South Africa
South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa. It has three capital cities: Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town. The largest city is Johannesburg. It is bordered to the north by Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. It also surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho.
South Africa is a multiethnic society, which is reflected in the constitution's recognition of 11 official languages, the fourth-highest number in the world. The two most spoken languages are Zulu and Xhosa.
The National Party imposed Apartheid in 1948, writing existing racial discrimination into law. After a long struggle by the African National Congress and anti-Apartheid activists, the repeal of discriminatory laws began in the mid-1980s. Since 1994, all ethnic groups have been enfranchised.
South Africa is a member of both the Commonwealth of Nations and G20. Climate change is an important issue for South Africa: it is the 14th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and is vulnerable to many of its impacts, because of its water-insecure communities. South Africa also has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa. South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot, with a diversity of unique biomes and plant and animal life.
Unity in Diversity
Founding Date
1910
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Alternative Names
Republic of South Africa (RSA) | Zulu: iRiphabhuliki yaseNingizimu Afrika | Xhosa: iRiphablikhi yoMzantsi-Afrika | Afrikaans: Republiek van Suid-Afrika
Demonym
South African
Government System
Democracy, Parliamentary
Controlled Territories
Related Ethnicities