Country Profile: South Africa

The Republic of South Africa, located at the tip of the world’s second largest continent, is a land of complexity, contradiction, challenge, and change. The nation’s abundant natural resources and breathtaking scenery belie its turbulent past. This country of more than 46 million people has 11 official languages, and its diversity reflects a convergence of various African, Asian, and European cultures. Those cultures were often in conflict.  The most widely known conflict was apartheid, a system of racial segregation and oppression used by the white minority to subjugate the black majority.

In 1994, South Africa successfully transitioned from minority to majority rule, with Nelson Mandela becoming the first president of a South Africa in which all of its citizens are allowed to vote. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created in 1995 to promote healing, forgiveness, and unity among all South Africans. Although the legacy of apartheid remains, South Africa is making positive strides. A sense of nationhood is developing.

Today, South Africa faces another enormous challenge. Africa’s richest, strongest, and most stable nation lies at the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Approximately 18.8% of the adult population (ages 15-49) is infected with HIV. According to South Africa’s Department of Health, almost a third (30.2%) of pregnant women receiving prenatal care from public clinics have HIV/AIDS. An estimated 1,200,000 children have been orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS.