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___ South AfricaDestination South Africa, this page is about many aspects of the "Rainbow Nation". Here you will find comprehensive information about South Africa in its diversity: geography, economy, science, people, culture, environment, government and history.You will have access to newspapers from South Africa and you will find extensive travel and tourism information for South Africa and its Provinces. |
 Rainbow over Natal Watsonia © South African Tourism | |
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Republic of South Africa |
Country Profile |
 Flag of South Africa Background: Often called 'the rainbow nation', South Africa is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa. It was inhabited by pastoral Khoekhoe (Khoi), the hunter-gatherer San, the Xhosa, and the Zulu nations and various other indigenous tribes, when Dutch settlers arrived in middle of the 17th century, much to the disadvantage of the Khoekhoe along the southern and western coastal strips. What followed was an aggressive colonial expansion for centuries mainly of settlers of Dutch, German and French Huguenot origin. In 1795 the British took over the Cape from the Dutch, seven years later the colony was returned to the Dutch government, only to come under British rule again in 1806, this circumstance and the rise to power of the Zulu king Shaka, forcing many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) to trek north and east to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants until the end of the 20th century. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid with South Africa's transition to democracy and with Nelson Mandela's inauguration as SA's first democratically elected President 1994. border countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe related countries: United Kingdom, Netherlands |
 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 Time: Local Time = UTC +2h Actual Time: Sat-July-4 10:23 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), 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 sq. km. (470,462 sq. mi). Terrain: Plateau, savanna, desert, mountains, coastal plains. Climate: moderate; similar to southern California. Climate: Mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights People: Nationality: South African(s). Population: 45 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 partners: USA 12.4%, United Kingdom 12.6%, Japan 9.7%, Germany 6.9%, India 5.3%, Netherlands 4.9% (2004-2005) Imports partners: Germany 15.5%, China 8.5%, USA 7.5%, United Kingdom 7.0%, Japan 6.9%, Iran 5.5%, France 3.8% (2004-2005) (Source: South African Trade Statistics, Department of Trade and Industry) Currency: South African Rand (ZAR) |
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| Note: External links will open in a new browser window. Official Sites of South Africa
South Africa GovernmentInformation and Guide to the Government of South Africa. The Parliament of South Africa Official site of South Africa's Parliament. SouthAfrica.info Official Gateway to South Africa. South Africa Government Online Official South African government gateway. Department of Foreign Affairs Responsible for all aspects of South Africa's foreign policy. Diplomatic Missions Embassy of the Republic of South Africa Berlin, Germany Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations South Africa's Representation to the United Nations. South African Embassy, Washington DC The embassy site provides also information about South Africa. Web sites of SA Missions Web sites of South Africa's embassies, consulates and high commissions abroad. Foreign Representation in South Africa Foreign Diplomatic Missions in South Africa. Statistics Stats SA Statistics South Africa. Weather South African Weather Service South Africa Maps Map of South AfricaDetailed Map of South Africa. Map of South Africa ProvincesSouth Africa's Provinces Map.  Google
Earth South AfricaZoomable satellite view of South Africa. Capitals South Africa: Google
Earth PretoriaZoomable satellite view of Pretoria. Google
Earth BloemfonteinZoomable satellite view of Bloemfontein. Google
Earth Cape TownZoomable satellite view of Cape Town. Map
of AfricaPolitical Map of Africa. |
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South Africa NewsBuaNews OnlineGovernment-related news, features & information. Business Day Business news. Cape Argus Cape Town's daily Cape Times Daily, published since 1876, Cape Town. City Press The peoples paper, daily news. Daily Mail & Guardian National and international news. Independent Online South African and world news. News24 South African and international news. Pretoria News Independent daily newspaper, first published in 1898, Pretoria. Sunday Times South African weekly newspaper. The Star Published in Johannesburg. SABCnews.com Online news from South Africa's national broadcaster. |
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Arts & Cultureartslink.co.zaMore Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment news. Artthrob Online magazine on contemporary Art in South Africa.  Face
