Geography of South Africa: population, relief, climate, flora and fauna. Report: South Africa: a fabulous country of exotic adventures

South Africa is located on the continent of Africa, in its southern part. In the northeast it borders with Mozambique and Swaziland, in the north with Botswana and Zimbabwe, and in the northwest with Namibia. Lesotho is an enclave. The length of the sea borders is 3 thousand km (Atlantic and Indian oceans).

In a country with complex racial and ethnic composition population long years the policy of “separate development” of different racial groups continued (apartheid policy), which actually amounted to the oppression of people of a different skin color by the white minority. This led to destabilization of the internal political structure states. The situation changed after the adoption of the 1993 and 1996 constitutions and the first general elections, which were won by the African National Congress (ANC), which had long fought for the rights of the black majority.

Natural conditions and resources.

Most of the country is occupied by flat plateaus and the Cape Mountains. Low-lying areas run in a narrow strip along the coastal areas.

The country is rich in a variety of mineral resources. However, there are no oil and gas deposits in the country.

South Africa lies within the tropical and subtropical zones.

Inland waters are insufficient.

More than 1% of the territory is occupied by forests. The share of industrial forest plantations is significant.

Population – 45.3 million people. (2003). The population growth rate is 1.9%. (in 2015 – 2.5%: 49.3 million people). More than 3/4 of the population of South Africa is made up of the multinational composition of the indigenous inhabitants of Africa - Zulus (38.5%), Sotho (27.5%), Xhosa (11.6%) and others. 13.6% are descendants of immigrants from Europe, predominantly (57.5%) Afrikaners (Boers) and the British, who fought fiercely among themselves during the Anglo-Boer War at the turn of the 19th–20th centuries. Today they own about 80% of the national wealth. The rest are mulattoes and mestizos (which in South Africa are called colored, or clearings) (3.4 million), as well as numerous immigrants from Hindustan (about 1 million people). The remaining ethnic groups are relatively small. Religious composition: 68% of the population are Protestant Christians, 18% profess traditional cults, more than 2% are Muslims, Buddhists - 1.5%. There are 11 official languages, but the main ones are English and Afrikaans. The country has three capitals. Pretoria is the administrative capital, Cape Town is the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital. Urbanization coefficient – ​​60%.

The population across the country is distributed extremely unevenly.

The territory of the South African Republic located in the extreme south of the continent in the 17th–18th centuries. developed by the Dutch, then by the British, from 1910 to 1961 it was called the Union of South Africa and was part of the British Commonwealth with dominion rights. Modern South Africa is a presidential unitary republic with elements of federalism (9 provinces).

The South African economy is a dual economy. Along with features typical of developed countries (a large share of hired work force, relatively high weight in the economy of the manufacturing industry, etc.), South Africa is characterized by many features inherent in developing countries: the economic and technical backwardness of agriculture in the African sector (in contrast to the highly productive European sector), the low standard of living of indigenous people (50% of the population lives below the poverty line), the great influence of foreign capital in the economy, the economy’s dependence on the foreign market, etc. The rate of economic growth is 2.6%.

South Africa, as the most economically developed industrial-agrarian country in Africa, occupies a leading position in the economy of the entire continent. It accounts for 27% of GDP, 40% of industrial and 30% of agricultural products. It occupies first place in terms of the cost of mined mineral raw materials, electricity generation, and steel production. South Africa ranks first in the foreign world in reserves and production of gold, magnesium, chromium, manganese, vanadium ores, platinum group metals, and one of the leaders in the production of diamonds, uranium ores, asbestos, coal, iron ore, etc.

South Africa's commercial agricultural sector (5% of GDP) produces a large number of export products (almost exclusively farms European population) – wool, fruit, sugar; However, in general, the country's food needs are not met by domestic production, and South Africa imports it.

In terms of industrial production, South Africa is one of the twenty leading countries in the world.

The basis for the development of the country's economy is the mining industry. It provides about 12% of GDP, at the same time 2/3 of the value of exports. Mineral raw materials are exported to more than 80 countries.

The most important area mining industry is the Witwatersrand (Rand) in the small province of Gauteng (part of the former historical region of Transvaal), where mainly gold (more than 20% of world production) and uranium are mined. Here is the largest city and industrial center of the country, Johannesburg. Not far from the official capital of South Africa, Pretoria, diamonds are mined (in the same province). They are also mined in some other areas (Kimberley). De Beers is the largest transnational concern that owns diamond mining in South Africa and controls the world diamond market.

South Africa's manufacturing industry accounts for about 19% of GDP - more. It employs 16% of the economically active population. The main industries are the chemical, food, engineering and metallurgical industries. In recent decades, the growth rates of these industries have been quite high. Developed light industry, electric power industry. The country produces almost half of the region's electricity. The most powerful thermal power plants in the world were built in South Africa (85% run on coal). There is a nuclear power plant in Kuberg. High-tech industries also appeared - the military industry, the production of nuclear reactors, electronics - the “white elephants” of the South African industry.

Development planned for several decades is underway water resources Orange River. It provides for the solution of energy, irrigation and water supply problems (which is very relevant for a country with developed industry and a large area of ​​arid and semi-arid regions). Electricity in South Africa is used mainly in industry, while its consumption in the domestic sphere is small across the country. Suffice it to say that significantly more than half of the dwellings are not electrified, and this is one of the socio-economic paradoxes of South Africa. Electricity production is highly monopolized - more than 90% of it is in the hands of Eskom.

