|
 | Key Facts
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 |
| Area |
1.2 million sq km |
Population
(Mid-2007 estimates) | 47.9 million |
| Currency |
1 Rand = 100cents
|
| Time |
GMT + 2 hrs |
| Official Name |
Republic of South Africa
|
| Capitals |
Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria
(administrative), Bloemfontein
(judicial)
|
| Head of State |
President Thabo M Mbeki
|
| Main Languages |
11 Official languages.
English preferred language of
business |
| Religion |
Predominantly Christian.
Freedom of worship guaranteed
by the Constitution
|
| Form of State | Federal, comprising a central
government and nine provincial
governments |
| Legal System |
Based on Roman Dutch law and
1996 Constitution
|
| National Legislature |
Bi-cameral parliament, elected
every five years, comprising a 400-
seat National Assembly and a 90-
seat Council of Provinces
|
| Electoral System |
List-system with proportional
representation based on universal
adult suffrage
|
| Total GDP 2007 |
R2,046 bn (at current prices) |
| GDP per Capita |
R42,704 |
| Real GDP Growth | 5.1% |
Inflation 2007
(year-on-year)
|
CPI: 9%
CPIX: 8.6%
PPI: 10.3% |
| Exports | Gold, minerals, diamonds, metals
and metal products, foods,
automotive components |
| Imports | Machinery, transport equipment,
manufactured goods, chemicals, oil |
| Main Trading Partners | Germany, USA, UK, China, Japan,
France |
| Public Holidays | |
| Fixed | 12
1 January, 21 March, 27 April, 1 May,
16 June, 9 August, 24 September, 16,
25 and 26 December
|
| Variable |
Good Friday and Easter Monday
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| International dialing code |
+27
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