South Africa

South Africa (South Africa) - a state in the southern part of the African continent, washed by the waters of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. On its territory are the small independent states of Lesotho and Swaziland, and in the north it borders with Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.

The name of the country is determined by the geographical location of the country.

Capital

Pretoria.

Square

Population

46,000 thousand people

Administrative division

The state is divided into 9 provinces.

Form of government

Republic.

Head of State

The president.

Supreme legislative body

Bicameral parliament - National Assembly and National Council of Provinces.

Supreme executive body

Government.

Big cities

Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Benoni, Bloemfontein.

Official language

English, Afrikaans.

Religion

80% are Christians, 10% profess Hinduism, 8% Islam.

Ethnic composition

77% are Africans, 12% are Europeans and their descendants, 11% are from Asian countries.

Currency

Rand = 100 cents.

Climate

There are 20 climatic zones on the territory of the state. The region of Natal province is characterized by high humidity, which is characteristic of a hot tropical climate. The Cape Town area has a Mediterranean climate with dry, hot summers and mild winters. The rest of the state is characterized by a tropical climate. The climate in South Africa is more moderate than in other countries located at the same latitudes - this is explained by the sufficient altitude above sea level and the proximity of ocean currents. The most precipitation falls in the east (1000-2000 mm per year), the least on the Atlantic coast (less than 100 mm).

Flora

The flora of South Africa is rich - at least 20,000 plant species grow here. Many flowers that are now common in Europe were once exported from here - among them geranium, gladiolus, and narcissus. The Cape Town area is home to more than 5,000 plant species that do not grow anywhere else in the world. The silver tree, whose flower is the national symbol of South Africa, has been preserved. The main part of the country is savannah.

Fauna

Representatives of the South African fauna include elephant, rhinoceros, zebra, lion, giraffe, cheetah, aardvark, antelope, hyena, golden mole, tarsier, and various species of birds.

Rivers and lakes

The largest rivers are the Orange and Limpopo.

Attractions

In Cape Town - the Castle of Good Hope, the South African Museum, which displays finds from archaeological excavations in the surrounding area and examples of Bushmen rock art.

Useful information for tourists

Tips in a restaurant make up 10-12% of the total cost of the order (including drinks), porter services - from 2 to 5 rands per piece of luggage, guide-driver - 15-20 rands per person per day of work.
No vaccinations are required, unless you are planning a trip to the northeastern regions (areas where the malaria mosquito spreads). Along with taking anti-malarial drugs, it is recommended to wear long sleeves and use insecticides. Malaria mosquitoes are most active at dusk. Air conditioning and fans also reduce the risk of mosquito bites.

Total area: 1,219,912 sq. km. It is 5 times larger than Great Britain, 2 times larger than France and equal in territory to Germany, France and Italy combined. Border length: 4750 km. It borders Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Coastline: 2798 km.

Population: about 40 million people. Ethnic groups: black - 75.2%, white - 13.6%, colored -8.6%, Indian - 2.6% Official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Sutho, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Pedi. Religion: Christianity (68%), Hinduism (1.5%), Islam (2%), animism, etc. (28.5%).

Capitals: Cape Town (Parliament), Pretoria (Government), Bloemfontein (Supreme Court). The population of Cape Town is 2,350,157 people, Johannesburg is 1,916,063 people, and Pretoria is 1,080,187 people. Form of government: republic Administrative division: 9 provinces - Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North Western Province, Northern Cape, Northern Province, Western Cape.

Natural resources of South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is located in the south of the African continent, in the tropical and subtropical latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. The territory of South Africa makes up 4.2% of the continent's area (1221 thousand sq. km). The most typical landscapes for the country are natural zones of savannahs and woodlands, semi-deserts and deserts, changing each other from east to west. The plateaus and plateaus slope steeply to the coastal lowlands in the east and to the depression in the south. The windward slopes are overgrown with subtropical evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs.

In the north, South Africa has land borders that run mainly through sparsely populated semi-arid and desert areas. In the northwest it borders with Namibia, in the north with Botswana and Zimbabwe, and in the east with Mozambique and Swaziland. The Kingdom of Lesotho is located in South Africa as an enclave. In the west the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic, and in the south and east by the Indian Ocean. This location of the country determines the presence of various natural landscapes.

The relief of South Africa is characterized by a predominance of high plain plateaus. About half of the territory has an altitude of 1000 to 1600 m, more than 3/4 is located above 600 m above sea level, only a narrow strip of coastal lowlands in the west, south and east does not exceed an altitude of 500 m.