South Africa has highly commercial agriculture. The country provides itself with all basic food products. The country has both irrigated and (mainly) rain-fed agriculture. In European farms, the most important grain crop is corn, in African farms it is sorghum. In the southeast (in the provinces of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal) they grow sugar cane. Wheat, potatoes, peanuts, and fruits play an important role in agricultural production. Among African countries, South Africa ranks 1st in terms of marine fish production.

Livestock products account for about 40% of agricultural production. The industry is characterized by a high number of cattle, meat and dairy breeds, sheep and goats, and pigs.

The country's transport network is one of the most developed and extensive in the region. All traditional modes of transport are represented. The share (50%) of electrified roads is high. In wind farms, the leading place belongs to sea and air transport. Cape Town and Durban have both major seaports and airports.

Wind farm. The country pursues a protectionist policy aimed at protecting its producers. The volume of exports in 2003 amounted to 36.5 billion dollars, and imports - 38.1 billion dollars. The main export items are gold, diamonds, chrome, platinum, machinery and equipment. Imports include machinery and equipment, petroleum products, chemicals, and food. Basic trading partners South Africa is a G7 country. The country trades with China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

The country attracts foreign capital. The country has great potential for tourism development.

POPULATION: About 42.7 million people, Africans (76% - Zulu, Xhosa, etc.), mestizo (9%), immigrants from Europe, mainly Afrikaners (Boers) and British (13%).

GEOGRAPHY: State in southern Africa. In the north it borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland, and in the eastern part of the country is the kingdom of Lesotho. In the east and south it is washed Indian Ocean, in the West - Atlantic Ocean. total area- 1.22 million sq. km.

CLIMATE: Tropical and subtropical. The average temperature in January is from +18 C to +27 C, in July - from +7 C to +10 C. Precipitation ranges from 60 mm on the coast, 650 mm on the plateau to 2000 mm on eastern slopes Drakensberg Mountains

LANGUAGE: In South Africa, 11 languages ​​of various nationalities and ethnic groups inhabiting the country have been approved as state languages. However, the two most common are English and Afrikaans, a corruption of Dutch. For tourists, English, which is spoken by the majority of the population, is sufficient.

CURRENCY: The South African rand is equal to 100 cents.

RELIGION: Mainly Christians and adherents of local traditional beliefs.

POLITICAL STATE: Republic with a presidential form of government.

TIME: Lags behind Moscow by 1 hour.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS: National parks Kruger, Kalahari Gemsbok, Kagga Khama and other numerous reserves and reserves guarantee meeting with elephants, rhinoceroses, buffaloes, lions and leopards, hunts are organized outside the reserves for large ungulates. At the same time, you can admire penguins and fur seals nearby. The Drakensberg Mountains and the Veld are unique, being both a natural monument and a mountain resort, the center of skiing in Africa. In Durban, a fashionable resort city famous for its oriental bazaars, golden beaches and the nearby Indian Ocean - best places recreation, spearfishing, surfing and other active forms of recreation throughout Africa. Cape Town (founded 1652) - one of the best botanical gardens in the world, George Avenue filled with artists and craftsmen, mansions of old Dutch architecture, magnificent buildings of the Victorian era, numerous monuments and museums, the symbol of the city - Table Mountain, safari to the Kagga reservation -Khama." The famous Garden Route begins from Cape Town - one of the most beautiful excursion routes in the world. Johannesburg: diamond factory, where you can buy diamonds directly after cutting, the largest multi-story in Africa shopping mall- Sandton, "Market Square" - one of the most grandiose markets in Africa, Kimberley: in the very center of this city-museum is the "Great Hole" - the world's largest man-made vertical hole, which marked the beginning of the "diamond rush" at the beginning of the century, For a small fee, you can try to find the diamond yourself. Mosselbay and Richards Bay are major ports and resort towns, between which a chain of class hotels and beaches stretches along the coast.

ENTRY RULES: Citizens of Russia are required to have an entry visa; if you also intend to visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or one of the neighboring Kingdoms of South Africa, you must have a double or multiple entry visa.

CUSTOMS RULES: the amount of currency imported into the country is not limited; it is not necessary to declare the hard currency you have with you upon entry and exit. Credit cards are in use throughout South Africa. You have the right to export any quantity of goods purchased in the country duty-free. To export wild animal skins, permission from the state veterinary service is required. To transport weapons, you must obtain a license at the border crossing point for a period of 180 days and then renew it at police stations inside the country.

Because the South Africa ethnically very diverse, cultural characteristics are also very different. The people of South Africa are called the “rainbow nation”, which perfectly reflects the cultural diversity of the country. There are many tribes living on the African continent, each with their own traditions and customs.

The Bushmen are the oldest inhabitants of South Africa and have lived in this area, mainly in the dunes of the Kalahari Desert, for more than 20,000 years. They speak one of the most ancient types of language, which consists of a variety of "clicks" made by the tongue. The ability to hunt helped the Bushmen survive in the harsh desert conditions. The main prey of the Bushmen is different kinds antelopes, but their daily food consists more of vegetables, fruits, nuts and roots of plants that they find in the desert. The Bushmen build temporary houses from wood, which they collect from the area.

