The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern
tip of
the continent of Africa.
The South African coast stretches 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi)[5][6] and
borders both
the Atlantic
and Indian oceans.
To the north of South Africa
lie Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique
and Swaziland,
while the Kingdom
of Lesotho is an independent enclave surrounded by
South African territory.
Modern human beings have inhabited South Africa for more than 100,000
years.
With the discovery of the Cape Sea Route, the Dutch East India Company
founded a refreshment
station at what would become Cape Town in 1652.
English is the most commonly spoken
language in official
and commercial public life, however it is only the
fifth most spoken home language.
South Africa is ethnically diverse,
with the largest Caucasian, Indian, and racially mixed communities in Africa.
Midyear
2007, the South African population was estimated at 47.9 million.
