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Excerpts
Background Note
Early History
The discovery of diamond and gold deposits in the late 1800s attracted British manpower and capital. The tenuous co-existence among Britain's colonial establishment, white settlers (Afrikaners), and native Africans was upset. After a series of ferocious battles, Britain formed the Union of South Africa. In 1911, Prime Minister Louis Botha and his deputy Jan Smuts began to concentrate power, economic opportunities, and social status in the hands of the white minority, which formed 20 percent of the population...
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Recent Developments
On February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison and became the ANC president. He and Prime minister F.W. de Klerk worked on an interim constitution and decided to hold general elections in which Africans would vote...
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The Economy
Best known for its precious metals, fruit, and wine industries, South Africa had graduated over the years, from an economy dominated by mining and agriculture to one where manufacturing and financial services contributed the larger share of GDP. In the early 2000s, South Africa was classified as a middle-income country...
Industry
South Africa was easily the African continent's most industrialized country. Food products, iron and steel and transport equipment together accounted for about a third of total gross manufacturing output... |
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