South Africa is rich in a variety of minerals. In addition to diamonds and gold, the country also contains reserves of iron ore, platinum, manganese, chromium, copper, uranium, silver, beryllium, and titanium.

South Africa is rich in natural resources such as gold, chromium, coal, nickel, iron ore, antimony, manganese, phosphates, beryllium, rare earth elements, uranium, vanadium, diamonds, platinum, tin, copper, natural gas and salt.

One of South Africa’s most critical natural resources is arable land which covered approximately 10.3% of the country’s territory in 2014 according to the World Bank. Some of the most fertile areas in South Africa include KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Africa is abundant with natural resources, including diamonds, gold, oil, natural gas, uranium, platinum, copper, cobalt, iron, bauxite and cocoa beans.

Top 15 African countries richest in natural resources

1. Nigeria. Almost essential economy of the continent, it is the leading producer and exporter of crude oil.
2. Botswana.
3. South Africa.
4. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
5. Namibia.
6. Mozambique.
7. Zambia.
8. Niger.

TOP 10 RICHEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN 2020 RANKED BY GDP & PRIMARY EXPORTS

• 1 | NIGERIA – THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN AFRICA (GDP: $446.543 Billion)
• 2 | SOUTH AFRICA (GDP: $358.839 Billion)
• 3 | EGYPT (GDP: $302.256 Billion)
• 4 | ALGERIA (GDP: $172.781 Billion)
• 5 | MOROCCO (GDP: $119,04 Billion)
• 6 | KENYA (GDP: $99,246 Billion)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

The following are the most mineral-rich countries in Africa.

• Botswana – Diamonds.
• Democratic Republic of Congo – Diamonds, Copper.
• South Africa – Diamonds, Gold, Aluminum, Copper, Platinum, Coal.
• Tanzania – Gold.
• Namibia – Uranium.
• Mozambique – Aluminum.
• Zambia – Copper.
• Guinea – Bauxite (for aluminum)

Some of the countries with the most natural resources in the world include:

1. China. China is one of the leading producers of phosphates, vanadium, tungsten, antimony, graphite, coal, tin, molybdenum, lead, zinc, and gold.
2. Saudi Arabia.
3. Canada.
4. India.
5. Russia.
6. Brazil.
7. United States.
8. Venezuela.

Mponeng Gold Mine

Botswana

As of 2020, Algeria was the country in Africa that had the largest gold holding, at 174 metric tons. The North African country was followed by South Africa, with official gold reserves reaching 125 metric tons. Moreover, Libya and Egypt ranked next, with 117 metric tons and 80.04 metric tons, respectively.

The primary South African sources of diamonds, including seven large diamond mines around the country, are controlled by the De Beers Consolidated Mines Company.

AngloGold Ashanti’s Mponeng mine

Nicky Oppenheimer

South Deep gold mine

Mining is the largest industry in four of South Africa’s nine provinces: North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape.

Venetia Diamond Mine

Mponeng gold mine

It has a depth of 625 meters. The surrounding area and game park consists of over 1,700 animals. In terms of volume, around 11 Million carats of diamonds are mined each year.

2,998m

South Africa is an upper-middle-income economy, one of only eight such countries in Africa. Since 1996, at the end of over twelve years of international sanctions, South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product almost tripled to peak at $400 billion in 2011, but has since declined to roughly $283 billion in 2020.

Mining industry Africa has 30% of the world’s natural reserves, and South Africa has the largest share in that percentage. The country also boasts of being the world’s largest producer of platinum and gold, the fourth producer of diamonds worldwide, and the home to the best quality base metals and coal.

Out of 133 countries ranked by per capita GNP, India ranks as one of the poorest low-income countries, at position 23, above the very poorest. South Africa ranks at position 93, in the group of upper-middle-income countries. South Africa’s per capita income is close to 10 times that of India’s.

South Africa has a highly developed economy and an advanced infrastructure. One of the world’s largest exporters of gold, platinum, and other natural resources, it also has well-established financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors as well as the continent’s largest stock exchange.

Key socioeconomic challenges include high rates of poverty, social inequality, unemployment, and public service access disparities—problems that disproportionately affect blacks. Unequal access to land is a notably sensitive issue.

Corruption, poverty, high unemployment, and violent crime significantly restricted South Africans’ enjoyment of their rights. Cuts to health and education services also compromised quality and access to these rights.

Today, they have become a developed country, while many of their African counterparts are still struggling. So, South Africa is a third world country due to its economic status. Other parts of the country are still backward and are responsible for the country’s third-world status.