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The
Rebublic of South Africa |
| President: |
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Mr.
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki |
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| Capital: |
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Pretoria |
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| Population: |
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45
million |
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| Area: |
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1,227,200
sq. km |
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| Main
Cities: |
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Pretoria,
Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth |
| Provinces
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South
Africa has nine provinces. They are Eastern Cape, Free State,
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape,
North West, and Western Cape.
For a detailed map - click
here. |
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| Key
econimic data : |
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| 1.
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South
Africa's Johannesburg Stock Exchange is amongst the ten
largest in the world. |
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South
Africa has enjoyed positive GDP growth for the past five
(5) years. |
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Foreign
investment into South Africa increased more than 300%
between 1995 (R228.4bn) and 2001 (R938bn). |
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GDP
is estimated at $120bn (R750bn) and 2004 GDP growth is
estimated at 3%. |
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The
services sector forms about 67% of the economy; followed
by industry at 29% and agriculture at 4%. |
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Key
industries are mining, automotive assembly and manufacturing,
fresh and processed food, metalworking, machinery, chemicals,
textile, iron, steel, and fertilizer. |
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There
are more than 5 million telephone lines in use, and there
are more than 7 million mobile phone users. |
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| Temperature/Climate: |
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Perennially
sunny climate, but the sun can be extremely fierce. The use
of a hat and sun screen is recommended.
Midsummer occurs in December and January, midwinter in June
and July.
For up-to-date weather in South Africa - click
here.
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| Languages: |
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South
Africa has 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele,
Sepedi, Sesotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Setswana, Venda, Xhosa and
Zulu. However, English is understood and used by most people.
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| Religion: |
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The
majority of South Africans adhere to the Christian faith.
Other major religious groups are Muslims, Jews and Hindus.
Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution.
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| International
Airports: |
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Johannesburg,
Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and George. |
| Ports: |
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Richards
Bay, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay, Cape Town
and Saldanha. |
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| Hours
for business: |
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While
most government offices are open from 08:00 to 16:30 from Monday
to Friday, businesses are mostly open from 09:00 through approximately
17:30 from Monday to Friday, as well as for varying times on
Saturday.
Generally speaking shopping malls and large businesses are open
from 08:00 to around 20:00 from Monday to Saturday, with a smaller
selection of shops inside such malls adopting different business
hours. A variety of businesses (mainly in the supermarket category)
are also open on Sundays. |
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| Banks
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08:30 to 15:30 - Monday to Friday
08:30 to 11:00 - Saturday
ATMS are available everywhere. |
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| Time: |
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GMT
+2 hours |
| Weights
& measures: |
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Metric |
| Electricity: |
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220/230
volts AC, 50Hz. Appliances of lesser voltage require a transformer.
Adapters are obtainable locally.
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| Rules
of the Road: |
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The
basic rule of the road is: drive on the left-hand side of
the road and give way to vehicles approaching from the right.
The general speed limit on national highways, urban freeways
and other major routes is 120km/h. On secondary roads it is
100km/h, and in residential areas 60km/h, unless otherwise
indicated.
Drivers must be in possession of a valid international driver's
licence. The use of seatbelts is mandatory.
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| Foreign
Representation: |
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South
Africa currently has relations with 171 countries and hosts
representatives from 128 countries and 16 international organisations.
It is also home to the Pan-African Parliament.
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| Visas: |
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All
visitors require a valid passport for entry into South Africa.
Entry is regulated by the Department of Home Affairs.
The need to acquire a visa depends on nationality and the
purpose and duration of visit.
For more information on visas – click
here.
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| Custom
regulations: |
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Duty-free
gifts and souvenirs to the value of R1 250 plus 400 cigarettes,
50 cigars, 250 grams of tobacco, 2 litres of wine, 1 litre
of other alcoholic beverages, 50ml of perfume, and 250ml of
toilet water are allowed into South Africa without incurring
duties. Thereafter duty is levied at 20%. The alcohol and
tobacco allowance applies only to people over 18.
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| Currency
regulations: |
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Upon
departure a person is permitted to take up to R500 in South
African Reserve Bank notes. A 20% levy is charged on amounts
above R500.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is levied on most goods and services,
but foreign visitors may reclaim VAT on purchases exceeding
R250, provided that it is exported unused. Arrangements to
this effect have to be made prior to departure and will require
presenting the original tax invoice(s).
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| Currency: |
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The
currency is the South African Rand (R) and the international
symbol is ZAR. R1 = 100 cents.
For current exchange rates - click
here.
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| Public
Holidays: |
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| New
Year's Day |
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01
January |
| Human
Rights Day |
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21
March |
| Good
Friday |
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14
April |
| Family
Day |
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17
April |
| Freedom
Day |
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27
April |
| Workers
Day |
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01
May |
| Youth
Day |
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16
June |
| National
Women's Day |
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09
August |
| Heritage
Day |
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24
September |
| Day
of Reconciliation |
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16
December |
| Christmas
Day |
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25
December |
| Day
of Goodwill |
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26
December |
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| Government
School Terms for 2006: |
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Coastal
Provinces: Eastern Cape - Kwazulu Natal - Northern Cape - Western
Cape
| First
Term |
Second
Term |
Third
Term |
Fourth
Term |
18
January
to
31 March |
10
April
to
23 June |
17
July
to
22 September |
02
October
to
01 December |
Inland Provinces: Free State - Gauteng - Mpumalanga
- North West - Limpopo
| First
Term |
Second
Term |
Third
Term |
Fourth
Term |
11
January
to
30 March |
18
April
to
23 June |
17
July
to
22 September |
02
October
to
01 December |
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