Country code: 27. Area codes are used even if you are making a call in the same area.

Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage extends to most of the country except in the very remote areas.

Internet cafes are common in towns throughout the country and wireless is available at airports and in upmarket hotels.

Airmail takes a minimum of two days to Europe, three days to USA and four days to Australia.

Post office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0830-1530; Sat 0800-1100; longer in airports and shopping malls. The smaller post offices close for lunch 1300-1400.

South Africa's many broadcasters and publications reflect the diversity of the population as a whole. Well-established state-run and commercial TV networks broadcast nationally, and hundreds of thousands of viewers subscribe to pay-TV services operated by major cable and satellite company Multichoice. Deregulation in 1996 led to a proliferation of radio stations. The constitution provides for freedom of the press, and this is generally respected in practice.

•   The main newspapers are in English and Afrikaans, and include dailies Cape Argus and Cape Times (published in Cape Town), The Star and Sowetan (published in Johannesburg) and The Citizen (a national tabloid).
• A weekly highbrow newspaper is Mail & Guardian.

• SABC is a state broadcaster operating three national TV networks.
• E.tv is a free-to-air commercial network.
• M-Net is a pay-TV channel.
• DSTV is a multi-channel satellite subscription network.

• SABC is a state broadcaster with 18 regional and national services in 11 languages.
• Commercial stations include: KFM, Highveld Stereo, Jacaranda FM, Algoa FM, 702 Talk Radio, Classic FM and East Coast Radio.