The Republic of South Africa covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilometers. The coast line stretches over 2954 kilometres, with many beautiful beaches and wonderful sea views.
The population of South Africa is approximately 49 million. South Africa has eleven official languages, namely English, Afrikaans, Isizulu, Isixhosa, Sepedi, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga, Siswati, Tshivenda and Ndebele.
South Africa is made up of nine provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West. There are three capital cities in South Africa, i.e. Cape Town, which is the parliamentary capital in the Western Cape, Pretoria in Gauteng, which is the administrative capital, and Bloemfontein in Free State, which is the judicial capital. Johannesburg in Gauteng is the largest city. The current Head of State is President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma. The first Head of State of a free South Africa, Mr Nelson Mandela, was inaugurated in April 1994.
77 % of the population in South Africa is black, 10 % are white, 8 % are mixed race, and 2.5 % are of Indian or Asian descent.
Christianity is the most widely practised religion in South Africa, with 75 % of the population following the faith. 21 % have no religious affiliation and the rest of the South Africa’s religious faithful are Muslims, Hindus, and Jews.
South Africa is a modern, diverse and dynamic country with sound infrastructure, investment friendly policies, prudent macro-economic policies, competitive costs of doing business, a vibrant banking sector, an independent legal system and a stable political climate. It has innovative, warm people and a vibrant culture and heritage. The FIFA 2010 World Cup is being held in South Africa.
The country is a major world producer of gold, diamonds, platinum metals, manganese, vanadium, chrome, zirconium and titanium, and a processor of carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum. Its GDP is approximately $255 billion and GDP per capita is $5381.
South Africa is well known for its tourism, scenery and wildlife, including the Big Six and the world’s fastest land animal, the Cheetah.
South Africa is home to seven World Heritage Sites:
·The Cradle of Humankind
Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai. This area also contains thousands of fossils of animals, Stone Age artifacts and other tools.
·The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park
Contains five distinct eco systems and boasts a spectacular diversity of plant life, animals and bird species.
·Robben Island
Only a short boat trip from the Victoria and Albert Waterfront in Cape Town. It is the island where political prisoners were held, the most famous of whom was former President Nelson Mandela. Wonderful trips and guided tours are available daily throughout the year, weather permitting.
·Ukhahlamba/Drakensberg Park
The outstanding natural beauty and wealth of evidence of early life earned this area its title.
·Mapungubwe, Limpopo
Declared a World Heritage Site in 2003, this Iron Age site was the centre of the largest kingdom in Southern Africa, where gold and ivory were traded to the east.
·Cape Floral Kingdom
Found at the Cape Peninsula and on Table Mountain is one of only 6 floral kingdoms in the world. As this area is under constant threat from development, it was declared a World Heritage Site recently.
·The Vredefort Dome
The Dome is 120km south-west of Johannesburg. It is a larger crater, which has a radius of 190km, created when a giant meteor struck the area some 2 billion years ago.
Other facts:
National Day: 27 April (Freedom Day, anniversary of the first non-racial elections, 1994).
President – Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
Deputy President – Kgalema Motlanthe
NCOP Chairperson – M.J. Mahlangu
National Assembly Speaker – Max Sisulu
Chief Justice – Sandile Ngcobo
For more information visit: http://www.exploresouthafrica.net/facts/