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|queen         =

|queen         =

|monarch-raw =

|monarch-raw =

|president =Jacob Zuma

|president =Cyril Ramaphosa

|president-raw =

|president-raw =

|chancellor =

|chancellor =

|pm         =

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|pm-raw         =

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|area         =471 443 sq mi

|area         =471,445 sq mi

|pop         =49,004,000

|pop         =55,653,654

|pop-basis =2011

|pop-basis =2016

|gdp         =$576.4 billion(2007)

|gdp         =$742.5 billion (2018)

|gdp-year =

|gdp-year =

|gdp-pc         =$13,000 (2007)

|gdp-pc         =$13,591 (2018)

|currency      =Rand

|currency      =Rand

}}

}}

'''South Africa''' is located on the southern tip of [[Africa]] and is the wealthiest, and one of the largest countries on the continent.

'''South Africa''' is a country located on the southern tip of [[Africa]] and one of the largest on the continent. While relatively wealthy compared to other African countries, its economy is stagnant and the country is home to increasing amounts of violence and discrimination against its Afrikaner residents.

It has a very advantageous location for trade routes by sea from Western Europe to [[India]] and the Far East. As a result, there was far more immigration by Europeans to South Africa than any other region of Africa, and whites of European ancestry (English and Dutch) ruled South Africa until the late twentieth century. Since then, democracy has brought representative government to the African ethnic groups.

It has a very advantageous location for trade routes by sea from Western Europe to [[India]] and the Far East. As a result, there was far more immigration by Europeans to South Africa than any other region of Africa, and whites of European ancestry (English and Dutch) ruled South Africa until the late twentieth century. Since then, democracy has brought representative government to the African ethnic groups.

==People==

==People==

[[File:Durban South Africa.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Durban.]]

[[File:Durban South Africa.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Durban.]]

*Education: Years compulsory—7–15 years of age for all children. The South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996, passed by Parliament in 1996, aims to achieve greater educational opportunities for black children, mandating a single syllabus and more equitable funding for schools.  

*Education: Years compulsory—7–15 years of age for all children. The South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996, passed by Parliament in 1996, aims to achieve greater educational opportunities for black children, mandating a single syllabus and more equitable funding for schools.  

*Health: Infant mortality rate (2000)--59 per live births. Life expectancy—52 yrs. women; 50 yrs. men. Health data from 2000 U.S. Census Report: HIV/AIDS Country Profiles: [http://www.census.gov/ipc/hiv/safrica.pdf].

*Health: Infant mortality rate (2000)--59 per live births. Life expectancy—52 yrs. women; 50 yrs. men. Health data from 2000 U.S. Census Report: HIV/AIDS Country Profiles: [http://www.census.gov/ipc/hiv/safrica.pdf].

===Religion===

===Religion===

[[File:Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.jpg|thumb|230px|Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.]]

[[File:Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.jpg|thumb|230px|Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.]]

===Human Rights===

===Human Rights===

The 1997 constitution's bill of rights provides extensive guarantees, including equality before the law and prohibitions against discrimination; the right to life, privacy, property, and freedom and security of the person; prohibition against slavery and forced labor; and freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and association. The legal rights of criminal suspects also are enumerated, as are citizens' entitlements to a safe environment, housing, education, and health care. The constitution provides for an independent and impartial judiciary, and, in practice, these provisions are respected.  

The 1997 constitution's bill of rights nominally provides extensive guarantees, including equality before the law and prohibitions against discrimination; the right to life, privacy, property, and freedom and security of the person; prohibition against slavery and forced labor; and freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and association. The legal rights of criminal suspects also are enumerated, as are citizens' entitlements to a safe environment, housing, education, and healthcare. The constitution provides for an independent and impartial judiciary. These provisions are not consistently followed.

Since the abolition of apartheid, levels of political violence in South Africa have dropped dramatically. Violent crime and organized criminal activity are at high levels and are a grave concern. Partly as a result, vigilante action and mob justice sometimes occur.  

