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About South Africa
The Republic of South
Africa is a country located at the southern tip of Africa, with
a 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) coastline on the Atlantic and
Indian Oceans. To the north lie Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe;
to the east are Mozambique and Swaziland; while Lesotho is an
independent country wholly surrounded by South African
territory.
South Africa is known for a diversity in cultures and languages.
Eleven official languages are recognised in the constitution.
Two of these languages are of European origin: Afrikaans, a
language which originated mainly from Dutch that is spoken by
the majority of white and Coloured South Africans, and South
African English. Though English has a large role in public and
commercial life, it is nevertheless only the fifth most-spoken
home language.
South Africa is ethnically diverse. About 79.5% of the South
African population is of black African ancestry, divided among a
variety of ethnic groups speaking different Bantu languages,
nine of which have official status. South Africa also contains
the largest European, Asian, and racially mixed communities in
Africa. About a quarter of the population is unemployed and
lives on less than US $1.25 a day. South Africa is the most
populous country in the world to have legalised same-sex
marriage throughout its entire territory.
South Africa is a constitutional democracy in the form of a
parliamentary republic; unlike most parliamentary republics the
positions of head of state and head of government are merged in
a parliamentarily-dependent President. It is one of the founding
members of the African Union, and has the largest economy of all
the members. It is also a founding member of the United Nations
and NEPAD. South Africa is a member of the Commonwealth of
Nations, Antarctic Treaty System, Group of 77, South Atlantic
Peace and Cooperation Zone, Southern African Customs Union,
World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, G20 and
G8+5.
The discovery of diamonds in 1867 and gold in 1884 in the
interior encouraged economic growth and immigration. This
intensified the European-South African subjugation of the
indigenous people. The struggle to control these important
economic resources was a factor between Europeans and the
indigenous population, and also between the Boers and the
British.
The Boer Republics successfully resisted British encroachments
during the First Boer War (1880–1881) using guerrilla warfare
tactics, which were well suited to local conditions. However,
the British returned with greater numbers, more experience, and
more suitable tactics in the Second Boer War
(1899–1902), which was won by the British.
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