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Location
Southern Africa.
Time
GMT + 2.
Area
1,219,192 sq km (470,693 sq miles).
Population
47.4 million (UN estimate 2006).
Population Density
38.9 per sq km.
Capital
Pretoria (administrative). Population: 1.8 million (2006). Cape Town (legislative). Population: 3.2 million (2006). Bloemfontein (judicial). Population: 369,568 (2004).
Geography
The Republic of South Africa lies at the southern end of the African continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and is bordered to the north by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland and totally encloses Lesotho. South Africa has three major geographical regions, namely plateau, mountains and the coastal belt. The high plateau has sharp escarpments which rise above the plains, or veld. Despite two major river systems, the Limpopo and the Orange, most of the plateau lacks surface water. Along the coastline are sandy beaches and rocky coves, and the vegetation is shrub-like. The mountainous regions that run along the coastline from the Cape of Good Hope to the Limpopo Valley in the northeast of the country are split into the Drakensberg, Nuweveldberg and Stormberg ranges.
Following the 1994 elections, South Africa was organised into nine regions. These comprise the Western Cape with its provincial and national capital of Cape Town, the Eastern Cape with its provincial capital of Bisho, the Northern Cape with its provincial capital of Kimberley, KwaZulu-Natal with its provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg, the Free State with its provincial capital of Bloemfontein, the North West Province with its provincial capital of Mmabatho, Limpopo (formerly called the Northern Province) with its provincial capital of Polokwane (formerly called Pietersburg), Mpumalanga with its provincial capital of Nelspruit, and Gauteng with its provincial capital of Johannesburg.
Following the 1994 elections, South Africa was organised into nine regions. These comprise the Western Cape with its provincial and national capital of Cape Town, the Eastern Cape with its provincial capital of Bisho, the Northern Cape with its provincial capital of Kimberley, KwaZulu-Natal with its provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg, the Free State with its provincial capital of Bloemfontein, the North West Province with its provincial capital of Mmabatho, Limpopo (formerly called the Northern Province) with its provincial capital of Polokwane (formerly called Pietersburg), Mpumalanga with its provincial capital of Nelspruit, and Gauteng with its provincial capital of Johannesburg.
Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1910.
Head of State
President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki since 1999.
Recent History
South Africa has held three successful national elections as well as local polls since its first genuinely inclusive national election, held in 1994. Thabo Mbeki was elected by parliament to a second five-year term in 2004, following the landslide general election victory of his ruling African National Congress (ANC). Mr Mbeki took over as president when Nelson Mandela stepped down in mid-1999. Jacob Zuma, who was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations, was elected ANC chairman in December 2007, placing him in a good position to become the next president in 2009, when Mbeki is due to step down.
Mbeki's administration is struggling with two major domestic problems - a huge violent crime wave and an HIV-AIDS pandemic, which according to United Nations estimates (2006) afflicts over 18% of the population. Mbeki's initial refusal to come to terms with the true nature of the HIV virus drew massive international criticism, but his cabinet has since made anti-AIDS drugs available nationally and in early 2007 began a five year and R45 billion action plan to provide treatment and support to those living with HIV-AIDS. He has also been criticised internationally for not taking more prominent action about the political situation in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Mbeki's administration is struggling with two major domestic problems - a huge violent crime wave and an HIV-AIDS pandemic, which according to United Nations estimates (2006) afflicts over 18% of the population. Mbeki's initial refusal to come to terms with the true nature of the HIV virus drew massive international criticism, but his cabinet has since made anti-AIDS drugs available nationally and in early 2007 began a five year and R45 billion action plan to provide treatment and support to those living with HIV-AIDS. He has also been criticised internationally for not taking more prominent action about the political situation in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
Language
The official languages are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
Religion
Most inhabitants profess Christianity of some form and belong to Catholic, Anglican and other protestant denominations, Afrikaner Dutch Reformed churches or African independent churches. There are also significant Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities, and traditional beliefs are still practised widely, sometimes in conjunction with Christianity.
Electricity
220/240 volts AC; 250 volts AC (Pretoria), 50Hz. Three-pin round plugs are in use.
Social Conventions
Handshaking is the usual form of greeting. Normal courtesies should be shown when visiting someone's home. Casual wear is widely acceptable. Formal social functions occasionally call for a dinner jacket and black tie for men and full-length dresses for women; this will be specified on the invitation. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings and on public transport, and restaurants have enclosed or outdoor smoking sections.
