The Republic of South Africa is the country that lies at the southern tip of the continent of Africa. It borders the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the neighboring countries of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho. South Africa is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and has the largest economy in Africa. It is regarded as the most socially, economically, and developed country on the continent.
South Africa has experienced a different history from other nations in Africa because of early immigration from Europe and the strategic importance of the Cape Sea Route. Immigration began shortly after the Dutch East India Company founded a station at what would become Cape Town in 1652. The country's relatively well-developed infrastructure made its mineral wealth available and important to Western interests during the Cold War.
The Apartheid of South Africa consisted of laws that allowed a ruling minority in South Africa to segregate, exploit, and terrorize the vast majority, who were mostly Africans but also included Asians and individuals of mixed race. Under Apartheid, many were denied basic human and political rights, while racist beliefs were held as law. By 1982, nearly one-million black South Africans had been transferred to another country against their will. There were ultimately protests, demonstrations, and riots that led up to diplomatic pressure on the government to end the oppressive practice of Apartheid.
South Africa is ethnically diverse, with the largest Caucasian, Indian, and racially mixed communities in Africa. Black South Africans, who speak nine officially recognized languages, and many more dialects, account for slightly less than 80 percent of the population.
South Africa Profile
Capital: Pretoria (Executive)
Bloemfontein (Judicial)
Cape Town (Legislative)
Largest City: Johannesburg
Official Languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu