Country
Countries A-Z
South Africa
Republic of South Africa
Republiek van Suid-Afrika
Political Status: Fully independent state since 1934; republic established May 31, 1961; Interim Constitution ratified on December 22, 1993, with effect from April 27, 1994, for a five-year term; new text signed into law on December 10, 1996, effective February 4, 1997, with certain provisions implemented gradually through 1999.
Area: 470,882 sq. mi. (1,221,037 sq. km).
Population: 51,048,873 (2012E—UN); 48,810,427 (2012E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (urban areas, 2005E): PRETORIA (administrative capital, 2,534,000), Cape Town (legislative capital, 3,143,000), Bloemfontein (judicial capital, 793,000), Durban (4,610,000), Johannesburg (3,974,000). Pretoria is part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.
Official Languages: There are 11 official languages, of which English and Afrikaans are the languages of record.
Monetary Unit: Rand (market rate November 5, 2012: 8.74 rand = $1US).
President: Jacob ...