POPULATION GROWTH AND ITS EFFECTS ON NATURAL RESOURCES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract The aim of the paper is to investigate how population growth affects natural resources in South Africa. The growth of the population affects natural resources because individuals require resources like land, food, and water for their survival. Therefore, as the population increases quickly, it places strain on the natural resources, resulting in a negative impact on them. It is reported that there are over 7.884 billion people in the world, and this number is projected to increase further. Countries such as South Africa, Botswana and Namibia experience rapid population growth due to the presence of illegal immigrants and a high birth rate. Therefore, the available resources cannot meet the needs of every individual in the nation. The paper suggests that population growth poses a threat to natural resources and must be managed before it becomes a critical issue leading to resource depletion in South Africa. This study is solely qualitative research that utilised a desktop-based approach, particularly PRISMA method to gather data on the effects of population growth on natural resources. The primary results of this paper show that the rising population in South Africa impacts natural resources due to a higher influx of illegal immigrants who also depend on these resources for their survival. The paper also reveals that even though there are methods of birth control available, they are not being effectively utilized by individuals to regulate birth rates. Hence, the conclusion of the paper is that the increased population growth has a negative effect on natural resources due to the unmanageable influx of immigrants in South Africa. This paper recommends that the South African government needs to effectively manage the presence of illegal immigrants within the country.   Keywords: Birth-rate, Illegal immigrants, Natural resources, Population growth, South Africa.