In general terms, the relief is determined by the internal plateaus and coastal plains of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The plateau descends from southeast to northwest. Its most elevated parts are located on the border with Lesotho (more than 3600 m), and the least elevated parts are in the river basin. Mololo (less than 800 m).

The coastal plains stretch in a narrow strip in the east, south and west of the country. In the extreme south the coastal lowland is very narrow; to the north it gradually expands to 65-100 km.

South Africa statistics
(as of 2012)

The diversity of the geological structure and the outcrops of ancient crystalline, often metamorphosed rocks have determined the country's exceptional wealth in mineral resources. In total, 56 types of mineral raw materials were discovered on its territory. In a relatively small area there is a truly unique set of a wide variety of minerals: chromium, coal, iron, nickel, phosphates, tin, copper, vanadium; the world's largest supplier of gold (more than 15,000,000 troy ounces per year). South Africa ranks first or one of the first in the world in reserves and production of platinum, diamonds, antimony, uranium and manganese ores, chromites, asbestos, andalusite, etc. The only drawback of the mineral resource base is the lack of proven oil reserves. In this regard, coal occupies the main place in the country's fuel and energy balance.

Climate of South Africa

The country is located in the subtropical region, and north of 30° south. sh.-tropical climate. Average annual temperatures throughout the territory are positive (from +12° to +23°C). The difference in temperatures between the “coldest” and the “hottest” zones is about 10°C. This difference is determined not so much by latitude as by relief and fluctuations in absolute heights. As altitude increases, the amplitudes of daily and annual temperatures, the possibility of frost and their duration also increase.

Rivers of South Africa

The lack of moisture in most of the country does not contribute to the emergence of large lake-river systems. The density of the river network is extremely uneven. Most of the permanent rivers belong to the Indian Ocean basin. The largest of them are: Limpopo, Tugela, Umgeni, Great Cay, Great Fish, Sandis, Gaurits, etc. In most cases, these are short, rapids rivers originating on the eastern and southern windward slopes of the Great Escarpment. They are full-flowing, predominantly rain-fed, with a summer maximum water flow.

The largest river in South Africa, the Orange River (tributaries Vaal, Caledon, Braque, etc.) has a length of 1865 km and belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin. It flows through arid inland plateaus and becomes very shallow in its lower reaches. A number of large hydraulic structures were built on the river and its tributaries. To the north of the middle reaches of the Orange River there are several seasonal rivers (Nosob, Mololo, Kuruman, etc.) belonging to the internal drainage area of ​​the Kalahari Plain.

In conditions of scarcity of surface water, groundwater becomes of particular importance. They are used by both industrial enterprises and many farms in the central and western regions of the inland plateau. Seawater desalination plants operate on the West Coast, and water is purified for reuse in industrial enterprises.

Soils of South Africa

The most widespread soils in the country are chestnut and red-brown soils. These two types of soils occupy almost half of the country's territory - from the West Coast to the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains (the Kalahari region, the Middle and almost the entire High Weald, vast areas of the Bushveld, and in the south the Great and Little Karoo). The presence of these soil types is determined by climatic conditions, primarily the amount of precipitation. Light brown and red-brown soils are characteristic of desert-steppe regions, and chestnut soils are characteristic of dry steppes.

Black, chernozem and chestnut soils are common in the eastern High Veldt and Bushveld. The black ferruginous soils of dry savannas, which farmers call “black peat,” are fertile. At higher elevations, more leached red soils are often found.

Coastal areas have a wide variety of soils. On the East Coast, in the lowest parts, fertile red soils and yellow soils of subtropical regions are developed. The southwest coast is an area of ​​fairly fertile brown soils.

All soils require the application of mineral and organic fertilizers. Along with this, constant fight against soil erosion is necessary. Improper plowing of slopes and excessive grazing lead to destruction of soil structure and erosion. The arid climate creates the problem of artificial irrigation. Only 15% of South Africa's land is suitable for agriculture.

Flora of South Africa

The flora of the country is rich and diverse. In total, there are about 15 thousand plant species that belong to two floristic regions - Cape and Paleotropical. The predominant vegetation is the savanna zone and the semi-desert and desert zone.

The appearance of savannas changes depending on the amount of precipitation. In the most humid areas, various palm trees, baobabs, podocarpus, valuable tree species and cereal grass grow; Low Weld-park savanna, or mopane savanna (from the name of the widespread mopane tree); Bushveld acacia-euphorbia savanna, dominated by various types of acacia, evergreen shrubs and light groves of trees that shed their leaves in the dry season.

The semi-desert and desert zone occupies the western coastal plain, vast areas of the Upper, Greater and Lesser Karoo and the driest parts of the Kalahari.

