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Reverted good faith edits by Dans: I do not think that conspiracy theories should be spread to fact based articles, instead we should be focused on facts from reliable sources unless the article is specifically about conspiracy theories, and the section in post-apartheid era already covers some of the current trends regarding this issue, if you want to contribute I would suggest you start from there. (TW)
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Like many other communities strongly affiliated with the [[Western culture|West]] and Europe's [[colonialism|colonial legacy]] in Africa, white South Africans were in the past often economically better off than their black African neighbors and have (circa 1980) surrendered political dominance to majority rule. There were also some white Africans in South Africa who lived in [[poverty]]—especially during the 1930s and increasingly since the end of minority rule. Current estimates of white poverty in South Africa run as high as 12%, though fact-checking website Africa Check described these figures as "grossly inflated", and suggested that a more accurate estimate was that "only a tiny fraction of the white population – as little as 7,754 households – are affected".<ref>[https://africacheck.org/reports/do-400-000-whites-live-in-squatter-camps-in-south-africa-the-answer-is-no/ Do 400,000 whites live in squatter camps in South Africa? No] {{webarchive|url=//web.archive.org/web/20160805194837/https://africacheck.org/reports/do-400-000-whites-live-in-squatter-camps-in-south-africa-the-answer-is-no/|date=5 August 2016}}, Africa Check, 22 May 2013</ref>
Like many other communities strongly affiliated with the [[Western culture|West]] and Europe's [[colonialism|colonial legacy]] in Africa, white South Africans were in the past often economically better off than their black African neighbors and have (circa 1980) surrendered political dominance to majority rule. There were also some white Africans in South Africa who lived in [[poverty]]—especially during the 1930s and increasingly since the end of minority rule. Current estimates of white poverty in South Africa run as high as 12%, though fact-checking website Africa Check described these figures as "grossly inflated", and suggested that a more accurate estimate was that "only a tiny fraction of the white population – as little as 7,754 households – are affected".<ref>[https://africacheck.org/reports/do-400-000-whites-live-in-squatter-camps-in-south-africa-the-answer-is-no/ Do 400,000 whites live in squatter camps in South Africa? No] {{webarchive|url=//web.archive.org/web/20160805194837/https://africacheck.org/reports/do-400-000-whites-live-in-squatter-camps-in-south-africa-the-answer-is-no/|date=5 August 2016}}, Africa Check, 22 May 2013</ref>


[[File:Lara Logan in Iraq.jpg|thumb|[[Lara Logan]] is a television and radio [[journalist]] and [[war correspondent]].]]
[[File:Lara Logan in Iraq.jpg|thumb|left|[[Lara Logan]] is a television and radio [[journalist]] and [[war correspondent]].]]
The new phenomenon of white poverty is often blamed on the government's [[affirmative action]] employment legislation, which reserves 80% of new jobs for black people<ref>{{cite news|title=Race against time|first=Simon|last=Wood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jan/22/southafrica.features|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=22 January 2006|accessdate=25 February 2013|quote=Certainly the new phenomenon of white poverty is often blamed on the government's Affirmative Action employment legislation, which reserves 80 per cent of new jobs for blacks.}}</ref> and favours companies owned by black people (see [[Black Economic Empowerment]]). In 2010, [[Reuters]] stated that 450,000 whites live below the poverty line according to [[Solidarity (South African trade union)|Solidarity]] and civil organisations,<ref>{{cite news|title=Tough times for white South African squatters|first=Finbarr|last=O'Reilly|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-whites-idUSTRE62P0UJ20100326|agency=Reuters|date=26 March 2010|accessdate=25 February 2013 |quote=At least 450,000 white South Africans, 10 percent of the total white population, live below the poverty line}}</ref> with some research saying that up to 150,000 are struggling for survival.<ref>{{cite news|title=Race against time|first=Simon|last=Wood|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jan/22/southafrica.features|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=22 January 2006|accessdate=25 February 2013|quote=some research claiming that up to 150,000 are destitute and struggling for survival}}</ref>
The new phenomenon of white poverty is often blamed on the government's [[affirmative action]] employment legislation, which reserves 80% of new jobs for black people<ref>{{cite news|title=Race against time|first=Simon|last=Wood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jan/22/southafrica.features|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=22 January 2006|accessdate=25 February 2013|quote=Certainly the new phenomenon of white poverty is often blamed on the government's Affirmative Action employment legislation, which reserves 80 per cent of new jobs for blacks.}}</ref> and favours companies owned by black people (see [[Black Economic Empowerment]]). In 2010, [[Reuters]] stated that 450,000 whites live below the poverty line according to [[Solidarity (South African trade union)|Solidarity]] and civil organisations,<ref>{{cite news|title=Tough times for white South African squatters|first=Finbarr|last=O'Reilly|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-whites-idUSTRE62P0UJ20100326|agency=Reuters|date=26 March 2010|accessdate=25 February 2013 |quote=At least 450,000 white South Africans, 10 percent of the total white population, live below the poverty line}}</ref> with some research saying that up to 150,000 are struggling for survival.<ref>{{cite news|title=Race against time|first=Simon|last=Wood|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jan/22/southafrica.features|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|date=22 January 2006|accessdate=25 February 2013|quote=some research claiming that up to 150,000 are destitute and struggling for survival}}</ref>