of AfricaAfrican Beauties. Museums Online South Africa A guide to South Africa's museums. Pretoria Art Museum Museum for contemporary art South African Arts, Culture and Heritage A guide to music, fine arts, theatre, literature architecture and more. |
 Books
about Art and Culture ofSouth Africa Art in South Africa Cultures of South Africa |
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Business & EconomyCape Chamber of Commerce & IndustryChamber of Commerce and Industry Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry Johannesburg Stock Exchange JSE South African Reserve Bank The South African Trade Centre Export and trade gateway to Southern Africa. Transportation Airline South African Airways (SAA) The national carrier. Railroad Blue Train South African luxury train Rovos Rail Another luxurious train South African Railways South African Railways Info page. |
Books
about Business and Economy South Africa. Business Customs South Africa Business and Investment in South Africa Market Research Reports South Africa |
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Destination South Africa - Travel and Tour GuidesDiscover South AfricaThe South Africa Tourism Board official guide to tourism South Africa. Cape Country Info Southern African Travel Portal. The Garden Route Western Cape overberginfo.com Comprehensive information about the Overberg region on the Southernmost tip of Africa. Southern Africa Places A tourism guide to Africa's South. Tonight Event and entertainment guide. tourism.co.za The digital guide to South Africa. City Guides Bloemfontein (Mangaung) (judicial center) Mangaung Local Municipality; (the city's name in seSotho is Mangaung). Cape Town Official website of the Cioty of Cape Town. Durban (Thekwini) eThekwini Municipality, the official web site of Durban. Johannesburg The official City of Jo'burg website. South
Africa's ProvincesA guide to South Africa's Provinces. |
Sponsored Link: South Africa Travel South Africa Accommodation
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EducationUniversity of Fort HareThe oldest historically black university in Southern and Eastern Africa, founded in 1916. University of Natal University of Pretoria University of South Africa University of the Witwatersrand More South African Universities will be found in the Guide
to South Africa's Provinces |
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Environment & NatureKruger National ParkA comprehensive guide to one of the most famous game and nature reserve of Africa. South African National Parks Official website of the South African National Parks (SANParks). WildNet Africa A wildlife and travel portal. |
 Elephants © Rovos Rail |
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HistoryANC ArchivesTo preserve records which reflect the history of one of the oldest liberation movements in Africa, the ANC. A short history of South Africa Overview of South Africa's history by SouthAfrica.info. South African history online Database of South African history, aims to "break the silence on the historic and cultural achievements of the country's black communities". Cradle of Humankind Gauteng Site about amazing finds that have led leading palaeo-anthropologists and archaeologists to suggest that humankind first appeared in this corner of Africa and from there spread out to populate the world. DISA - Digital Imaging Project of South Africa South Africa's Struggle for Democracy, Anti-Apartheid Periodicals, 1960-1990. National Archives of South Africa National Archives and Records Service (NARS). South African History Archive Trust - SAHA SAHA is dedicated to documenting and supporting the struggle for justice in South Africa. Department of historical papers Collections of historical, political and cultural importance, University of the Witwatersrand SA. Soweto, heartbeat of the nation The long road to democracy. |
Books
about the History of South Africa Modern History of South Africa Cultural History of South Africa  Zulu iSangoma, a Zulu diviner © South African Tourism |
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SearchSouth African web directoryA selected directory of some of the most useful information sites in South Africa. Ananzi The South African Search Engine and Directory. South African Internet Resources South Africa links. South Africa Online South African web sites. Newsgroup of South Africa soc.culture.south-africa soc.culture.south-africa.afrikaans za.environment Additional Information on South AfricaAfrica South of the Sahara - South AfricaAfrican Studies Center at University of Pennsylvania: South Africa BBC News - Country profile: South Africa Governments on the WWW: South Africa Open Directory Project: South Africa Wikipedia: South Africa The World Factbook -- South Africa |
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Other Countries of Southern Africa:
Botswana | Lesotho | Namibia | Swaziland Countries of the World: A - C | D - G | H - L | M - P | Q - T | U - Z Continents: Africa | The Americas | Asia | Australia/Oceania | Europe |
| The South Africa page was last modified on: Friday, 03-Apr-2009 09:03:01 CEST |
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