Quick Facts :South Africa in brief

General information
Capitals:Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative), Bloemfontein (judicial).
Official languages:South Africa's 11 official languages are (1) Afrikaans, (2) English, (3) Ndebele (isiNdebele), (4) Sepedi, (5) Sesotho, (6) Swazi (siSwati), (7) Tsonga (Xitsonga), (8) Tswana (Setswana), (9) Venda (Tshivenda), (10) Xhosa (isiXhosa), and (11) Zulu (isiZulu).
Official name:Republic of South Africa.
National anthem:Combined version of "NkosiSikelel' iAfrika" and "Die Stem van Suid-Afrika/The Call of South Africa."
Flag and coat of arms:South Africa's flag, adopted in 1994, has two horizontal stripes of red and blue separated by a green stripe that splits into a horizontal Y at the left side of the flag. A black triangle with a yellow border is on the left side of the flag. The red and blue stripes are separated from the green band by narrow white stripes. The flag represents the country's peoples coming together in unity. The coat of arms, adopted in 2000, has human figures symbolizing unity and the secretary bird, which symbolizes growth and power. The motto at the bottom of the coat of arms is in an ancient South African language and meansdiverse people unite.
Largest municipalities:(2011 census) Johannesburg (4,434,827); Cape Town (3,740,026); eThekwini (Durban) (3,442,361); Ekurhuleni (East Rand) (3,178,470).
Land and climate
Land:South Africa lies at the southern tip of Africa, with a coastline on the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The country borders Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Swaziland, and it completely surrounds the country of Lesotho. South Africa's interior is mostly plateau. Coastal lowlands lie in the east. The Cape Mountains are in the far south. The Namib Desert stretches along the west coast. The Kalahari Desert covers much of the northwest interior. South Africa's main rivers include the Orange and its branch, the Vaal.
Area:470,693 mi2(1,219,090 km2).Greatest distances—east-west 1,010 mi (1,625 km); north-south, 875 mi (1,408 km).Coastline—about 1,836 mi. (2,954 km).
Elevation:Highest—Njesuthi, 11,181 ft (3,408 m) above sea level.Lowest—sea level.
Climate:South Africa's climate is generally mild and sunny. The Cape Mountains Region has warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Much of the Coastal Strip has hot, humid summers and dry, sunny winters. In the Plateau, summer days are hot, but the nights are cool. The winter is cold. The deserts are hot and dry. Only about a fourth of South Africa receives more than 25 inches (64 centimeters) of rain yearly. More rain falls in the east than in the west.
Government
Form of government:Parliamentary republic.
Head of government:President.
Legislature:Parliament of two houses: National Assembly (350 to 400 members); National Council of Provinces (90 members).
Executive:President (elected by the National Assembly) and Cabinet.
Judiciary:Constitutional Court is highest court in constitutional matters; Supreme Court of Appeal is highest court in other matters.
Politicalsubdivisions:Nineprovinces.
People
Population:Currentestimate—51,236,000.2011 census—51,770,560.
Population density:109 per mi2(42 per km2).
Distribution:62 percent urban, 38 percent rural.
Major ethnic/national groups:79 percent black African (about half Zulu or Xhosa); 9 percent white; 9 percent Coloured (mixed race); 3 percent Asian (mostly Indian).
Major religions:African Independent Churches, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, and traditional African religions.
Economy
Chief products:Agriculture—apples, corn, eggs, grapes, milk, oranges, pears, potatoes, sugar cane, tomatoes, wheat, wool.Manufacturing—chemicals, iron and steel, metal products, paper and paper products, petroleum products, processed foods, transportation equipment.Mining—chromite, coal, copper, diamonds, gold, iron ore, lead, manganese, phosphate, platinum, uranium, vanadium.
Money:Basic unit—rand. One hundred cents equal one rand.
International trade:Major exports—diamonds, gold, machinery, motor vehicles, platinum.Major imports—food products, machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, transportation equipment.Major trading partners—China, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States.