Change in South Africa - The Apartheid

Change in South Africa - 

The Apartheid

There have been many changes through the years in South Africa. The biggest and probably the most impactful change that occurred was during and after the Apartheid. 

To start, the word apartheid means, “racial segregation; specifically: a former policy of segregation and political and economic discrimination against non-European groups in the Republic of South Africa.” [1] 

The apartheid created significant political boundaries because it was separating whites from blacks socially and physically. The Britannica Encyclopedia clearly states the acts based on boundaries:

The Group Areas Act of 1950 established residential and business sections in urban areas for each race, and members of other races were barred from living, operating businesses, or owning land in them. In practice this act and two others (1954, 1955), which became known collectively as the Land Acts, completed a process that had begun with similar Land Acts adopted in 1913 and 1936; the end result was to set aside more than 80 percent of South Africa’s land for the white minority. [2]

This clearly created both political and national boundaries for all of South Africa. But things changed after the Apartheid.

After the Apartheid, racial tensions were still high among many of the people groups. The changes of the political and national boundaries have conformed to existing cultural boundaries by trying to make the boundaries back into what they were before the apartheid and before racial tensions and segregation really sparked. The changes affected national and cultural identity because after the Apartheid, the nation and its culture was known for the Apartheid segregation and its racial tension but also known to have some forgiveness and to move on into another generation of more acceptance of any race.

These changes have impacted the stability of South Africa in many ways. Many still fear each other because of racial tensions, but it also has affected the stability of the country’s safety. My friend who visited South Africa for six weeks said that it is known that in some areas the police will not even come to the scene of crime because they could easily get killed. The impact of the Apartheid in day-to-day life is seen in this security issue with police not always being there for the safety of the people. Another day-to-day impact is the occasional racial tension found between blacks and whites. [3]

End Notes

1.     “Apartheid,” Merriam-Webster, accessed June 26, 2015, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apartheid.

2.     “Apartheid,” Britannica Encyclopedia, accessed June 26, 2015, http://academic.eb.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/EBchecked/topic/29332/apartheid.

3.     Dombroski, Kenneth R., “South Africa After Apartheid,” Journal of Democracy, 17, no. 3 (2006): 43-57, accessed June 26, 2015, http://muse.jhu.edu.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/journals/journal_of_democracy/v017/17.3dombroski.html.

      Image #1: "Apartheid Laws - South African," accessed June 26, 2015, http://southafricanapartheid14.weebly.com/uploads/3/1/0/8/31082565/3977893_orig.jpg

      Image #2: "Coloured - Wikipedia," Wikipedia, accessed June 26, 2015, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/South_Africa_racial_map,_1979.gif.

Missionaries in South Africa

Missionaries in South Africa

Missionaries in South Africa started making more acknowledgeable appearances in the area during the nineteenth century. [1] Christian missionaries were creating schools in Natal for the Indian children who lived in the area. [2] They continued progressing and creating more schools in other cities as well. [3] When the Hindus and Muslims starting moving into these areas, they saw competition. [4] Among the Christian missionaries were protestants, Calvinists, and Roman Catholics. [5]

It did not take long for the Muslims and Hindus to overcome their competition of the Christians. [6] The neo-Hindu groups such as the Arya Samaj started traveling to spread their religion, making it difficult for the Christians to continue seeking lost souls in the areas of South Africa. [7] A few years after the Arya Samaj began spreading, another Hindu group called Maha Sabha who had a larger scale of identities in religious matters emerged and began spreading through South Africa. [8]

Just as the Christians and Hindus were spreading their religions throughout South Africa, so were the Muslims. The Sufi Sahib was the group of Muslims under Ghumlam Muhammad. [9] This man, along with his followers, was able to convert the Indian migrants of Natal and the area surrounding to fall under the Muslim religion and language. [10]

Each of the religions has progressed over time. They continue spreading and adding more people to their religious groups. Schools are still continuing to be created or maintained by the religious groups.

Each of these religious groups had and is continuing to have a significant impact on South Africa. Instead of just remaining as a mainly Christian area, other religious groups came in, giving the people “more options” to choose from. The Christian missionaries have helped translate Bibles into the South African language(s), as well as teaching them how to read. [11]

When looking at the people of South Africa, they may all look, act, and seem the same, but they are very diverse in religious affiliations.

QUICK FACT: “Islam is the religion of 1.5% of South Africans, Hinduism that of 1.2%, African traditional belief 0.3%, Judaism 0.2% and other beliefs 0.6%. In terms of population groups, Christianity is most common among white and coloured South Africans, being the faith of 86.8% of the people in both groups.” [12]

End Notes

1.    Green, Nile, “Islam for the Indentured Indian: A Muslim Missionary in Colonial South Africa,” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 71, no. 3 (2008): 530, accessed June 19, 2015, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40378804.

2.    Ibid.

3.    Ibid.

4.    Ibid.

5.    Daniel, Philip T. K., “Review: Early American Merchants and Missionaries in South Africa,” The United States Experience in South Africa: 1784-1870, 25, no. 2 (April 1978): 92-93, accessed June 19, 2015, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4185780.

6.    Green, Nile, “Islam for the Indentured Indian: A Muslim Missionary in Colonial South Africa,” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 71, no. 3 (2008): 530, accessed June 19, 2015, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40378804.

7.    Ibid.

8.    Green, Nile, “Islam for the Indentured Indian: A Muslim Missionary in Colonial South Africa,” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 71, no. 3 (2008): 531, accessed June 19, 2015, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40378804.

