About South Africa > Travel Guide > Factsheet

Factsheet


Facts: [ General Information ] [ Communications ] [ Public Holidays ] [ Duty Free ] [ Currency ]

General Information
Location:Southern Africa.
Area:1,219,192 sq km (470,693 sq miles).
Population:49.1 million (2009 estimate).
Population Density:41 per sq km.
Capital:Pretoria (administrative).

Population: 1.3 million (2007). Cape Town (legislative).

Population: 3.4 million (2007). Bloemfontein (judicial).

Population: 400,000 (2006).
Government:Republic. Gained partial independence from the UK in 1910 and was declared a republic in 1961.
Geography:The Republic of South Africa lies at the southern end of the African continent, bounded by the South Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. It totally encloses the independent kingdom of Lesotho, and shares its northern borders with Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland.

South Africa has three major geographical regions, namely plateau, mountains and the low-lying coastal belt. The vast, high plateau of the interior has sharp escarpments which rise above the plains, or veld. Despite two major river systems, the Limpopo and the Orange, most of the plateau lacks surface water. The mountainous regions that run close to the coastline from the Cape of Good Hope to the Limpopo Valley in the northeast of the country are split into the Drakensberg, Nuweveldberg and Stormberg ranges. The west coast is arid, while the south and southeast coasts are semi-arid, with a narrow belt of low vegetation fringed by sandy beaches and rocky coves. In the subtropical northeast, long sandy beaches are interspersed with lush wetlands and coastal forests.

South Africa is organised into nine provinces. These comprise the Western Cape with its capital Cape Town; the Eastern Cape with its capital Bisho and the major city of Port Elizabeth; the Northern Cape with its capital Kimberley; KwaZulu-Natal with its capital Pietermaritzburg and the major city of Durban; the Free State with its capital Bloemfontein; the North West Province with its capital Mafikeng and the major city of Potchefstroom; Limpopo with its capital Polokwane; Mpumalanga with its capital Nelspruit; and Gauteng with its capital Johannesburg. Northern Cape, in the far northwest of the country, is by far the largest and most sparsely populated province; Gauteng, landlocked in the northeast, is the smallest and most densely populated.
Language:The official languages are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
Religion:Around two thirds of South Africans profess Christianity of some form and belong to Catholic, Anglican and other protestant denominations, Afrikaner Dutch Reformed churches or African independent churches. There are also significant Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities. Traditional African beliefs are practised widely, sometimes in conjunction with Christianity.
Time:GMT + 2.
Social Conventions:Handshaking is the usual form of greeting. Normal courtesies should be shown when visiting someone's home. Casual wear is widely acceptable. Formal social functions occasionally call for a dinner jacket and black tie for men and full-length dresses for women; this will be specified on the invitation. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings and on public transport; restaurants have enclosed or outdoor smoking sections.
Electricity:220/230 volts AC, 50Hz, except Pretoria (230 volts AC) and Port Elizabeth (200/250 volts AC). Three-pin round plugs are in use.
Head of State:President Jacob Zuma since 2009.
Recent History:South Africa's first genuinely inclusive national election, in 1994, brought the African National Congress (ANC) to power, with Nelson Mandela as President. Leading South Africa through the first five years of the post-apartheid era, Mandela earned great international respect for his nation-building policies. He retired in mid-1999 and was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki, who was re-elected in 2004.

Mbeki's administration struggled with two major domestic problems - violent crime and an HIV-AIDS pandemic. After much stalling, in early 2007 Mbeki launched a R45 billion action plan to provide treatment and support to those living with HIV-AIDS. Meanwhile his refusal to take remedial action over deteriorating political conditions in neighbouring Zimbabwe attracted widespread criticism.

Mbeki resigned in September 2008 over claims of political interference in a corruption case against the president of the ANC, Jacob Zuma. Kgalema Motlanthe, deputy president of the ANC and a close ally of Zuma, was named caretaker president. ANC leader Jacob Zuma was elected in April 2009.
[ Back to Top ]

Communications
Telephone:Country code: 27. Area codes are used even if you are making a call in the same area.
Mobile Telephone:Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage extends to most of the country except in the very remote areas.
Internet:Internet cafes are common in towns throughout the country and wireless is available at airports and in upmarket hotels.
Media:South Africa's many broadcasters and publications reflect the diversity of the population as a whole. Well-established state-run and commercial TV networks broadcast nationally, and hundreds of thousands of viewers subscribe to pay-TV services operated by major cable and satellite company Multichoice. Deregulation in 1996 led to a proliferation of radio stations. The constitution provides for freedom of the press, and this is generally respected in practice.
Post:Airmail takes a minimum of two days to Europe, three days to USA and four days to Australia.

Post office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0830-1530; Sat 0800-1100; longer in airports and shopping malls. The smaller post offices close for lunch 1300-1400.
Press:   The main newspapers are in English and Afrikaans, and include dailies Cape Argus and Cape Times (published in Cape Town), The Star and Sowetan (published in Johannesburg) and The Citizen (a national tabloid).
A weekly highbrow newspaper is Mail & Guardian.
Radio: SABC is a state broadcaster with 18 regional and national services in 11 languages.
Commercial stations include: KFM, Highveld Stereo, Jacaranda FM, Algoa FM, 702 Talk Radio, Classic FM and East Coast Radio.
[ Back to Top ]

Public Holidays
Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
 
2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Mar Human Rights Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Family Day.
27 Apr Freedom Day.
1 May Workers' Day.
16 Jun Youth Day.
9 Aug National Women's Day.
24 Sep Heritage Day.
16 Dec Day of Reconciliation.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Day of Goodwill.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Mar Human Rights Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday. 
5 Apr Family Day.
27 Apr Freedom Day.
1 May Workers' Day.
16 Jun Youth Day.
9 Aug National Women's Day.
24 Sep Heritage Day.
16 Dec Day of Reconciliation.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Day of Goodwill.
Note:Holidays falling on a Sunday are observed the following Monday.
[ Back to Top ]

Duty Free
:
[ Back to Top ]

Currency
Currency:Rand (ZAR; symbol R) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of R200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of R5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.
Currency Exchange:Money can be changed at banks, bureaux de change and some hotels. Proof of identity may be requested; therefore, it is advisable to carry a passport. Visitors are restricted to bringing in and taking out a maximum of R5,000 in cash.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs:MasterCard and Visa are preferred. American Express and Diners Club are also widely accepted. ATMs are available all over the towns and cities including shopping malls and petrol stations, and accept all international debit and credit cards. Almost all hotels, shops and restaurants, and even national parks and game reserves, accept credit cards. They are not accepted at petrol stations, however. Petrol must always be paid for with cash.
Traveller's Cheques:Valid at banks, hotels, restaurants and some tourist-orientated shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
Currency Restrictions:Restrictions apply.
Banking Hours:Mon-Fri 0900-1530, Sat 0830-1100.
Exchange Rate Indicators:
Date Apr 09
£1.00= R13.51
$1.00= R9.08
€1.00= R12.04
[ Back to Top ]

Search Hotels

Enter a City, Region or Hotel
Check-in
Check-out
I do not have specific dates
Advanced Search

Travel Guide