The Chiwa people live in the region of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and many in Malawi. The Chiva distinguish themselves from other cultures with a certain language and special tattoos. They usually live in very close "villages". In each village there is a certain hierarchy, where the hereditary leader is at the head, and he is assisted by a council of elders. Although the Chiwa people believe in one creator God, they also believe that the spirits of the dead constantly communicate with living people and animals, and the spirits can be contacted through dance.
The Masai are a people known as herders and hunters. For this people, livestock is a guarantee of a good life, and milk and meat are the most favorite food. Initially, they fed only livestock; they acquired other products by barter, but now they have to deal with agriculture. Nowadays, many of the Maasai are forced to live permanently and many have to look for work in the city. The entire male population of the Masai tribe is divided into age groups, and members of each group undergo initiation together into warriors and then into elders. The Masai do not have a leader, but each group has a Laibon - a spiritual leader. The Masai worship one God who is present in everything. However, in modern times, many Maasai members belong to various branches of the Christian Church.

The Zulu are South Africa's largest ethnic group and are widely known for their beautiful, colorful beadwork, woven baskets, and carvings. The Zulu believe that they are descendants of a leader from the Congo region, and in the 16th century they moved south, adopting many of the traditions and customs of the San people. They believe in the creator God Nkulunkulu, but this God does not communicate with people and does not show any interest in Everyday life. Therefore, many Zulu communicate with spirits every day, for which they resort to fortune telling to attract the spirits of their ancestors. All failures are the result of evil witchcraft or the act of offended spirits; nothing happens simply for natural reasons.

For an evening visit to the restaurant, be sure to bring an evening dress (for ladies) and a formal suit (for gentlemen). You should have elegant, but not chic clothes, which are familiar to you in such cases.

There is an interesting Camelot restaurant in Durban, where you will be treated to the king himself. The restaurant is designed in the form of a medieval palace and all guests must wear ancient dresses, which you try on and put on in the dressing room. Then you are invited to the dining room, where there is a huge wooden table without instruments. Food is served according to ancient customs and it must also be eaten according to medieval customs - with your hands. You are told the rules in advance and you agree to follow them in order to get to this dinner. The dishes on the table are not specially salted, and if you ask the king for salt and then turn your back to him, you may be kicked out of the hall for “uncivilized” behavior.

The most persistent ones fall into the favor of the king.

Useful information for tourists about South Africa, cities and resorts in the country. As well as information about the population, currency of South Africa, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions SOUTH AFRICA.

Geography of South Africa

The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent. It borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland. It is washed by the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

Most of the country is occupied by high plain plateaus "Karru" and low (up to 2500 m) mountains, only a narrow strip of plains stretches along the coast, separated from the elevated areas by the ridge of the Drakensberg (Great Escarpment) and Cape Mountains. The highest point in the country is Mont aux Sources (3299 m).

State

State structure

Republic with a presidential form of government. Independent member of the British Commonwealth. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (Senate and National Assembly). Each of the country's 9 provinces has its own parliament, legislative branch and government, reporting to the Prime Minister of South Africa.

Language

Official language: Afrikaans and 10 other languages

Afrikaans is spoken by Afrikaners (descendants of the Dutch) and most mestizos, English is spoken by almost all whites and Asians, and some Africans. Most Africans speak their own languages.

Religion

Religion - Christians (mostly Protestants) - 68%, followers of local beliefs - 28%, Muslims, Hindus, Jews.

Currency

International name: ZAR

The South African rand is equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 200 (orange), 100 (magenta), 50 (pink), 20 (brown) and 10 (green) rands, coins in denominations of 5 (silver), 2 and 1 rand, as well as 50, 20, 10 , 5, 2 and 1 cent. There are coins in use from both old and new issues, the banknotes of which, despite their different denominations, are quite similar to each other. For cash payments, only local currency is used.

Foreign currency can be exchanged at airports, train stations, hotels and numerous bank branches. It is relatively unprofitable to exchange money in hotels, since the exchange rate is usually somewhat high and a commission fee (approximately 1%) is charged. It is necessary to keep currency exchange receipts for reverse conversion when leaving the country.

All major stores, hotels and restaurants accept major credit cards. When making payments at gas stations, only cash is used. Traveler's checks can be cashed at banks and tourist offices (fee approximately 1%).

History of South Africa

The territory of South Africa in ancient times was inhabited by Bushmen, Hottentots and Bantu peoples, but after the discovery of the southern tip of Africa by the Portuguese in 1488, colonization of the country began. In 1652, the first European settlement was founded by the Dutch East India Company. The history of South Africa is marked not only by the conquest of the territory by aliens, but also by a fierce struggle (especially after the discovery of diamond deposits) between the descendants of the Dutch settlers, who formed a special ethnic community - the Boers, and England. The struggle ended with the formation in 1910 of the two Boer republics of the Union of South Africa (since 1961 - the Republic of South Africa) as part of the British Commonwealth.

Popular attractions

Tourism in South Africa

Where to stay

South Africa is a country of contrasts: here you can enjoy wonderful nature, excellent hunting and gorgeous beaches. The main tourist destinations are national parks, large cities and the coast. This is where hotels from global hotel chains and national hotel brands are located - Southern Sun Hotel Holdings, Inns and Protea Hotels, Sun Hotels International and Karos Hotel.

The hotel infrastructure is varied - from economy hotels to luxury five-star hotels. All of them are quite high class, even three-star hotels are prestigious and offer tourists quality service, cleanliness and comfort.

In South Africa there is no traditional European classification of hotels, but most hotels still have a star classification depending on the quality and quantity of services provided. Most motels, boarding houses, hostels and beach cottages have no classification at all.

One of the most budget types accommodations are campsites in national parks, which, in addition to tent accommodation, can offer a shower, a kitchen and a store. A unique accommodation option for this country and in great demand are the so-called “hotels on wheels”, offering a fairly high level of service.

