Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

475

SOUTH AFRICA

Sangoma

In some communities of South africa, a

person known as a sangoma (sometimes

called a “witch doctor”) performs many

functions. He or she heals people, predicts

the future, and communicates with

ancestors. music and dance are central

to these cults; music is used to summon

spirits and accompany healing rituals.

A South African

“witch doctor”

discusses the

healing properties of his

medicines with a patient.

statistics

area: 470,693 sq miles

(1,219,090 sq km)

Population: 53,675,500

capital: Pretoria/Tshwane

(administrative), Cape

Town (legislative),

Bloemfontein (judicial)

Languages: English,

afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa,

ndebele, Setswana, Siswati,

north Sotho, South Sotho,

Tsongo, Venda

Religions: Protestant,

Roman Catholic,

Hindu, muslim

currency: Rand

Main occupations:

Tourism, manufacturing

Main exports: gold,

diamonds, manganese,

chrome ore, vanadium

WIldlIfE

The South africans

are pioneers in

wildlife conservation.

Kruger national Park

(below) is a sanctuary for

large herds of elephants.

SWaZIland

The tiny kingdom of Swaziland is bordered on three sides by

South africa and, to the east, by mozambique. most of the

country consists of high plateaus and mountains. The economy

is dominated by agriculture, and sugar cane is the main export.

most of the people live in traditional clans, centered on scattered

villages. Swaziland is ruled by a king; his mother, known as

the “great She Elephant,” is a powerful figure. South african

tourists come to Swaziland for its game reserves and casinos.

SWaZIland

area: 6,704 sq miles

(17,364 sq km)

Population: 1,436,000

capital: mbabane

lESoTHo

area: 11,720 sq miles

(30,355 sq km)

Population: 1,948,000

capital: maseru

South Africa has three capital

cities. Pretoria, the principal city,

is the administrative capital,

Cape Town the legislative

capital, and Bloemfontein

is the judicial capital.

Volcano Mountain Capital

city

Large

city/

town

Small

city/

town

Ancient

monument

0

0 100 200

100 200

scaLE BaR

km

miles

N

S

W E

Tropic of Capricorn

Tropic of Capricorn

Orange River

Ora

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sOUtH
aFRica
LEsOtHO
sWaZiLaND
Worcester
Agulhas
Port Nolloth
Springbok
Stellenbosch
Mosselbaai
George
Beaufort West
Sutherland
De Aar
Colesberg Aliwal North
Hotazel
Upington
Cradock
Middleburg
Queenstown
Port Alfred
Bethlehem
Modimolle
(Nylstroom)
Louis
Trichardt
Phalaborwa
Nelspruit
Kokstad
Polokwane
(Pietersburg)
Musina
(Messina)
Dundee
Richards Bay
Mmabatho
Uitenhage
Kroonstad
Klerksdorp
Umtata
Bellville
Kimberley
Welkom
MasERU
Mdantsane
East London
Pietermaritzburg
Port Elizabeth
soweto
Johannesburg
Durban
BLOEMFONtEiN
MBaBaNE
caPE tOWN
PREtORia
(tsHWaNE)
Thabana-Ntlenyana
3482 m
NaMiBia
ZiMBaBWE
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a
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