Economic history of South Africa

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History of South Africa
Pre-colonial Middle Stone Age Late Stone Age Bantu expansion Kingdom of Mapungubwe Kingdom of Mutapa Kaditshwene
Dutch colonisation Dutch Cape Colony
Zulu Kingdom Shaka kaSenzangakhona Dingane kaSenzangakhona Mpande kaSenzangakhona Cetshwayo kaMpande Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo 1887 Annexation (British)
British colonisation Cape Colony Colony of Natal Transvaal Colony Orange River Colony
Boer Republics South African Republic Orange Free State Natalia Republic
Boer Wars First Boer War Jameson Raid Second Boer War
Union of South Africa World War I World War II
Apartheid Legislation South African Border War Angolan Civil War Bantustans Internal resistance Apartheid referendum
Post-apartheid Mandela presidency Mbeki presidency Motlanthe presidency Zuma presidency Ramaphosa presidency
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Prior to the arrival of the European settlers in the 17th century the economy of what was to become South Africa was dominated by subsistence agriculture and hunting.^[1]

In the north, central and east of the country tribes of Bantu peoples occupied land on a communal basis under tribal chiefdoms. It was an overwhelmingly pastoral economy and wealth was measured in the number of cattle men held.^{[citation needed]} Population growth had created a land pressure that had seen the tribes move steadily from the origins in central east Africa.^{[citation needed]}

In the southern and western parts of the country, San (Bushmen) peoples led nomadic lives based on hunting and the Khoikhoi (Hottentots) peoples led a pastoral existence.

In the first half of the 20th century, agriculture and mining were the largest parts of the South African economy.^[2]

The end of apartheid was followed by substantial improvements in housing, health care, and access to basic government services for the South African population.^[3]