Employment in South Africa

A country of nearly 50 million people, South Africa also has a surprisingly high unemployment rate of 23.3%. As of 2007, 9% of South Africa's working population was involved in agriculture.  26% work in industry, and 65% of workers are in services.  As a very productive mining country, South Africa is the world's largest producer of platinum, gold, and chromium.  Other important industries include "automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, [and] foodstuffs." In  2010, the composition of South Africa's GDP by sector was as follows.

agriculture: 3%

industry: 31.2%

services: 65.8%

 

Female Estimated Earned Income (PPP US$): 7,328

Male Estimated Earned Income (PPP US$): 12,273

 

Index Mundi
CIA World Factbook
Human Development Report

Comparative GDP Graph

 

Data from The World Bank 

Real GDP Graph

 

Data fromThe World Bank

Supply and Demand Graph for Natural Resources

South Africa is the second largest producer of gold and a cornucopia of mineral riches. It is the world's largest producer of chrome, manganese, and platinum. It is also the world's third largest coal exporter.  As the country continues to mine and acquire its natural resources, its supply constantly decreases.  This graph illustrates a decrease in supply.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_South_Africa

Socio-Cultural Aspects

South Africa is a melting pot of sorts.  The Black population is divided into four major ethnic groups, the Nguni, Sotho, Shangaan-Tsonga and Venda. There are numerous subgroups of which the Zulu and Xhosa (two subgroups of the Nguni) are the largest. The majority of the White population is of Afrikaans descent, and there are eleven official language of South Africa.  South Africa is a nation rich in indigenous, tribal arts of all kinds.

It is traditionally a deeply religious country with high rates of participation in religious life among all groups. The population is overwhelmingly Christian with only very small Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu minorities.
Unfortunately for South Africa, the country has gained a reputation for its strong affiliations with apartheid.  Since then, the government has made significant improvements, and South Africa is now one of the fastest growing 

countries in Africa.

http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/South-Africa.html

http://www.sa-venues.com/sa_languages_and_culture.htm

Nelson Mandela

An anti-apartheid activist and the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, Nelson Mandela served as president from 1994-1999.

Government and Politics

South Africa is a multiparty parliamentary democracy in which constitutional power is shared between the president and the Parliament.  The government is composed of  three different branches:

• Legislature: The National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces
• Executive: The President, the Head of State and Head of Government, is elected by the members of the National Assembly
• Judiciary: The Constitutional Court is the highest court for interpreting and deciding constitutional issues, while the Supreme Court of Appeal is the highest court for nonconstitutional matters.  Most cases are heard in the High Courts and Magistrates Courts.

All bodies of the South African government are subject to the rule of the Constitution, which is the supreme law in South Africa.  The constitution's bill of rights provides for due process including the right to a fair, public trial and the right to appeal to a higher court. The bill of rights also guarantees fundamental political and social rights of South Africa's citizens.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2898.htm#gov

Demography

Population (2010): 49.99 million
Composition: Black 79.4%; white 9.2%
Annual population growth rate (2009): 1.2%.
Languages: Official languages include Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, and Xitsonga
Religions: Predominantly Christian; traditional African, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish.
Infant mortality rate (2010):47 per 1,000 live births. 
Life expectancy: 55.2 years for women, 53.3 years for men


http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2898.htm#people

The Rural Landscape

Like much of Africa, many of South Africa's rural towns are undeveloped and impoverished.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/24616/Rural-settlement-in-northeastern-South-Africa

The Urban Landscape

Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, is a bustling hub of commerce for the country

http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect6/Sect6_13.html

A Brief History of South Africa

• 1488- The Portuguese are the first Europeans to reach the Cape of Good Hope
• 1652-  The Dutch East India Company establishes a provisioning station on the Cape,beginning permanent  settlement 
• End of 18th century- British gain control of the Cape of Good Hope. Subsequent British settlement and rule would mark the beginning of a long conflict between the Afrikaners and the English.
• 1948- The National Party (NP) won the all-white elections and began passing legislation codifying and enforcing an even stricter policy of white domination and racial separation known as "apartheid" (separateness). 
•  May 1961- South Africa abandons its British dominion status and declares itself a republic
• April 1994- The country's first nonracial elections are held, resulting in the installation of Nelson Mandela as President on May 10, 1994.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2898.htm#history

Geographic Information

South Africa has a coastline of over 2500 km, and it shares a desert border with Namibia.  Because South Africa shares so much of its border with the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, harbors like the one in Cape Town serve as busy commercial ports.  The country has a total of 9 provinces, ranging from the highly urbanized Gauteng to the vast arid Northern Cape.  South Africa has several important cities: Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Pretoria. The Western Cape city of Cape Town is the legislative capital, housing the country's Parliament. In the Free State, Bloemfontein is the judicial capital, and home to the Supreme Court of Appeal.  Pretoria, where a majority of the civil service is found, is the administrative capital, and the ultimate capital of the country. The largest and most important city is Johannesburg, the economic heartland of the country.  While people may think of South Africa primarily as a savannah, it is home to many booming cities that are becoming increasingly 

industrialized.

  

http://www.southafrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm