At a glance
Size
1 219 090 km2.
Key economic sectors
Mining services and transport, energy, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture.
Population
48,7 million (mid-2008).
Official languages
English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, Afrikaans, siSwati, Sesotho, sa Leboa, Sesotho, Setswana,Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
Government
Constitutional multiparty, three-tier (local, provincial, national) democracy.
Major cities
Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, East London, Kimberley. There are nine provinces.
Currency
100 cents equals one rand.
Time
GMT +2 hours.
Distances
Cape Town to Johannesburg 1 400 km (880 miles).
Johannesburg to Durban 600 km (380 miles).
Port Elizabeth to Bloemfontein 700 km (440 miles).
Transportation
Excellent roads, rail and air facilities (both domestic and international).
Telecommunications
World-class infrastructure. Internet access is widely available. There are four mobile (cellular) networks.
Value-added tax
Levied at 14%. Tourists may apply for tax refunds on purchases over R250 on departure.
Health
Top-quality care is available throughout the country, although basic in rural areas. Inoculations are only required for those travelling from yellow-fever areas. Malaria precautions are necessary in some areas.
