South Africa: Society, Culture and Economy Chapter Notes | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Introduction

• South Africa is a country in Africa with a diverse society made up of many different ethnic, racial, and language groups. One significant figure in its history is F. W. de Klerk, who served as the president from 1989 to 1994. He played a crucial role in ending apartheid, a system of racial segregation, and worked towards ensuring majority rule in the country. Alongside Nelson Mandela, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
• South Africa's culture is incredibly diverse, with it being one of the most varied in the world. The country has 11 official languages, showcasing the richness of its cultural heritage.
• Mining is a crucial economic activity in South Africa, with the country being a major producer of gold, diamonds, and platinum. This industry plays a significant role in the country's economy.

South African Society: A Complex and Diverse Landscape

South African society is a rich tapestry shaped by a long history of colonization, apartheid, and subsequent changes in the post-apartheid era. The nation is a melting pot of various ethnic, racial, and linguistic groups, each contributing to its diverse and complex identity.

Demographics of South Africa

• As of 2022, South Africa's population stood at 62 million, with most residents living in the eastern coastal plain and mining regions near major cities. 
• The provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape boast the highest population densities. 
• Approximately 65% of the population resides in urban areas, while the rest live in rural regions. The cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban are the most populous.

Ethnic Composition

• South Africa is home to a variety of ethnic groups. In 2022, nearly 80% of the population identified as Black, encompassing tribes such as the Bantu, Zulu, and Xhosa, with the Bushmen and Khoikhoi residing near desert borders. 
• White Afrikaners, who are descendants of Dutch, French, German, and British settlers, make up about 8% of the population. The colored population accounts for roughly 9%, while Asians, predominantly of Indian descent, comprise the remaining 3%.

Apartheid and Its Aftermath

• Until 1994, a small white European minority controlled the land and governance, enforcing apartheid—a policy of racial segregation and discrimination. Non-whites were denied equal political, social, and economic rights and were forced to live on segregated lands. 
• The first all-race national elections in 1994 marked a turning point, with the Black majority forming the government under Nelson Mandela of the African National Congress (ANC). Mandela, who passed away in 2013, remains a global symbol of the anti-apartheid movement.

Challenges and Progress

• While South Africa has made significant strides in abolishing racist laws and policies, the country still faces substantial challenges, including high unemployment, deep-rooted economic disparities, and ongoing issues from the apartheid era, such as poverty and limited opportunities for disadvantaged groups. 
• Additionally, crime, corruption, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic persist as significant problems. The government is actively working to alleviate poverty by loosening restrictive labor laws, accelerating privatization efforts, and reducing unnecessary government expenditures.

Key Cities and Economic Infrastructure

• South Africa has three capital cities: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). Johannesburg, the largest city and a major commercial hub, is located in the densely populated Gauteng province and also hosts the Constitutional Court. 
• Durban, a vital port on the Indian Ocean, is a significant industrial center, while East London and Port Elizabeth on the southern coast serve as important commercial, industrial, and cultural hubs.

Economic Systems and Infrastructure

• South Africa boasts well-developed systems in finance, law, communication, energy, and transportation. The country’s stock exchange ranks among the top 10 largest in the world.
• Its modern infrastructure facilitates the efficient distribution of goods across various regions, supporting the nation’s economic activities.

South African Culture: A Diverse and Rich Tapestry

• South Africa's culture is a vibrant blend of various religions, languages, traditions, and historical influences, creating a society rich in diversity. The history of South Africa was largely oral until the arrival of explorers, traders, missionaries, and adventurers who began documenting their experiences. 
• However, archaeological discoveries have revealed evidence of both large and small settlements of the indigenous people. Among the most significant and lasting contributions of these early inhabitants are the rock paintings and engravings found in caves and shelters throughout the mountainous regions of southern Africa.

Religious Diversity

• South Africa is home to a wide range of religious beliefs, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and indigenous African religions, reflecting the country's cultural diversity.

Multilingual Nation

• South Africa is a multilingual nation with 11 official languages, including English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho, Setswana, and others. Afrikaans is the most widely spoken language, followed by Xhosa and English. English is commonly used in media, business, and government.

Literary Heritage

• South African literature mirrors the country's complex history and culture, encompassing a wide array of themes such as the struggle against apartheid and reflections on post-apartheid society. 
• Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, is a highly regarded personal narrative that details his life, including his fight to dismantle apartheid and his experiences in prison.

Art and Music: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity

• South Africa’s traditional art includes intricate beadwork and woodcarving, both of which are widely practiced across various regions. The country’s music scene is equally diverse, ranging from traditional African rhythms to contemporary genres like pop and hip-hop. 
• Dance plays a crucial role in South African cultural life, with well-known traditional dances such as the Zulu's indlamu and the Sotho's mokorotlo being performed during celebrations, rituals, and social gatherings.

