7.1 The Industrial Revolution

Discuss when the Industrial Revolution occurred in your country or when it was diffused into your country.

In South Africa, the process of industrialization didnt begin until the discovery of diamonds and gold in the late 19th century. The discovery of these precious resources led to a rapid economic expansion and the development of infrastructure such as railways and ports to support the mining industry. 

This period, from the 1870s to the early 1900s, is often referred to as South Africa's mineral revolution, while the diffusion of industrial revolution ideas and technologies into South Africa began in the late 19th century with the mineral revolution, a broader and more diversified industrialization process didn't occur until the mid-20th century.

Discuss what region of south africa is manufacturing located. 

Gauteng Province: This is the economic powerhouse of South Africa, and it accounts for a significant portion of the country's manufacturing output. The major manufacturing centers in Gauteng include Johannesburg, Pretoria, and the East Rand region. Industries such as automotive, machinery, electronics, and chemical manufacturing are prominent in this region.

KwaZulu-Natal Province: This coastal province is a major hub for manufacturing, particularly in the Durban-Pinetown metropolitan area. Key industries include automotive manufacturing (Toyota, BMW, and others have plants here), chemicals, food processing, and textiles.

Western Cape Province: The city of Cape Town and its surrounding areas are home to a diverse range of manufacturing activities, including food and beverage processing, printing and publishing, clothing and textile production, and the manufacturing of machinery and electronics.

Eastern Cape Province: The cities of Port Elizabeth and East London are important manufacturing centers in this province. Major industries include automotive manufacturing (e.g., Volkswagen, Ford, and Mercedes-Benz plants), petrochemicals, and agricultural processing.

Discuss what percentage of your country is made up of manufacturing jobs. 

As of the latest data, the manufacturing sector accounts for about 11% of the total South African workforce.  There has been a significant decrease, for example there were 14% in 2008. And in 2005, the industry employed 1.40 million individuals. However, by 2021, this number had declined to 1.09 million. The decline in manufacturing jobs over the years has had a significant impact on certain sectors. Example  being the textile & clothing manufacturing sector lost almost 121,500 workers.

Fluctuating prices.