FAQ · History 34

The prehistory of South Africa spans from the Middle Stone Age until the 17th century. Homo sapiens reached the region possibly before 260,000 years ago, and the Middle Stone Age specifically covers the period from 300,000 to 50,000 years ago. The hunter-gatherer San people are likely direct descendants of these first modern humans. The region remained in the Late Stone Age until pastoralism was introduced about 2,000 years ago. Later, the Bantu migration reached the area around the first decade of the 3rd century.

You can explore research into the ancient history of Africa through the work of Dr Cyril Hromník. This research has been discussed in an article written by Maré Mouton. Additionally, South African History Online provides information regarding the history of the country. Other resources like the South African History Archive may also be useful for your inquiries. These various institutions and articles offer different perspectives on the historical development of the region.

Yes, the Kingdom of Mapungubwe was a medieval state located at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers. This kingdom existed between the 11th and 13th centuries CE. It marked the beginnings of the gold and ivory trade as well as the production of art and jewelry. The site also saw the first development of stonemasonry in what is now South Africa. During this time, items such as glass beads and Chinese ceramics were imported.

On 31 May 1910, the Cape Colony, Natal Colony, Transvaal and the Orange River Colony were united into one state called the Union of South Africa. This union adopted a system of governance based on the political system of the United Kingdom. The British monarch served as the ceremonial head of state and was represented by a Governor-General. Real political power was held by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Basic ideas from this system, such as a three branch government and strong Parliament, remain in force today.

The Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910 following the South Africa Act 1909. This act united four British colonies, which were the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange River Colony, and Transvaal. From 1910 to 1961, the country was a self-governing entity that shared a monarch with the United Kingdom. The monarch served as the head of state, though constitutional roles were mostly delegated to a governor-general. This period of union ended when South Africa became a republic and left the Commonwealth on 31 May 1961.

After World War I, South West Africa became a League of Nations mandate under South African administration. The Union of South Africa occupied the former German colony in 1915 and was granted a mandate to administer it as an integral part of the country. Following the formation of the United Nations, South Africa refused to form new agreements regarding the management of the territory. The government treated South West Africa as a de facto fifth province and declined to allow it to move towards independence. This arrangement eventually turned into a military occupation where apartheid was extended to the region.

During the 1920s, Macmillan produced two important books that rewrote the history of South Africa in the first half of the nineteenth century. These works introduced a new emphasis on the history of South Africa as the history of all its people. This period of history included the time when Dr John Philip served as the superintendent of the London Missionary Society in South Africa. Macmillan's approach helped articulate a vision of South Africa as a single society. This perspective eventually brought him into conflict with the segregationist government of the day.

After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles declared German South West Africa a League of Nations Mandate under South African administration. The Union of South Africa occupied the territory in 1915 at the request of the Allied powers. South Africa was subsequently granted a mandate to administer this former German colony as an integral part of South Africa. The territory was treated as a de facto fifth province of the Union. This arrangement eventually led to a major quarrel between the United Nations and South Africa regarding the management of the territory.

After World War I, German South West Africa became a League of Nations mandate under South African administration. The Union of South Africa occupied the territory in 1915 at the request of the Allied powers. Following the configuration of the UN in 1945, South Africa was required to form new agreements regarding the management of such mandates. However, South Africa refused to allow the territory to move towards independence. Instead, the government treated South West Africa as a de facto fifth province and extended apartheid to the region.

Following the conclusion of the Second World War, the Cold War began and South Africa maintained an anticommunist stance. Because of this position, the country was considered a possible assistant in the passive battle against the Soviet Union. However, the international community did not condone the nation's discriminatory policies. South Africa became increasingly isolated due to its racism, the occupation of Namibia, and foreign interventionism in Angola. Despite its role in the Cold War context, the world continued to monitor the state of racial affairs in the country.

Feminism in South Africa is closely linked to the country's liberation and democratization. These organized efforts focus on improving rights for women and girls while addressing racial equality and political freedoms. A major turning point occurred in the 1980s when women became more politically active amid instability. In 1994, following the end of the apartheid regime, women unified to lobby for equitable positioning within the new constitution. This constitutional reconstruction helped bolster the status of women in the post-apartheid democratic society.

During this period, the National Party solidified its control over South African politics. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Verwoerd, the party focused on the institution of the apartheid system. Verwoerd also presented the National Party as the group best equipped to handle the perceived threat of communism. There was also a significant movement to withdraw from the Commonwealth to establish South Africa as a republic. This shift was influenced by both internal factors and international pressure regarding racial policies.

