The Republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa. Modern human beings have inhabited South Africa for more than 100,000 years.
At the time of European contact, its indigenous peoples reflected migrations from other parts of Africa, where new tribes had become dominant. Two major groups were Xhosa and Zulu peoples.
In 1652, a century and a half after the discovery of the Cape Sea Route, the Dutch East India Company founded a refreshment station at what would become Cape Town.
The discovery of diamonds and later gold triggered the conflict known as the Anglo-Boer War, as the Boers and the British fought for the control of the South African mineral wealth.
South Africa achieved its political independence in 1961 when it was declared a republic.
