Facts
Location: Southern Africa
Capital City: Pretoria (administrative); Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative)
Population: 50.1 million
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Currency: Rand ZAR (R)
Main Language: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu (11 official languages)
Main Religions: Christianity, Islam, indiginous beliefs, Hinduism
Other Facts
The population breakdown in South Africa is as follows: 77% of the population are black, 10% are white, 8% are mixed race, 2.5% are of Indian or Asian descent
Up until 1994 South Africa was ruled by a white minority government, in power since 1948, which separated races with its policy of apartheid. Apartheid has now been abolished with democracy extended to the rest of the population
South Africa is the world's leader in mining and minerals. It has nearly 90% of the platinum metals on earth, 80% of the manganese, 73% of the chrome, 45% of the vanadium and 41% of the gold.
Four of the five fastest land animals live in Africa – the cheetah (70 mph), wildebeest, lion and Thomson’s gazelle (all around 50 mph)
South Africa is rated 3rd in the world in supplying safe, drinkable tap water.
