Flag of the Republic of South Africa ... Wikipedia

- (English Municipalities of South Africa) refer to a lower level of administrative territorial division than the provinces. They form the lowest self-governing level of administrative-territorial division, and operate on... ... Wikipedia

This article is about the coat of arms and the history of the coats of arms of the Republic South Africa(eng. Republic of South Africa). You can read about the coat of arms of the Republic of South Africa (Afrikaans Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek) here. Coat of arms of the Republic of South Africa ... Wikipedia

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The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is the supreme law of South Africa. It provides the legal basis for the existence of the state, establishes the rights and responsibilities of its citizens, and determines the structure of the government of South Africa. The current Constitution... ... Wikipedia

- (English: District municipality), or “Category C municipalities” are districts of the Republic of South Africa, which include predominantly rural areas. Districts are divided into local municipalities. Some parts of South Africa due to their... ... Wikipedia

The Republic of South Africa, according to its 1996 Constitution, recognizes 11 official languages(more than 23 only in India). Previously, the official languages ​​of the state were English and Afrikaans, but after the fall of apartheid on... ... Wikipedia

Economic indicators Currency South African rand International organizations ACP Statistics GDP (nominal) 505 billion (2009) Economically active population 18 million ... Wikipedia

Cities in South Africa is a list of the largest settlements in South Africa. According to the World Gazeteer website, South Africa has 200 cities with populations of more than 13,000 people. List of cities in South Africa ... Wikipedia

Holidays of the Republic of South Africa: Date Name 1 January New Year March 21 Human Rights Day Friday before Easter Good Friday Monday after Easter Family Day April 27 Independence Day South Africa May 1 Labor Day June 16 ... Wikipedia

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Population of South Africa

It is difficult to find a country on the globe where the national question has become as acute and topical as in South Africa. People with non-white skin color - the absolute majority of the country's population - are subjected to strong national oppression here. The non-European population, which makes up the bulk of South Africa's labor force, is brutally exploited by local and foreign monopolies.

In South Africa you can meet representatives of a wide variety of races and nationalities, hear English, French, German speech, the melodious dialect of the Bantu peoples, and the “clicking” sounds of the languages ​​of the Bushmen and Hottentots. But more often you can hear Afrikaans, which developed on the basis of ancient Dutch dialects and is very different from the modern Dutch language. Such ethnic and linguistic diversity is the result of the complex history of the formation of the country's population.

South Africa is an exception among other African countries in its high proportion of people of European descent - about 50% of the country's total population. Another characteristic feature is the relatively high proportion of people from Asian countries - approximately 3% of the population. This part of it is subject to brutal exploitation, just like the local African population. National and class interests. African and other racial groups of the non-white population basically coincide, which objectively creates a common platform for their joint struggle.

Discovery in the second half of the 19th century. The richest deposits of gold and diamonds in the interior regions contributed to their rapid settlement and development. In less than a quarter of a century, the white population of southern Africa has grown 20-fold. Immigration still exists today. It has decreased noticeably in recent years, although the government encourages skilled labor from Europe to enter the country.

The number of immigrants arriving annually does not exceed 1% of the total

the size of the white population. Previously, the majority were immigrants from Great Britain, but now their number has noticeably decreased, but the number of immigrants from Germany and the Netherlands has increased (many former Nazis also found refuge in South Africa).

Now the population of South Africa is growing mainly due to natural growth, and its rate, especially among the non-European population, is significant (2.5-3% per year). The entire population of South Africa is officially divided into 4 groups: Africans* (according to 1979 estimates, 21.1 million), whites (4.7 million), mestizo, or, according to the official terminology adopted in South Africa, “colored” ( 2.6 million) and people of Asian origin (0.8 million).

Fearing the unification of national liberation forces in the country, the government artificially seeks to divide individual ethnic groups, preserve ancestral remnants among Africans, and incite national enmity between different peoples.

Bantu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa. It accounts for over 70% of the total population. The Bantu speak several languages, the most important of which are Zulu, Xhosa, Sutho, Tswana and Swazi. The Zulu, Xhosa and Swazi languages ​​are closely related and are usually grouped into a group of languages ​​called Nguni.