{{Main|white genocide conspiracy theory}}
[[Far-right]] and [[alt-right]] figures, such as singer [[Steve Hofmeyr]] have claimed that a "white genocide" is taking place in [[South Africa]].<ref name=villet>{{cite news|last1=Villet|first1=Charles|title=Donald Trump, white victimhood and the South African far-right|url=http://theconversation.com/donald-trump-white-victimhood-and-the-south-african-far-right-73400|accessdate=24 March 2018|work=The Conversation|date=23 February 2017|language=en}}</ref> The manifesto of far-right terrorist [[Anders Behring Breivik]] entitled ''2083: A European Declaration of Independence'' devotes an entire section to an alleged "genocide" against Afrikaners. It also contains several other references to alleged persecution of whites in South Africa.<ref name=villet/> [[Mike Cernovich]], an American alt-right commentator has previously stated that "white genocide in South Africa is real."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/opinion/trumps-alt-right-coming-to-sa-7803189|title=Trump’s Alt-Right coming to SA - IOL News|publisher=}}</ref> The [[survivalist]] group the [[Suidlanders]] has claimed credit for publicizing the issue internationally.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/sa-conservative-group-takes-credit-for-increased-white-genocide-awareness-20180323|title=SA conservative group takes credit for increased 'white genocide' awareness|publisher=News24}}</ref>
However, [[Africa Check]], a [[fact-checking]] organisation has rejected the claims as false: "In fact, whites are less likely to be murdered than any other race group." Africa Check reported that while whites account for nearly 9% of the South African population they represent just 1.8% of murder victims. Lizette Lancaster from the [[Institute for Security Studies]] has said that "Whites are far less likely to be murdered than their black or coloured counterparts."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://africacheck.org/reports/are-white-afrikaners-really-being-killed-like-flies/|title=Are SA whites really being killed ‘like flies’? Why Steve Hofmeyr is wrong|publisher=}}</ref>
A further concern has been crime. Some white South Africans living in affluent white suburbs, such as [[Sandton]], have been affected by the 2008 13.5% rise in house robberies and associated crime.<ref>{{cite news |title=Criminals feel 'entitled' to steal |first=Hilda |last=Fourie |url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Criminals-feel-entitled-to-steal-20080702 |newspaper=Beeld |location=Johannesburg |date=2 July 2008 |accessdate=25 February 2013 |quote=According to the police's latest crime statistics, which were announced at the Union Buildings on Monday, house robberies had increased countrywide by 13.5%.}}</ref> In a study, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Dr. Johan Burger, said that criminals were specifically targeting wealthier suburbs. Burger revealed that several affluent suburbs are surrounded by poorer residential areas and that inhabitants in the latter often target inhabitants in the former. Burger also related to an [[entitlement]] complex that criminals have; "They feel they are entitled, for their own sakes, to take from those who have a lot". The report also found that residents in wealthy suburbs in [[Gauteng]] were not only at more risk of being targeted but also faced an inflated chance of being murdered during the robbery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Criminals feel 'entitled' to steal|first=Hilda|last=Fourie|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Criminals-feel-entitled-to-steal-20080702|newspaper=Beeld|location=Johannesburg|date=2 July 2008|accessdate=25 February 2013|quote=According to the report, Gautengers who live in richer neighbourhoods "like Brooklyn, Garsfontein, Sandton, Honeydew and Douglasdale, have a bigger chance of being targeted or murdered in house robberies".}}</ref>
A further concern has been crime. Some white South Africans living in affluent white suburbs, such as [[Sandton]], have been affected by the 2008 13.5% rise in house robberies and associated crime.<ref>{{cite news |title=Criminals feel 'entitled' to steal |first=Hilda |last=Fourie |url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Criminals-feel-entitled-to-steal-20080702 |newspaper=Beeld |location=Johannesburg |date=2 July 2008 |accessdate=25 February 2013 |quote=According to the police's latest crime statistics, which were announced at the Union Buildings on Monday, house robberies had increased countrywide by 13.5%.}}</ref> In a study, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Dr. Johan Burger, said that criminals were specifically targeting wealthier suburbs. Burger revealed that several affluent suburbs are surrounded by poorer residential areas and that inhabitants in the latter often target inhabitants in the former. Burger also related to an [[entitlement]] complex that criminals have; "They feel they are entitled, for their own sakes, to take from those who have a lot". The report also found that residents in wealthy suburbs in [[Gauteng]] were not only at more risk of being targeted but also faced an inflated chance of being murdered during the robbery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Criminals feel 'entitled' to steal|first=Hilda|last=Fourie|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Criminals-feel-entitled-to-steal-20080702|newspaper=Beeld|location=Johannesburg|date=2 July 2008|accessdate=25 February 2013|quote=According to the report, Gautengers who live in richer neighbourhoods "like Brooklyn, Garsfontein, Sandton, Honeydew and Douglasdale, have a bigger chance of being targeted or murdered in house robberies".}}</ref>


