Essay On South Africa

South Africa is the southernmost country on the African continent and is bordered by six countries and two oceans. The country is incredibly unique in the fact that it has three capitals, which, according to The World Factbook, house each a separate branch of government: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). South Africa is famous for its large mountain range, the Great Escarpment, containing the highest point in the country, Njesuthi, at 11,181 feet. A plateau covers most of the country, and there are few rivers. Exceptions include the Knysna Lagoon in Western Cape and the Buffalo River at East London (“South Africa”). South Africa has a slightly high population of 54,841,552 people, about 66% of which

The country is also well known for its ancient art forms, such as cave drawings and statues. Music of the nation is mostly of the jazz, pop, or indigenous types, and, like literature, was once used to express the injustices of the apartheid system. One of the most famous novels of the country is Cry, the Beloved Country (1948) by Alan Paton, once again dealing with apartheid. In the apartheid era, even sports were segregated; whites played football (soccer), rugby, and cricket and enjoyed sports in world-class facilities, while blacks were restricted to such sports as football, boxing, and, secondarily, athletics (track and field); moreover, their facilities were poorly maintained and ill-equipped (“South Africa”). South Africa was suspended from the Olympics for its apartheid regime from 1964-92, but competed in the Summer Games of 1992. Penelope Heyns was the first post-apartheid medalist, and Josia Thugwane was the first black medalist, both in