In the northwestern regions of this zone, succulents, or “rock plants” grow; in the Kalahari, near the Namibian border, sandy soils are dominated by cereals. In arid areas, karroos have an abundance of succulents of various shapes. Among leaf succulents, aloe and acacia are often found; among stem succulents, euphorbia is widespread, and there are shrub succulents.

The High Weld is occupied by a zone of grassy steppes (grasveld). More than 60% of the grassveld territory is covered with cereals; in the more humid eastern regions, high themeda (up to 1 m) is common, in drier areas it is low (not higher than 0.5 m). This is the best feed for livestock on natural pastures. Various species of bearded vulture and fescue are also present.

The Cape floristic region is a center of ornamental flora of world importance. In a relatively small area, 800 km long and less than 10 km wide, over 6 thousand plant species from 700 genera grow, most of them endemic. Evergreen hard-leaved shrubs and various perennial plants dominate here. The flora of the Cape region shares a number of families and genera with the flora of Australia, South America (the Proteaceae family and the sundew genus) and Europe (sedge, reed, flax, nettle, ranunculus, rose, feather grass, etc.).

About 2% of the country's territory is occupied by forest. In light subtropical forests, on chestnut soils, valuable species such as ironwood and aromatic wood grow. Reserved coniferous forests consist of yellowwood. The East Coast retains small areas of moist subtropical evergreen forests of ficus, Cape boxwood, Cape redwood and Cape ebony, with a variety of vines and epiphytes. Significant afforestation work is being carried out along the mountain slopes, plantations of pine and cedar, Australian acacia and eucalyptus are being created. By 1990, artificial forest plantations accounted for more than 1 million hectares.

Fauna of South Africa

The fauna belongs to the Cape subregion of the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. It is represented by predators (wild cats, hyenas, jackals, panthers, cheetahs, lions), numerous ungulates, and elephants. Several species of civets, the long-eared dog, several genera of golden mole rodents, and 15 genera of birds are endemic. The country has up to 40 thousand species of insects and 200 species of snakes, up to 150 species of termites, and in the northeast there is a hotbed of tsetse flies and malaria mosquitoes.

During the colonization of South Africa, many animal species were almost exterminated. Currently, the fauna is well preserved only in nature reserves and national parks. The largest and most famous of them are: Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe, Kalahari-Hemsbok. In the Kruger National Park you can see lions, leopards and cheetahs, elephants and hippos, giraffes, buffaloes and antelopes. Anteaters live here, feeding on termites, for which the Boers call them “earth piglets.” In “Hluhluva”, along with the listed animals, in the bush-overgrown valleys (rivers) there are rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses and crocodiles, and white rhinoceroses, which have become very rare, have been preserved. Flamingos, pelicans and various herons nest on the lakes, and among the ungulates live the African warthog and waterbucks. Many snakes, among which the python is not uncommon. There are about 20 species of antelope preserved in the Kalahari-Hemsbock National Park. South Africa is home to many very rare species of these graceful, fleet-footed animals. Here you can see wildebeest, eland antelope, and hemobok antelope, and the rare gray-brown nyala, and the dwarf antelope. To this day, in the Kalahari and arid regions of the velds, antelopes provide food and clothing to the Bushmen and Hottenton tribes.

Course work
in the discipline “Socio-economic geography of foreign countries”

"Socio-economic situation of the Republic of South Africa"

1st year student
Department of Customs Affairs
Safonenko N. A.

Scientific adviser:
Senior Lecturer at the Department of International Tourism
Poleshchuk N.I.

Minsk
2010
Content
Introduction……………………..……………………………. ........................... ....3
Chapter 1. General characteristics, characteristics of resources and population of South Africa
1.1 “Business card”……………………….………………………………… …..4
1.2 Form of state………………………………… …………...…………..5
1.3 Economic and geographical position of the country...............................................6
1.4 Economic assessment of natural conditions and resources…………………. 6
1.5 Population geography………………………………………………………. 8
Chapter 2. Economic characteristics of South Africa
2.1 General characteristics of the country’s economic complex……..……..1 2
2.2 Geography of communications and transport…… ………………………... 17
2.3 Foreign economic relations of the country…………………………………… 18
Conclusion…………..…………………………………………………………….………22
References…………………………………………………...24
Application………................. ............................. ..................................... 25