IN social life The Bantu have undergone significant changes. Large patriarchal families gave way to small ones; the number of polygamous families has sharply decreased; Religious views have changed. Instead of traditional tribal cults, European colonists imposed Christianity on the Bantu. In Bantustans, the long-established Bantu division of labor between men and women has also been violated. Previously, men were engaged in cattle breeding, and women – in agriculture, but now almost all the work in Bantustans is performed by women and old people. Young men are forced to spend most of their time working outside the Bantustans.

Until now, the main clothing in Bantustans remains loincloths and “karossa” capes. Only the traditional karossams made from the skins of wild animals were replaced by karossams made from blankets.

Europeans are the second largest ethnic group. Its backbone consists of Afrikaners, or Boers (about 60% of the European population), and the British (38%). People from other European countries and the Middle East also live in South Africa. The most numerous of them are Germans and Jews (1% each). Jewish community in

South Africa is one of the richest in the world. The spiritual kinship of the rulers of South Africa and Israel, the identity of the tasks assigned to them by world imperialism, explain the increasingly strengthening alliance between Pretoria and Tel Aviv.

Afrikaners have long lost ties with the Netherlands and consider South Africa their homeland. In contrast, the British maintain close ties with Great Britain. First of all, this is expressed in the commonality of the language. At the same time, language is one of the significant differences between Afrikaners and the British. Both Afrikaans and English are recognized as official languages ​​in South Africa. Even in schools, teaching is often conducted in parallel in two languages. Afrikaners and the British also differ in religion. Afrikaners belong to the Dutch Reformed Church, and the British belong to the Anglican, Lutheran, etc.

The historical distinction between the spheres of activity between these ethnic groups is now disappearing. Previously, the Boers were predominantly farmers and pastoralists and lived on isolated farms. The British mainly settled in cities, where they were engaged in trade and industry. Over the past quarter century, the process of Afrikaners taking over key positions in various industries has intensified. Afrikaners predominate in the police, army and civil servants.

The "colored" group has a very diverse ethnic composition. It includes the Cape Coloureds, Hottentots, Bushmen, Malays, Zanzibaris and the entire group constitutes the Cape Coloureds, whose racial identity is uncertain. Singling them into a special group is artificial and has no linguistic or cultural basis. "Cape Coloreds" appeared at the dawn of European colonization as a result of intermarriage between Europeans and the indigenous people of southern Africa. In 1949, nationalists passed a law banning marriages between members of different racial groups. But even now about V3 of South African whites have an admixture of African blood.

An ethnic group of people of Asian origin began to form only in the 60s of the 19th century, when contracted agricultural workers from India began to be imported to southern Africa to expand sugar cane plantations in Natal and due to a lack of skilled labor. In less than half a century, from 1870 to 1911, the number of imported Indians reached 100 thousand.

The different ethnic groups in South Africa have their own territorial centers. Thus, the most “English” is the province of Natal, the “Afrikaner” are Transvaal and Orange, the largest number of mestizos live in the Cape Province.

The economically active population makes up approximately 40% of the total population. Around Uz he works in agriculture, followed by the service sector, manufacturing and mining. The non-white population is employed mainly in those sectors of the economy where labor is most difficult and exhausting. At the same time, among non-Europeans there is a large number of actually unemployed. Persons in public service are mainly Europeans. South Africa has the largest police force in Africa and a mostly white regular army.

South Africa is experiencing an acute shortage of skilled labor, which is explained primarily by the apartheid policy: the “color barrier” deprives non-whites of the opportunity to obtain high qualifications and perform more complex and highly paid jobs.

The working class accounts for 44 of the country's population. Urban workers - Africans and other non-whites - are the most revolutionary part of the South African working class.

Over 75% of whites live in cities. Almost half of them are concentrated in the south of the Transvaal - in the Witwatersrand industrial region. Most of rural population of European origin lives in the south and southwest of the Cape Province, i.e. in an area of ​​intensive agriculture. Some areas of the Namib and Kalahari deserts are almost deserted, and in the vast arid spaces of the internal plateau, settlements are located mainly along river valleys and in areas of artificial irrigation.

Sharp contrasts are presented by the deserted Cape Mountains and the densely populated fertile valleys adjacent to them in the west with orchards and vineyards, the swampy river valley. Limpopo and the mining centers of the Bushveld, Drakensberg and Natal foothill valleys.