Ideal option for unpretentious tourists there will be accommodation in youth hotels (hostels). They usually offer multi-bed rooms with a bathroom on the floor. Meals are not included in the room rate.

African safari lovers can stay in camps - canvas chalets on wooden platforms.

Guesthouses - family hotels are scattered throughout South Africa. The cost of accommodation in such hotels depends on the number of services provided.

On the coast and in nature reserves, most hotels are so-called bungalow or loggia complexes. The presence of a restaurant on site and a bathroom in the room is mandatory. Meals are mainly organized on an all-inclusive basis, or full board.

Office hours

Banks are open on weekdays from 9 to 15.30, on Saturdays - from 8.30 to 11 a.m. ATMs are open 24 hours a day, as are bank offices at airports.

Purchases

Value added tax (VAT, 14%) is included in the price of all goods and services. VAT refund is possible at the airport at the "VAT REFUND" counter upon presentation of a refund receipt (issued in the store). In this case, tourists must also present a valid passport, all required forms of documents and cash receipts, as well as the products themselves, and the minimum purchase amount must exceed R250. If the amount of VAT itself exceeds 3 thousand rand, compensation is often issued non-cash, by bank transfer to the account.

Medicine

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required. It is recommended to take measures against malaria. International health insurance is required.

Drinking water and most local soft drinks are generally safe to drink, but it is still recommended to use mineral or drinking water factory packaging. The quality of food in the vast majority of cafes and restaurants meets sanitary standards. Street stalls and bistros are also considered safe.

Safety

All reasonable precautions must be taken both with regard to belongings and personal safety. Excursions alone are downright dangerous. You should always gather a group of people before going swimming, walking in the mountains or going on a hike. It is not recommended to travel alone on buses, minibuses and trains in the evenings.

Credit card fraud is very common in South Africa.

Emergency numbers

Police - 10111.
Criminal police - 0800-111-213.
Ambulance- 10117 or 999.
Rescue Service - 1022.

National characteristics of South Africa. Traditions

Since the fall of 2006, the country has been implementing an extensive and consistent program to limit smoking.

The content of the article

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, South Africa. State in southern Africa. Capital– Pretoria (1.9 million people – 2004). Territory– 1.219 million sq. km. Administrative division– 9 provinces. Population– 46.3 million people. (2005). official languages– Afrikaans, English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, isindebele, sesotho sa leboa, sesotho, setswana, siwati, tshivenda and hitsonga. Religions– Christianity, etc. Currency unit– rand National holiday– April 27 – Freedom Day (1994). South Africa is a member of more than 50 international organizations, incl. The UN since 1946, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1994, and since 2002 its successor - the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) since 1994, a member of the Commonwealth (an association of countries that were part of the British Empire) and etc.

The urban population is 64% (2004). The cities are inhabited by approx. 80% "white" population. Big cities– Cape Town (approx. 4 million people – 2005), Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg and Bloemfontein.

Among those who came to the country for permanent residence in con. 1990s - early In the 2000s, there were many citizens of Zimbabwe, which in turn accepted refugees from South Africa during the years of the apartheid regime (in 2004 there were 2 million Zimbabweans in South Africa), Nigeria, China and Great Britain. According to established tradition, labor migrants from Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana come to work in the mines and on farms in South Africa (12 thousand people officially immigrate from Botswana to work in the mines annually, and about 30 thousand people work illegally in the manufacturing industry and on farms).

There is a Russian diaspora, which includes both the descendants of Russian gold and diamond miners who came to South Africa in the 1870s, and emigrants who left Russia after the 1917 revolution. There are also Russian entrepreneurs who immigrated to the country in 1990–2000.

Emigrants from South Africa live in Namibia and other African countries. There is a problem with the so-called "brain drain" In 2003 from South Africa to the USA, European countries, Australia and New Zealand more than 10 thousand people emigrated, among whom there were many medical workers(including about 200 experienced doctors), accountants, teachers (about 700 people), as well as specialists in the field of information technology.

Since the 2000s, the gap between the numbers of emigrants and immigrants has been slowly narrowing.

Religions.

Complete freedom of religion is enshrined in law. More than 80% of the population are Christians (the majority are Protestants). The spread of Christianity began in the middle. 17th century and is associated with the activities of European missionaries. In the city of Midrand, located near the capital, there is a temple St. Sergius Radonezh (the first Russian church in Southern Africa). There are a number of Christian African churches that arose in the 1880s on the basis of schismatic movements. Some Africans adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, guardians of the hearth, forces of nature, etc.). The Muslim community (the majority profess Sunni Islam) includes Cape Malays, Indians, people from northern Mozambique, etc. Among the Indian population there are also Shia Ismailis. There is a Hindu community. Judaism is widespread, there are approx. 200 Jewish societies.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

State structure.

Parliamentary republic. The constitution adopted in 1996 is in force. The head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the president, who is elected during the first meeting of the National Assembly after the elections from among its deputies. The term of office of the president is 5 years, he can be elected to this post no more than two times. Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral parliament, which consists of the National Assembly (400 seats) and the National Council of Provinces (NCP, 90 seats). Members of the National Assembly are elected on the basis of proportional representation from the provinces for a 5-year term. The NSP performs the functions of the Senate and coordinates the activities of all regions. Composition of the NSP: 54 permanent representatives from the provinces (6 from each of the 9 provinces) and 36 alternative representatives (4 from each province).

Increased racial discrimination.

Apartheid became the cornerstone of National Party policy. A law passed in 1949 prohibited whites from marrying people of color or Africans. The Population Registration Act of 1950 provided for the classification and registration of South Africans by race; in accordance with the Group Settlement Act adopted in the same year, the so-called. “ethnic” zones were racial ghettos for Africans, Coloreds and Indians, where they had the right to own property. The government achieved the adoption of constitutional amendments that changed the voting rights of the colored population of the Cape Province: now it could elect four white deputies to parliament. Declaring that, in accordance with the Statute of Westminster, there was no longer a need to obtain the required two-thirds majority in Parliament, as provided for in the South Africa Act of 1910, which formed the basis of the South African Constitution, in 1951 the government passed the Separate Voting Act with a simple majority of votes. " The ensuing constitutional crisis was overcome in 1955 by increasing the number of members of the Senate in such a way that the government could always count on the two-thirds vote it needed. The Bantu Self-Government Act adopted in 1959 provided for the creation of new political institutions in South Africa - Bantustans (the first of them, Transkei, was created in 1963). The law provided that in 1960 the representation of the African population in the lower house of parliament by three white deputies would be abolished. In the 1960s, the process of dividing the population along racial lines and Africans along linguistic lines continued. Legislation passed in 1963–1964 regulated living and working in “white” areas. Under new legislation in 1968, the non-white population of the Cape Province was deprived of the right to elect four white members of Parliament.

In order to further strengthen the apartheid system, the Public Safety Act, better known as the “sabotage” law, was passed in 1962. According to this law, any person who has committed a criminal act, from a common offense to murder, or who attempts to “carry out or promote social or economic changes" in the country, could be sentenced without trial to imprisonment and even to death penalty. The Law on Subversive Activities, adopted in 1967, provided for the detention of people without an arrest warrant, detention in solitary confinement, detention indefinitely, and general trial over people who committed different types crimes and sentencing a group of people for the illegal actions of one person in certain situations. According to the law of 1969, the State Security Department was created in South Africa, the activities of which could only be controlled by a minister specially appointed by the president. A law was also passed prohibiting the dissemination of information harmful to state security.

The situation of the Asian population.

The National Party government abolished the existing immigration system, under which more than 40 thousand British subjects entered the country between 1948 and 1950. In 1949, the period before which emigrants from the countries of the Commonwealth, led by Great Britain, did not receive voting rights was increased from 18 months to five years. Since many Afrikaners did not want to bother learning English, educational institutions The bilingual education system was abolished. In 1961, South Africa seceded from the Commonwealth and declared itself the Republic of South Africa, thereby avoiding harsh criticism from Asian and African members of the Commonwealth.

It had long been believed that the Indian population, concentrated mainly in the province of Natal and to a much lesser extent in the Transvaal, could not be assimilated. The South African government has developed a whole incentive system to encourage Indians to leave the country. But many Indians prospered in their new homeland and began to acquire property, which caused growing concern among the white population of Natal. In 1940 and 1943, commissions were set up to investigate the “penetration” of Indians into the country; in 1943, the rights of Indians to own property in South Africa were curtailed. According to the law of 1946, areas of the country were established where immigrants from India had the right to own property. After 1950, under the Group Resettlement Act, many Indians were forcibly relocated to designated areas.

Non-white organizations.

Before the nationalists came to power in 1948 and in subsequent years, the activities of non-white organizations that professed nonviolent methods of struggle did not have much influence on political life countries. The leading organization of the African population was the African National Congress (ANC), created in 1912, which until 1960 adhered to non-violent methods of opposing the white minority regime.

Attempts were made to create trade unions for African workers. However, the Union of Industrial and Trade Workers, created in 1917, and the South African Federation of Trade Unions, which emerged in 1928, lost their influence by the early 1930s.

For many years, the main spokesman for the interests of the colored population was the African Political Organization, created in 1902 (it later renamed itself the African people's organization). In 1909–1910 she tried unsuccessfully to extend the suffrage enjoyed by the colored population of the Cape Province to the colored people of the northern provinces. In 1944, the National Union of Colored People was formed, which called for cooperation with the white authorities rather than with the African majority of the South African population.

In 1884, Gandhi, who lived in South Africa, created the Natal Indian Congress, which in 1920 merged with the South African Indian Congress (SIC). It was the Indians who contributed to political struggle methods of nonviolent resistance. During the Second World War, the UIC took more decisive action and began to advocate for the unity of non-white forces, which ultimately led to the unification of the efforts of the UIC and the ANC.

In 1952, a campaign of nonviolent action against discriminatory laws began, during which 10 thousand Africans were arrested. The government brutally suppressed the speeches of non-white people. In March 1960, the radical Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), created in 1959, organized a mass demonstration in Sharpeville, which was dispersed by the police, with 67 demonstrators killed. After this, the government banned the activities of the ANC and PAC, which abandoned nonviolent methods of struggle and went underground.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, South Africa experienced a period of economic prosperity. The government ensured the country's internal security by strengthening the police force and modernizing and increasing the size of the army.