Introduction
The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent. In the north it borders with Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, in the northeast with Mozambique and Swaziland. The state of Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa. South Africa is one of the most developed countries on the African continent. The country has rich mineral resources, and is also the most economically developed on the continent and has a relatively strong global position. Thanks to the mining of diamonds and gold, the South African economy is thriving, and infrastructure and services are at a fairly high level. Today, South Africa represents one of the most promising markets among all third world countries. South Africa is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa, and has the largest proportion of white, Indian and mixed populations on the continent. The object of study of the course work is the regional economy of South Africa. The relevance of the work lies in the fact that South Africa can become an important partner for many countries in the future. The Republic of South Africa is currently an actively developing country with high economic potential, since after the abolition of apartheid the international community removed barriers, and a flow of investment and technology began to flow into South Africa, which had long been isolated from the world community. Purpose of the work: to determine South Africa’s place in the world economy. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: - give a natural and economic assessment of natural conditions and resources; - study the socio-economic situation of the population; - assess the country’s economic complex; - characterize the non-productive sector of South Africa; - analyze foreign economic relations of South Africa.

General characteristics, characteristics of resources and population of South Africa

1.2 State form
According to the country's Constitution, adopted by Parliament on May 8, 1996, South Africa is a unitary republic with elements of federalism. The country's 9 provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Gdateng, Free State, Orange Northern Province and North Western Province) have extensive powers, including legislative autonomy. Legislative power at the national level is vested in a bicameral Parliament, consisting of the National Council of Provinces (upper house, 90 people, elected by 10 from each provincial legislature) and the National Assembly (lower house, 400 people, elected by proportional representation). Joint sessions of both houses of Parliament form the Constitutional Assembly. The term of office of the National Assembly is 5 years. The head of state and government (executive branch), as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the President. He is elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a term of 5 years. No one can be President more than 2 times. The current President of South Africa is Jacob Zuma. The highest court is the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice. The Supreme Court consists of a court of appeal, provincial and local courts. Each district and district within the province has a magistrate's court with clear jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters. Each of the nine provinces has its own legislature, with members ranging from 30 to 100, depending on population. They are elected by universal suffrage based on proportional representation. The provincial legislature has the power to draft a provincial constitution, which must comply with the basic principles of the country's constitution, and also to elect the prime minister, the head of government. The African National Congress of South Africa is the country's leading party. Other parties: National Party, Conservative Party, Democratic Party, South African Communist Party, etc. South Africa is a member of the UN (since 1945), OAU (since 1994).

