About
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa,
also known by other official names, is
a country located at the southern tip
of the continent of Africa.
The South African coast stretches
2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) and borders
both the Atlantic and Indian oceans.
To the north of South Africa
lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to
the east are Mozambique and Swaziland,
while the Kingdom of Lesotho is an independent
enclave surrounded by South African territory.
Modern human beings have inhabited
South Africa for more than 100,000 years.
In 1652 a Dutch East India
Company founded a refreshment station
at what would become Cape Town. Cape Town
became a British colony in 1806.
European settlement expanded
during the 1820s.
The discovery of diamonds
and later gold triggered the conflict
known as the Anglo-Boer War, as the Boers
and the British fought for the control
of the South African mineral wealth. Although
the Boers were defeated, the British gave
limited independence to South Africa in
1910 as a British dominion.
South Africa achieved its
political independence in 1961 when it
was declared a republic.
In 1994 South Africa held
its first democratic election.
South Africa is known for
its diversity in cultures, languages,
and religious beliefs. Eleven official
languages are recognised in the constitution.[7]
English is the most commonly spoken language
in official and commercial public life.
Midyear 2007, the South African
population was estimated at 47.9 million. |