Revision as of 21:13, 17 April 2018

White South Africans
Total population
2017 Estimate:

Decrease4,493,500 (8.0% South Africa's population) [1]

2011 Census: 4,586,838 (8.9% of South Africa's population) [2]
Regions with significant populations
Throughout South Africa, but concentrated in urban areas
Gauteng1,920,000
Western Cape980,000
KwaZulu-Natal450,000
Eastern Cape300,000
Free State270,000
Mpumalanga250,000
North West240,000
Limpopo110,000
Northern Cape110,000
Languages
Afrikaans (61%), English (36%), other (3%)
Religion
Christianity (87%), Irreligious (9%), Judaism (1%), other (3%)
Related ethnic groups
White Namibians, White Zimbabweans, Afrikaners, British diaspora in Africa, Coloureds, South African diaspora

White South Africans are South Africans who are members of the Caucasian race and who regard themselves, or are not regarded as, not being part of another racial group (for example, as Coloured).[3] In linguistic, cultural and historical terms, they are generally divided into the Afrikaans-speaking descendants of the Dutch East India Company's original settlers, known as Afrikaners, and the Anglophone descendants of predominantly British colonists. In 2011, 61% were native Afrikaans speakers, 36% were native English speakers, and 3% spoke another language as their mother tongue,[2] such as Portuguese or German. White South Africans are by far the largest European-descended population group in Africa.

White South Africans differ significantly from other White African groups, because they have developed nationhood, as in the case of the Afrikaners, who established a distinct language, culture and faith in Africa.[4]

History

The history of European settlement in South Africa started in 1652 with the settlement of the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) under Jan van Riebeeck.[5] Despite the preponderance of officials and colonists from the Netherlands, there were also a number of French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution at home and German soldiers or sailors returning from service in Asia.[6] The colony remained under Dutch rule for two more centuries, after which it was annexed by Great Britain around 1806.[7] At that time, South Africa was home to about 26,000 people of European descent, a relative majority of whom were still of Dutch origin.[7] However, beginning in 1818 thousands of British immigrants arrived in the fledgling Cape Colony, looking to join the local workforce or settle directly on the frontier.[7] About a fifth of the Cape's original Dutch-speaking white population migrated eastwards during the Great Trek in the 1830s and established their own autonomous Boer republics further inland.[8] Nevertheless, the population of European origin continued increasing at the Cape as a result of immigration, and by 1865 had reached 181,592 people.[9] Between 1880 and 1910, there was an influx of Eastern Europeans of various nationalities, especially a large Jewish community from the Baltic region.[10]

