SOUTH AFRICA

Facts about South AfricaPoor or rich country?

SOUTH AFRICA

Full name: Republic of South Africa Population: 50.5 million (UN, 2011) Capitals: Pretoria (executive capital); Cape Town (legislative

capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital) Largest city: Johannesburg Area: 1.22 million sq km (470,693 sq miles) Major languages: 11 official languages including English,

Afrikaans, Sesotho, Setswana, Xhosa and Zulu Major religion: Christianity, Islam, indigenous beliefs Life expectancy: 53 years (men), 54 years (women) Monetary unit: 1 Rand = 100 cents Main exports: Gold, diamonds, metals and minerals, cars,

machinery GNI per capita: US $6,090 (World Bank, 2010) International dialling code: +27

Diversity is a key feature of South Africa, where 11 languages are recognized as official, where community leaders include rabbis and chieftains, rugby players and returned exiles, where traditional healers play their trade around the corner from stockbrokers and where housing ranges from mud huts to palatial homes with swimming pools.

Until 1994 South Africa was ruled by a white minority government which was so determined to hang onto power that it took activists most of the last century before they succeeded in their fight to get rid of apartheid and extend democracy to the rest of the population.

Economy: One of continent's biggest economies. Poverty widespread, high crime rate associated with high unemployment. Economy moved into recession in May 2009

International: Plays a leading role in diplomatic and anti-poverty initiatives in Africa. Emerged from international isolation in 1994 at the end of the apartheid era.

The white government which came to power in 1948 enforced a separation of races with its policy called apartheid. It dictated that black and white communities should live in separate areas, travel in different buses and stand in their own queues.

The government introduced grand social engineering schemes such as the forced resettlement of hundreds of thousands of people. It poisoned and bombed opponents and encouraged trouble in neighboring countries.

Apartheid After Botha became first prime minister

of South Africa, Blacks were excluded from any political participation. Starting in 1911 the first wave of racial discrimination laws came into power till 1914. The “Master and Servant Act” contained that Blacks had to work, while at the same time they were being excluded from any skilled work, which was exclusively reserved for Whites. Blacks were forced to take their pass everywhere. Their skin colour was noted in their passport. The law with the most influence on the present was the Land Act, which reserved 90 % of the country for white ownership. As a result of the suppression the African National Congress (ANC) was founded on the 8thJanuary,1912. The party organized resistance and strikes in the following

RACISM STILL LINGERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

In order to build a non-racial new South Africa, the Constitutional Court was set up to guarantee freedom, the Public Protector to protect individuals from all kinds of human rights abuse, the Youth Commission to promote the interests of the young people who are the majority of the South African population, the Commission on Gender Equality to ensure that old discriminatory habits and practices are eradicated through education, and the South African Human Rights Commission to protect and promote all human rights in the country.

Moreover, the Employment Equity Act and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act were also passed by the National Assembly to ensure that all South Africans, especially the black people, are not discriminated when they are engaged in business and social activities.

Since the introduction of the new constitution and related anti- racism laws, South Africans' living conditions have been generally improved.

NATIONAL DRESS OF SOUTH AFRICA Traditional South African clothing

varies between different tribes. However the common garb would be a 2 piece animal hide skirt usually made from buck hide. Some women wear long beaded necklaces which extend over there breasts. In addition, ankle and wrist bead wear is also common. Men in power would pride themselves with extra covering from cheetah skin. That type of dressing would apply to Zulu related tribes including Xhosa. The South Sotho tribe wear a blanket called a seanamarena and a cone shaped hat.

There is a booming fashion industry in South Africa with international brands like Guess, Levi, Soviet, Diesel etc crowding the market.

TRADITIONAL FOOD DISHES

The most popular traditional food of South Africa is mielie pap (also spelled as mieliepap), a corn and meal porridge. It is enjoyed by all the races of Africa. Mostly served as the main course of the meal with meat, this cornmeal mix is also enjoyed as breakfast by some cultural groups. As for serving it during breakfast, mielie pap is served with butter and cheese toppings.