The process of industrialization resulted in a rapid increase in the urban population in post-war years. Mining centers are growing, both old ones - the cities of the Witwatersrand, and new ones: Phala Borwa, Saishen, Prisca, etc. Their rapid growth is largely due to the immigration of the African and “colored” population, and not only the male population of the Bantustans comes here in search of work , but also residents of other countries in Southern and Eastern Africa (Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi, etc.). A significant number of Africans living in cities and industrial centers are temporary residents who, when unable to work or at the end of their contract, return to the bantustans or to the country from which they came. Cities - centers of manufacturing industry - are also growing as a result of the arrival of immigrants from European countries.

South Africa is dominated by small towns with populations ranging from 2 to 10 thousand people. According to existing legislation, all settlements that have local municipal government in one form or another are considered cities. These are small towns - centers of agricultural areas (for example, Fran Schuk or Swellendam), and numerous mining centers in South Africa (Tabazim bi, Postmasburg, Saichen, etc.), and cities - centers of the manufacturing industry, often with pronounced specialization ( "metallurgical" fer riniching - Vanderbijlpark or "chemical" - Sasolburg and Moddervon Tein).

The ports that stand out are Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London. These are modern large multifunctional cities. They owe their appearance and growth to the beneficial geographical location. For a long time, a significant part of the immigrants arriving in Africa settled in them; various industrial enterprises were located, equipped with imported equipment and often working on imported raw materials.

There are many cities in the country - administrative centers, among which Pretoria and Cape Town occupy a special position.

The country's largest city, its financial and commercial capital, is Johannesburg, whose population has exceeded 1.5 million people and continues to grow steadily: in the last 30 years alone it has more than doubled. Johannesburg is not only the most important center, but also the link between the leading industrial region of South Africa - the Witwatersrand complex and its surroundings. This main economic core, occupying approximately 1% of the country's territory, concentrates up to 2/5 of its population. Of the 20 South African cities with a population exceeding 50 thousand people, 10 are part of the Witwatersrand metropolitan area.

South Africa or the Republic of South Africa is perhaps one of the most famous African powers. The long period of European colonization served South Africa well. In the tropical wilderness, highly developed cities with a European character, East London, Cape Town or Port Elizabeth, look completely unique, characteristic and original. Colonization left its mark on various spheres of social, cultural and political life: widespread in the country English language, the cities are full of Old World architecture, and the country's traditions and cultural foundations are very reminiscent of those from the suburbs of London. The ethnic composition of the population was already heterogeneous, but with the new admixture of European blood it became simply inimitable.

The most appropriate adjective to describe this country is diverse. Nature and relief vary significantly in different areas: in the north-west, lush vegetation and a humid subtropical climate predominate, on the eastern plain there is a picturesque coast of the Indian Ocean, a temperate climate reigns, in the south of the country the Drakensberg Mountains rise, which make their own adjustments to the nature of the relief and climate in the region. And in the west, the area of ​​South Africa shrinks by 100 thousand square meters. km of the Namib Desert, these lands are deserted, not suitable for cultivation and not inhabited. The interior of the country is occupied by plains, also relatively deserted, the Kalahari savanna, the Karoo Desert and shrubby heaths.

The diversity of the population, their languages, traditions and cultural foundations is also amazing. One can only wonder how such a diverse public gets along in one power.

General information about the Republic of South Africa

South Africa is the most developed country on the African continent, and compared to all the states of the world economic community, South Africa does not look poor. According to the UN classification, South Africa belongs to middle-income countries. However, the proportion of the population (mostly black) living below the poverty line remains relatively high in the country.

The area of ​​South Africa is 1,220,000 square meters. km, the country ranks 24th in the world in terms of area, but slightly more than half of the land is suitable for living and economic cultivation.

Government structure and legal system of the country

In 1961, South Africa became an independent state. Before this, the lands were alternately under the rule of Holland and Britain. However, with the advent of independence, the country did not take a dramatic step towards social and economic progress, because it still had an apartheid regime aimed at genocide of the black population. During this period, many independent states ceased with South Africa diplomatic relations, the UN passed resolutions recognizing apartheid as neo-fascism, South Africa was forced to refuse participation in Olympic Games, but the government of the country never abandoned the policy of separatism of the black population. Only in 1989, with the coming to power of a new government, did the development of a democratic society begin. However, despite all the democratic, peacekeeping measures aimed at tolerance and guaranteeing equal rights for all ethnic groups, in South Africa there is still a gap between the living standards of “white” and “black” citizens. In 1994, South Africa regained membership in the Commonwealth of Nations.