1.3 Economic and geographical position of the country
South Africa occupies a middle position between developing and developed countries, it is rich in resources, has a well-developed legal system, financial, communications, energy and transport sectors, a stock exchange that is one of the ten largest in the world, and a modern infrastructure that allows for efficient exchange of goods between major centers of the region. However, economic growth has not been sufficient to eliminate unemployment of 28% of the working population and the threatening economic problems inherited from the apartheid era, especially poverty and the lack of economic opportunities for the poor. In early 2000, President MBEKI promised to stimulate economic growth and encourage foreign investment by easing restrictions on labor laws and reducing government spending.
Compared to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa occupies a leading position in economic development. It accounts for 40% of GDP, half of the electricity generated and 95% of the exported finished goods of the African continent.
The government is pursuing a policy of actively attracting foreign investment. Since 2000, a program of privatization of state property has been implemented, measures have been taken to reduce government expenditures, since they currently exceed revenues. More than half of government revenue comes from income taxes and corporate income taxes. 34% of government revenue comes from value added tax and excise taxes.
1.4 Economic assessment of natural conditions and resources
Resources for industrial development
South Africa's strong position in the world market is determined primarily by the wealth of its mineral resources. The mining industry plays an important role in the industrial structure of South Africa. This important industry is distinguished by the production of uranium, coal, platinum group metals, diamonds, iron ore, manganese, vanadium, chromite, but gold remains the most strategically important product for South Africa. ? All miners are employed in gold mining. South Africa is the world's largest gold producer, accounting for about 30% of the country's exports.
Gold is mainly mined in the Orange Province. In many states, and there are about 50 of them, gold is mined together with uranium. In the second half of the 20th century, when the price of gold was high, South Africa mined up to 1000 tons of the precious metal per year, but by the beginning of the 21st century, following the fall in prices, gold production had also seriously decreased.
South Africa is also one of the world's largest producers and exporters of natural diamonds. More than 10% of diamonds on the world market are mined in South Africa. The Republic of South Africa ranks 7th in the world in terms of coal reserves. Low-grade coals are processed into liquid fuel, thereby compensating for South Africa's own lack of oil. Coal is exported to 36 countries around the world.
The main forestry area is the southern part of the KwaZulu-Natal province. Natural forests occupy 180 thousand hectares, that is, only 0.14% of the country’s territory. Most commercial timber comes from planted forests, which cover only 1% of South Africa's land area. Approximately half of the forest "plantations" are planted with pine, 40% with eucalyptus and 10% with mimosa. Yellowwood, ebony, Cape laurel, assegai and camassie are also grown. Trees reach marketable condition on average in 20 years - in contrast to trees growing in the Northern Hemisphere, where this process lasts from 80 to 100 years. The annual volume of wood supplied to the market is 17 million cubic meters. There are more than 240 wood processing and timber processing enterprises in South Africa.
The country's inland waters are scarce, and the problem of water resources is very acute. The total flow of all rivers is 52 billion m³, that is, approximately the same as the Rhine in the Rotterdam area. The Orange River with its tributary Vaal, which crosses the most important economic regions, is of enormous economic importance. Underground sources are widely used, and sea water is also desalinated.
Conditions for agricultural activities
By world standards, South Africa's agricultural productivity is low. This is partly due to primitive cultivation methods. Other factors include soil erosion and insufficient rainfall. In the country, only 12-15% of the land is cultivated, only 10% of it is characterized by high fertility, but even fertile lands are subject to sudden floods and erosion of the fertile layer. Soil erosion has reached its greatest extent in the former Bantustans. Droughts are common in agricultural areas, the main reason for unsustainable harvests in some years. Most of the Central Plateau is short grass steppe, or grass veld. However, vast areas of this once fertile steppe have been disturbed by heavy overgrazing for over a century, as well as severe erosion caused by ill-considered crop cultivation. The subsequent degradation of the area's agriculture was accompanied by the penetration of economically unvalued plants into the grassy veld.
Recreational resources
The favorable climate of South Africa, its magnificent sea beaches and recreation areas arouse great interest among tourists. This country also attracts many attractions, including: the National Park, the House-Museum of the country's first president Paulus Kruger, a beautiful zoo in Pretoria, Fort Fredericks (1799), an aquarium in Port Elizabeth, a castle built by the Dutch (1665 ), Old Town Hall (1755), Reformed Church in Cape Town (1669), etc. About 7 million tourists visit South Africa every year. Until the early 90s, when the country was ruled by a white minority regime, only the most desperate adventurers dared to visit it. But with the weakening of the apartheid system, the flow of foreign guests began to increase rapidly. The traditional hospitality of the local population and accommodation that meets world standards with its relative cheapness are very attractive to tourists. Foreign capital is actively contributing to the rapid expansion of the tourism industry.
1.5 Population geography
Formation of modern population. Its racial, ethnic and national composition.
The most numerous race is black (79%). The indigenous population of South Africa are the Bushmen and Huttentots. They inhabited the territory of South Africa long before other peoples appeared there. The largest South African nation today is the Zulu, or Zulus (10 million people). Also large in number are the Xoza (7.2 million people), northern and southern Sotho (6 million people), Tsavana (3 million people), Tsonga (1.8 million people), Swazi (1. 2 million people), Ndebele (0.6 million people), Venda (0.9 million people).
The second largest group of peoples inhabiting South Africa are white (about 4.6 million people - 9.1% of the population). They live mainly in large cities. There are two main groups of the white population of South Africa - Afrikaners and Anglophones. Afrikaners are descendants of Dutch settlers. The Afrikaner language is Afrikaans. Anglophones are Africans of British descent. Language - South African English. A significant number of descendants of other nationalities live in South Africa: 600 thousand Portuguese, 80 thousand Greeks, 60 thousand Italians, 7 thousand French. The Jewish community numbers 120 thousand people.
The third largest group of South Africans is the mulattoes and mestizos - “colored” (4 million people). Most of them are descendants of slaves brought to South Africa over many centuries.
A special group consists of Indians (about 1 million people) - the descendants of the Indians who arrived in 1860 to work in the sugar cane fields. Most of them still live in KwaZulu-Natal. They are mainly engaged in trade.
In South Africa, 11 languages ​​are recognized as official: Afrikaans, English, Ndebe, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu.
The most common religion is Christianity (77% of the population), predominantly Protestantism. 19.8% of the population are followers of traditional cults. 3.2% are adherents of religions such as Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.
Natural population movement
The total population of South Africa is 44 million people. When estimating population size, one must take into account the high mortality rate, especially among newborns, and low life expectancy. The birth rate in 2007 was 17.9‰, and the death rate was 22.4‰. The average life expectancy is about 48 years. However, for the white population this figure is significantly higher. Infant mortality: 6 cases per 100 newborns.