Since the abolition of apartheid, levels of political violence in South Africa have dropped dramatically. Violent crime and organized criminal activity are at high levels and are a grave concern. Partly as a result, vigilante action and mob justice sometimes occur.  

Nelson Mandela stepped down as President of the ANC at the party's national congress in December 1997, when Thabo Mbeki assumed the mantle of leadership. Mbeki won the presidency of South Africa after national elections in 1999, when the ANC won just shy of a two-thirds majority in Parliament. President Mbeki shifted the focus of government from reconciliation to transformation, particularly on the economic front. With political transformation and the foundation of a strong democratic system in place after two free and fair national elections, the ANC recognized the need to focus on bringing economic power to the black majority in South Africa. In April 2004, the ANC won nearly 70% of the national vote, and Mbeki was reelected for his second 5-year term. In his 2004 State of the Nation address, Mbeki promised his government would reduce poverty, stimulate economic growth, and fight crime. Mbeki said that the government would play a more prominent role in economic development.  

Nelson Mandela stepped down as President of the ANC at the party's national congress in December 1997, when Thabo Mbeki assumed the mantle of leadership. Mbeki won the presidency of South Africa after national elections in 1999, when the ANC won just shy of a two-thirds majority in Parliament. President Mbeki shifted the focus of government from reconciliation to transformation, particularly on the economic front. With political transformation and the foundation of a strong democratic system in place after two free and fair national elections, the ANC recognized the need to focus on bringing economic power to the black majority in South Africa. In April 2004, the ANC won nearly 70% of the national vote, and Mbeki was reelected for his second 5-year term. In his 2004 State of the Nation address, Mbeki promised his government would reduce poverty, stimulate economic growth, and fight crime. Mbeki said that the government would play a more prominent role in economic development.  

South Africa will hosted the World Cup (soccer) in 2010, the first time it was held in Africa. [http://www.fifa.com/en/worldcup/index/0,3360,WF2010,00.html?comp=WF&year=2010]

South Africa hosted the World Cup (soccer) in 2010, the first time it was held in Africa.

 

In 2018, President [[Jacob Zuma]] resigned due to corruption charges. He was replaced by [[Cyril Ramaphosa]], who passed a law allowing the confiscation and redistribution of land from the country's white South Africans with no compensation.<ref>Byas, Steve (February 27, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/africa/item/28379-new-south-african-president-to-follow-zimbabwean-redistribution-model New South African President to Follow Zimbabwean Redistribution Model]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 20, 2018.</ref>

==Crime==

==Crime==

One of the largest challenges which South Africa faces is Crime. [[Crime in South Africa]] is a major political and social issue. Rape is endemic in South Africa. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1909220.stm][http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1008.html]

One of the largest challenges which South Africa faces is Crime. [[Crime in South Africa]] is a major political and social issue. Rape is endemic in South Africa.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1909220.stm]</ref><ref>[http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1008.html]</ref>

[[South African Farm Murders]] is a highly political issue with some claiming genocide or ethnic cleansing.. According to the Government the murders are "just the result of ordinary crime", but the Agricultural Unions believe it forms part of [[genocide]] committed against the Boers of South Africa.

[[South African Farm Murders]] is a highly political issue with some claiming genocide or ethnic cleansing. According to the government, the murders are "just the result of ordinary crime", but the Agricultural Unions believe it forms part of [[genocide]] committed against the Boers of South Africa.<ref>

[http://www.tlu.co.za/International%20Bulletins/2007/IB070315%20%20Forced%20Sales,%20Expropriations%20and%20Farm%20Attacks%20-%20Two%20Sides%20of%20the%20same%20Coin.htm] Genocide Watch of New Haven, Connecticut claims 2.2% of Boer farmers have been victims of violent homicide by 2002.  Other reports show robbery is not the motive in these homicides.  An article in ''WorldNetDaily'' cites the homicide rate among South African Boer farmers at 264 per 100,000, while Genocide Watch cites a figure of 311 per 100,000 as of 2002.