The first nationwide census in South Africa was held in 1911 and indicated a white population of 1,276,242.[10] By 1936 there were an estimated 2,003,857 white South Africans, and by 1946 the number had reached 2,372,690.[10] The country began receiving tens of thousands of European immigrants, namely from Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, and the territories of the Portuguese Empire during the mid to late twentieth century.[11] South Africa's white population increased to over 3,408,000 by 1965, reached 4,050,000 in 1973, and peaked at 5,044,000 in 1990.[12] The number of white South Africans resident in their home country began gradually declining between 1990 and the mid-2000s as a result of increased emigration.[12]

Today, white South Africans are also considered to be the last major white population group of European ancestry on the African continent, due in part to the mass exodus of colonials from most other African states during regional decolonization. Whites continue to play a role in the South African economy and across the political spectrum. The current number of white South Africans is not exactly known as no recent census has been measured. Although the overall percentage of up to 9% of the population represents a decline, both numerically and proportionately, since the country's first multiracial elections in 1994. Just under a million white South Africans are also living as expatriate workers abroad, which forms the majority of South Africa's brain drain.

Apartheid era

See also: Population Registration Act, 1950

Under the 1950 Population Registration Act, each inhabitant of South Africa was classified into one of several different race groups, of which White was one. The Office for Race Classification defined a white person as one who "in appearance is obviously a white person who is generally not accepted as a coloured person; or is generally accepted as a white person and is not in appearance obviously a white person." Many criteria, both physical (e.g. examination of head and body hair) and social (e.g. eating and drinking habits, familiarity with Afrikaans or a European language) were used when the board decided to classify someone as white or coloured.[3][13] This was ventral extended to all those considered the children of two White persons, regardless of appearance. The Act was repealed on 17 June 1991.

Post-apartheid era

The 1994 Employment Equity legislation propagates employment of black (African, Indian, Chinese, Coloured population groups as well as disabled people) South Africans. Black Economic Empowerment legislation further empowerers blacks as the government considers ownership, employment, training and social responsibility initiatives which empower black South Africans as important criteria when awarding tenders. However, private enterprise adheres to this legislation voluntarily.[14] Some reports indicate a growing number of whites suffering poverty compared to the pre-apartheid years and attribute this to such laws — over 350,000 Afrikaners may be classified as poor, with some research claiming that up to 150,000 are struggling for survival.[15][16] This combined with a wave of violent crime has led to vast numbers of Afrikaners and English-speaking South Africans leaving the country.

Genocide Watch has theorised that farm attacks constitute early warning signs of genocide against White South African and has criticised the South African government for its inaction on the issue, pointing out that the murder rate for them ("ethno-European farmers" in their report, which also included non-Afrikaner farmers of European descent) is four times that of the general South African population.[17] There are 40,000 white farmers in South Africa[citation needed]. Since 1994 close to three thousand farmers have been murdered in thousands of farm attacks,[18] with many being brutally tortured and/or raped. Some victims have been burned with smoothing irons or had boiling water poured down their throats.[19]

White South African diaspora and emigration

See also: Brain drain in South Africa
Afrikaner farmer in Georgia, Caucasus region, 2011

Since 1994 there has been significant emigration of white people from South Africa. There are thus currently large Afrikaner and English-speaking South African communities in the UK and other developed countries. Between 1995 and 2005, more than one million South Africans emigrated, citing violent and racially motivated black on white crime as the main reason, as well as the lack of employment opportunities for whites.[20]

The land reform program introduced at the end of apartheid intended that, within 20 years, 30 percent of white-owned commercial farm land should be transferred to black owners. This target was not close to being met by the 2014 deadline.[21] Thus, in 2011, the farmers' association Agri South Africa coordinated efforts to resettle farmers throughout the African continent. The initiative was offered millions of hectares from 22 African countries that hoped to spur development of efficient commercial farming.[22] At the end of apartheid in 1994, 85 percent of South Africa's arable land was owned by whites; by 2016, Agri S.A. found that this had decreased to 73 percent.[23]

In February 2018, South Africa's parliament voted 241-83 to begin amending the "property clause" in the constitution to remove white farmers from the land without compensation.[24] Western Cape ANC secretary Faiez Jacobs referred to the property clause amendment as a "stick" to force dialogue about the transfer of land ownership, with the hope of accomplishing the transfer "in a way that is orderly and doesn’t create a ‘them’ and ‘us’ [situation]."[25]

Graeme Smith, former test captain of the South Africa national cricket team.