Speeches by the African population. After the fall of the Portuguese colonial empire in Africa in the mid-1970s, South Africa's ruling regime faced a serious threat. In 1974–1975, the national liberation struggle in Mozambique ended with the rise to power of left-wing radical Africans, who provided political asylum to guerrillas fighting the white minority regime in Southern Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe). The South African police assisted the Southern Rhodesian government. In Angola, after the departure of the Portuguese, Civil War between rival factions that waged armed anti-colonial struggle. South Africa provided assistance to the one supported by the United States. However, the victory in 1976 was won by a group that enjoyed the support of the USSR and Cuba. Thus, a regime hostile to South Africa became a neighbor of South-West Africa (modern Namibia). The national liberation movement also covered a significant part of the territory of Namibia itself. South Africa unsuccessfully tried to create a multiracial independent government in this country, which should not include figures of the national liberation movement, and in 1990 South African troops were withdrawn from Namibia.

On June 16, 1976, race riots swept South Africa itself. On this day, students from the black Johannesburg suburb of Soweto, where approx. 2 million inhabitants demanded the abolition of Afrikaans as a compulsory language in schools. The police opened fire on the students, after which the riots spread throughout Soweto. Although the government made concessions to students, until the end of 1976, protests against the apartheid regime continued among the urban African population. More than 600 Africans were killed during the suppression of the unrest.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, approx. 3.5 million Africans were forcibly evicted to the territory of Bantustans, created along ethnic lines. On October 26, 1976, the South African government announced the granting of “independence” to the Bantustan Transkei, December 6, 1977 - Bophuthatswana, September 13, 1979 - Venda and December 4, 1981 - Ciskei. Millions of Africans living in and assigned to Bantustans were stripped of their South African citizenship.

In 1977, one of the leaders of the African movement, Stephen Biko, was killed in police cells. That same year, the South African authorities banned almost all organizations that opposed apartheid policies. Against this background, the number of acts of sabotage by the ANC against state enterprises and institutions. In June 1980, riots occurred in Cape Town, during which more than 40 people were killed.

New constitution.

In 1983, Prime Minister P.V. Botha proposed changes to the constitution that would provide for some participation of the colored and Asian population in government. Despite stubborn resistance from the most conservative elements of the white population and opposition from Africans, the proposed constitutional changes received the support of the majority of the white population in a referendum held in November 1983. On September 3, 1984, a new constitution came into force, under which President Botha also became head of the executive branch and a tricameral parliament (representatives of whites, coloreds and Indians) was created. The majority of the colored and Indian population considered the reforms insufficient and refused to participate in the elections.

The ANC's armed struggle against the apartheid regime continued. A new generation of African and colored youth rioted in the streets, clashed with the police, and attacked those Africans who collaborated with the white minority regime. Demonstrations were prohibited, but the funerals of Africans killed by police bullets turned into rallies of thousands. Forces opposed to the regime demanded the release of ANC leader Nelson Mandela from prison.

Intensifying the struggle against the apartheid regime.

In the face of ongoing unrest, local authorities in African settlements practically ceased to function, and young ANC activists began to create new bodies of self-government. In July 1985, the government introduced a state of emergency across large parts of the country. By the end of November of that year, more than 16 thousand Africans had been arrested. Many of those subsequently released spoke about the use of torture in dungeons.

In the summer of 1985, South Africa faced serious financial difficulties. The country's external debt reached $24 billion, of which $14 billion were short-term trade loans, which were to be renewed periodically. As the fight against the racist regime of South Africa intensified, foreign banks refused to provide short-term loans. In September, the South African government announced a freeze on foreign debt payments.

By intensifying the fight against the opposition, the South African government tried to create the appearance of reforming the apartheid system. In April 1986, the pass laws for Africans were repealed, but the replacement of passes with identity cards made little difference. It was canceled in March state of emergency, but already in June measures to maintain law and order were tightened throughout the country. Many thousands of Africans were thrown into prison.

Real power in South Africa increasingly passed into the hands of the command of the country's armed forces. In May 1986, South African commandos carried out attacks on ANC bases in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Between September 1984 and August 1986, more than 2.1 thousand people were killed in South Africa itself, almost all of them were Africans.

On the way to reforms.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, South Africa embarked on a path of gradual abandonment of apartheid policies. This government course was largely forced: the country's economic situation has deteriorated significantly, not least because of economic sanctions undertaken by the EU countries, the USA and other countries in order to put pressure on the South African authorities. In addition, private foreign companies and lenders began to curtail their activities in South Africa, fearing further destabilization. Despite state repression and strict censorship of funds mass media, the resistance of the African population to the racist regime was constantly increasing.

At the beginning of 1989, P.V. Botha suffered a stroke, and instead of him, the leader of the party branch in the Transvaal, Frederick W. de Klerk, became the leader of the National Party and the president of the country. During his election campaign on the eve of the 1989 parliamentary elections, de Klerk put forward a five-year plan to dismantle the apartheid system, which, however, did not provide for the transfer of power to the African majority. The National Party won the parliamentary elections, but the far-right Conservative Party received a large number of votes.

Changes in public policy began almost immediately after the elections. In September, one of the leaders of the ANC, Walter Sisulu, was released from prison; in November, racial segregation on beaches and in some places where the white population lived was eliminated. In February 1990, the government lifted the ban on the ANC, and Nelson Mandela was released from prison. In May, at meetings of President F.V. de Klerk with the ANC delegation led by N. Mandela, an agreement was reached on the terms of negotiations on a new constitution. As a gesture of goodwill, the government lifted the state of emergency throughout the country except Natal, and the ANC suspended military operations.

In 1991, the government allowed ANC fighters in Zambia to return to their homeland and released all political prisoners. Two main racist laws were repealed - “On population registration” and “On settlement by groups”. Some states, including the United States, Japan, Canada and India, responded to these steps by easing economic sanctions against South Africa. After a 21-year absence from the international Olympic movement, South Africa was allowed to participate in the 1992 Olympic Games.

