Even though the population of South Africa has grown in the past decade ( mostly because of immigration ) , the country had an yearly population growth rate of â ' 0.501 % in 2008 ( CIA est . ) , counting immigration . The CIA thinks that in 2009 South Africa 's population started to grow again , at a rate of 0.281 % . Even though the population of South Africa has increased in the past decade ( primarily due to immigration ) , the country had an annual population growth rate of â ' 0.051 % in 2010 ( CIA est . ) , where the birth rate is higher than the death rate but there is a net emigration rate .