In recent decades there has been a steady proportional decline in South Africa's white community, due to higher birthrates among other South African ethnic groups, as well as a high emigration statistic. In 1977, there were 4.3 million whites, constituting 16.4% of the population at the time. It is estimated that at least 800,000 white South Africans have emigrated since 1995.[26]

Like many other communities strongly affiliated with the West and Europe's colonial legacy in Africa, white South Africans were in the past often economically better off than their black African neighbors and have (circa 1980) surrendered political dominance to majority rule. There were also some white Africans in South Africa who lived in poverty—especially during the 1930s and increasingly since the end of minority rule. Current estimates of white poverty in South Africa run as high as 12%, though fact-checking website Africa Check described these figures as "grossly inflated", and suggested that a more accurate estimate was that "only a tiny fraction of the white population – as little as 7,754 households – are affected".[27]

Lara Logan is a television and radio journalist and war correspondent.

The new phenomenon of white poverty is often blamed on the government's affirmative action employment legislation, which reserves 80% of new jobs for black people[28] and favours companies owned by black people (see Black Economic Empowerment). In 2010, Reuters stated that 450,000 whites live below the poverty line according to Solidarity and civil organisations,[29] with some research saying that up to 150,000 are struggling for survival.[30]

A further concern has been crime. Some white South Africans living in affluent white suburbs, such as Sandton, have been affected by the 2008 13.5% rise in house robberies and associated crime.[31] In a study, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Dr. Johan Burger, said that criminals were specifically targeting wealthier suburbs. Burger revealed that several affluent suburbs are surrounded by poorer residential areas and that inhabitants in the latter often target inhabitants in the former. Burger also related to an entitlement complex that criminals have; "They feel they are entitled, for their own sakes, to take from those who have a lot". The report also found that residents in wealthy suburbs in Gauteng were not only at more risk of being targeted but also faced an inflated chance of being murdered during the robbery.[32]

The current global financial crisis has slowed down the high rates of white people emigrating overseas and has led to increasing numbers of white emigrants returning to live in South Africa. Charles Luyckx, CEO of Elliot International and a board member of the Professional Movers Association said that in the past six months leading to December (2008), emigration numbers had dropped by 10%. Meanwhile, he revealed that "people imports" had increased by 50%. These figures may be grossly unreliable due to legislation which does not allow South Africans to hold dual citizenships so many who emigrate let their citizenship remain dormant or lapsed while changing citizenship and no reporting method exists. [33]

As of May 2014, Homecoming Revolution has estimated that around 340,000 white South Africans have returned in the last decade.[34]

Furthermore, immigration from Europe has also supplemented the white population. The 2011 census found that 63,479 white people living in South Africa were born in Europe; of these, 28,653 had moved to South Africa since 2001.[35]

Demographics

White South Africans by their native tongue[36]
Language Percent
Afrikaans
 
 61%
English
 
 36%

The Statistics South Africa Census 2011 showed that there were about 4,586,838 white people in South Africa, amounting to 8.9% of the country's population.[37] This is a 6.8% increase since the 2001 census. According to the Census 2011, South African English is the first language of 36% of the white population group and Afrikaans is the first language of 61% of the white population group.[2] The majority of white South Africans identify themselves as primarily South African, regardless of their first language or ancestry.[38][39]

Religion

Religion among White South Africans
Religion Percent
Christianity
 
 87%
Irreligious
 
 9%
Other
 
 3%
Judaism
 
 1%

Approximately 87% of white South Africans are Christian, 9% have no religion, and 1% are Jewish. The largest Christian denomination is the Dutch Reformed Church, with 23% of the white population being members. Other significant denominations are the Methodist Church (8%), the Roman Catholic Church (7%), and the Anglican Church (6%).[40]

Migrations

Many white people have migrated to South Africa from other parts of Africa following the independence of those African nations or when those nations became hostile to them. Many Portuguese from Mozambique and Angola and white Zimbabweans emigrated to South Africa when their respective countries became independent.

