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African ChangeMakers Initiative.
South Africa Alumni Chapter.

South Africa Chapter Home: http://africanchangemakers.org/southafrica/

President Email: southafrica@africanchangemakers.org

 

Natisha Dukhi
President

Mxolisi Sibiya
Vice-President
Dennis Dogbey
Secretary		 Tshepo Vincent Sechele
Welfare Manager

Country Profile

Official Name: Republic of South Africa

short form: South Africa        former: Union of South Africa.

South Africa’s name in native (official) languages:

Afrika Borwa (Pedi, seSotho, Tswana)

Afrika Dzonga (Tsonga)

Afurika Tshipembe (Venda)

Mzantsi Afrika (isiXhosa)

Ningizimu Afrika (siSwati, isiZulu)

Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans)

ISO Country Code: za, zaf

Time: Local Time = UTC +2h

Country Calling Code: +27

Capital City: Pretoria (administrative)

Bloemfontein (Mangaung) (judicial center)

Mangaung Local Municipality; (the city’s name in seSotho is Mangaung).

Cape Town (legislative center)

Other Cities: Johannesburg, Durban (Thekwini), Nelspruit, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth

Government:

Type: Republic

Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK); South Africa became a republic in 1961.

Constitution: 1996

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa

Geography:

Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the African continent.

Area: 1.2 million km² (470,462 sq. mi). Terrain: plateau, savanna, desert, mountains, coastal plains.

Climate: moderate, mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; similar to southern California.

People:

Nationality: South African(s).

Population: (2016) 55.9 million; black 78%; white 10%; colored 9%; Asian (Indian) 2.5%; other.

Languages: (11 official languages) Sesotho sa Leboa 9.2%, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati (Swazi), Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans 14,4%, English 8.6%, isiNdebele, isiXhosa 17.9%, isiZulu 22.9%.

Religions: Predominantly Christian; traditional African believes, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish.

Natural Resources: South Africa is rich of natural resources: Gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas.

Agriculture Products: Corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products.

Industries: Mining (world’s largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs.

Exports – commodities: gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment

Exports – Partners: China 11.3%, USA 7.3%, Germany 6%, Namibia 5.2%, Botswana 5.2%, Japan 4.7%, UK 4.3%, India 4.2% (2015)

Imports – commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs.

Imports – partners: China 17.6%, Germany 11.2%, USA 6.7%, Nigeria 5%, India 4.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2015)

Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)

South Africa in numbers

Key statistic figures South Africa.

Source: https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/