South Africa

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South Africa

• Government Economy

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Facts

• Republic
• Gained independence from UK on May 31, 1910
• Became a Republic in 1961 following an October
  1960 referendum
• Freedom Day is April 27, 1994

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More Facts

• Anyone over the age of 18 may vote
• The legal system is based on Roman-Dutch law and
  English common law
• Pretoria is the capital while Cape Town is the
  legislative center and Bloemfontein the judicial
  center

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The Constitution

• December 4, 1996 - The constitution was certified
  by the Constitutional Court
• December 10, 1996 - The constitution was signed
  by former President Mandela
• February 3, 1997 The constitution entered into
  effect
• The constitution is being implemented in phases

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Executive BranchPresident Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki

• The president is both the chief of state and head
  of government
• The president is elected by the National Assembly
  for a five-year term

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Legislative Branch Bicameral Parliament

• National Assembly (400 seats members are elected
  by popular vote under a system of proportional
  representation to serve five-year terms)
• National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10
  members elected by each of the nine provincial
  legislatures for five-year terms - protects local
  interests

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Judicial Branch

• Constitutional Court
• Supreme Court of Appeals
• High Courts
• Magistrate Courts

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Economy

• Currency Rand (ZAR)
• 1.00 USD 6.34264 ZAR
• 50 of population are living below poverty line

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Labor Force

• 16.35 million economically active (2003)
• agriculture 30
• industry 25
• services 45 (1999 est.)

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Agriculture

• corn
• wheat
• sugarcane
• fruits
• vegetables
• beef
• poultry
• mutton
• wool
• dairy products

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Industries

• mining (world's largest producer of platinum,
  gold, chromium)
• automobile assembly
• metalworking
• machinery
• textile
• iron and steel
• chemicals
• fertilizer
• foodstuffs

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Exports

• gold
• diamonds
• platinum
• other metals and minerals
• machinery and equipment (1998 est.)

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Imports

• machinery and equipment
• chemicals
• petroleum products
• scientific instruments
• foodstuffs (2000 est.)

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Sources

• www.cia.gov
• www.southafrica.net
• www.southafrica-travel.net