Welcome to South Africa

South Africa is a country in transition. It is a combination of both traditional values as well as modern lifestyles.

South Africa wasn’t always this way. Listen and watch the next slide on the history

of South Africa.

Write these important details down in the “History” section of you notes:

• Colonized by the Dutch

• Dutch saw South Africa as their home

• People spoke mixed language known as Afrikaner

Geography of South Africa

South Africa’s geography is also just as complex as it’s

history.

Copy the following in the “Geography” section of your notes:•35 million people

•2 times the size of Texas

•Share borders with 4 countries

•Country of Lesotho landlocked

•9 provinces—not states

•3 regions—plateau, mts., coastal

•Seasons opposite of the U.S.

Apartheid in South Africa

Apartheid is a political policy. It means “apartness” and

separated the minority white population in Africa from the

majority black population.

But how did this process start? To understand we must closer look at the history of South Africa.

The region now known as South Africa was first settled by black

Africans who spoke the Bantu

language.

In 1652 the Dutch settled in the area. They believed the

land was theirs.

Over time the Dutch conquered many African

tribes and forced them to be slaves.

Fearing the Africans could rebel the Dutch made them carry identification cards or passbooks with them at all

times.

The passbook made it easier to track the movements of the

Africans .

In 1806 Great Britain (the English) captured the colony

from the Dutch.

A huge war broke out that lasted for 100 years.

In the end the British won and colonized more of South

Africa.

In 1867 diamonds were discovered in parts of South

Africa.

Then in 1887 gold was discovered.

The British forced blacks off the mineral-rich land. The

Africans had to move to “reserves” which had little

value.

In 1948 the Nationalist Party was elected to power.

The Nationalist Party worked to completely separate blacks and whites in Africa through

the system of apartheid.

Copy the following dates in the section of your notes labeled “Timeline dates”:

•1652—Dutch settle South African colony

•1806—English capture Dutch colony

•1867—Diamonds discovered in South Africa

•1887—Gold discovered

•1948—Nationalist Party gains power

Under apartheid the government divided people into four categories by race.

Those four categories were:

European

Asian

African

Colored

Each category had different rights and roles. Let’s take a

closer look at the roles.

For Europeans they controlled the government,

factories, farming, education, military and the press. They

made up 17% of the population but owned 87% of

the land.

For Asians they made up 13% of the population. They

were treated better then blacks but worse then whites. They could go to school but

not schools designed for whites.

Africans made up 68% of the population while only getting 13% of the land. They could

not vote, received little education, and usually worked as servants.

The last group was “Colored”. These were people of mixed racial ancestry such as Asian

and European.

Copy the categories and the %’s in the spot marked “Categories:

•European—17% pop./87% land

•Asian—13%pop.

•African—68% pop./13% land

•Colored—2%

During this time blacks fought back. Many joined the African National Party.

The African National Party worked to end apartheid.

Thousands of blacks refused to work, refused to buy white made products and marched in nonviolent demonstrations

The government of South Africa tried to destroy all who opposed apartheid in 1986.

For three years they arrested, tortured, and imprisoned over

20,000 people.

As the years went by pressure from within and also

from other countries forced South Africa to change it’s

policies.

Countries like the United States and Great Britain

imposed economic sanctions.

In 1989 William de Klerk became president of South

Africa.

de Klerk was against apartheid and worked to end

it.

The first step in ending apartheid was in making the African National Party a legal

political party.

Then de Klerk released many political prisoners. One of

these prisoners was Nelson Mandela.

In 1994 South Africa held it’s first free open election.

This meant that all citizens, of all races, could vote.

Nelson Mandela was elected president with 63% of the

votes.

Let’s watch a short clip that recaps apartheid in South

Africa.

Copy the following dates in the section of your notes labeled “Timeline dates”:

•1986 South Africa tries to stop opposition to apartheid

•1989—William de Klerk president

•1994—First free elections held

South Africa after Apartheid

South Africa is now a country on the move. Slowly life is

improving for all people.

Education is improving. Watch this next clip and see how their education system compares to ours.

Copy the following in the “Education” part of your notes:

•Go to school 12 years

•State funded

•Uniforms

•Many go to college

People in South Africa also find time for fun.

Copy the following in the “Recreation” part of your notes:

•Love the outdoors

•Huge sports fans

•Competed in 1992 Olympics

•Hope to host the 2012 Olympics

The future of South Africa is unclear. Only time will tell whether the country will be

able to overcome the setbacks created by

apartheid.

Copy the following in the “Future” part of your notes:

•Learn from the past

•Lead Africa as being the land apart