Cuisine: A Reflection of Diverse Influences

• South African cuisine is a melting pot of flavors, showcasing influences from various cultures. Popular dishes include biltong (dried, cured meat), boerewors (sausage), bobotie (a spiced, baked dish), bunny chow (curry served in a hollowed-out loaf of bread), and pap (a maize porridge). The tradition of braai, or barbecue, where meat is cooked over an open flame, is a beloved practice throughout the country.

Traditional Clothing: A Display of Cultural Identity

• Different ethnic groups in South Africa have their unique traditional clothing styles. 
• The Zulu people are renowned for their colorful beadwork and garments made from animal skins, while the Xhosa are famous for their distinctive shweshwe fabric and beaded jewelry.

Gifts of Nature: South Africa's Natural Resources

• South Africa is rich in natural resources, with its agriculture, although limited, playing a key role in the economy.

Agricultural Resources: Limited but Vital

• Agriculture in South Africa is a minor economic activity due to the country’s predominantly sandy and infertile desert soil, which receives insufficient rainfall for large-scale crop cultivation. Despite these challenges, about one-tenth of the land is irrigated and fertilized, allowing the cultivation of crops like maize, sugar cane, soybeans, potatoes, wheat, sorghum, tobacco, and sunflowers. 
• Horticulture, particularly the cultivation of vegetables and fruits, contributes significantly to farming incomes, with temperate fruits like apples and peaches, tropical fruits like bananas and papayas, and Mediterranean fruits like grapes and oranges being widely grown.

Types of Farming: Subsistence and Commercial

• Farming in South Africa is mainly divided into two types: subsistence and commercial. Subsistence farming involves small farm holdings where cereals, fruits, and vegetables are grown primarily to meet local needs, with little surplus for sale. In contrast, commercial farms are larger, more mechanized, and better irrigated, with produce mainly intended for trade.

Mixed Farming: A Common Practice

• Most South African farmers engage in mixed farming, which involves both crop cultivation and livestock rearing, particularly in the High Veld regions where grasslands provide pasture for animals. 
• Lucerne (alfalfa) is commonly grown as feed for livestock. Animal husbandry and the production of animal products account for about half of the total farming income in South Africa.

Livestock Farming: Key Areas and Products

In South Africa, livestock farming is a significant agricultural activity with different regions specializing in various animals and products:

• Cattle: Raised primarily in the eastern, central, and wetter southern parts of South Africa, cattle farming produces dairy products and meat.
• Sheep and Goats: Predominantly reared in the drier areas of the eastern half and parts of the wetter south, these animals provide Merino wool and meat.
• Poultry (Chicken, Ducks, Geese, and Rabbits): Commonly farmed in wet areas, poultry farming yields eggs and meat.
• Ostriches: Farmed in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces, ostriches are valuable for their meat, eggs, and feathers.

Fishing Resources: Vital to the Economy

South Africa's extensive coastline and numerous bays contribute significantly to its national economy through marine fisheries. The government has implemented legislation and established marine protected areas to sustain marine resources and manage fisheries.

• The Western Continental Shelf off the Western Cape is the most productive area for commercial fishing.
• Major fishing activities are based in the ports of Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, Saldanha, St. Helena Bay, and Cape Agulhas.
• The east coast, particularly along the Transkei and KwaZulu-Natal coastlines, boasts diverse marine life, with activities like oyster and mussel harvesting being common.
• Some of the key fish species caught in South African waters include anchovies, hake, horse mackerel, and sardines.

Forest Resources: Conservation and Challenges

South Africa's natural forests have been significantly depleted due to human activities, with less than 20 million hectares of forest cover remaining.

• The Knysna-Tsitsikamma temperate forests span a large area from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.
• Some natural forests still exist in the mountain valleys of the Great Escarpment.
• Government programs are in place to preserve these forests, focusing on biodiversity conservation, soil erosion control, recreation, and groundwater enhancement.
• Industrial plantations of pine, eucalyptus, and acacia support sustainable commercial forestry.

Mineral Resources: A Pillar of the Economy

South Africa is rich in valuable minerals, making its mining sector a crucial part of the economy, ranking fifth globally in terms of GDP value.

• The country has the world's largest reserves of platinum group metals (PGMs), manganese (80%), chromium (72.4%), and gold (29.7%).
• It holds the second-largest reserves of zirconium, vanadium, and titanium.
• South Africa is also rich in non-ferrous metals, including coal, titanium, cobalt, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc.
• Most minerals are processed and manufactured domestically.