In the second half of 1991, facts of secret government funding of the Inkatha movement, a predominantly Zulu organization led by Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, became public. Part of the funds was used to organize rallies of this organization, which the white authorities intended to turn into a reliable counterweight to the more radical ANC and PAC. The government also financed the secret training of Inkatha militants by South African military personnel, many of whom subsequently participated in attacks on the population of African townships that supported the ANC. Inkatha supporters living in workers' dormitories in the 1980s and early 1990s were believed to be responsible for numerous bloody clashes that swept through black townships.

The transition to multiracial democracy.

In December 1991, the first meeting of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), a forum created by de Klerk and N. Mandela to discuss a new constitution and the country's transition to a multiracial democratic society, took place. The Convention was criticized by pro-apartheid whites, as well as by militant African organizations such as the PAC, which refused to participate in the negotiations. Nevertheless, in the white referendum held on March 18, 1992, de Klerk's efforts to rebuild political system countries received support in a 2:1 ratio.

Negotiations within the framework of CODESA were almost disrupted in June 1992, when representatives of the ANC and some other African organizations declared it was impossible to continue their work. This demarche was caused by the fact that Inkatha supporters, with the approval or even the active participation of the police, killed at least 45 residents of one of the black townships near Johannesburg. Three months later, during a demonstration in the Bantustan of Ciskei against the local military ruler, 35 ANC supporters died at the hands of soldiers. The escalation of political violence forced F.V. de Klerk and N. Mandela to meet at the end of September; During this meeting, the ANC leader agreed to continue negotiations within the framework of CODES. A protocol was signed stipulating that a new constitution would be drafted by an elected constitutional assembly and that a multiracial transitional government should be formed following the elections. The Inkatha Movement, which now became known as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), opposed this agreement, and in December 1992, Chief Buthelezi published a draft constitution for the future state of the ethnic bantustan of KwaZulu and the province of Natal. The conservative wing of the Afrikaners responded to the agreement by creating a secret committee to mobilize the disaffected white population to fight the reforms. The ultimate goal of the conspirators was to create, if necessary, a separate Afrikaner state.

Negotiations between the ANC and the de Klerk government continued in 1993 against the backdrop of continued bloody terror against the ANC by Inkatha militants, who enjoyed the support and protection of the South African security forces, who continued the usual practice of carrying out terrorist acts at the hands of their African agents. Supporters of the ANC and PAC responded to the killings with murders. On April 10, 1993, the Secretary General of the South African Republic died at the hands of a white extremist. communist party Chris Honey. Several members of the Conservative Party took part in the conspiracy, three of them were later convicted and imprisoned.

In November 1993, 19 CODESA members approved a draft interim constitution, which in December was ratified by the South African Parliament, thereby voting for self-dissolution.

Now no terrorist actions or provocations on the part of Afrikaner extremists and PSI militants could prevent changes in the life of the country. In March 1994, the bantustan populations of Ciskei and Bophuthatswana overthrew their rulers, and the provisional government of South Africa took over the administration of these territories. That same month, a state of emergency was declared in Natal, where the PSI called for a boycott of the elections and again resorted to violent tactics. However, at the last minute, the PSI leadership still decided to participate in the elections, which took place on April 26–29. On April 27, 1994, an interim constitution came into force, and South Africa became a multiracial democracy.

The ANC came to power with the support of an absolute majority of voters - 63%, while 20% voted for the National Party and 10% of voters voted for the Inkatha Freedom Party. Rest political parties were unable to overcome the 5% barrier required to include their representatives in the government. As a result, a coalition government of national unity, which was to govern the country for the next five years, was formed from representatives of the ANC, the National Party and the Inkatha Freedom Party.

On May 9, 1994, the National Assembly elected Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa. The outstanding personal qualities of the new president played a decisive role in maintaining stability in the country during the transition period.

In November 1995, local elections were held throughout the country, with the exception of KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town, again ending in a landslide victory for the ANC, which received the support of 64% of voters, while the National Party - 16% and the Inkatha Freedom Party - 0.4%.

Having expressed disagreement with the policies of the ANC several times, the National Party left the government of national unity in July 1996, becoming the largest opposition force. One of the reasons for the conflict between the parties was the fact that the draft of the new constitution did not provide for the continuation of the coalition government after 1999. The Inkatha Freedom Party made claims to the ANC regarding some provisions of the constitution. This party wanted the country's main document to more firmly enshrine the principles of federalism and boycotted meetings of the Constitutional Assembly as a sign of protest. The Freedom Front also expressed its dissatisfaction, which insisted on mentioning the Volkstaat (Boer People's State) in the text of the constitution. However, the Constitutional Assembly in October 1996 approved a new constitution for South Africa, which came into force on February 4, 1997.

At the end of 1998, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission published its final report, which accused the National Party, as well as the ANC and other political organizations, of massive human rights violations during the apartheid period. Although charges were brought against some members of his own party, Nelson Mandela supported this document.

Throughout 1998, South Africa was preparing for the second democratic elections, scheduled for May 1999. In 1997, Thabo Mbeki, the likely successor to Mandela and Vice President of South Africa, became the leader of the African National Congress, and in 1998, the de facto leader of the country. The National and Democratic parties gradually lost their political positions, and the Inkatha Freedom Party continued to cooperate with the ANC in a coalition government of national unity. Trade unions were increasingly disillusioned with the government's policy of creating market economy and in Mbeki's approach to social and economic problems. Throughout 1998, South Africa continued to move extremely slowly towards achieving its goals of economic growth and a just reconstruction of society. GDP growth was less than 2% per year, and the population was increasing, access to education became more difficult, and medical care for the population deteriorated.

