WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE> 5                                    
<CIK>     0001003390                    
<NAME>   FIRST SOUTH AFRICA        
                                            
                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                  3-MOS           
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>              JUN-30-2000   
<PERIOD-START>                 OCT-01-1998     
<PERIOD-END>                   DEC-31-1999     
<CASH>                         16,693,204     
<SECURITIES>                   0               
<RECEIVABLES>                  22,752,977      
<ALLOWANCES>                   640,648      
<INVENTORY>                    12,434,152         
<CURRENT-ASSETS>               52,626,512      
<PP&E>                         31,030,858      
<DEPRECIATION>                 11,860,821      
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 97,938,906      
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>          28,747,761       
<BONDS>                        20,683,000      
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>          0      
<PREFERRED>                    0           
<COMMON>                       61,741           
<OTHER-SE>                     35,653,300          
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   91,938,306      
<SALES>                        32,950,702      
<TOTAL-REVENUES>               32,950,702
<CGS>                          20,769,121      
<TOTAL-COSTS>                  20,749,825      
<OTHER-EXPENSES>               (208,057)      
<LOSS-PROVISION>               0      
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>             458,896          
<INCOME-PRETAX>                2,950,038      
<INCOME-TAX>                   914,000     
<INCOME-CONTINUING>            2,036,028       
<DISCONTINUED>                 0      
<EXTRAORDINARY>                4,959,430       
<CHANGES>                      0           
<NET-INCOME>                  (4,025,666            
<EPS-PRIMARY>                 (.64)           
<EPS-DILUTED>                 (.39)