9.    Ibid

10.  Ibid.

11.  Gilmour, Rachael, “Missionaries, Colonialism and Language in Nineteenth-Century South Africa,” History Compass, 5, no. 6 (September 2007): 1, accessed June 19, 2015, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/doi/10.1111/j.1478-0542.2007.00472.x/abstract.

12.  “South Africa: fast facts,” Media Club South Africa, accessed June 19, 2015 http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/landstatic/82-fast-facts.

Image #1: Jayden, “South Africa,” PB Works, accessed June 19, 2015 http://year52012.pbworks.com/f/1352363261/South%20African%20Religion.jpg.

First Contacts - Europe and Asia

South Africa's First Contacts with Europe and Asia

South Africa has been full of immigration for years. The instigation for the Europeans meeting South Africa was while discovering a trade route to India. [1] In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias of Portugal was the first European to explore the coast of South Africa. [2] From the years 1780-1795, Colonel Robert Jacob Gordon was the first European to explore the land of South Africa. [3] Gordon wrote journals about his expeditions, creating a great primary resource. [4]

The Europeans expanded their territory by taking over what they called “Cape Colony” (see map above) where they lived along with several thousand slaves. [5] They were saving it from being taken by the French. [6] Ultimately, they wanted the location because of the beneficial port it offered for trade. [7]

The discovery of natural resources such as gold and diamonds led to trade and exploration in South Africa among many nations besides European and Asian ones. [8]

As mentioned in a previous blog, the Europeans brought the Christian religion to South Africa. It is not clearly stated anywhere as to if the Asians brought any type of religion to South Africa.

Asia does not have as large of a history in South Africa as the Europeans obtain. The Asian community meeting South Africa was instigated by political reasons in more recent years. [9] China has the second largest economy and saw South Africa as a great place to help since it is a part of the poorest continent. [10] China supported South Africa as they joined BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) which is an international organization that helps growing market and business places. [11]

Overall, the development for the sides of all three (South Africa, Europe, and Asia) turned out to be successful. It produced trade, stability, and growth. It brought political establishments and expansions. There were hardships throughout the years and arguments held but overall, the contact between the different nations helped strengthen each other in many ways.

Bibliography

[1] "History of South Africa." Wikipedia. Accessed June 11, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_South_Africa#European_exploration.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] "History of South Africa." Wikipedia. Accessed June 11, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_South_Africa#European_exploration.

[9] Park, Yoon. "Living In Between: The Chinese in South Africa." Migrationpolicy.org. January 4, 2012. Accessed June 12, 2015. http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/living-between-chinese-south-africa.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

Image #1: South Africa in the 19^th Century. Accessed June 12, 2015. http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his312/maps/safr1870.jpg. 

South Africa's Natural Resources

South Africa's Natural Resources

What is a natural resource?

One source says it is, “material in its native state that, when extracted, has economic value.” [1]

South Africa has many natural resources when considering the definition given above. The natural resources South Africa produces are influential in everyday life.

South Africa holds a lot of metal, livestock, minerals, farming, and much more that produce the natural resources. Two of the most commonly found national natural resources are diamonds and gold. [2] They were discovered all throughout history and are what contributed to many people settling down and creating towns. The mining business and trade brought people into different areas so they could "get rich quick. Overall, Africa leads in the world’s diamond market industry. [3] Because of the numerous amounts of diamonds and the profit they produce for the countries in Africa, there have been many civil wars. [4] They have named the diamonds that cause the strife “blood diamonds”. [5] The countries that do not fall under the KPCS (Kimberley Process Certification Scheme) are not allowed to trade among other countries. [6] This certification was created by the United Nations in 2008. [7] This act was seemingly created to help prevent civil wars from occurring.

Kimberley 'Big Hole' Mine

One of the largest gold mines in the world is located right outside of Johannesburg. [8] It is called The Driefontein Gold Mine and can be a very dangerous place to work. [9] This is so because the mining shafts are very large and deep, creating a very difficult and dangerous working area for miners. [10]

Oil and natural gas are both found all throughout Africa and used among trading with other countries. [11] The oil and natural gas are what promote the majority of trade among all of Africa. [12] These resources are what subsidize to buildings and the city-like living of Africa. [13]

The natural resources have been used to create many things throughout the years. Their overall use has increased among the African citizens as well as around the world over time, especially among oil. The value has shown an increase over time, for there seems to be a higher demand for the resources because of what they are used to create other useful materials. All of the products increase in value over time as they are being made into better qualities after more research or practice is used into making better objects. Some of the resources are used to create: fuel, food, grazing for cattle, bait for fishing, ornamental plants, handcrafting objects for decoration, timber, medicine, weaving materials, ritual usage, and much more. [14]

Bibliography 

[1] "BioBriefs: What's the Definition of Natural Resource?" Bioscience 45, no. 3 (03, 1995): 231, http://search.proquest.com/docview/216453912?accountid=12085.

[2] “Africa: Resources.” National Geographic. Accessed June 5, 2015. http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/africa-resources/?ar_a=1.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid.

[14] van Wilgen, Nicola,J., Mbulelo Dopolo, Alexis Symonds, Wessel Vermeulen, Elzette Bester, Kyle Smith, and Melodie A. McGeoch. "An Inventory of Natural Resources Harvested from National Parks in South Africa." Koedoe 55, no. 1 (2013): 1-5, http://search.proquest.com/docview/1370173439?accountid=12085.

Image #1: “South Africa Top 5 Export Products.” Accessed June 5, 2015. https://afrolibertarian.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/screen-shot-2014-09-01-at-8-48-57-pm.png.

Image #2: "Kimberley 'Big Hole' Mine". Accessed June 5, 2015. http://www.allaboutgemstones.com/images/diamond_mining_so_africa_kimberley.jpg