The Union of South Africa was created from the federation of the former Boer republics of Orange and Transvaal and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal in 1910. It was an autonomous Dominion of the British Crown and fully independent in 1931. In 1948, the white oligarchy of Dutch descent (the Boers), belonging to the National Party, officially imposed a regime of racial segregation (apartheid) on the country. In 1960, the African National Congress, incorporating the black opposition, was outlawed. South Africa was condemned by the international community and left the Commonwealth, proclaiming itself a republic on 31 May 1961. The process of dismantling apartheid began in 1990-91 during the presidency of Fredrik De Klerk, who legalised the ANC and released its leader, Nelson Mandela, from prison. The first free multi-racial elections, accompanied by the withdrawal of international sanctions, were held in 1994 with the victory of the ANC and the election of Mandela as President. The provisional 1993 Constitution and the new Constitution in force since 4 February 1997 guarantee the cohabitation of the different communities by means of the total protection of minority groups and the sub-division of the state into nine provinces, each benefiting from a wide range of autonomy.
The President of the Republic is elected by the National Assembly and exercises executive power. The Parliament is made up of the National Assembly (400 members elected for five years by proportional representation) and the National Council of the Provinces (90 members designated by the provincial assemblies, with a mandate of five years). Those parties gaining at least 20% of the votes in the National Assembly may appoint a Vice-President.

Defence.
The defence force, (SANDF), set up in 1994, was formed by integrating the soldiers of the military wing of the ANC into the South African armed forces.

Justice.
The legal system is based on British Common Law and on Dutch Law. In 2006, the National Assembly approved a law allowing for the marriage of homosexual couples.

Population by age and gender (% - 2017)
	75+ 60-74 45-59 30-44 15-29 0-14
MALE	AGE	FEMALE

AIDS has reaped many victims and a large part of the population is HIV positive. The situation has been having lacerating effects on society. The growth rate of the population varies greatly according to the ethnic groups.

Economic situation.
Growth is modest. The political crisis and uncertain economic management are holding back foreign investments, increasing instability of the rand and contributing to a worsening of evaluations by rating agencies. A chronic problem is the scarcity of electric energy; the construction of new power stations and an update of the electrical network are proceeding slowly. High unemployment is a cause of serious social conflict. A large part of the population has to rely on government subsidies to survive. High deficit complicates the adoption of effective policies to stimulate the economy.

Primary sector
Agriculture.
The country is a large-scale producer of cereals, especially wheat and maize. The range of fruit crops is also very significant: potatoes, citrus fruits, apples, tomatoes, pears, peaches, plums, apricots and tropical fruit (bananas, papayas, pineapples and mangos) are grown, while the south-western area of the Cape excels for its vineyards. Main industrial crops include sugar cane and tobacco, followed by soybeans, sunflowers, peanuts, cotton, castor oil plants, kenaf, sisal, Phormium and tea.
Forests.
The forests, on the southern maritime slopes and on the Drakensberg, produce tannin-bearing wood (wattle) and wood for industrial processing (Eucalyptus), as well as timber.
Livestock.
Wool and karakul skins are produced from sheep; angora goats are also very widespread.
Fishing.
The most abundant species of fish (sardines, mackerel and cod) are caught in the cold Atlantic waters of Port Nolloth, Lambert’s Bay, Stompneus Bay, Saldanha, Cape Town and Hout Bay. Aquaculture of molluscs is also developed (especially abalones).

Secondary sector
Minerals.
Mineral resources are abundant and diversified. Substantial coal deposits are found at Witbank, Ermelo-Breyton and Springs (in Mpumalanga), at Vryheid, Utrecht and Paulpietersburg (in KwaZulu-Natal), at Clydesdale-Sasolburg (in the Free State province). The country is extremely rich in gold, with deposits in Witwatersrand (the most famous), Odendaalsrus, Elsburg (Germiston), West Driefontein, Western Deep Levels, East Daggafontein, Vaal Reef, Freegold, President Brand and Kloof.
Some gold minerals also contain uranium. There are also numerous diamond deposits: the main ones are those in Kimberley (a national monument), in Pretoria (Premier) and in Jagersfontein and Koffiefontein (Free State province). Alluvial diamonds are found on the bed of the River Vaal (to the west of Kimberley), at Lichtenburg and at the mouth of the River Orange (Port Nolloth) where with special equipment diamonds are also mined from the sea bed. Platinum mines are particularly productive (at Rustenburg and Union), and as a result the country accounts for three-quarters of world output.
Other minerals mined include iron (at Thabazimbi, in the Limpopo area and in Prestwick, in Natal), manganese (in Postmasburg, Hotazel, Lohathla, Mamatwan, Adams, Devon and Gopani), chromite (in Rustenburg-Northam and Steelpoort), antimony (in Gravelotte), vanadium (in Witbank), lead (in Broken Hill and Pering), zinc (in Gamsberg, Pering and Maranda), tin (in Waterberg and Potgietersrust), copper (in Okiep-Springbok, in the northern Cape and in Phalaborwa, in the Limpopo area), nickel (in Rustenburg and Insizwa), cobalt, zircon and titanium. Important non-metallic minerals are asbestos (the areas around Barberton, Pietersburg and Letaba), magnesite (the Limpopo and Mpumalanga areas), mica (in Letaba), phosphates (in Phalaborwa, Glenover and Langebaan), fluorite (in Vergenoeg), kaolin (in Grahamstown and Riversdale). There are important salt-works at Port Elizabeth and at Brantford.
Energy and industry.
Most electricity produced is of thermal origin (coal); the main facilities are located in Mpumalanga province. The largest hydro-electrical complex operates in the Drakensberg, between Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. There is a nuclear power station with two reactors in Koeberg.
The steel-making industry has plants in Middelburg, Pretoria, Vereeniging (Vanderbijl Park), Newcastle, Witbank and Johannesburg; the metal-working industry is centred in Zaaiplaats, Potgietersrust and Springs. There are about twenty active cement factories. The chemical industry is focused on Modderfontein, Coalbrook, Somerset West, Sasolburg, Phalaborwa, Klipfontein and Potcherstroom. There are refineries in Cape Town, Durban, Mossel Bay, Sasolburg and Secunda (Mpumalanga). Rubber is processed in Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and East London. The mechanical industry is centred on Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, East London, Elsies River, Uitenhage, Durban, Johannesburg, Natalspruit, Kempton Park (aeroplanes) and Martindale. In particular, the car and spare-parts industry has grown significantly. The textile industry is centred on Worcester, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Hammersdale, Mooi River and Uitenhage; the paper industry on Springs, Ngodwana, Tugela and Enstra.

Tertiary sector
Foreign trade.

The country is part of a customs union (SACU) with neighbouring Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland, and also part of the larger SADC.

Finance and banking.
The country’s central bank is the South African Reserve Bank. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is the most important exchange in Africa.

Tourism. The main tourist destinations are the great national parks, including the Kruger Park, which is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (shared with Mozambique and Zimbabwe), and the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (shared with Botswana).

Education and research.

Education is compulsory and free from 6 to 16 years of age.

Social security and health.
The social security system provides benefits for the unemployed, those who have sustained injuries at work and the elderly. Basic healthcare is guaranteed to all, but the public health service is lacking.