South Africa has a diverse population of over 50 million people who speak 11 official languages. It has a mixed economy that still struggles with high poverty and unemployment. Until 1994, South Africa was ruled by a white minority government that enforced the racist policy of apartheid, which segregated races and denied political participation to non-whites. While laws have been enacted since the end of apartheid to promote equality and prevent discrimination, racism still lingers in aspects of South African society.

1. SOUTH AFRICA
Facts about South Africa
Poor or rich country?

2. 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

3.  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.

4.  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.

5.  Economy: One of continent's biggest  Apartheid
economies. Poverty widespread, high  After Botha became first prime minister of
crime rate associated with high South Africa, Blacks were excluded from
unemployment. Economy moved into any political participation. Starting in 1911
recession in May 2009 the first wave of racial discrimination laws
 International: Plays a leading role in came into power till 1914. The “Master
diplomatic and anti-poverty initiatives and Servant Act” contained that Blacks
in Africa. Emerged from international had to work, while at the same time they
isolation in 1994 at the end of the were being excluded from any skilled
apartheid era. work, which was exclusively reserved for
 The white government which came to Whites. Blacks were forced to take their
power in 1948 enforced a separation of pass everywhere. Their skin colour was
races with its policy called apartheid. It noted in their passport. The law with the
dictated that black and white most influence on the present was the
communities should live in separate Land Act, which reserved 90 % of the
areas, travel in different buses and stand country for white ownership. As a result of
in their own queues. the suppression the African National
 The government introduced grand social Congress (ANC) was founded on the
engineering schemes such as the forced 8thJanuary,1912. The party organized
resettlement of hundreds of thousands resistance and strikes in the following
of people. It poisoned and bombed
opponents and encouraged trouble in
neighboring countries.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8.  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.
TRADITIONAL FOOD DISHES