Meanwhile, many white South Africans also emigrated to Western countries over the past two decades, mainly to English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, and with others settling in the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, France, Argentina, Mexico, Israel and Brazil. However, the financial crisis has slowed down the rate of emigration and as of May 2014, Homecoming Revolution has estimated that around 340,000 white South Africans have returned in the last decade.[34]

Distribution

Main article: Distribution of white South Africans
White South Africans as a proportion of the total population.

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Density of the White South African population.

Column-generating template families

The templates listed here are not interchangeable. For example, using {{col-float}} with {{col-end}} instead of {{col-float-end}} would leave a <div>...</div> open, potentially harming any subsequent formatting.
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Handles wiki
table code?†
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According to Statistics South Africa, white South Africans make up 8.9% (Census 2011) of the total population in South Africa. Their actual proportional share in municipalities is likely to be higher, given the undercount in the 2001 census.[41]

The following table shows the distribution of white people by province, according to the 2011 census:[2]

Province White pop. (2011) White pop. (2001) % province (2011) % province (2001) % change 2001-2011 % total whites (2011)
Eastern Cape 310,450 305,837 4.7 4.9 -0.2 Decrease 6.8
Free State 239,026 238,789 8.7 8.8 -0.1 Decrease 5.2
Gauteng 1,913,884 1,768,041 15.6 18.8 -3.2 Decrease 41.7
KwaZulu-Natal 428,842 482,115 4.2 5.0 -0.8 Decrease 9.3
Limpopo 139,359 132,420 2.6 2.7 -0.1 Decrease 3.0
Mpumalanga 303,595 197,079 7.5 5.9 +1.6 Increase 6.6
North West 255,385 233,935 7.3 7.8 -0.5 Decrease 5.6
Northern Cape 81,246 102,519 7.1 10.3 -3.2 Decrease 1.8
Western Cape 915,053 832,902 15.7 18.4 -2.7 Decrease 19.9
Total 4,586,838 4,293,640 8.9 9.6 -0.7 Decrease 100.0

Politics

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

White South Africans continue to participate in politics, having a presence across the whole political spectrum from left to right.

South African President Jacob Zuma commented in 2009 on Afrikaners being "the only white tribe in a black continent or outside of Europe which is truly African", and said that "of all the white groups that are in South Africa, it is only the Afrikaners that are truly South Africans in the true sense of the word."[42] These remarks have led to the Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR) laying a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against Zuma.[43] In 2015 a complaint was investigated for hate speech against Jacob Zuma who said "You must remember that a man called Jan van Riebeeck arrived here on 6 April 1652, and that was the start of the trouble in this country," [44]

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki stated in one of his speeches to the nation that: "South Africa belongs to everyone who lives in it. Black and White."[45] The history of white people in South Africa dates back to the sixteenth century.

Prior to 1994, a white minority held complete political power under a system of racial segregation called apartheid. Some white people supported this policy, but some others opposed it. During apartheid, immigrants from Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan were considered honorary whites in the country, as the government had maintained diplomatic relations with these countries. These were granted the same privileges as white people, at least for purposes of residence.[46] Some African Americans such as Max Yergan were granted an 'honorary white' status as well.[47]

Statistics

Historical population

Statistics for the white population in South Africa vary greatly. Most sources show that the white population peaked in the period between 1989 and 1995 at around 5.2 to 5.6 million. Up to that point, the white population largely increased due to high birth rates and immigration. Subsequently, between the mid-1990s and the mid-2000s the white population decreased overall. However, from 2006 to 2013 the white population increased.