In the parliamentary elections held on June 2, 1999, the ANC won a landslide victory, collecting 66% of the vote. The second place was taken by the Democratic Party (10% of the votes), the third place was taken by the Inkatha Freedom Party.

On June 16, 57-year-old Thabo Mbeki, a friend and ally of N. Mandela, officially took office as President of South Africa.

The new President Mbeki continued the course of his predecessor's government. The political and social base of the government was expanded to include members of opposition parties representing all racial and ethnic groups countries.

At the turn of the 21st century. key element of external and domestic policy South Africa became the concept of the "African Renaissance". It was put forward by President Mbeki in May 1996 at a parliamentary meeting dedicated to the adoption of the constitution as a new “national idea” that defined the role and place of South Africa in Africa. The concept of “African Renaissance” was officially announced by him at a conference on attracting capital to Africa (Virginia, 1997). Mbeki, together with Algerian President A. Bouteflika and Nigerian President O. Obasanjo, became one of the authors of “The Millennium Partnership for African Recovery” (The Millennium Partnership for the African Recovery Program - MAP), put forward at the OAU summit in 1999. In October 2001 in Abuja (Nigeria) at the first meeting of the Program Implementation Committee (by that time the so-called Omega Plan had been integrated into it ) President of Senegal A. Wade) the document was amended, and it was approved under the name “New Partnership for African Development” (NEPAD). The committee secretariat was located in Midrand (a suburb of Pretoria). At the first summit of the African Union (AU), held in Durban on 9–10 July 2002, NEPAD was declared its operational economic programme. Mbeki was elected chairman of the AU.

South Africa in the 21st century

In the beginning. The 2000s saw growth in the South African economy, which was driven by high prices for mineral raw materials, an active influx of investment and increased consumer demand, which in turn led to an increase in imports and a strengthening of the national currency. In 2004, government revenues from privatization amounted to $2 million.

In the general elections held on April 14, 2004, the ruling ANC party won a landslide victory, receiving 69.68 votes. She won 279 seats in the National Assembly. In addition, the parties “Democratic Alliance”, DA (50), “Inkatha Freedom Party” (28) and “United Democratic Movement”, UDD (9) received seats in parliament. 131 members of parliament are women. Women have also been appointed to the posts of chairman and speaker of parliament.

In May 2005, celebrations were held in Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban to mark the 60th anniversary of victory in the Second World War. (334 thousand volunteers from South Africa fought in parts of the British army in Italy, North and East Africa). On June 26, 2005, the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, which became the basis of the 1996 constitution, was widely celebrated. In October 2005, Mbeki participated in the next AU summit (Abuja, Nigeria), dedicated to the problem of forming a unified government for the African continent.

In 2005, GDP amounted to 527.4 billion US dollars, its growth was 5%. In the same year, investment was 17.9% of GDP and inflation was 4.6%. The strengthening of the rand in 2003–2005 led to a decrease in exports (in 2005 the trade deficit reached its highest level in 22 years - 4.7% of GDP) and job losses. Unemployment in 2005 was 27.8%. The appreciation of the national currency also led to a decrease in income in the mining industry. The income gap between different segments of the population has increased. The share of the middle class in 2004 was 7.8% (in 1994 – 3.3%). More than 50% of the 7.5 thousand dollar millionaires in Africa are South Africans.

The government's economic policy is aimed at further liberalizing the economy, attracting foreign investment, and combating poverty. In 2005, a special fund of R42 billion was created to issue loans to low-income South Africans for housing construction.

The policy of Africanization is actively pursued not only in relation to changing the racial composition of legislative and executive bodies authorities, but also in the economic sphere - black businessmen are increasingly heading private companies and banks, white citizens are being forced out of some areas of entrepreneurship (for example, taxi services). According to the official statement of the authorities, in March 2006, in order to speed up the progress of land reform, large-scale confiscation of the lands of white farmers with whom the authorities could not reach an agreement will begin. deadlines about compensation. The first case of such confiscation took place in October 2005.

The government is trying to develop a set of measures to eliminate unemployment and fight crime. In April 2005, a law on combating terrorism was adopted.

On June 14, 2005, ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma, considered the main candidate to succeed the head of state, was dismissed after a case was opened against him for involvement in corruption. According to the decision general council ANC, however, he remained as deputy president of the party. In the apparatus of the ruling party, the struggle has intensified over the issue of electing a new leader of the ANC at the congress, which is scheduled for 2007. In early February 2006, President Mbeki announced that he did not intend to amend the constitution in order to gain the opportunity to once again run for the presidency in elections in 2009. The question of a successor, in his opinion, will be decided at the party congress in 2007. Around the same time, Zuma was brought to trial on charges of raping a woman who was a close friend of his family. Zuma's supporters say the campaign against him is political.

In November 2005, a new Anti-Corruption Commission was created. As part of the anti-corruption campaign, 66 South African Home Affairs officials were fired in 2004–2005. At the beginning of February 2006, a new political scandal began, at the center of which was the new deputy president, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. Charges were brought against her of embezzlement of government funds (approx. $100 thousand), which she used to travel with family and friends to the UAE (December 2005) on a government plane. President Mbeki spoke in defense of the accused.

Lyubov Prokopenko

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