According to the form of government, South Africa is a parliamentary federal republic. Administratively, the state is divided into 9 provinces.

Level of economic development, main areas of the national economy

The Republic of South Africa has a fairly high level of GDP per capita (26th place in the world), especially among African states. Rich Natural resources, powerful energy, transport infrastructure and high-productivity Agriculture- These are well-developed areas of the South African economy. The geography of the country, the unpredictability of the climate and landscapes do not contribute to the large-scale development of the agro-industrial complex, but, nevertheless, South Africa is a major exporter of food, peanuts, tobacco, wine, corn, etc.

The transport sector is dominated by air and rail transport. The sphere of domestic air transportation functions perfectly, communication between distant cities is based on it. Roads in South Africa are in good condition, but their system has not yet been finalized; in some areas you can find complete impassability. Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban have international airports. The state airline is South African Airways.

The leading industry in terms of profitability is, of course, gold mining. More than 15% of the world's gold comes from South Africa. The country is also known in the world as a diamond exporter. It was the rich deposits of these natural minerals, discovered in the 19th century, that contributed to the massive colonization of South Africa by greedy Europeans. The state also exports platinum (85% comes from South Africa), zirconium, coal, palladium, etc. on a large scale.

Population composition of South Africa, demographics, religion

The harsh apartheid in South Africa was replaced by a regime of widespread tolerance towards representatives of all ethnic groups and cultures. The new brand of South African society is the Rainbow Republic, a power in which all nations live in harmony on the principles of mutual respect for each other's traditions and cultures.

The population of South Africa according to 2010 data is more than 47 million people. However, natural growth is very low; in recent years, the number of citizens has remained virtually unchanged due to the high mortality rate, especially among the black population.

National composition of the peoples of South Africa:

1. The largest ethnic group is black citizens (80%). These are representatives of the Ndebele, Koso, Zulu tribal groups, as well as emigrants from disadvantaged Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
2. The white population is 10%, the highest percentage on the African continent. This group is filled by the descendants of British, Dutch, and Portuguese colonialists. This is still the most privileged social stratum, but the reason for this is already the high level of education and labor activity of “white” citizens. They mainly inhabit the large cities of South Africa: Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg.
3. Third: “colored” ethnic groups (8%), they consist of descendants of mixed marriages between the indigenous population, Asians and Europeans.
4. Asians make up 2% of all citizens. This group includes descendants of emigrants from India, China, and Malaysia who settled South Africa in the 19th century.

South Africa's population density is varied. The average is 40 people per 1 sq. km, but the megacities are very densely populated, especially Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Port Elizabeth, East London.

The population of South Africa is mainly Christian, but some social groups practice Hinduism, Islam and local traditional religions.

Life expectancy in South Africa

The country has a low life expectancy rate. Among men - 43 years, among women - 41. The highest mortality rate is among the black population, it is due to insufficient medical care and artisanal methods of treatment. The main cause of natural mortality among blacks: drug addiction and its consequences, AIDS, skin cancer due to high levels of harmful ultraviolet radiation.

85% of the South African population speaks writing, while the level of education among “whites” is very high.

The unemployment rate in South Africa is close to critical (29%), especially among blacks. In some cities there are still dysfunctional, criminal black neighborhoods where racketeering, prostitution, and drug trafficking flourish.

Traditions, customs and culture of the peoples of South Africa

Some traditions and customs that the population of South Africa still adheres to are perplexing to a resident of the 21st century.

For example, early marriage is common among indigenous peoples. It is accepted that a girl can get married at 13 years old.

The diet of some indigenous people completely excludes fish and seafood, because, according to their beliefs, the water where fish live is fraught with evil and danger. Let us remind you that the length of the South African coastline is one of the largest in the world, amounting to 2,798 km.

However, based on the antediluvian customs of some ethnic groups, it is impossible to judge the level of cultural development of the entire country. In fact, South Africa is quite advanced, and although the development of public culture was given impetus by European colonialists, after independence the country continued to develop.

South Africa has produced world-class musicians and writers, laureates Nobel Prize. The famous author of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the literary father of the elves, John Tolkien, was born in South Africa.

