South Africa

The official name of the state is Republic of South Africa. Its system of government is multiparty republic. Its population is about 39,000,000.

South Africa is a country that lies at the southern tip of the continent of Africa. In 1931 Britain gave South Africa fill independence as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was the last nation in Africa ruled by a white minority. From the late 1940’s until the early 1990’s the white-controlled government enforced a policy of rigid racial segregation called apartheid. It denied voting rights and other fights to the black majority. After 1994 elections, South Africa’s white leaders handed over power to the country’s first multiracial government. Nelson Mandela, a civil rights leader, who had spent 27 years in prison, became South Africa’s first black president.

South Africa has three capitals. Parliament meets in Cape Town, the legislative capital. All government departments have their headquarters in Pretoria, the administrative capital. The highest court meets in Bloemfontein the country’s judicial capital.

There are 9 provinces. South Africa has five land regions; the Namib Desert and the Kalahari Desert are among them. South Africa’s longest river is the Orange River which flows into the Atlantic. The second largest is the Limpopo River flowing into the Indian Ocean.

In terms of climate South Africa has one of the highest sunshine rates in the world. Summer is from October to March. The temperature varies from 5130 C in winter to 20-40° C in summer.

The system of government in the country is the following. South Africa’s Parliament consists of two houses: the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. A president, elected by the National Assembly from among its members, heads South Africa’s government. A Cabinet assists the president in running the government. It consists of a deputy president and the heads of government departments. The country’s highest court is the Constitutional court.

South Africa is the richest and most economically developed country in Africa. Gold has been the main force behind the country’s growth. The country has nearly every useful mineral except oil: large suppliers of chromite, coal, copper iron ore, manganese, platinum, silver and uranium. South Africa is also a leading fishing and sheep raising country.

These days South Africa is one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world. Many itineraries start with Sun City and the Palace of Lost city. In 10 minutes, drive from Sun City, you will find Pilanesberg National Park. There you can see the Big Five: lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino.

For many years English and Afrikaans were South Africa's only two official languages. Now the Republic of South Africa has 11 official languages. English helps to answer the needs of wider communication.