Portal:South Africa

Welcome to the South Africa Portal Unity in Diversity Introduction The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent. It borders the countries of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland, and entirely surrounds Lesotho. South Africa has the largest population of people of European descent in Africa,one of the largest Indian population outside of Asia, as well as the largest Coloured (of mixed European, Asian and African descent) community in Africa, making it one of the most ethnically diverse countries on the continent. Racial and ethnic strife between the black majority and the white minority have played a large part in the country's history and politics. The National Party began introducing the policy of apartheid after winning the general election of 1948; however, it was the same party under the leadership of F.W. de Klerk who started to dismantle it in 1990 after a long struggle by the black majority, as well as many white, coloured and Indian South Africans. The country is one of the few in Africa never to have had a coup d'état, and regular free and fair elections have been held since 1994, making it a regional power and among the most stable and liberal democracies in Africa. South Africa is ranked as an upper-middle income economy by the World Bank. It has the second largest economy in Africa after Nigeria, and the 34th-largest in the world. By purchasing power parity, South Africa has the 7th highest per capita income in Africa. Although being the second largest economy, South Africa has the most sophisticated economy in the continent, with modern infrastructure common throughout the country. The country is considered to be a newly industrialized country according to the World Bank classifications. More about South Africa ... Selected panorama The Greater Swartberg Selected article Black December refers to numerous shark attacks that occurred along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, from December 1957 to Easter 1958. At least five humans died over the 107-day period. Selected picture A Caracal in Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape. Did you know... ...that South Africa has 11 official languages, the second most of any country in the world. ...that Johannesburg (pictured) is one of the newest major cities in the world, having only been founded in 1886. ...that the Constitution of South Africa is the only one in the world to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. WikiProjects WikiProject South Africa WikiProject South Africa discussions • South Africa Wikipedians' Notice Board • South African Wikipedians • Wikipedians in South Africa • Wikimedia ZA • Subscribe to the Wikimedia ZA mailing list Selected biography Emily Hobhouse (9 April 1860 – 8 June 1926) was a British welfare campaigner, who is primarily remembered for bringing to the attention of the British public, and working to change, the deprived conditions inside the British concentration camps in South Africa built for Boer women and children during the Second Boer War. She became an honorary citizen of South Africa for her humanitarian work there. Her ashes were ensconced in a niche in the National Women's Monument at Bloemfontein, where she was regarded as a heroine; her memorial service was the greatest granted to a non–South African. The southernmost town in Eastern Free State is named Hobhouse, after her, as was a submarine: the SAS Emily Hobhouse, one of the South African Navy's three Daphné class submarines; the submarine was later renamed Umkhonto. Selected quote Categories ▼ South Africa ► South Africa-related lists ► Buildings and structures in South Africa ► South African culture ► Economy of South Africa ► Education in South Africa ► Environment of South Africa ► Geography of South Africa ► Health in South Africa ► History of South Africa ► South African people ► Politics of South Africa ► South African society ► Wikipedia books on South Africa ► South Africa stubs Topics Related portals Atlas Geography Africa Botswana Mozambique Namibia Zimbabwe Zambia Associated Wikimedia