The realization, in South Africa, of one of the most important events in the world – the Soccer World Cup in 2010, can be considered as a historical fact for the country and for the world. In addition to being the first African country to host this impressive sporting event, South Africans showed the world that they managed to overcome the historic episode of apartheid experienced by its population.
The apartheid can be understood as a policy that legalized the racism in South Africa between the years 1948 and 1994. In this scheme, the white minority went on to enjoy all the social privileges, such as voting and have access to several places, in order to segregate the black population socially and geographically, in one of the most regrettable historical events of humanity.
The institutionalization of apartheid occurred with the arrival of the Reunited National Party in 1948, which fought for the imposition of the segregationist vision of the Afrikaners , who justified themselves based on similar traditions of their ancestors, the Boers . As a result, in addition to restricting suffrage, blacks began to be isolated in specific settlements (called “bantustões”), prevented from acquiring land and marrying white people.
As a result, in addition to the established social humiliation, blacks began to rely on degrading public and private services, to suffer from a greater degradation of their living conditions, in addition to the intensification of repressive action by the government. Even so, protests against the apartheid regime were intensified under the leadership of the African National Congress (CNA), a party that was banned in the 1960s. Among the leaders of the CNA was Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013), who was arrested and kept like that for 27 years.
In this context, international pressure against the apartheid regime in South Africa has become quite intense, with several international sanctions and a consequent political isolation in the face of the government’s inflexibility.
In 1989, however, after elections were held, Africans were defeated and the new president, Frederik Willem Klerk, implemented measures to end apartheid, restoring legality to the ANC and revoking the arrest of activists fighting against the regime ( including Mandela). Nelson Mandela, in 1994, was elected in democratic and multiracial elections, becoming the first black president in the history of South Africa, responsible for putting a definitive end to the existing racial regime.
However, the legacy of apartheid is still very much felt in South Africa, which has also suffered from serious economic problems, which are gradually being overcome. Today, the country is considered an emerging economy and is one of the main countries on the African continent in political and economic terms. From 2011, inclusive, the South Africans became part of the BRICS summit, alongside Brazil, Russia, India and China, who are seen today as the main representatives of developing countries in the world.
In this context, the candidacy for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa – remembering that, by FIFA’s decision, the event should necessarily take place in an African country – was considered as a symbolic act to demonstrate the country’s evolution and also a clear demonstration that, at least in the political aspect, apartheid has been overcome. For South Africa democracy and rights, please check getzipcodes.
Despite the fact that the local team did not even pass the first stages of the tournament, it was considered that the event was very well done, culminating in a greater and wider dissemination of the country’s social conditions and also of its tourist potential. Contrary to what happened in times of racial repression, today South Africa is viewed differently by the international community.
- Countryaah.com: Offers a full list of airports in the country of South Africa, sorted by city location and acronyms.
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Provides most commonly used abbreviations and initials containing the country name of South Africa. Listed by popularity.
1UpTravel.com – Maps of South Africa
Browse a collection of city, country, provinces, territory, shaded relief and political maps of South Africa. View the maps of Johannesburg and Prince Edward Island.
Website: http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/south-africa.html
South Africa – African Adventures Map
Offers a graphical outline map of southern Africa, including the countries of South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.
Website: http://www.africanadv.com/map.htm
South Africa – African National Congress Map
Enter this gopher resource to view a black and white outline map of the country’s provinces. Good for printing out and studying.
gopher://gopher.anc.org.za/g9/anc/graphics/samapo
South Africa – AfricaPoint.com Map
Detailed, color map of South pinpoints the location of the capital city, district, outlying areas, plus Lesotho and Swaziland.
Website: http://www.africapoint.com/travel/soutmap.htm
South Africa – Cape Map
Features a map that shows the regions of the Cape of South Africa region and click through for more information.
Website: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/za(.html
South Africa – Go2Africa.com Map
Preview a regional map of this South African coastline known for whale sightings. Click through for accommodations and parkland information.
Website: http://www.go2africa.com/south-africa/whale-coast/
South Africa – InfoPlease.com Map
View a close-up map of South Africa and easily locate key cities and towns, plus bordering countries and river systems.
Website: http://ln.infoplease.com/atlas/country/southafrica.html
South Africa – Merriam-Webster Atlas
Detailed color map of this African country also includes country facts, illustration of the nation’s flag, and a historical summary.
Website: http://www.m-w.com/maps/south_africa.html
South Africa – National Geographic Map Machine
Satellite imaging and political map-making combine to create a zoomable map of this west African country, and it’s cities, rivers and topography.
Website: http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/index.html?i
South Africa – Regional Map
Peruse this regional map of South Africa and zoom in on a particular area to find even more maps and accommodations, parklands and cities.
Website: http://www.go2africa.com/south-africa/region1.asp
South Africa – University of Texas Library
Learn the layout of Johannesburg and the rest of South Africa by checking out the historical, political and shaded-relief maps.
Website: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection/south_afri…
