South Africa

Republic of South Africa Union or South Africa is a country in southern Africa. South Africa are with Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe in the north, Mozambique and Swaziland in the northeast. Lesotho entire country is located in the hinterland of South Africa.

In the first period of a state government be censured because of this political 'apartheid'nya but now South Africa is a democratic country with the largest white population in the African continent. South Africa is also a country with many different people and has 11 official languages. The country is also famous as a diamond producer, gold and platinum in the main world.

History

South Africa is one of the oldest countries in the African continent. Many tribes have become a tribe penghuninya including Khoi, Bushmen, Xhosa and Zulu. Dutch explorers, known as the Afrikaner arrived there in 1652. At that time Britain is also interested with this country, especially after the discovery of abundant reserves of diamonds. This has caused the British-Dutch War and the two Boer Wars. At 1910, the four main republic merged under Unity South Africa. At 1931, South Africa fully into the British colony.

Although the country is under the British colony, they were forced to share power with the Afrikaner. The division of power has been continued until 1940s, when the party that is pro-Afrikaner National Party (NP) to obtain a majority in parliament. Strategies party has created the basic apartheid (which was passed in 1948), a way to oversee economic and social system of domination with the white race and discrimination. However the British government often thwart the efforts of comprehensive apartheid in South Africa.

In the year 1961, a special election after the skin is white, as South Africa declared a republic. Starting in the 1960s, 'Grand apartheid' (of apartheid) is carried out, this emphasizes the political isolation and oppression of the police.

Oppression of black continues until the end of 20th century. In February 1990, due to encouragement from other nations and great opposition from various anti-apartheid movement, especially African National Congress (ANC), the National Party government under President FW de clerk interesting behind the prohibition against African National Congress and political parties follow a course that left other and free Nelson Mandela from prison. The Act removed the apartheid start slowly and without discrimination in the election first held in 1994. The ANC achieved a great victory, and Nelson Mandela, the President appointed as the first black in South Africa. Although the powers already in the hands of black people, millions still live in poverty.

When Nelson Mandela became president of this country for 5 years, government has pledged to implement the changes mainly in the issues that have been ignored during the era of apartheid. Some issues are handled by the ANC leadership is like unemployment, AIDS epidemic, lack of housing and food. Mandela government also began to introduce the South Africa back to the global economy after several years diasingkankan because of political apartheid. In addition, in their efforts to unify the people the government also created a committee known as the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) under the leader Bishop Desmond Tutu. Committee to monitor the role government agencies such as police agencies so that South African society can live in safety and harmony.

President Mandela concentrate all attention on the national stage in the peace, and try to build a jatidiri to South Africa in the compound by a separate conflict to drag on for several decades. Mandela ability in achieving objectives clearly evident after 1994 because the country has been free from political conflict. Nelson Mandela laying his party ANC president in December 1997, to provide the opportunity for a new President is Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki elected as president after South Africa won national elections in 1999, and the thin partainya win two-thirds majority in parliament. President Mbeki has been the focus shifts from the atonement to the changes, especially in terms of the economic state.
Politics

South Africa is a democratic constitutional state system with three levels of the judiciary and the institutions that are free. There are three ratings that is national, regional and local government agencies that have legislative and executive powers to the regions of each.

President of South Africa is holding the two positions as Head of State and Head of Government. He was elected during the National Assembly (National Assembly) and Provincial Assembly province-National (National Council of Provinces) joined. Often, the President is leading the majority party in Parliament.

National Assembly has 400 members elected through proportional representation in elections. National Council of Provinces, which have replaced the Senate in 1997, consists of 90 members representing each province, including 9 major cities in South Africa.

In South Africa, elections are held every 5 years and each of the people aged 18 and above are required to participate. Last election was in April 2004, in which party wins the ANC successfully 69.68% seats in parliament. This party together with Inkatha Freedom Party (6.97%) have formed alliances of government. Parties including the main opposition Democratic Aliasi (12.37%), Unity Democratic Movement or UDM (2.28%), ID or Free Democrats (1.73%), New National Party or NNP (1.65%) and African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP (1.6%).

