White South Africans

White South African

F. W. de Klerk Percy Montgomery Charlize Theron · F W de Klerk · Trevor Immelman Percy Montgomery · Claudia Henkel
Total population
4,400,000 (9.2% of total population)
Regions with significant populations
Western Cape, Gauteng, Bloemfontein, Durban, Port Elizabeth
Languages
Major: Afrikaans (60%) English (39%)
Religion
Mainly Christianity, minorities practicing Judaism or no religion

White South Africans is a term which refers to people from South Africa who are of Afrikaner, British or other continental European descent. In linguistic, cultural and historical terms, they are generally divided into the Afrikaans-speaking descendents of Boer settlers, and the English speakers who share an Anglophone background.

Background

Demographics

Statistics South Africa estimates that there are about 4.4 million white Africans in South Africa (2007)—down from an all-time high of 5 068 300 in the 1991 census. It is likely that the group was undercounted in the 2001 census, as many live in private gated neighbourhoods in cities, and on isolated farms which did not receive census forms. The undercount may be as much as 10%, which would bring the white population to about 4.8 million. Roughly 60% of them speak Afrikaans as their mother language and about 39% speak English. 1% of the white population speaks some other language as their mother language, such as German, Portuguese or Greek. Speakers of Afrikaans refer to themselves as Afrikaners. Unlike the Afrikaners, the English speakers have not constituted a coherent political or cultural entity in South Africa, hence the absence of a commonly accepted term to designate them, although 'English South African' or 'English-speaking South African' is used (see Anglo-African). Many white Africans have immigrated to South Africa following the independence of the African nations. Many Portuguese from Mozambique and Angola and white Zimbabweans emigrated to South Africa, when their countries became independent. South Africa also remains a prime destination amongst British expats. Meanwhile, many white South Africans also emigrated to first world countries over the past two decades, mainly to Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Distribution

According to Statistics South Africa, white Africans make up about 9.2% (July 2006) of the total population in South Africa and are large minorities in many cities and provinces in South Africa; in Pretoria they are roughly 23.9%, East Rand 19.4%, in Cape Town 18.7%, in Port Elizabeth 16.5%, in Johannesburg 16%, and in Durban 8.9%. Their actual proportional share is likely to be higher, given the undercount in the 2001 census.

Romanticised painting of an account of the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck, founder of Cape Town.

Politics

White Africans continue to participate in politics, having a presence across the whole political spectrum from left to right. In general, white Africans consider themselves to be just as African as the non-white majority in South Africa. President Thabo Mbeki stated in one his speeches to the nation that: "South Africa belongs to everyone who lives in it. Black and White." The history of white Africans in South Africa dates back to the 17th century.

There has been some rivalry and bitter feeling between Afrikaners and English-speaking white Africans. This is due in part to the Second Boer War, Britain's attempt to anglicise the country during the first half of the 20th century, and Afrikaner nationalism.

Prior to 1994, the white Africans minority of South Africa held complete political power under a system of racial segregation called apartheid. Many white Africans supported this policy, but some others opposed; support for an anti-apartheid South Africa amongst white South Afrikans was very small, only about 15-20% of whites opposed apartheid. .

During apartheid, immigrants from Taiwan, Korea and Japan were considered honorary whites in the country, as the government had and maintained diplomatic relations with these countries. These were granted the same privileges as white Africans. African-Americans were sometimes granted an 'honorary white' status as well, based on the government's belief that they were "civilised" and possessed western values.

Current trends

In recent decades there has been a steady proportional decline in the white African population, due to higher birthrates among the non-white population of South Africa. More recently, the improved counting of the majority black African population, the undercounting of white Africans in the census figures and emigration have contributed to a sharp decline since 1994. In 1994, upon the abolition of apartheid, white Africans comprised 13.6% of the population, compared to 9.2% today. According to some previous census data, the highest proportion of whites in South Africa was around 1911, when they made up between 19-21% of the population. It is estimated that at least one million white Africans have moved abroad.

In contrast, the white African populations of East Rand, Johannesburg and Pretoria grew between 1996 and 2001. East Rand's white population expanded by 31,567 or 7%, with Pretoria's white population also increasing by 7% with 3,295 more white residents. In Johannesburg the white population increased by 22,982, or 4.7%.

Like many other communities strongly affiliated with the West and Europe's colonial legacy in Africa, the white Africans are often economically better off than their black African neighbors, but have nonetheless surrendered political dominance to majority rule. There were also many white Africans in South Africa who lived in poverty--especially during the 1930s. Current estimates of white poverty in South Africa run as high as 12%.

In recent years there have been high numbers of British expats relocating to South Africa. Among the British expat population, South Africa ranks as the 6th most popular destination and is ranked as the top destination amongst British retirees and pensioners.

By 2005, an estimated 212 000 British citizens were residing in South Africa. Since 2003, the numbers of British expats coming to South Africa has risen by 50%. An estimated 20000 British expats moved to South Africa in 2007. The reasons cited by many expats are South Africa's family values, the weather and a better quality of life.

References

• 1. Sunny skies and family values lure Brits

See also

• Demography of South Africa
• Afrikaners
• Anglo-African
• South Africa
• White African
• Colonization of Africa
• Orania
• Municipal Demarcation Board of South Africa
• South African Migration Project (SAMP)