Official languages

South Africa is an interesting country and can set an example for many in how to resolve interlingual conflicts, which also happen in highly developed countries. The state has a very diverse national composition, which led to multilingualism. The country has 11 official languages: English and 11 dialects of local tribes. Most citizens speak several languages.

After the fall of totalitarianism, the right to their own state language was given to indigenous people SOUTH AFRICA.

IN last decade The new hybrid language Tsotsitaals, a kind of cross between Afrikaans, Zulu and several other dialects, became very widespread among the black population.

Major cities of South Africa, their attractions

The population of the state is the only one in the world that can boast of three capitals. The main one is Pretoria, where the government building is located, but the South African parliament is located in Cape Town, and the courts are concentrated in Bloemfontein.

Cape Town is also known as a tourist destination, full of colonial architectural attractions, the natural landmarks of the Cape Peninsula and the Cape of Good Hope, and a famous wine region with beautiful scenery and a pleasant climate.

The Eastern Cape region and its tourist capital Port Elizabeth are famous as a coastal resort with sandy beaches, national parks elephants, zebras, etc.

Johannesburg is the most populous metropolis in South Africa; it is not so developed in terms of tourism, but is famous as an industrial and technological center.

The large town of Durba is located near the relict Lake Santa Lucia, which is listed world heritage UNESCO.

In the northwest is the entertainment capital of the country, Sun City, known as the Las Vegas of Africa, the city is built in the center of the diamond and gold district.

How did South Africa open up to the world after the football championship in 2010?

In 2010, South Africa hosted the most high-profile sporting event - the FIFA World Cup, which was held for the first time on the African continent.

A number of sports facilities and football arenas were built especially for the grandiose football event. Matches were held in the cities of Pretoria, Rustenburg, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Polokwane, Mbombela, Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. The final took place in the city of Johannesburg.

After the football championship, this African country changed its primitive status in the eyes of the world community. But the tournament did not contribute to the massive development of tourism in the country, which is being hampered low level medicine and high crime.

Continent. South Africa's population is represented by the largest number of whites and Asians on the mainland. Many nationalities live on its territory, representatives of some of them constantly fight for the right to be called

Population structure and numbers

South Africa has a population of 52 million. In terms of ethnic and racial diversity, the country is one of the first on the continent. By ethnicity, residents can be divided into black, white, colored and Asian. The number of whites is decreasing every year. The reason for this is emigration to other countries, as well as a significant increase in blacks.

The black population of South Africa is almost 80%. Most of them are Bantu peoples. These include the Zulus, Sotho, Tsonga, Xhosa, Tswana, Shangaan, Swazi, etc. The country is also home to non-white people. These are mostly mulattoes - descendants of mixed European and African marriages. The southeast is home to Asians, the vast majority of whom are Indians. The colored population includes Cape Malays and Bushmen with Hottentots.

Due to the enormous national diversity, the republic has 11 official languages. Ethnic Europeans speak Afrikaans. For some Europeans in the country, English is their native language, and at the same time it serves as an interethnic language. Rest official languages belong to the Bantu group.

Indigenous people of South Africa

The question of who rightfully belongs to the territory of the Republic of South Africa has always been acute. Black and white populations have long fought for the title of indigenous. In fact, both the Europeans who arrived in the 17th century and the Bantu tribes are colonizers for these lands. The true population of South Africa is the Bushmen and Hottentots.

The tribes of these peoples settled throughout, including South Africa. They belong to the capoid race - a subclass within the large Both peoples are similar in appearance, for example, lighter skin than blacks with a reddish tint, thin lips, short stature, and Mongoloid features. Their language belongs to the Khoisan group and differs from all world languages ​​in its click consonants.

Despite their external similarity, the tribes that make up the indigenous population of South Africa are different. The Hottentots are pastoralists and have a more developed material culture. These are a warlike people. Often they had to fight to defend the right to exist from the colonialists. Bushmen, on the contrary, are peaceful and calm. The colonialists massacred these people, pushing them closer and closer to the Kalahari Desert. As a result, the Bushmen developed excellent hunting skills.

The Hottentots and Bushmen are few in number. The first live on reservations, while some live and work in cities and villages. Their number in South Africa is almost 2 thousand people. There are about 1 thousand Bushmen in the country. They live in small groups in desert areas and are in danger of extinction.