In addition, each province in South Africa has one penggubal laws of the Executive and Assembly diketuai by a Prime Minister or "Premier".
The division of administrative
Province

South Africa consists of nine provinces, namely:

1. Eastern Cape
2. Free State
3. Gauteng
4. KwaZulu-Natal
5. Limpopo
6. Mpumalanga
7. North West
8. Northern Cape
9. Western Cape

Main cities
Major cities in South Africa including Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein.
Geography

South Africa is located at 29 ° 00 'S, 24 ° 00' T. Area region is 1,219,912 km ², including Robben Island, and Prince Edwards Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island). South Africa adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean on the west coast and the South Ocean and Indian Ocean on the east coast. Major ocean currents in the ocean-is cool Benguela current and the warm Agulhas current. The lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 m and the high altitude is Njesuthi at 3408 m.

South Africa has a climate different. In the southwestern state, the climate is Mediterranean, in the area be it a simple, and in the northeast is a subtropical climate.

South Africa is a country rich with valuable mineral materials such as gold, platinum and diamonds. Material semulajadinya including mine gold, chromium, antimoni, charcoal, seeds of iron, Manganese, nickel, phosphate, bean tin, uranium, diamonds, platinum, kuprum, vanadium, salt, and the original gas.
Economy

South Africa is a country with a population of advanced simple income. Country is rich with mineral material mainly high value materials such as mine of gold, platinum and diamonds. It also has the financial system, legislation, telecommunications, energy, infrastructure is developed and modern. Johannesburg Stock Exchange in sahamnya so ever to be active in order to-10 in the world.

Since the arrival in the UK There, the state economy depend on the mining sector. But a few decades ago, these activities have been replaced by the production sector. South African industrial sector which is very advanced, and the economy to the 25-largest in the world. With only 7% of the population and 4% the amount of the overall area of Africa, South Africa spent over a third of products and services in Africa, and almost 40% of the industry in Africa. Material exported commodities: machinery equipment, food and equipment, chemicals, products petroliam and scientific equipment.

Demikan However, the HIV epidemic is a critical problem in this country. An estimated 4.79 million people dijangkiti AIDS and Africa's new government had to issue millions of Rand to handle this problem. Since South Africa opened perbatasannya after the end of apartheid, international syndicate Napza have entered this country. Now South Africa is mariyuana largest producer in the world. Political upheaval in Zimbabwe also give a bad impact to the economy this country. Many foreign investors worry the problem will affect the South Africa. In 2002, these issues have been the main factors decreasing the value of Rand 30 percent, but in 2004 the currency has been strong Rand.

Due to the basic apartheid that was conducted over more than four decades, poverty among the black population is the main problem most of the new South Africa. At the end of the 1980s had been budgeted 16 million people living in poverty and face down 2.3 million people at risk malnutrition and food shortages. However, the black South Africa has been successfully reduce poverty from 42% in 1994 to 24% in 2003.
Demographics

Demography in South Africa is divided into four main groups, namely: black, one white, one color (or people from the Asia-breed) and the Indian nation.

They are the largest in South Africa is the indigenous people of color that is 77% the number of people here. Black population consists of a plural society can be classified to the four ethnic groups based on the language of each. The largest groups, namely 50% of the population in Africa, here is the Nguni-speaking nations, including Ndebele, Swazi, Xhosa and Zulu. The second largest group is in the Sotho-Tswana, Sotho, including some of the nation, Pedi, and Tswana, and the majority in most of the Highveld. The last two groups is Tsonga, Shangaan or, in the North tertumpu and Mpumalanga area, and Venda, which is also tertumpu in the north area of South Africa.

