What do u know about South Africa ?

Question

...anything to do with the country .

Answer 1

Everything that needs to be known. I was born and bred in South Africa and so was my family before me (the Louw's) who lived here since the 1650's.
Apart from realities such as crime, AIDS, a weak government and some other problems it is a great country with great people, exceptional natural beauty and great weather.
The population consist of a mosaic of ethnic groups and languages, each with a colourful and interesting culture. There are the Zulu (biggest ethnic group), Xhosa, Afrikaners (brown and white), English (brown and white), North and South Sotho, Tswana, Pedi, Swazi, Ndebele etc. The original inhabitants (more than 350 years ago) were the San people, of whom a small group remains. Since the 1600's there was a migration of white settlers from the South and black migrants from the North (into what the current geographical borders of South Africa is.
Brief history: As settlers moved further into the interior - not only with the great trek, but gradually since the 1600's - rife wars were waged in the East between Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho and Ndebele (who split from the Zulus in the early 1800's. As the people of European origin pushed to the interior they joiner in these wars for territory (although most of the central area (Karoo and Free State) was unoccupied area and the trekkers were the first to arrive. Three Boer republics formed who went to war with England toward the late 1800's - two ugly wars over gold in which many innocent women and children died (especially in British concentration camps). In 1910 the Union of South Africa was formed from the three Boer republics and the british Cape colony. In the 1940's the segregation that existed between black and white was given formal status. This policy caused a lot of pain and demolition of human dignity among black South Africans and often caused confusion among ill-informed white citizens. (the complexities are vast and can only be understood if South Africa is one's home) In the 1990's then president FW de Klerk (not PW Botha) freed Nelson Mandela from prison (not house-arrest) and entered the process that led to the first fully democratic elections in 1994. The ANC has been in power since.

Nature: South Africa has a wide array of climates and biomes: the Western Cape with it's mediterranean climate, the dry western (Namaqualand), central (Karoo)and central-northern (Kalahari) regions, the wet forests of the South, the savanna grasslands of the north and the subtropics of the far north and East. The coastline is as diverse as the rest, ranging from subtropical beaches to desert coast. Ataste of Europe in the Cape winelands (also an area with a strong Malay influence), the African bush with lions and Elephants in the north. Endless mountain ranges, topping more than 3000m and snow capped in winter. This diversity in climate and scenery means there's something for everybody's taste.

Food: Anything from McDonalds to very readitional (see an answer by Porgie to another food question in the South Africa section)
It's also a country where people love outdoor activities. Lots of sport going on, barbecuing, campsites and resorts everywhere.

I may be biased but even with its problems (which can and should not be ignored) one can't help but love the place.

Answer 2

South Africa is a shortened version of the correct name, 'The Union of South Africa'. In 1910 the Union of South Africa was created by the unification of four areas, by joining the two former independent Boer republics of the South African Republic (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek) and the Orange Free State (Oranje Vrystaat) with the British dominated Cape Province and Natal. Most significantly, the new Union of South Africa gained international respect with British Dominion status putting it on par with three other important British dominions and allies: Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Answer 3

South Africa as a nation was founded by Dutch settlers, the Afrikaans, who were pioneers and arrived there on the Great Trek, similar to the Israelites following Moses to the promised land. They set up farms and an infrastructure and imported black labour to work for them in the same way the Confederate States imported African slaves. For this reason the Afrikanas believe themselves to be the true settlers and dispute the claims that the land belonged to the black population.

The Afrikanas were tough and fought the British for control of South Africa in the Boer War which preceded World War 1.

In the end the country was admitted to the British Commonwealth and was controlled by the Afrikanas and the British but there was animosity between these groups.

The country was run under a system of Apartheid in which everything was segregated. Black people had to live on designated homelands but could come into the cities only to work and even there were segregated in everything from education, restaurants, to busses to which toilets they were allowed to use.

The state ruled harshly under a severe police organisation, the Bureau OF State Security BOSS who arrested black people they saw as trouble makers.

Due to internal and international pressure the white government under President P W Botha has eventually to negotiate and surrender to black majority rule under the leadership of Nelson Mandella who had lived under house arrest for much of his life because of his leadership of the African National Congress.

Answer 4

This is the best sportswear retailer in South Africa...

Answer 5

We are hosting 2010!! AND with the new coach might even field a competent team.

Answer 6

The white people are Boers.

Answer 7

Every single thing born and raised there love it it's my home!If you want info for a projekt email me!

Answer 8

its south

Answer 9

Eveything, I grew up there.

Answer 10

Crime is high, jobs are few, goverment is corrupt