Year White population % of total population Source
1904 1,116,805 21.6% 1904 Census
1911 1,270,000 Increase 22.7% Increase 1911 Census[10]
1960 3,088,492 Increase 19.3% Decrease 1960 Census
1961 3,117,000 Increase 19.1% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1961
1962 3,170,000 Increase 19.0% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1962
1963 3,238,000 Increase 19.0% Steady Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1963
1964 3,323,000 Increase 19.0% Steady Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1964
1965 3,398,000 Increase 19.0% Steady Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1965
1966 3,481,000 Increase 19.0% Steady Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1966
1967 3,563,000 Increase 19.0% Steady Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1967
1968 3,639,000 Increase 19.0% Steady Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1968
1969 3,728,000 Increase 19.0% Steady Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1969
1970 3,792,848 Increase 17.1% Decrease 1970 Census
1971 3,920,000 Increase 17.0% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1971
1972 4,005,000 Increase 16.9% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1972
1973 4,082,000 Increase 16.8% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1973
1974 4,160,000 Increase 16.7% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1974
1975 4,256,000 Increase 16.8% Increase Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1975
1976 4,337,000 Increase 18.2% Increase Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1976
1977 4,396,000 Increase 17.9% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1977
1978 4,442,000 Increase 18.5% Increase Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1978
1979 4,485,000 Increase 18.4% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1979
1980 4,522,000 Increase 18.1% Decrease 1980 Census[12]
1981 4,603,000 Increase 18.0% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1981
1982 4,674,000 Increase 18.3% Increase Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1982
1983 4,748,000 Increase 18.2% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1983
1984 4,809,000 Increase 17.7% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1984
1985 4,867,000 Increase 17.5% Decrease 1985 Census[12]
1986 4,900,000 Increase 17.3% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1986
1991 5,068,300 Increase 13.4% Decrease 1991 Census
1992 5,121,000 Increase 13.2% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1992
1993 5,156,000 Increase 13.0% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1993
1994 5,191,000 Increase 12.8% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1994
1995 5,224,000 Increase 12.7% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1995
1996 4,434,697 Decrease 10.9% Decrease South African National Census of 1996
1997 4,462,200 Increase 10.8% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1997
1998 4,500,400 Increase 10.7% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1998
1999 4,538,727 Increase 10.5% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 1999
2000 4,521,664 Decrease 10.4% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2000
2001 4,293,640 Decrease 9.6% Decrease South African National Census of 2001
2002 4,555,289 Increase 10.0% Increase Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2002
2003 4,244,346 Decrease 9.1% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2003
2004 4,434,294 Increase 9.5% Increase Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2004
2005 4,379,800 Decrease 9.3% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2005
2006 4,365,300 Decrease 9.2% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2006
2007 4,352,100 Decrease 9.1% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2007
2008 4,499,200 Increase 9.2% Increase Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2008
2009 4,472,100 Decrease 9.1% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2009
2010 4,584,700 Increase 9.2% Increase Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2010
2011 4,586,838 Increase 8.9% Decrease South African National Census of 2011
2013 4,602,400 Increase 8.7% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2013
2014 4,554,800 Decrease 8.4% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2014
2015 4,534,000 Decrease 8.3% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2015
2016 4,515,800 Decrease 8.1% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2016
2017 4,493,500 Decrease 8.0% Decrease Stats SA: Mid-year population estimates, 2017

Fertility rates

Contraception among white South Africans is stable or slightly falling: 80% used contraception in 1990, and 79% used it in 1998.[48] The following data shows some fertility rates recorded during South Africa's history. However, there are varied sources showing that the white fertility rate reached below replacement (2.1) by 1980. Likewise, recent studies show a range of fertility rates, ranging from 1.3 to 2.4. The Afrikaners tend to have a higher birthrate than that of other white people.

Year Total fertility rate[49] Source
1960 3.5 Decrease SARPN
1970 3.1 Decrease SARPN
1980 2.4 Decrease SARPN
1989 1.9 Decrease UN.org
1990 2.1 Increase SARPN
1996 1.9 Decrease SARPN
1998 1.9 Steady SARPN
2001[50] 1.8 Decrease hst.org.za
2006[50] 1.8 Steady hst.org.za
2011 1.7 Decrease Census 2011

Life expectancy

The average life expectancy at birth for males and females

Year Average life expectancy Male life expectancy Female life expectancy
1980[51] 70.3 66.8 73.8
1985[52] 71 ? ?
1997 73.5 70 77
2009[53][54] 71 ? ?