Sex and age composition of the population
Age structure of the population: under 14 years old - 29.1%, from 15 to 64 people - 65.5%, over 65 years old - 5.4% (2007 data).
Sex ratio. The number of males under 1 year of age is related to the number of females of the same age as 102 to 100. In other words, the number of male and female births is approximately equal. At the age of up to 15 years, the ratio changes slightly: for every 100 boys there are 101 girls. In the age period from 15 to 64, the number of men decreases: for every 100 women there are 93 men.
Migrations
South Africa, as the richest country on the continent, has long been a center of attraction for migrants mainly from Mozambique, Angola and other neighboring countries. The majority of migrants were employed in the coal mining industry. Following South Africa's policy to reduce dependence on migrant workers, the share of foreign workers in the total number of workers employed in the coal industry fell from 77% to 40% between 1970 and 1980. In recent years, the influx of unregistered labor migrants from neighboring countries has increased. In the past, immigration was responsible for the growth of the European and Asian population in South Africa, but since the 1960s. the influx from outside has decreased. In the 1990s. the positive balance of migration was 5-6 thousand people per year. Migrants from poorer countries are valuable to employers because they accept lower wages than local workers. Farmers are willing to hire foreigners for harvesting work. Zambians who are well trained in economic professions in their country are invited to fill office positions. Currently, the number of illegal migrants in South Africa, according to various estimates, ranges from 2 to 8 million people.
The current problem in South Africa is the high level of unemployment among unskilled workers. It should therefore be obvious that South Africa does not need unskilled workers. In South Africa there is an acute shortage of workers in such profiles as radio technicians, programmers, car mechanics, adjusters and assemblers of various equipment, people who can simply use a computer. However, many whites immigrate from the country due to the presence of crime. Official statistics do not provide information on racial composition. emigrants, but various studies suggest that whites are only slightly more willing to leave South Africa than blacks. Most African countries will find it difficult to attract talent from abroad. But South Africa, with its developed economy, undoubtedly has a much better chance in the international labor market.
Urbanization and countryside
The process of industrialization led to a rapid increase in the urban population in the post-war years. Mining centers are growing, both old ones - the cities of Witwatersrand, and new ones: Phalaborwa, Saishen, Prisca, etc. Their rapid growth is largely due to the immigration of African and “colored” populations. A significant number of Africans living in cities and industrial centers are temporary residents who, if they become unable to work or their contract ends, return to where they came from.
South Africa is dominated by small towns with populations ranging from 2 to 10 thousand people. According to existing legislation, all settlements that have local municipal government in one form or another are considered cities. The main shortcomings of current urban planning in South Africa include low building density, the predominance of free-standing buildings and the presence of large land reserves between them. According to statistics, currently 51% of the population lives in cities and 49% in rural areas. In agriculture, about 1.4 million black farm laborers are hired annually by white farmers, whose working day lasts 12-17 hours a day, and their wages do not provide a living wage.
Labor resources and employment
According to the 2006 census, the unemployment rate in South Africa was 34%. The most unemployed were in the provinces of the Northern Cape and Northern (over 45%), the least in the Western Cape (18%). The extent of unemployment varies widely among different racial groups. The unemployment rate among the black population was 52.4% for women and 34.1% for men, with an average of 42.5%. By comparison, unemployment rates among other racial groups ranged from 4.2% among white men to 24.1% among women of color. Of the nearly 44 million residents of South Africa, over 15 million are self-employed. Its population increases annually by approximately 2.5%. Since 1973, the number of jobs has been steadily declining. The number of people employed in mining and retail trade is rapidly declining. Some job growth is occurring in manufacturing and vehicle sales.
Conclusion: South Africa occupies a middle position between developing and developed countries. Not the most favorable conditions for farming are compensated by the richness of the soil. South Africa can be called a multi-ethnic state, since quite a lot of nationalities live on its territory. Regarding the age structure of the population, we can say that the mortality rate exceeds the birth rate. This is how the population ages. More than a third of the working-age population is unemployed, which indicates a low standard of living.
2. Economic characteristics of South Africa

General characteristics of the country's economic complex

General information about the Republic of South Africa (RSA)

Area: 1.2 million km?.

Population: about 40 million people (1998).

Official language: African and English.

Capital: Pretoria (1.2 million inhabitants, 1995).

Currency: South African rand.

Member of the UN since 1945, OAU, etc.

The state is located in southern Africa, between the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. It borders on the north with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland, and within it is the state of Lesotho.

South Africa is called the “rainbow country” because it is home to people of many races and nationalities; “an aviation country” - because the weather there is “flying”: the sky is almost always clear; “a sports country” - because of the great love of South Africans for sports and, finally, “the mint of the world”, because South Africa is the largest gold producer on Earth.