The South African Border War was a largely asymmetric conflict that took place in Namibia, Zambia, and Angola from August 1966 to March 1990. It was fought between the South African Defence Force and the People's Liberation Army of Namibia, which was the armed wing of SWAPO. The conflict was closely intertwined with the Angolan Civil War and involved various international actors. During the war, the South African Defence Force staged massive conventional raids into Angola and Zambia to target operating bases. The Soviet Union also provided significant military assistance and advisers to support Angolan forces during this period.

The apartheid system was a legal program of segregation designed to maintain political and economic control by the White minority. Under this system, the government established homelands for ten different Black tribes to move Black South Africans out of the main country. Black citizens were registered as citizens of these homelands rather than the nation as a whole. Coloured South Africans were also heavily impacted, as they were removed from the Common Roll and eventually disenfranchised altogether. Indian South Africans never had any parliamentary representation under these laws.

Verwoerd was a Prime Minister who was devoted to the cause of a republican South Africa. As a former Minister of Native Affairs, he played a leading role in the institution of the apartheid system. Under his leadership, the National Party solidified its control over South African apartheid-era politics. He appointed several English speakers to his cabinet to gain support from the English-identified population. Verwoerd also presented his party as the best equipped to deal with the perceived threat of communism. His term ended due to his assassination.

As the Union of South Africa, the country was a founding member of the United Nations with Jan Smuts writing the preamble to the UN Charter. It is also a founding member of the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development. After the end of apartheid, South Africa was readmitted to the Commonwealth of Nations. The nation has served as a mediator in various African conflicts, including those in Burundi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Additionally, South Africa joined the BRICS grouping in 2011 to work with major trading partners.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, serves as the supreme law of the country. It provides the legal foundation for the republic and defines the structure of the government. This document also sets out the human rights and duties of all citizens. It was promulgated by President Nelson Mandela in December 1996 and came into effect in February 1997. This current constitution replaced the Interim Constitution of 1993.

Following the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and the abolition of slavery in 1833, a new system emerged. Over 1.3 million workers from British India were contracted under the Indian indenture system to European colonies. Between 1860 and 1911, 152,184 indentured Indians from South East Asians served as labourers in Natal. These bonded labourers provided cheap labour for the owners of sugar mills and plantations. Once their contracts were completed, they could return to India or remain in the colony by paying a yearly licence fee.

Trade between China and South Africa has seen massive growth, rising from US$14 million in 1992 to US$60.3 billion by 2014. This relationship includes significant cross-country investment and the involvement of major companies like Naspers and SABMiller. In 2010, South Africa was invited to join the BRICS group of emerging economies to expand its trade relations. Both nations have discussed economic priorities such as infrastructure development and the alignment of industries to accelerate South Africa's industrialisation process. Furthermore, Chinese firms have made significant investments in South Africa, including the China First Automotive assembly plant.

The history of the region began with the Dutch Cape Colony and subsequent British occupation following the Battle of Blaauwberg. During the 19th century, the Mfecane caused significant upheaval and led to the formation of various African kingdoms. Dutch settlers known as Voortrekkers later migrated to found several Boer republics. In 1910, the Union of South Africa was created through the amalgamation of several colonies. This was followed by the imposition of apartheid in 1948, which was eventually overturned after a long struggle by anti-apartheid activists. Universal elections in 1994 established a liberal democracy where all racial groups hold political representation.

South Africa administered South West Africa as a League of Nations Mandate after capturing the German colony in 1915. Following World War II, the territory was intended to become a United Nations Trust Territory, but the South African Prime Minister objected to this transition. Instead, the government attempted to incorporate the territory as a fifth province and extended apartheid legislation to the region. These actions were challenged at the United Nations by Michael Scott on behalf of the local people. The International Court of Justice eventually ruled that while South Africa was not obliged to convert the area into a UN trust territory, it remained bound by the original Mandate. Consequently, the United Nations General Assembly assumed a supervisory role and was empowered to receive petitions from the inhabitants.

South Korea was initially unwilling to accept honorary white status and refused to establish diplomatic relations with South Africa due to apartheid. Although South Africa offered this status to South Korean citizens during negotiations in 1961, South Korea severed ties to protest the apartheid system. Full diplomatic relations between the two countries were not re-established until 1992. This restoration of ties occurred only after apartheid was abolished. Consequently, the two nations maintained a period of severed relations for several decades.

