In 1948, the nation of Africa entered one of the most tragic periods of history it will likely ever face. “The Afrikaner National Party won the general election under the slogan “apartheid” (literally “separateness”).”[1] The party’s goal was to separate the nation, “not only to separate South
Africa’s white minority from its non-white majority, but also to separate non-whites from each other, and to divide black South Africans along tribal lines in order to decrease their political power.”[2] By 1950, Apartheid was the law and the next 20 years were filled with tremendous mistreatment, segregation and discrimination. It was not until 1970 that “the internal contradictions of apartheid finally caused its slow demise.”[3] Perhaps the most amazing element of South Africa is the incredible way that it was able to recover from the immense tragedy that was the Apartheid. The next few paragraphs will outline just a few elements of the incredible ability of South Africa to overcome.
One of the nation’s most beneficial attributes is the diversity of its geography. South Africa encompasses a rather large part of the continent of Africa. It is approximately "1/8 the size of the US."[4] The primary geographic features of South Africa are the Karoo plateau and the Kalahari Desert. The climate in the area surrounding these two landforms consists of dry, desert summers and icy winters. In the southernmost part of the region, including Cape Town area, the climate is Mediterranean. The geography varies as much as the people in South Africa. While there are vast plains and desert-like areas, there are also mountains and coastal beaches. As stereotyped as the landforms of Africa are the wildlife. The entire country is certainly not Lion King-esque, but some areas are! South Africa has "two of the world's most renowned wildlife reserves, the Kruger and the Kalahari Gemsbok National Parks" and "excellent road and rail systems"[5] making it an excellent tourist location. The nation’s economy certainly benefits from the tourism brought by these sorts of venues.
South Africa is undoubtedly a research rich place. The primary resources of the region include diamonds, gold, natural gas, coal and various other metals. Perhaps the most important resource of the nation is its large supply of gold. According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, “Gold remains the most important mineral—South Africa is the world’s largest producer—and reserves are large.”[6] With a recent decrease in gold mining, abandoned mines can be seen all over the South African landscape. Between coal and gold, platinum and chromium, the majority of the nation’s resources are obtained through the mining process. One of the most substantial local perks to having such a large supply of coal is the potential for energy generation. During my time in South Africa this summer, I had the interesting opportunity to visit a local power plant that had just collapsed. Just days before my visit, however, the plant had been powering much of Johannesburg with its thermal energy. The coal deposits in the nation serve as an invaluable resource and cost cutter for energy production.
Thanks to an abundance of resources, the nation’s economy is supported largely by regional and international trade. The European Commission on trade states, “South Africa is the EU's largest trading partner in Africa. A member of the African Caribbean Pacific group of countries, South Africa is by far the strongest of sub-Saharan Africa's economies.”[7] In reference to the specific items being traded, the commission states the primary items are fuel and mining products.[8] While international trade makes up a large part of the nation’s economic ventures, regional trade is also significant “especially through the Southern African Development Community.”[9] According to the Britannica, “Since the end of apartheid, South African companies have sought to expand investment in other African countries, particularly in mining and commercial activity.”[10] Investing in other African countries through trade is just one of the many ways the continent has sought unity following the apartheid.
Religious involvement in South Africa is strong. According to The Joshua Project, the primary religion in South Africa is Christianity, composing 77.6% of religious involvement.[11] South Africa is highly religious, with only seven out of 62 people groups remaining unreached.[12] The influence of Christianity on religion is owed largely to “European missionaries to southern Africa during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.”[13] Outside of Christianity, both Islam and traditional African religions are practiced in South Africa. In the spirit of the “New South Africa,” even Christianity and Islam are happily coexisting. “Many Christians and Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa describe members of the other faith as tolerant and honest.”[14] In post- Apartheid state, South Africa is under a new constitution, which “prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender, religion and ethnicity,”[15] The new emphasis on dignity alongside a strong religious community was a huge help to overcoming the pain and loss of the Apartheid.
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Bibliography
"An
Introduction to South Africa." Geographia. Accessed March 8, 2015. http://www.geographia.com/south-africa/
"Apartheid."
History.com. Accessed March 8, 2015. http://www.history.com/topics/apartheid
"Apartheid.”:
The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. Accessed March 8, 2015. http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Apartheid.html
“Country: South
Africa.” The Joshua Project. 2015. http://joshuaproject.net/countries/SF
"European
Commission Directorate-General for Trade." European Commission-Trade.
Accessed March
8, 2015. http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/south africa/
"The
Missionaries." South African History Online. Accessed March 8, 2015. http://www.sahistory.org.za/missionaries
"Resources
and Power." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. February 18, 2015. Accessed
March 8,2015. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/555568/SouthAfrica/44033/Resource -andpower
"SouthAfrica.info."
South Africa's Geography. June 28, 2012. Accessed March 8, 2015. http://www.southafrica.info/about/geography/geography.htm#.VLmv-CvF8rU
"Tolerance and Tension: Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa." Pew Research Centers Religion Public Life Project RSS. April 14, 2010. Accessed March 8, 2015. http://www.pewforum.org/2010/04/15/executive-summary-islam-and-christianity-in-sub saharan-africa/.
"WCAR: Post-Apartheid
South Africa." WCAR: South Africa Your Host. Accessed March 8, 2015. http://www.racism.gov.za/host/pasa.htm.
South Africa Photos. Pictures taken by: Hannah Card.
[1]
N.a., Apartheid, (A&E Networks,
2015).
[2]
Ibid.
[3]
N.a., Apartheid, (Library of
Economics and Liberty, 2015))
[4] N.a.,
SouthAfrica.info. (South Africa's
Geography, 2012).
[5] N.a., An Introduction to South Africa (Geographia, 2015)
[6]
N.a., Resources and Power, (Encyclopedia
Britannica, 2015).
[7]
N.a., European Commission
Directorate-General for Trade, (European Commission, 2015).
[8]
Ibid.
[9]
N.a., Resources and Power, (Encyclopedia
Britannica, 2015).
[10]Ibid.
[11]
N.a., Country: South Africa, (The
Joshua Project, 2015).
[12]
Ibid.
[13]
N.a., The Missionaries, (South
African History Online, 2015)
[14] N.a.,
Tolerance and Tension: Islam and
Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, (Pew Research Centers, 2010).
[15]
N.a., WCAR: Post-Apartheid South Africa,
(WCAR: South Africa Your Host, 2015)