Physiographic location

The Republic of South Africa (RSA) is located south of 22° S, in the tropical and subtropical latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. The territory of South Africa makes up 4.2% of the continent's area (1,223,410 sq. km). In the west the country is washed by the waters of the Atlantic, and in the south and east by the Indian Ocean. The coastline is 2798 km. The highest point of South Africa is Mount Njesuthi - 3408 m

This location of the country determines the presence of various natural landscapes. Its structure resembles a giant amphitheater. Its highest rows are formed in the east and south by the ledge of the Drakensberg and Cape Mountains. To the north, the surface descends in steps - a plateau to a vast arena - the Kalahari and the Limpopo River valley.

The relief of South Africa is characterized by a predominance of high-lying plain plateaus; about half of the territory has an altitude of 1000 to 1600 m, more? located above 600 m above sea level, only a narrow strip of coastal lowlands in the west, south and east has an altitude of up to 500 m. In general, the relief is determined by the internal elevated plateaus and coastal plains of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Almost all of South Africa is located within the southern margin of the African Platform, the foundation of which consists of folds of Precambrian rocks (metamorphic schists, gneisses, etc.) and clastic rocks, penetrated and metamorphosed by intrusions of so-called ancient granites. In the coastal regions of the country, foundation rocks often come to the surface; in the central regions they are covered by a thick layer of younger rocks.

North of the middle reaches of the river. Orange, within the southern edge of the vast trough of the African Platform, are the Kalahari plains (800-900 m), covered with a thick cloak of Cenozoic sands and sandstones.

Currently, almost everywhere the surface of the Kalahari is occupied by herbaceous vegetation and shrubs; the typical desert landscape can only be found in the driest southwestern part, along the borders with Namibia.

The West Coast provides a sharp contrast. To the north, beyond the Ulifants River, the Namib Desert begins. There are few bays and convenient bays on the coast; it is distinguished by a slightly indented, seemingly leveled coastline. The coast, composed mainly of slate shales and quartzites, has a rocky character, rising 7-20 m above sea level. Its stern, unapproachable appearance frightened European sailors for a long time.

The coastline in the southwest and south of South Africa to Cape Recife is more indented. A number of convenient natural bays and bays on the southern coast were appreciated by medieval sailors. These are Saldanha Bay (with a port of the same name), Dining Bay (with the port of Cape Town), False Bay (with the port of Simon's Town), Mosselbay and Algoa Bay. The narrow, rocky Cape Agulhas in front of Mosselbay Bay is the southernmost point of Africa. In the east, in the shallow Natal Bay, is located one of the mainland's largest ports - Durban. To the north of it stretches a low-lying accumulative coast.

Primitive and modernity are combined here, and instead of one capital there are three. Below in the article, the EGP of South Africa, the geography and features of this amazing state are discussed in detail.

General information

The state, known in the world as the Republic of South Africa, is used by the local population to be called Azania. This name originated during segregation times and was used by the indigenous African population as an alternative to the colonial one. In addition to the popular name, there are 11 official names of the country, which is due to the diversity of state languages.

South Africa's EGP is much more profitable than that of many other countries on the continent. This is the only African country that is included in the list. People come here for diamonds and impressions. Each of the nine provinces of South Africa has its own landscape, natural conditions and ethnic composition, which attracts a huge number of tourists. The country has eleven national parks and many resorts.

The presence of three capitals perhaps adds to South Africa's uniqueness. They share various government structures among themselves. The government of the country is located in Pretoria, so the city is considered the first and main capital. The judicial branch, represented by the Supreme Court, is located in Bloemfontein. The Parliament House is located in Cape Town.

EGP South Africa: briefly

The state is located in southern Africa, washed by the Indian and Atlantic oceans. In the northeast, South Africa's neighbors are Swaziland and Mozambique, in the northwest - Namibia, and the country shares its northern border with Botswana and Zimbabwe. Not far from the Drakensberg Mountains is the enclave of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

In terms of area (1,221,912 sq. km), South Africa ranks 24th in the world. It is approximately five times the size of Great Britain. The characteristics of the EGP of South Africa will not be complete without a description of the coastline, the total length of which is 2798 km. The mountainous coast of the country is not very dissected. In the eastern part there is St. Helena Bay and there are also bays and bays of St. Francis, Falsbay, Algoa, Walker, and Dining Room. is the southernmost point of the continent.

Wide access to two oceans plays an important role in South Africa's EGP. Sea routes from Europe to Southeast Asia and the Far East run along the coast of the state.

