South Africa

South Africa

1. Cultural/Political

   • 2010 World Cup
   • "Rainbow Nation" of cultural diversity
   • Parliamentary representative democratic republic. President of South Africa (Jacob Zuma) serves both as head of state and head of government.
   • 11 official languages spoke in South Africa
   • BRICS country
   • Ethnic Make up - black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Coloured 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
   • Religion :Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%
   • Commonwealth
   • South Africa’s original constitution, the British Parliament’s South Africa Act of 1909, united two former British colonies, the Cape of Good Hope and Natal, with two former Boer (Dutch) republics, the Transvaal and Orange Free State.

2. Military

   • Military age 18-49
   • 39,445 Active troops
   • 3rd strongest military power in Africa
   • 14 million people are fit for service
   • 1 million reaching military age annually
   • 250 tanks and 1590 armoured fighting vehicles

3. Economic

   • Since the end of apartheid and the first all-race elections in 1994, the country has experienced robust economic growth.
   • South Africa’s economy has undergone a transition from one dominated by mining and agriculture to one in which manufacturing and financial services
   • Growth in economy has led to an decrease in poverty
   • Increase in net secondary school enrolment from 45% to 72% between 1991 and 2008
   • Inequality has increased, and the poor continue to have limited access to economic opportunities and basic services.
   • Unemployment rate is one of the highest in the world
     • out of the 32 million working-age population, only about 13 million people (40%) have jobs

4. Geographical

   • 52.98 million (2013) population
   • Size - 1,221,037 km²
   • 7 sea ports - Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mossel Bay, Elizabeth, Richards Bay and Saldanha Bay.
   • 4 neighbouring counties - Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe
     • Tensions with Zimbabwe due to political issues in recent years
   • Lesotho, a independent country, is surrounded by South African territory
   • South Africa’s coastlines border the Indian Ocean to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest.
   • 2,798 km of coastline
   • 25th largest country in the world