Benguela current. Although there is just snow in the mountainous areas, there is also sometimes frost at medium altitudes.

Fauna/Flora

When it comes to mammals, South Africa is a country of superlatives: it has the largest (the African elephant), the smallest (the pygmy shrew), the tallest (the giraffe) and the fastest (the cheetah). The country is also home to the last substantial populations of black and white rhinoceroses. All of these animals live primarily in national parks, but can also be found in other areas. Crocodiles can be found in the Lowveld waters, for example, and rhinoceroses can be found in the northern coastal regions. South Africa has a great variety of bird species; it is home to the ostrich (the world's largest bird), the Kori bustard (the largest flying bird), as well as red-billed leiothrixes, flamingos, and sparrows. The diversity of South Africa's flora is spectacular, with countless wild plants and extraordinary succulents that bloom with the spring rains. Large areas in the north are covered with savannah vegetation, characterized by acacias and thorn bushes. The remains of woods are found along the southern coast and in the north east.

History/Politics

In 1652, the first Dutch settlers landed near the Cape of Good Hope in an area which had been inhabited by the Khoikhoi for more than a thousand years. In time, Cape Town became a major seaport on the trade route to India. The fight for land led to wars between the Bantu groups and colonists from 1770-1840, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and eradicating entire cultures. The British settled on Dutch territory in 1806. English became the official language in 1822 and slavery was abolished in 1833. This led to thousands of Boers moving north ("the Great Trek") and settling in the region of Transvaal. They drove off the Ndebele tribe, defeated the Zulu, and founded a number of settlements, which were recognized by the British.

The peaceful co-existence of the Boers and the British ended in 1867 when deposits of gold and diamonds were found in Transvaal, leading to the Boer War in 1899. It was won by the British in 1902. Transvaal and the Orange Free State became British crown colonies in 1902, and in 1910 the British parliament approved the creation of the Union of South Africa. Legislation on racial segregation was implemented soon afterwards. The South African Party won the first elections and the then commander of the Boer army, Louis Botha, became prime minister. His policies, particularly the annexation of black African territory, provoked a reaction from black African leaders. In 1912, they united in an organization which later became the African National Congress (ANC).

Opposition to the government's racial segregation policy led to armed clashes and the imprisonment of black African leaders in 1960. In 1948, the right-wing National Party came to power. It remained in power until 1994 with a policy of apartheid. As a result of international pressure and protests at home, the South African government was forced to abolish the apartheid system and to release political prisoners. The government called an election in 1994, which was won by the ANC leader Nelson Mandela (who had been a political prisoner for 28 years).

In 1997, Thabo Mbeki succeeded Mandela as leader of the ANC and he was elected president in 1999. In 2001, 39 transnational pharmaceutical companies demanded that the government implement a law that would allow the import of generic medicines against AIDS. International pressure led to those organisations withdrawing their demand and in the years that followed a number of laws supporting people who were HIV positive was introduced. Mbeki was re-elected president in 2004.

Economy

South Africa has numerous mineral reserves; it has well-developed financial, communications, energy, and transport sectors, and a stock exchange which ranks among the ten most important in the world. The country's modern infrastructure allows for an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centres throughout the region. Despite economic growth, the unemployment rate is around 30% and those segments of the population that were disadvantaged during the apartheid era still live in poverty and complain of a lack of economic support. The iron and steel industries, metallurgy, finance, insurance, and food processing are major economic sectors. In 2003, the inflation rate was 6.5% and the unemployment rate was 31%.

Culture

The art of South Africa's indigenous populations is one way of connecting with lost cultures, such as rock and cave paintings by the San (Bushmen), some of which date back 26,000 years. The elaborately patterned beadwork of the Zulus is a traditional art that has been adapted to different circumstances. Zulu is one of the strongest surviving cultures, as is seen at Inkatha Freedom Party gatherings. The Xhosa also have a strong presence; they are known as the "red people" because of the red clothing that most adults wear. The Ndebele, who live in the Northern Transvaal, are known for painting striking patterns on their houses.