South Korea was unwilling and uninterested in accepting honorary white status from the South African government. Although South Africa offered this status to South Korean citizens during negotiations in 1961, South Korea refused to establish diplomatic relations due to apartheid. South Korea eventually severed ties with South Africa in protest of the apartheid system. Full diplomatic relations between the two countries were not re-established until 1992. This change occurred only after apartheid was officially abolished.

South Africa is home to various ethnic groups including Bantu peoples such as the Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, Venda, and Tsonga people. The population also includes the Basotho, Pedi, Swazi, and Southern Ndebele people. Other groups include the Khoisan, Coloureds, Cape Malay, and Griqua people. There are also significant populations of Asian South Africans, including Indian and Chinese South Africans. Additionally, the country features a British diaspora and Jewish South Africans.

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These areas, along with Ndumo, are wetlands of international importance for migratory species. They are also designated as Ramsar sites. South Africa signed the 1971 Ramsar Convention to conserve and protect important wetlands. This is due to their importance to habitats and numerous species.

The Constitution of post-apartheid South Africa guarantees the right to freedom of religion, belief, and opinion. Specific sections of the Constitution defend the right of people and institutions to practice their own religion and forbid religious discrimination. Various legislative reforms have been enacted since 1994 to support these rights in response to lobbying by disenfranchised groups. For example, the Civil Union Act allows religious organisations to nominate marriage officers to solemnise marriages according to their specific rites. However, the Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957 remains in place and criminalises certain practices associated with witchcraft.

The Empty Land Myth is a false narrative that claims South Africa was mostly an unsettled region during early colonization. This doctrine suggests that Bantu-speaking peoples only began migrating south from present-day Zimbabwe as Europeans moved north from the Cape. There is no historical or archaeological evidence to support this theory. It was used to imply that colonized territories were devoid of human habitation. Modern research has since disputed this historiographical narrative.

Afrikaans folklore consists of traditional literature, music, dance, and customs within Afrikaans-speaking cultures. One major function of these folktales is to entertain the audience through humorous events. For example, trickster characters like Jakkals and Wolf are used to provide amusement and mental stimulation. These stories follow traditions similar to Middle Dutch literature and can be used to satirize human frailty or eccentric habits. Some creators have even adapted these stories into comic strips and cartoons to mock certain customs.

South Africa has implemented several constitutional amendments to adjust various government functions. The Second Amendment Act extended municipal council terms from four to five years and renamed the Human Rights Commission. The Third Amendment Act allowed for municipalities to be established across provincial boundaries, though this was later reversed. The Fourth Amendment addressed provincial legislature elections and the allocation of seats in the National Council of Provinces. Finally, the Fifth Amendment clarified election timing for the National Assembly and allowed for part-time members of the Financial and Fiscal Commission.

The Institute for Democratic Alternatives in South Africa was a think-tank organization that faced significant financial challenges. It eventually became caught up in a funding crisis following the Great Recession. Due to these economic difficulties, the organization closed in 2013. Before its closure, the group had focused on promoting democratic institutions and political transparency. Its mission evolved alongside the political and social changes occurring in South African society.

The South African government declared a national state of disaster on 15 March 2020. This declaration included measures such as immediate travel restrictions and the closure of schools. A national lockdown was subsequently announced to begin on 27 March 2020. To lead the nation's plan to contain the spread, the National Coronavirus Command Council was established on 17 March. Additionally, a 500 billion rand stimulus was announced on 21 April in response to the pandemic.

The GDP per capita for South Africa in 2024 is 13597.654. This figure is part of a historical data set for the country. South Africa is categorized within the Africa world region. The data provided tracks economic changes from 1990 through 2025. This specific value represents the economic standing for the year 2024.

The projected GDP per capita for South Africa in 2025 is 13592.049. This figure is part of the economic data recorded for the country. South Africa is categorized within the Africa world region. The data provided tracks various economic metrics over several decades. This specific value represents the expected economic standing for the year 2025.

The 68th edition of the Miss South Africa pageant will be held in Johannesburg on November 14, 2026. This event is set to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre. The competition features eligible South African women between the ages of 20 and 32. During the ceremony, Qhawekazi Mazaleni of Eastern Cape will crown the new successor. This pageant marks a highly discussed era for the organisation under the Motsepe Foundation.