ECONOMIC
GEOGRAPHY OF
SOUTH AFRICA
,CHAPTER 1: STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY
KEY TERMS:
Gross domestic product (GDP): the total value of all final goods and services produced within the borders
of a country in a given time period, usually a year.
,ECONOMIC SECTORS
1. PRIMARY SECTOR: Extraction of natural resources (for raw materials)
• E.g. agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining
• Subsistence farming seen as primary sector even though no income.
2. SECONDARY SECTOR: Processing raw materials to manufactured goods.
• E.g. metal working, building, construction and manufacturing of cars, clothes
3. TERTIARY SECTOR: The provision of services
• Human services = health, education, tourism, recreation, entertainment, local government,
police and the military
• Physical services = banking, financial services, libraries, retailing, goods transport, public
transport and garbage removal
4. QUATERNARY SECTOR: Intellectual activities – linked to data processing and distribution of
information
• E.g. research and information technology services, research and management (services
rendered by professionals)
• E.g. consulting, environmental management and resources conservation
THE ECONOMIC SECTORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN
ECONOMY
Two ways of measuring importance and value of economic
sectors:
• Employment
• GDP
Percentage of workers and their contribution to RSA GDP by
sector in 2011:
Primary activities:
• Mining and agriculture = NB primary contributors
• Mining has decreased but international demand for raw materials makes it an important
commodity
• Agriculture is under strain due to the fluctuating market and rand-value; rising production costs;
low income due to weather inconsistencies; and competitive international market
Secondary activities:
• Metal and engineering industry and construction = NB secondary contributors (e.g. motor industry)
Tertiary activities:
• Finance, transport, communications, tourism, real estate and government = major contributors to
GDP
, CHAPTER 2: AGRICULTURE
KEY TERMS:
Pastoral farming: the raising of animals such as cattle, sheep and goats
Hydroponic farming: growing plants without soil, instead using a nutrient liquid that is piped to the roots
of the plants, usually in a greenhouse
Crop yield: output (by mass) per unit area
Communal farming: food production on land that is owned by the group living there; often the land is
controlled by the local chief.
Dumping: the selling of surplus goods or commodities at low prices, especially on the markets of foreign
countries.
Ranching: the large-scale rearing of cattle on extensive farms
Food security: a condition in which people have and can afford safe and nutritious food for a healthy life
Food insecurity: a condition in which people do not have enough nutritious food and may not know where
their next meal will come from
Stunted: underdeveloped; abnormally short or small
Yield: more production per unit area
GEOGRAPHY OF
SOUTH AFRICA
,CHAPTER 1: STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY
KEY TERMS:
Gross domestic product (GDP): the total value of all final goods and services produced within the borders
of a country in a given time period, usually a year.
,ECONOMIC SECTORS
1. PRIMARY SECTOR: Extraction of natural resources (for raw materials)
• E.g. agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting and mining
• Subsistence farming seen as primary sector even though no income.
2. SECONDARY SECTOR: Processing raw materials to manufactured goods.
• E.g. metal working, building, construction and manufacturing of cars, clothes
3. TERTIARY SECTOR: The provision of services
• Human services = health, education, tourism, recreation, entertainment, local government,
police and the military
• Physical services = banking, financial services, libraries, retailing, goods transport, public
transport and garbage removal
4. QUATERNARY SECTOR: Intellectual activities – linked to data processing and distribution of
information
• E.g. research and information technology services, research and management (services
rendered by professionals)
• E.g. consulting, environmental management and resources conservation
THE ECONOMIC SECTORS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN
ECONOMY
Two ways of measuring importance and value of economic
sectors:
• Employment
• GDP
Percentage of workers and their contribution to RSA GDP by
sector in 2011:
Primary activities:
• Mining and agriculture = NB primary contributors
• Mining has decreased but international demand for raw materials makes it an important
commodity
• Agriculture is under strain due to the fluctuating market and rand-value; rising production costs;
low income due to weather inconsistencies; and competitive international market
Secondary activities:
• Metal and engineering industry and construction = NB secondary contributors (e.g. motor industry)
Tertiary activities:
• Finance, transport, communications, tourism, real estate and government = major contributors to
GDP
, CHAPTER 2: AGRICULTURE
KEY TERMS:
Pastoral farming: the raising of animals such as cattle, sheep and goats
Hydroponic farming: growing plants without soil, instead using a nutrient liquid that is piped to the roots
of the plants, usually in a greenhouse
Crop yield: output (by mass) per unit area
Communal farming: food production on land that is owned by the group living there; often the land is
controlled by the local chief.
Dumping: the selling of surplus goods or commodities at low prices, especially on the markets of foreign
countries.
Ranching: the large-scale rearing of cattle on extensive farms
Food security: a condition in which people have and can afford safe and nutritious food for a healthy life
Food insecurity: a condition in which people do not have enough nutritious food and may not know where
their next meal will come from
Stunted: underdeveloped; abnormally short or small
Yield: more production per unit area
