South Africa Overview

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South Africa Overview

• Ambassador
• Norma Gonzalez

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Source http//nmml.afsc.noaa.gov/apis/apis.htm
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Sourceshttp//www.oksana.co.uk/south20africa.htm
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frica.gif
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General Information

• Republic of South Africa
• Independence from the UK
• May 31, 1910
• President Thabo Mbeki

Source TIME Europe Online
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General Information

• Total Population 43 million
• Ethnic Groups Black 75.2
• White 13.6
• Colored 8.6
• Religions Christian 68
• Indigenous Beliefs and Animist 28.5

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A New Beginning

• 1994 Marked end of Apartheid System
• Nelson Mandela elected President same year
• December 1996 New Constitution Certified
• Country is restructuring

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Major Issues

• 2 Problem Areas
• Ecological Concerns
• Agriculture and Food Supply Concerns
• 2 Areas of Interest
• Communications
• Technology Advancement

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Ecological Concerns

• Priceless ecosystems
• Torn between preservation and use of resources
• As population grows, more land is needed
• Limited availability of fresh water

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Agriculture and Food Supply

• Agriculture plays an important role in the
  national economy
  
• Limited availability of water
• Serious malnutrition

Source Sunday Times Newspaper Online
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Communications

• The telephone system is the best developed and
  most modern in Africa (CIA World Factbook)
  
• Serious efforts to provide Internet access to
  all
  

Source BBC News online
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Technology Advancement

• CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial
  Research)
  
• Leading research group helped installation of
  satellite near Johannesburg
  
• First Ka band Telemetry, Tracking and Command
  facility worldwide (CSIR)
  
• CSIR hosted workshop in 2003
• Advanced Institute for Information and
  Communications Technology
  
• Emphasize the use of ICT in society and the
  economy
  

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Technology Advancement

• There have been important advancements in
  Biotechnology
  
• Benefits for both South Africa, Africa, and the
  World
  
• Included are
• Fungal resistant strawberries
• Insect resistant sugar cane
• Virus resistant potatoes

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• Summary

Source CSIR website
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• QUESTIONS?