south africa

• the republic of south africa is a country in southern africa, which became a british colony in the late 18th century. the national party came to power in 1948. it developed the policy of apartheid, which aimed to keep the races of south africa separate. south africans of european extraction comprise less than 17% of the population, but the black majority had no political power. south africa left the commonwealth and became a republic in 1961 under the leadership of dr hendrik verwoerd. the african national congress (anc) was established in 1912 to campaign for equal political rights for all races. it was outlawed in 1960 and its leader, nelson mandela, was imprisoned in 1963. f w de klerk, of the national party, became president in 1989. he began the process of ending apartheid, by legalizing the anc and other anti-apartheid groups. many anc leaders were released from prison in 1990, most notably nelson mandela. constitutional negotiations between the anc and the government began in 1991 and culminated in the country's first free multi-racial elections in 1994. nelson mandela was elected president. international sanctions were lifted and south africa joined the commonwealth and the organization of african unity. south africa is the world's leading producer of gold. it also exports other metals and fruit.