White population

Currently, the number of whites in the country is approximately 5 million. Only 1% of them are immigrants. The rest of the white population of South Africa is represented by the descendants of the colonialists. A significant group (60%) are Afrikaners, about 39% are Anglo-Africans.

The first Europeans to arrive in South Africa in 1652 were the Dutch. They were followed by the Germans, French, Flemings, Irish and other peoples. Their descendants are united into a people called Afrikaners. Their native language is Afrikaans, which was formed on the basis of the Dutch dialects. The Boer subculture stands out separately among Afrikaners.

The population of South Africa is also composed of Anglo-Africans; they use English as their native language. Their ancestors arrived on the territory of the state in the 19th century, sent by the British government. Mostly they were English, Scots and Irish.

Apartheid

The population of South Africa was constantly in a state of confrontation. Hostility occurred not only between the Bantu peoples and the whites, but also between groups of European settlers. At the beginning of the 20th century, the white population took a dominant position. Over time, the main goal became to distinguish the white residents of the country from the blacks.

In 1948, Afrikaners ideologically united with Anglo-Africans, heading towards a policy of racial segregation, or apartheid. The black population was completely disenfranchised. He was denied quality education, medical care and a normal job. It was forbidden to appear in white neighborhoods, ride in public transport, and even stand next to

The international community and individual groups of people and organizations have been trying to end apartheid for more than 20 years. This was finally achieved only in 1994.

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South Africa. Population

Population. The indigenous inhabitants of South Africa - the Bushmen and the Hottentots - have a number of similar features. They are characterized by a combination of Negril (short stature) and typically Negroid (curly hair, wide nose) features with some features characteristic of Mongoloids (for example, yellowish, slightly wrinkled skin).

Bushmen, Hottentots and related peoples were once widely settled south of the rainforest zone throughout southern and parts of eastern Africa. Here, in many places, the wonderful rock paintings of wild animals, scenes of hunting, gathering, war, and religious rituals left by them have been preserved.

The Bushmen (“people of the bushes,” as Europeans called them) knew neither agriculture nor cattle breeding and earned their living by hunting and gathering wild fruits. They were divided into tribes, each of which had a special name, its own language and its own territory. In search of food, the Bushmen wandered in small groups. The bow and javelin are the common equipment of men; women used pointed sticks with stone weights to dig up edible roots, search for larvae, etc. The Bushmen adapted well to harsh conditions semi-deserts and veld. They knew the habits of animals, the properties of plants, and knew how to get water where other people would die of thirst right up to the river. Kay. The main Bantu tribal groups were Xhosa, Zulu, Tswana, Basotho (Sutho), Shona, and Rozvi. They gradually pushed aside the former population and partially assimilated it. 3 beginning of the 2nd millennium AD e. in the Zambezi-Limpopo interfluve, the Bantu switched to cattle breeding. Their main source of livelihood was the herds of large and small livestock that belonged to large patriarchal families. They settled in kraals, in which huts were located around a cattle pen. The Hottentots knew how to make ceramic dishes, knew the smelting and processing of iron, and used metal tools. They probably adopted the iron culture from their neighbors - the Negroid agricultural peoples who speak Bantu languages ​​and now make up the main population of southern Africa.

The Bantu came from the north and already in the 1st millennium AD. e. settled areas of southern Africa convenient for agriculture, mainly along the east coast, the early class state formation of Monomotapa with high level economy and culture.

The development of the traditional culture of the peoples of southern Africa was interrupted by the expansion of European colonialists. The Portuguese were the first to invade the modern territory of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, but widespread colonization of southern Africa began in the 17th century.

The policy of colonialism became most aggressive in the 19th century, when it was carried out by Great Britain. The lands were occupied by Bantu and Boers - descendants of Dutch colonists.

Bantu tribal associations stubbornly resisted the colonialists. Particularly significant was the Zulu resistance, which was led by the paramount leader, the talented organizer and commander Chaka. Chaka and his successors waged a heroic struggle against the colonialists. At the same time, under the pressure of the colonialists, some tribal associations disintegrated and lost their ethnic territory. One group (Zulu) moved across the river. Limpopo and settled in the south of what is now Mozambique among the Tsonga; another (Matabele) advanced into the Shona area; finally, the third group went beyond the river. Zambezi, on the basis of this group the Ngoni (Angoni) people were formed.

