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'Asians in South Africa' constitute two per cent of South Africa's population, and most are of Indian origin, although there is also a small Chinese community (sometimes classified as Coloured (mixed race) or White under Apartheid) [1]. Traditionally the group does not include the "Cape Malays", descended (at least in part) from South East Asians, who were classified as "Coloured" under apartheid. The term ''Asian'' is usually regarded as synonymous with ''Indian'' in South Africa.

Contents

Indians

Chinese

Others

See also

References

External links

Indians

Main articles: Indian South Africans

Indians in South Africa are descended from indentured labourers who were brought by the British from India in the 19th century, mostly to work in sugar plantations or mines (especially, coal) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and later also from traders who emigrated to South Africa. Indian South Africans form the largest group in the world of people of Indian descent born outside India, ie:born in South Africa, not having migrated there. This contrasts with the position in the U.S where, although there is a large population of Indians, most were not born in the U.S but migrated from India.

Chinese

Main articles: South African Chinese

The much smaller Chinese community was initially descended from migrant workers who came to work in the gold mines around Johannesburg in the late nineteenth century, although many were repatriated. They are now vastly outnumbered by more recent Chinese immigrants, including immigrants from Taiwan, with which apartheid South Africa maintained diplomatic relations. This caused difficulties for the apartheid regime, as immigrants from Mainland China were classified as 'non-white', whereas Taiwanese, along with Japanese, were considered honorary white, and thus granted the same privileges as whites.^[1] Many Chinese in South Africa have since emigrated to Canada, particularly Ontario.
In late 2006, it emerged that the Chinese Association of South Africa was preparing legal action to have Chinese recognised as having been disadvantaged under Apartheid, in order to benefit from Black Economic Empowerment. Complicating this attempt is the presence of immigrant Chinese who were not disadvantaged by Apartheid, and vastly outnumber locally born Chinese. A further complication is the less lenient restrictions faced by Chinese under Apartheid, and the honorary white status of Taiwanese and Japanese under Apartheid.
The term ''Indian'' is far more commonly used than ''Asian'' in South Africa, although examples of both usages can be found. In South Africa ''Asian'' is, in most cases, regarded as synonymous with ''Indian''.

Others

South Africa had considered importing labourers from Korea as early as 1903 in order to control rising mining wages, but eventually decided on Chinese workers instead.^[2] As of 2005, a small Korean community had formed in South Africa, estimated at 3,456.^[3] Koreans in South Africa are served by three weekend schools for Korean nationals, in Johannesburg (opened 1992), Pretoria (opened 1995), and Cape Town (opened 2001); they enroll a total of 158 students.^[4][5][6]

See also

★ Desi

★ Demographics of South Africa

★ Culture of South Africa

★ South African English

★ Overseas Chinese

★ Koreans in Africa

References

1. Chinese fight to be black Barrie Terblanche
2. Colour, Confusion & Concessions: The History of the Chinese in South Africa, , Melanie, Yap, Hong Kong University Press, , ISBN 9622094244
3. Statistics on Overseas Koreans
4. Overseas Korean Educational Institutions: 요하네스버그한글학교
5. Overseas Korean Educational Institutions: 프레토리아한글학교
6. Overseas Korean Educational Institutions: 케이프타운한글학교

External links

★ 2001 Digital Census Atlas

★ History of Indian Settlement

★ Indian Chronology