South Africa
After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - separate races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.
As South Africa has held three successful national elections as well as local polls since the end of white rule, a democratic culture appears to be taking hold. Following the 1999 elections, the African National Congress (ANC) selected Thabo Mbeki as president, replacing retiring President Nelson Mandela. Mbeki is considered to have in fact ruled the country almost since 1994. Leading opposition parties are the mostly white Democratic Party and the Inkatha Freedom Party. The New National Party (NNP) -- successor to the party that ruled during apartheid -- lost its role as second-largest party in the 1999 elections.
South Africa's international relations have been normalized since the mid-1990’s, and the country plays a major role in African affairs. South Africa is a prominent member of the African Union (AU), the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), and the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU). South Africa has been active in mediating conflicts in Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe.
There are currently no known direct threats to travelers or expatriate personnel in South Africa. Some townships in the vicinity of major cities, most notably Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, have been scenes of violent demonstrations and factional conflicts. Political violence has significantly decreased in most areas of South Africa since 1994. Some public gatherings, however, have provoked violent clashes between political factions, resulting in casualties. The police force is well-trained and disciplined in monitoring gatherings and crowd control. The main security concerns for visitors are demonstrations and crime.
