Country Project 2

South Africa gained it's independence from the United Kingdom on May 31, 1910. South Africa has some of the oldest human history in the world, though. Human artifacts have been found in S.A. from 170,000 years ago. South Africa was found in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck.

What Shaped South Africa?

• England's culture carried on from the UK to South Africa. 
• Racial segregation caused blacks, whites, and asians to all live in different parts of the country.
• South Africa has a history of bad police situations, including mass murders performed by the police.

Two key historical South African Figures.

•   Jan van Riebeeck

• Founded South Africa and made a refreshment stand for ships passing by. The stand eventually turned into the Cape of Good Hope which turned into Cape Town. 

•  Nelson Mandela
•  Helped protest against the racial segregation and became president in 1994 to 1999.

South Africa has the largest and best economy in Africa.

GDP per capita is $11,035
Unemployment rate is high at 25%
One South African rand equals $0.11 
Inflation rate is 5.09%
Literacy rate is 97%
Republic Government