Members of the Khoisanlanguage groups are the oldest surviving inhabitants of the land however, only a few areleft in South Africa today, and they are located in the western sections. People have inhabited Southern Africa for thousands of years. The challengeis to create a single nondiscriminatory, nonracial system which offers the same standardsof education to all people. Under the apartheid system, schools were segregated,and the quantity and quality of education varied significantly across racial groups.Although the laws governing this segregation have been abolished, the long and arduousprocess of restructuring the country's educational system is just beginning. They constitute about 2% of the population and areconcentrated in the Kwazulu-Natal Province.Įducation is in a state of flux. They comprise about 9% of the total population.Asians descend from Indian workers brought to South Africa in the mid-19th century to workon the sugar estates in Natal. Coloreds are mixed race people, primarily descending from the earliestsettlers and the indigenous peoples. They are primarily descendantsof Dutch, French, English, and German settlers who began arriving at the Cape in the late17th century. Whites comprise about 14% of the population. Although this law has been abolished, manySouth Africans still view themselves and each other according to these categories.Africans comprise about 75% of the population and are divided into a number of differentethnic groups. Until 1991, South African law divided the population into four major racial categories:Africans (black), whites, coloreds, and Asians. GDP composition (1997): Agriculture 5%, services, 58%, industry 37% world'slargest producer of platinum, gold, and chromium also significant coal production.Įxchange rate (Jan. Major suppliers-Germany, U.S.,Japan, United Kingdom, Italy. Imports-$30.1 billion: machinery, transport equipment, chemicals,petroleum products, textiles, scientific instruments. Major markets-United Kingdom, U.S., Germany, Italy, Japan, East Asia,Sub-Saharan Africa. Trade (1996): Exports-$29.3 billion: gold, other minerals and metals, agriculturalproducts. Industry: Types-minerals, automobiles fabricated material, machinery, textiles,chemicals, fertilizer. A world leader in the areas of railway rolling stock, syntheticfuels, and mining equipment and machinery. Natural resources: Almost all essential commodities, except petroleum and bauxite. Suffrage: Citizens and permanent residents 18 and older. Political parties: African National Congress (ANC), National Party (NP), InkathaFreedom Party (IFP), Vryheidsfront/Freedom Front (FF), Democratic Party (DP), Pan-AfricanCongress (PAC), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), United Democratic Movement(UDM), Azanian People's Organization (AZAPO), and Conservative Party (CP). National Council of Provinces consisting of 90 delegates (10 from eachprovince) and 10 non-voting delegates representing local government.Judicial-Constitutional Court interprets and decides constitutional issues Supreme Courtof Appeal is the highest court for interpreting and deciding nonconstitutional matters.Īdministrative subdivisions: Nine provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng,KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Northern Province, Western Cape. National Assembly (400 members) elected by a system of proportionalrepresentation. Legislative-bicameral parliament consisting of 490 members in twochambers. Nonracial, democratic constitution came into effect April27, 1994 rejoined the Commonwealth in May 1994.īranches: Executive-president (chief of state) elected to a five-year term by theNational Assembly. Independence: The Union of South Africa was created on becamesovereign state within British empire in 1934 became a Republic on left theCommonwealth in October 1968. Type: Executive-president bicameral parliament. Lifeexpectancy-58 yrs., women 54 yrs., men. Health (1997 est.): Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)-53.2. The Schools Bill, passedby Parliament in 1996, aims to achieve greater educational opportunities for blackchildren, mandating a single syllabus and more equitable funding for schools. Religions: Predominantly Christian traditional African, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish.Įducation: Years compulsory-7-15 years for all children. Languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda,Xhsa, Zulu (all official languages). Nationality: Noun and adjective-South African(s).Ĭomposition: black 75% white 14% colored 9% Asian (Indian) 2%. Terrain: Plateau, savanna, desert, mountains, coastal plains.Ĭlimate: moderate similar to southern California. Other cities - Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth. mi.).Ĭities: Capitals-Administrative, Pretoria legislative, Cape Town judicial,Bloemfontein. U.S.-South African Relations / Additional InformationĪrea: 1.2 million sq. Profile / People / History / Government / Economy /
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