South Africa is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent, marked by several distinct ecosystems. Inland safari destination Kruger National Park is populated by big game. The Western Cape offers beaches, lush Winelands around Stellenbosch and Paarl, craggy cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, forest and lagoons along the Garden Route, and the city of Cape Town, beneath flat-topped Table Mountain. South Africa occupies the most southern tip of Africa with its long coastline stretching more than 3 000 km from the desert border with Namibia on the Atlantic coast southwards around the tip of Africa and then north to the border of subtropical Mozambique on the Indian Ocean.
Key Cities
Key cities in South Africa include Johannesburg, Cape Town, Ethekwini, Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay, Buffalo City, Manguang, Emfuleni, Polokwane.
Historical, Cultural facts & Religion
Following the defeat of the Boers in the Anglo-Boer or South African War (1899–1902), the Union of South Africa was created as a self-governing dominion of the British Empire on 31 May 1910 in terms of the South Africa Act 1909, which amalgamated the four previously separate British colonies: Cape Colony, Colony of . South Africa has been famously referred to as the rainbow nation because it is made up of so many diverse cultures and religions. Contained within South Africa’s borders are Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Tswana, Ndebele, Khoisan, Hindu, Muslim, and Afrikaner people to name but a few.
Brief Country History
Over a hundred thousand years ago people in what is now South Africa lived by hunting animals and gathering plants. They used stone tools. Then about 2,000 years ago people in the west learned to herd sheep and cattle. About 200 AD people mixed farming (growing crops as well as raising livestock) and iron tools were introduced into the east of South Africa.
At the end of the 15th Century, the Portuguese sailed past the Cape of Good Hope. However, it was not until 1652 that the Europeans founded a colony in South Africa. In 1652 the Dutch, led by Jan van Riebeeck founded a base where ships traveling to the Far East could be supplied. From 1658 the Dutch imported slaves into South Africa. Meanwhile, at first, the Europeans traded with the native people but they soon fell out. In 1658 they fought their first war, the first of many.
Gradually the Dutch colony in South Africa expanded and from 1688 French Huguenots (Protestants) arrived fleeing religious persecution. Slowly the native people were driven from their land and in 1713 many died in a smallpox epidemic.
In the early 21st century the economy of South Africa grew but recently it has slowed. South Africa suffers from high unemployment. The country also suffers from widespread poverty. However, tourism in South Africa is an important industry. South Africa is also rich in minerals. Today the population of South Africa is 56 million.
Language (s) Written & Spoken
South Africa has eleven official languages. They are Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. Most South Africans (over 99%) speak one of these languages as a first language.
Important Types of Commerce in South Africa
The primary goods produced by the manufacturing sector of South Africa include food processing, textiles, electronics, chemicals, technology, and automobiles. Of these specialized goods, the most important to the economy is the automobile industry.
Language Services US and others will provide working with South Africa
South Africa has been in a trade relationship with several countries. Because of such close relations, the necessity to learn and understand the Ndebele, Afrikaans, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu language has increased in importance over the years. This developed the need for Ndebele, Afrikaans, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu translators and interpreters. Moreover, for businesses planning to tap into South Africa, in order to maximize the voice of your brand and help them to reach a new Ndebele, Afrikaans, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu-speaking audience with enormous marketing opportunities in the global market, the next step is to partner with a professional translation and interpretation company.
Looking for a Ndebele, Afrikaans, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu translation company? Look no further. American Language Services (AML-Global) offers certified translations, native interpreting services, and turn-key localization solutions for any language. Call us today @ 1-800-951-5020 for further information, visit our website https://www.alsglobal.net/ or for a quick quote click http://alsglobal.net/quick-quote.php