Key Mineral Deposits and Their Uses

• PGMs: South Africa holds 75% of the world's PGM reserves, primarily in the provinces of Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, and North West, where they are found with copper, nickel, and cobalt. PGMs are resistant to corrosion and are used in various industrial processes and consumer products like flat-panel monitors, medical tools, and computer hard drives.
• Gold: Predominantly produced near Johannesburg, South Africa accounts for about one-third of the world's gold production, with 93% coming from the Witwatersrand mines.
• Diamonds: The country is among the top 10 global diamond producers, with significant output from Limpopo, Northern Cape (Kimberley), and Gauteng (Pretoria).
• Coal: South Africa's vast coal reserves are mainly found in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Karoo Basin (Eastern Cape), the Waterberg region (Limpopo), and Free State. These reserves are sufficient to meet domestic needs for over a century.
• Copper: Primarily extracted from the Palabora mine, with additional deposits of lead-zinc ores near Aggeneys in the Northern Cape.
• Uranium: South Africa is a major uranium producer, with significant reserves in the Witwatersrand Basin, Karoo region, Limpopo, and Northern Cape.
• Ferrous Minerals: South Africa is the largest producer of chromium and vanadium ores and a leading supplier of their alloys, with major deposits in the Northern, Eastern, and Central provinces. The country also has large iron ore deposits in Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga and holds the world's largest known manganese ore deposit. South Africa is also a minor producer of ferrosilicon and silicon metal.

Energy Resources: Meeting South Africa’s Needs

• South Africa primarily relies on fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, to meet its energy demands, with over 70% of its energy coming from coal. Natural gas is mostly sourced from offshore fields along the South Coast, with large untapped reserves in the Brulpadda and Luiperd fields. 
• Despite these resources, South Africa still needs to import oil and gas to satisfy its domestic and industrial energy requirements. Additionally, the country harnesses energy from biofuels, solar power, wind energy, and hydropower to supplement its energy needs.

Industry: A Pillar of Economic Activity

• Industry and manufacturing play a crucial role in South Africa’s economy, employing a significant portion of the population. This sector thrives due to a rich resource base in agriculture, fishing, energy, and minerals; a well-developed rail network, extensive road systems, and strategic port facilities in cities like Cape Town, Durban, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth, and East London; and a large, skilled, and semi-skilled labor force.
• Agro-based industries, including textiles, clothing, furniture, leather, footwear, paper, tobacco, and food processing, are some of the oldest in South Africa. The food processing sector is engaged in preparing and storing various products such as meat, fish, fruit, sugar cane, vegetables, oils, fats, and dairy items.
• Today, mineral-based industries are the driving force behind economic activity and manufacturing. Growth is primarily seen in heavy industries like iron and steel, transport equipment, motor vehicles, automobile assembly, fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, cement, and building materials, with most manufacturing based on local raw materials.
• The iron and steel industry is concentrated in regions such as Pretoria, Vanderbijlpark, and Newcastle, providing materials for structural goods, transport equipment, machinery, and engineering industries. Manufacturing industries are predominantly located in urban areas, with the Gauteng Province and the Vaal Triangle (Pretoria-Johannesburg-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging) being the largest industrial hub. Other significant industrial regions include Durban-Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal, Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, and cities like Kimberley, Bloemfontein, Queenstown, and Mossel Bay.

Tourism: A Growing Sector

• Tourism is an expanding sector in South Africa, attracting numerous visitors each year due to the country’s favorable climate, diverse landscapes ranging from mountains to beaches, abundant wildlife, national parks, reserves, and rich fisheries.

Transport and Trade: Facilitating Economic Growth

• South Africa’s economic development is supported by an extensive network of roads, railways, and air transport, both domestic and international, that efficiently connect all parts of the country. Over the past two decades, trade and services have experienced substantial growth, contributing significantly to the national economy.
• South Africa exports to various countries, including those in the European Union, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, and neighboring countries like Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland. Major exports include:
• Minerals such as gold, diamonds, platinum, manganese, iron ore, coal, and chromium. South Africa’s mining industry is a global leader, contributing about half of the world’s ferro-chromium exports and ranking among the largest exporters of platinum group metals, gold, vanadium, and manganese ore.
• Agro-based products such as canned fruits and vegetables, sugar, fish products, meat, wool, and dairy items.
• Mining and agricultural equipment, with South Africa being a significant exporter in these sectors.
• South Africa imports goods from the European Union, the USA, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, India, and Mozambique. Key imports include electrical machinery, vehicles, aircraft, mineral fuels, food products, chemicals, and scientific equipment.