ABSTRACT
Recent Urbanization in South Africa A century and more ago. South Africa consisted mainly of rural peoples with diverse cultural backgrounds and a subsistence-level economy. The discovery of diamonds and gold during the latter half of the last century injected large-scale industry into the economy and accelerated urban growth.^ Today, South Africa is increasingly being transformed into an urban industrial economy, with a major portion of the population being concentrated in urban areas.^ Table 1 indicates the percentage of the popu lation living in urban areas at various censuses, and Table 2 the correspond ing absolute numbers.