The white consists of 11% of the population here, a nation the Netherlands, France, England and Germany. Most people in European countries this is a descendant of pioneer-explorers early in the Cape colony. There are also Portuguese minority groups - first group of descendants of early European explorers, whereas the second group of Dutch descendants of slaves who came from Indonesia.

9% of the South African nation consists of a colored or colored. This group of nations including the intervention and also marries Asian immigrants, who brought go to work as a coolie at Christmas. Whereas, 3% more of the nation India which comes from the Indian traders-traders.
Education

In South Africa, during the period of schooling is 13 years old - or level. However, the first year of education or level 0 and the last three years ie from level 10 to level 12 (also called "matric") is not required. Most schools offer a basic level of 0. But this level can also be made in kindergarten. Normally to enter university, a person must pass the "matric" with a minimum of three high-level subjects and not simply pass the (standard). Even some prestigious university academic requirements will impose higher. However, those who passed the "National Senior Certificate" qualified to study in the "technikon or technical college.

Under the apartheid system, education system dirangka based on skin color that is different ministries for students white, colored, Asian, and black people outside the Bantustan. This isolation has produced 14 different ministries of education in this country.

Penstrukturan education system after the apartheid-era is a big challenge for the country. Government has established a new system of national education without discrimination, but combining the 14 ministries of education is a difficult task. Thus in February 1996, the Ministry of Education has launched a new curriculum called "Curriculum 2005". This curriculum will replace the basic education under apartheid, will object to the result that students will become more proactive in the surrounding environment and also in the community. To achieve this objective, in 1999 the government has provided 5.7 percent of budget expenditures for the education sector, including building 2,000 new schools, 65,000 classrooms and a new full beralatan, 60,000 teachers trained and 50 million textbooks printed.

In 2004, South Africa has nearly 366,000 teachers and 28,000 schools, including 390 special schools and 1,000 private schools. Of this, 6000 is a high school (level 7 to level 12) and the rest is a primary school (level 1 to level 6).

South Africa also has a system of higher education is developed, which also separated the races during the era of apartheid. In 1995 there were 385,000 students studying in 21 universities and 190,000 students in the "technikon" (or technical institute vokasional). Almost 37 percent of the skin is white. But since 1994, including black students in universities are devoted to white students has been a sudden increase.
Culture

Free association in the community in the South African urban areas and the oppression of black culture during the apartheid era has resulted in the loss of old ways of living in the cities here. However, the black culture still exists in rural areas. Some cultural differences remain among the ethnic-ethnic in there, such as customary law of marriage and their adat. But in general, the black tradition is based on trust to the gods of brave and masculine, spirit-grandmother and great-grandparent supernatural powers. Also justified polygamy and "lobolo" (dowry) is usually to be paid. Buffaloes play an important role in most cultures, as symbols of wealth and animal sacrifice.

Art South Africa can be seen from the various caves and rock paintings by San tribes, some of them painted since 26,000 years ago. Beads that up carefully by the tribe of Zulu is also a craft popular in this country. Unfortunately, the black culture has been deleted during the apartheid-era. Tradition of day-to-day that are closely tied to tradition and culture of black people has been ignored and eliminated. An example is the most ketara destruction "District Six", a multicultural area in Cape Town and Sophiatown in Johannesburg, where many musicians-renowned international musicians come together and hone their mastery. Between popular music groups including Ladysmith Black Mambazo who has brought South African music to the Western world, before and after apartheid.

In terms of food, steak or boerewors sausage, boiled vegetables and chips (fried potatoes) are the main food, and food is usually a bit more daunting challenge. Food here lead to more meat. Food of Africa rarely sold in restaurants here, although people can get a cheap and rice "stew" of the outlets-outlets in urban areas. Beer and brandy are the most popular drink among the people, and increasingly popular wine here.
International organizations

South Africa is a member of several international organizations, among them:

* ACP
* AfDB
* AU
* Commonwealth
* FAO
* G-24
* G-77
* Movement Non-Blok
ONUB *
* OPCW
* WHO
* WMO
* WTO