[http://www.tlu.co.za/International%20Bulletins/2007/IB070315%20%20Forced%20Sales,%20Expropriations%20and%20Farm%20Attacks%20-%20Two%20Sides%20of%20the%20same%20Coin.htm]</ref> Genocide Watch of New Haven, Connecticut claims 2.2% of Boer farmers have been victims of violent homicide by 2002.  Other reports show robbery is not the motive in these homicides.  An article in ''WorldNetDaily'' cites the homicide rate among South African Boer farmers at 264 per 100,000, while Genocide Watch cites a figure of 311 per 100,000 as of 2002.

A Boer blog site points out that the Dutch Boer's of South Africa who were integrated into the South African state forcibly by British Afrikaners after the Boer War, were not promulgators of the policy of Apartheid implemented by the dominant Afrikaners. The author states the Dutch Boers first faced the loss of their ethnic identity by British Afrikaners during the Apartheid era, and that the policy of the current South African government is now to remove completely the ethnic communities identity.<ref>[http://www.stopboergenocide.com/29301/index.html Boer, Afrikaner, or White, Which Are You?] by Adriana Stuijt.  Retrieved from Stop Boer Genocide.com 11 July 2007.</ref>

A Boer blog site points out that the Dutch Boer's of South Africa who were integrated into the South African state forcibly by British Afrikaners after the Boer War, were not promulgators of the policy of Apartheid implemented by the dominant Afrikaners. The author states the Dutch Boers first faced the loss of their ethnic identity by British Afrikaners during the Apartheid era, and that the policy of the current South African government is now to remove completely the ethnic communities identity.<ref>[http://www.stopboergenocide.com/29301/index.html Boer, Afrikaner, or White, Which Are You?] by Adriana Stuijt.  Retrieved from Stop Boer Genocide.com 11 July 2007.</ref>

===Genocide allegations===

===Genocide allegations===

The African National Congress has been accused of promoting genocide against the Boer in South Africa.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=28421 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer'], By Anthony C. LoBaido, ''WorldNetDaily.com'', July 28, 2002.  Retrieved July 12, 2007.</ref>Genocide Watch:[http://www.genocidewatch.org/BoersSlain01.htm Over 4.000 Boer Farmers In South Africa Have Been Murdered Since 1991]. Retrieved from Genocide Watch July 29, 2015.http://www.genocidewatch.org/images/White_Genocide_TVA.pdf

The African National Congress has been accused of promoting genocide against the Boer in South Africa.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=28421 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer'], By Anthony C. LoBaido, ''WorldNetDaily.com'', July 28, 2002.  Retrieved July 12, 2007.</ref><ref>Genocide Watch:[http://www.genocidewatch.org/BoersSlain01.htm Over 4.000 Boer Farmers In South Africa Have Been Murdered Since 1991]. Retrieved from Genocide Watch July 29, 2015.[http://www.genocidewatch.org/images/White_Genocide_TVA.pdf]</ref> These allegations are supported by anti-Apartheid activist Dr. Gregory Stanton, who points out that the murder rate of Afrikaner farmers is four times as high as the country's overall murder rate, which itself is many times higher than the rate in the U.S.<ref>Multiple references:

The victims of this ongoing onslaught are usually elderly white citizens with the assailants generally being black Africans.

The victims of this ongoing onslaught are usually elderly white citizens with the assailants generally being black Africans.<ref>

[http://www.ilanamercer.com/TheGenocideInDemocraticSA.htm]

[http://www.ilanamercer.com/TheGenocideInDemocraticSA.htm]</ref>

===Current Issues===

===Current Issues===

Currently in South Africa there has been much [[violence]], mainly in the poor townships, against foreigners. In particular against [[Zimbabwe]] natives who have fled the regime of [[Robert Mugabe]]. This is due to a perception that the immigrants are taking jobs and land from native born South Africans.

Currently, there has been much [[violence]] in South Africa, mainly in the poor townships, against foreigners. In particular against [[Zimbabwe]] natives who have fled the regime of [[Robert Mugabe]]. This is due to a perception that the immigrants are taking jobs and land from native born South Africans.

== External links ==

== External links ==

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

{{African Countries}}

{{African Countries}}