Population and Settlement

The population of the Republic of South Africa is now over 17 million, of which nearly 12 million are Bantu, and just over 3 million are White. A map of general population distribution shows a definite concentration in certain zones. First, in the eastern half of the country with more conditions favouring agriculture; secondly, in the southern Transvaal mining and industrial area, where nearly 3 million people (including the White population) are clustered; and thirdly, in the coastal regions, particularly around the chief ports. Urbanisation is in fact proceeding at a slightly faster rate among Africans than Europeans: in 1936 the Bantu made up 38 per cent of the urban population of South Africa, whereas by 1960 the proportion had risen to 45 per cent. With the development by the British of sugar plantations in Natal in the mid-nineteenth century it was found that the local African population did not provide a suitable or sufficient labour supply.

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