Unemployment

Province (strict) White unemployment rate
Eastern Cape[55] 4.5%
Free State
Gauteng[56] 8.7%
KwaZulu-Natal[57] 8.0%
Limpopo[58] 8.0%
Mpumalanga[57] 7.5%
North West
Northern Cape[59] 4.5%
Western Cape 2.0%
Total


Income

Average annual household income by population group of the household head.[60][61]

Population group Average income (2015) Average income (2011) Average income (2001)
White R 444 446 (321.7%) R 365 134 (353.8%) R 193 820 (400.6%)
Indian/Asian R 271 621 (196.6%) R 251 541 (243.7%) R 102 606 (212.1%)
Coloured R 172 765 (125.0%) R 112 172 (108.7%) R 51 440 (106.3%)
Black R 92 983 (67.3%) R 60 613 (58.7%) R 22 522 (46.5%)
Total R 138 168 (100%) R 103 204 (100%) R 48 385 (100%)

Percentage of workforce

Province Whites % of the workforce Whites % of population
Eastern Cape[55] 10% 4%
Free State
Gauteng[62] 25% 18%
KwaZulu-Natal[57] 11% 6%
Limpopo[58] 5% 2%
Mpumalanga
North West
Northern Cape[59] 19% 12%
Western Cape[63] 22% 18%
Total

Languages

Language 2011 2001 1996
Afrikaans 60.8% 59.1% 57.7%
English 35.9% 39.3% 38.6%
Other languages 3.3% 1.6% 3.7%
Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Religion

Religion among white South Africans remains high compared to other white ethnic groups, but likewise it has shown a steady proportional drop in both membership and church attendance with until recently the majority of white South Africans attending regular church services.

Religious affiliation of white South Africans (2001 census)[64]
Religion Number Percentage (%)
- Christianity 3 726 266 86.8%
- Dutch Reformed churches 1 450 861 33.8%
- Pentecostal/Charismatic/Apostolic churches 578 092 13.5%
- Methodist Church 343 167 8.0%
- Catholic Church 282 007 6.6%
- Anglican Church 250 213 5.8%
- Other Reformed churches 143 438 3.3%
- Baptist churches 78 302 1.8%
- Presbyterian churches 74 158 1.7%
- Lutheran churches 25 972 0.6%
- Other Christian churches 500 056 11.6%
Judaism 61 673 1.4%
Islam 8 409 0.2%
Hinduism 2 561 0.1%
No religion 377 007 8.8%
Other or undetermined 117 721 2.7%
Total 4 293 637 100%

Notable White South Africans

Science and technology

Military

Royalty and Aristocracy

Arts and media

Emily Riodran, Author and Mother of Caspar Lee

Business

Politics

Sport

Other

  • Mariette Bosch, murderer executed by the government of Botswana in 2001 for the murder of South African Ria Wolmarans

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c d Census 2011: Census in brief (PDF). Pretoria: Statistics South Africa. 2012. p. 21. ISBN 9780621413885. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2015. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "What's in a name? Racial categorisations under apartheid and their afterlife". Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.
  4. ^ Kaplan, Irving. Area Handbook for the Republic of South Africa. pp. 113–539.
  5. ^ Hunt, John (2005). Campbell, Heather-Ann (ed.). Dutch South Africa: Early Settlers at the Cape, 1652-1708. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 13–35. ISBN 978-1904744955.
  6. ^ Keegan, Timothy. Colonial South Africa and the Origins of the Racial Order (1996 ed.). David Philip Publishers (Pty) Ltd. pp. 15–37. ISBN 978-0813917351.
  7. ^ a b c Lloyd, Trevor Owen (1997). The British Empire, 1558-1995. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 201–203. ISBN 978-0198731337.
  8. ^ Greaves, Adrian. The Tribe that Washed its Spears: The Zulus at War (2013 ed.). Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. pp. 36–55. ISBN 978-1629145136. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  9. ^ "Census of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope. 1865". HathiTrust Digital Library. 1866. p. 11. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  10. ^ a b c d Shimoni, Gideon (2003). Community and Conscience: The Jews in Apartheid South Africa. Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England. pp. 1–4. ISBN 978-1584653295.
  11. ^ Kriger, Robert; Kriger, Ethel (1997). Afrikaans Literature: Recollection, Redefinition, Restitution. Amsterdam: Rodopi BV. pp. 75–78. ISBN 978-9042000513.
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  23. ^ "Land Debate: The Facts Are on the Table". Agri SA. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
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  27. ^ Do 400,000 whites live in squatter camps in South Africa? No Archived 5 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Africa Check, 22 May 2013
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  31. ^ Fourie, Hilda (2 July 2008). "Criminals feel 'entitled' to steal". Beeld. Johannesburg. Retrieved 25 February 2013. According to the police's latest crime statistics, which were announced at the Union Buildings on Monday, house robberies had increased countrywide by 13.5%.
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