South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost
country in Africa. Its nine provinces are bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres
(1,739 miles) of coastline that stretches along the South Atlantic and Indian
Ocean;[15][16][17] to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana,
and Zimbabwe; to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini; and it encloses
Lesotho.[18] Covering an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres (471,445 square
miles), the country has a population of over 62 million people. Pretoria is the
administrative capital, while Cape Town, as the seat of Parliament, is the
legislative capital, and Bloemfontein is regarded as the judicial capital.[19] The
largest, most populous city is Johannesburg, followed by Cape Town and Durban.
Archaeological findings suggest that various hominid species existed in South
Africa about 2.5 million years ago, and modern humans inhabited the region over
100,000 years ago. The first known people were the indigenous Khoisan, and Bantu-
speaking peoples from West and Central Africa later migrated to the region 2,000 to
1,000 years ago. In the north, the Kingdom of Mapungubwe formed in the 13th
century. In 1652, the Dutch established the first European settlement at Table Bay,
and in 1795 and 1806, the British occupied it. The Mfecane, a period of significant
upheaval, led to the formation of various African kingdoms, including the Zulu
Kingdom. The region was further colonised, and diamonds and gold were discovered,
bringing a shift towards industrialisation and urbanisation. The Union of South
Africa was created in 1910 out of the former Cape, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange
River colonies, becoming a republic in 1961. Though a system of multi-racial
franchise had existed in the Cape, it was gradually eroded, and the vast majority
of Black South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994.
The National Party imposed apartheid in 1948, institutionalising previous racial
segregation. After a largely non-violent struggle by the African National Congress
and other anti-apartheid activists both inside and outside the country, the repeal
of discriminatory laws began in the mid-1980s. Universal elections took place in
1994, following which all racial groups have held political representation in the
country's liberal democracy, which comprises a parliamentary republic and nine
provinces.
South Africa is a multi-ethnic society encompassing a variety of cultures,
languages, and religions; it is often called the "rainbow nation" to describe its
multicultural diversity, especially in the wake of apartheid.[20] Recognised as a
middle power in international affairs, South Africa maintains significant regional
influence and is a member of BRICS+, the African Union, SADC, SACU, the
Commonwealth of Nations, and the G20.[21][22] A developing, newly industrialised
country, it has the largest economy in Africa by nominal GDP,[23][24] is tied with
Ethiopia for the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa,[25] and is a
biodiversity hotspot with unique biomes, plant, and animal life. Since the end of
apartheid, government accountability and quality of life have substantially
improved.[26] However, crime, poverty, and inequality remain widespread, with about
32% of the population unemployed as of 2024,[27][28] while some 56% lived below the
poverty line.[29][30] Having the highest Gini coefficient of 0.63, South Africa is
considered one of the most unequal countries in the world, if not the most unequal.
[31][32]
Etymology
See also: List of official names of South Africa
The name "South Africa" is derived from the country's geographic location at the
southern tip of Africa. Upon formation, the country was named the Union of South
Africa in English and Unie van Zuid-Afrika in Dutch, reflecting its origin from the
unification of four British colonies. Since 1961, the long formal name in English
has been the "Republic of South Africa" and Republiek van Suid-Afrika in Afrikaans.
The country has an official name in 12 official languages.[33][34]
Mzansi, derived from the Xhosa noun uMzantsi meaning "south", is a colloquial name
for South Africa,[35][36] while some Pan-Africanist political parties prefer the
term "Azania".[37]
History
Main article: History of South Africa
Prehistoric archaeology
Front of Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind
South Africa contains some of the oldest archaeological and human-fossil sites in
the world.[38][39][40] Archaeologists have recovered extensive fossil remains from
a series of caves in Gauteng Province. The area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has
been branded "the Cradle of Humankind". The sites include Sterkfontein, one of the
richest sites for hominin fossils in the world, as well as Swartkrans, Gondolin
Cave, Kromdraai, Cooper's Cave and Malapa. Raymond Dart identified the first
hominin fossil discovered in Africa, the Taung Child (found near Taung) in 1924.
Other hominin remains have come from the sites of Makapansgat in Limpopo Province;
Cornelia and Florisbad in Free State Province; Border Cave in KwaZulu-Natal
Province; Klasies River Caves in Eastern Cape Province; and Pinnacle Point,
Elandsfontein and Die Kelders Cave in Western Cape Province.[41]
These finds suggest that various hominid species existed in South Africa from about
three million years ago, starting with Australopithecus africanus,[42] followed by
Australopithecus sediba, Homo ergaster, Homo erectus, Homo rhodesiensis, Homo
helmei, Homo naledi and modern humans (Homo sapiens). Modern humans have inhabited
Southern Africa for at least 170,000 years. Various researchers have located pebble
tools within the Vaal River valley