Story

South Africa's EGP has not always been the same. Its changes were influenced by various historical events in the state. Although the first settlements appeared here at the beginning of our era, the most significant changes in the EGP of South Africa over time occurred from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

European populations, represented by the Dutch, Germans and French Huguenots, began to populate South Africa in the 1650s. Before this, these lands were inhabited by the Bantu, Khoi-Koin, Bushmen, and other tribes. The arrival of the colonists caused a series of wars with the local population.

Since 1795, Great Britain has become the main colonialist. The British government pushes the Boers (Dutch peasants) into the Orange Republic and the Transvaal province and abolishes slavery. In the 19th century, wars began between the Boers and the British.

In 1910, the Union of South Africa was created with the British colonies. In 1948, the National Party (Boer) wins the elections and establishes an apartheid regime that divides the population into blacks and whites. Apartheid deprived the black population of almost all rights, even citizenship. In 1961, the country became the independent Republic of South Africa and eventually eliminated the apartheid regime.

Population

The Republic of South Africa is home to approximately 52 million people. South Africa's EGP has significantly influenced the ethnic composition of the country's population. Thanks to its favorable location and rich natural resources, the territory of the state attracted Europeans.

Now in South Africa, almost 10% of the population are ethnic white Europeans - Afrikaners and Anglo-Africans, who are descendants of colonial settlers. represent the Zulus, Tsonga, Sotho, Tswana, Xhosa. They are approximately 80%, the remaining 10% are mulattoes, Indians and Asians. Most Indians are descendants of workers brought to Africa to grow cane.

The population professes various religious beliefs. Most of the residents are Christians. They support the Zionist churches, Pentecostals, Dutch reformers, Catholics, Methodists. Almost 15% are atheists, only 1% are Muslims.

There are 11 official languages ​​in the republic. The most popular among them are English and Afrikaans. Literacy among men is 87%, among women - 85.5%. The country ranks 143rd in the world in terms of education level.

Natural conditions and resources

The Republic of South Africa has all types of landscapes and different climatic zones: from subtropics to deserts. The Drakensberg Mountains, located in the eastern part, smoothly turn into a plateau. Monsoon and subtropical forests grow here. In the south are the Namibian Desert on the Atlantic coast, and part of the Kalahari Desert stretches along the northern shore of the Orange River.

The country has significant reserves of mineral resources. Gold, zirconium, chromite, and diamonds are mined here. South Africa has reserves of iron, platinum and uranium ores, phosphorites, and coal. The country has deposits of zinc, tin, copper, as well as rare metals such as titanium, antimony and vanadium.

Economy

The features of South Africa's EGP have become the most important factor for the country. 80% of metallurgical products are produced on the continent, 60% come from the mining industry. South Africa is the most developed country on the mainland, despite this, the unemployment rate is 23%.

Most of the population is employed in the service sector. About 25% of the population works in the industrial sector, 10% is in agriculture. South Africa has a well-developed financial sector, telecommunications, and electricity. The country has huge reserves of natural resources; coal mining and export are best developed.

Among the main branches of agriculture are livestock breeding of goats, sheep, birds, cattle), winemaking, forestry, fishing (hake, sea bass, anchovy, mockerel, mackerel, cod, etc.), crop production. The republic exports more than 140 types of fruits and vegetables.

The main trading partners are China, the USA, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, India and Switzerland. Among African economic partners are Mozambique, Nigeria, Zimbabwe.

The country has a well-developed transport system, a favorable tax policy, and a developed banking and insurance business.

• The world's first successful heart transplant was performed by surgeon Christian Barnard in Cape Town in 1967.
• The largest depression on Earth is located on the Vaal River in South Africa. It was formed as a result of the fall of a giant meteorite.
• The Cullinan Diamond, weighing 621 g, was found in 1905 in a South African mine. It is the largest gem on the planet.

• It is the only country in Africa that does not belong to the Third World.
• It was here that gasoline was first produced from coal.
• The country is home to about 18,000 native plants and 900 species of birds.
• South Africa is the first country to voluntarily give up its existing nuclear weapons.
• The largest number of fossils is found in the Karoo region of South Africa.

Conclusion

The main features of the EGP of South Africa are the compactness of the territory, wide access to the oceans, and location next to the sea route connecting Europe with Asia and the Far East. Most of the residents are employed in the service sector. Due to the large reserves of natural resources, South Africa has a well-developed mining industry. The country's population is only 5% of Africa's total population, yet the country is the most developed on the continent. Thanks to its economic position, South Africa occupies a fairly strong position in the world.