The Hottentots and Bushmen were pushed beyond the river. Orange: the Hottentots - to the Namib Desert, and the Bushmen - to the semi-desert regions of the Kalahari. Some of the Bushmen took refuge in the mountains of Basutoland (Lesotho), where they were completely exterminated by the Boers.

Colonial wars, especially in the second half of the 19th century, sharply disrupted the course of demographic and ethnic processes. Heavy losses during wars and uprisings and the expropriation of lands carried out by the colonialists led to the extinction of many tribes and peoples.

The current ethnic composition and distribution of the population of southern Africa is very mosaic. About % of the population of southern African countries (61 million in 1980) are Africans. The capitalist economy of the Republic of South Africa is mainly based on the brutal exploitation of this population.

The ethnic composition of the population of southern African countries is complex. Bantu peoples predominate (about 78% of the total population); Bushmen and Hottentots - 0.5%, descendants of immigrants from European countries along with mestizos - 19, immigrants from Asia and their descendants - 2%.

In South Africa, the territories allocated for Bantu settlements (bantustans) occupy only 13% of all lands; in Namibia, reserves account for half of the entire territory. As a rule, the lands allocated to Africans are infertile and overpopulated.

Among the immigrants from Europe in South Africa are Afrikaners, or Boers, English, Germans, Portuguese, French, Italians, Jews, etc. Persons of mixed origin according to official statistics in South Africa they are classified as a separate ethnic group, the so-called “colored”. This group also includes descendants of representatives of some peoples from Africa and Asia. The division into racial categories is strictly regulated.

Migrants from Asia, among whom Indians predominated, arrived in southern Africa a hundred years ago in connection with the expansion of sugar plantations in Na Tal. Later, traders and artisans began to move here.

The ethnic and linguistic composition of the population of Lesotho, Swaziland, and Botswana is homogeneous. Over 60% of Africans retain local traditional beliefs. The most archaic religious ideas and cults can be found among the Hottentots and Bushmen. These are ritual ceremonies for inducing rain, worshiping totems (for example, the veneration of the grasshopper mantis), etc. More developed polytheistic beliefs existed until recently among the Bantu peoples, in particular among the Zulu.

In South Africa it operates a large number of Christian churches of the most varied kinds: Dutch Reformed, Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran, Catholic, etc. Among local peoples, Christian dogmas and especially rituals adopted much from the traditional rituals of Africans, primarily music and dancing. Among the Zulu, the celebration of the ascension of the head of the sect to the mountain is celebrated very magnificently, which ends with dancing to the drums in traditional robes of narrow strips of fur, belts of bright material, beads and bright and picturesque headdresses.

Many people from India practice Hinduism. Some of the immigrants from India and Pakistan are Muslims. Islam is practiced by the peoples of northern Mozambique - Makua, Yao and Swahili.

The annual population growth of all southern African countries is about 3%, which is higher than the world average. The population of the largest country, South Africa, grew from 5.2 million people in 1904 to 16 million people in 1960, 21.5 million people in 1970 and 29.2 million people in 1979. Population grew due to both natural increase and immigration. IN last years the influx of immigrants from European and Asian countries has decreased.

The current demographic situation in South Africa and Namibia is closely related to the policy of racial segregation and discrimination carried out by racist colonial regimes against the population with dark skin color. High birth and death rates are characteristic of the African population. The mortality rate among Africans is almost twice that of whites. Child mortality is especially significant.

The average population density of southern Africa is over 15 people per 1 sq. km.

The bulk of the population in southern African countries is concentrated in the most economically developed areas. In the central mining region of South Africa between Pretoria and Johannesburg, the average population density exceeds 100 people per square meter. km. Another area with high population density is the narrow coastal lowland in the southeast, stretching from Cape Town to the mouth of the river. Limpopo in Mozambique (from 30 to 100 people per 1 sq. km). High population density is also in Lesotho (more than 40 people per 1 sq. km) and Swaziland (about 30 people per 1 sq. km).

In the interior, arid regions of South Africa - in Namibia, Botswana and the Cape Province of South Africa - the population is sparse. Cattle breeders and hunters live here. In the Namib Desert and the Kalahari semi-desert, the population density is less than 1 person per 1 sq. km. In South Africa, almost half of the population lives in cities; two cities have more than 100 thousand inhabitants each.