South Africa Country & Tourist Information

Location
Southern Africa.

Area
1,219,192 sq km (470,693 sq miles).

Population
47.4 million (UN estimate 2006).

Population Density
38.9 per sq km.

Capital
Pretoria (administrative).
Population: 1.8 million (2006). Cape Town (legislative). Population: 3.2 million (2006). Bloemfontein (judicial). Population: 369,568 (2004).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1910.

Language
The official languages are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.

Religion
Most inhabitants profess Christianity of some form and belong to Catholic, Anglican and other protestant denominations, Afrikaner Dutch Reformed churches or African independent churches. There are also significant Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities, and traditional beliefs are still practiced widely, sometimes in conjunction with Christianity.

Time
GMT + 2.

Electricity
220/240 volts AC; 250 volts AC (Pretoria), 50Hz. Three-pin round plugs are in use.

Head of State
President Kgalema Motlanthe since 2008.

Recent History
President Thabo Mbeki stepped down in September 2008 over claims of political interference in a corruption case against Jacob Zuma, chairman of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. Kgalema Motlanthe, an ally of Zuma, was named caretaker president until elections take place in early 2009.

South Africa has held three successful national elections as well as local polls since its first genuinely inclusive national election, held in 1994. Thabo Mbeki was elected by parliament to a second five-year term in 2004, following the landslide general election victory of his ruling African National Congress (ANC). Mr Mbeki took over as president when Nelson Mandela stepped down in mid-1999.

Mbeki's administration struggled with two major domestic problems - a huge violent crime wave and an HIV-AIDS pandemic, which according to United Nations estimates (2006) afflicts over 18% of the population. Mbeki's initial refusal to come to terms with the true nature of the HIV virus drew massive international criticism, but his cabinet has since made anti-AIDS drugs available nationally and in early 2007 began a five year and R45 billion action plan to provide treatment and support to those living with HIV-AIDS. He has also been criticized internationally for not taking more prominent action about the political situation in neighboring Zimbabwe.

Telephone
Country code: 27. Area codes are used even if you are making a call in the same area.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage extends to most of the country except in the very remote areas.

Internet
Internet cafes are present around the country and wireless is available at airports and in upmarket hotels.

Media
South Africa’s many broadcasters and publications reflect the diversity of the population as a whole. Well-established state-run and commercial TV networks broadcast nationally, and hundreds of thousands of viewers subscribe to pay-TV services operated by major cable and satellite company Multichoice. Deregulation in 1996 led to a proliferation of radio stations. The constitution provides for freedom of the press, and this is generally respected in practice.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes up to seven days.

Post office hours: Generally Mon-Fri 0830-1530; Sat 0800-1100; longer in airports and shopping malls. The smaller post offices close for lunch 1300-1400.

Press
• The main newspapers are in English and Afrikaans, and include Cape Argus, Cape Times, The Citizen, Sowetan and The Star. A weekly highbrow newspaper is Mail & Guardian.

Radio
• SABC is a state broadcaster with 18 regional and national services in 11 languages.
• Commercial stations include: KFM, Highveld Stereo, Jacaranda FM, Algoa FM, 702 Talk Radio, Classic FM and East Coast Radio.

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
 
2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Mar Human Rights Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Family Day.
27 Apr Freedom Day.
1 May Workers' Day.
16 Jun Youth Day.
9 Aug National Women's Day.
24 Sep Heritage Day.
16 Dec Day of Reconciliation.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Day of Goodwill.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Mar Human Rights Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday. 
5 Apr Family Day.
27 Apr Freedom Day.
1 May Workers' Day.
16 Jun Youth Day.
9 Aug National Women's Day.
24 Sep Heritage Day.
16 Dec Day of Reconciliation.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Day of Goodwill.

Note
Holidays falling on a Sunday are observed the following Monday.

Contact Information:

South African Tourism Board (SATOUR) in the UK
Street address: 6 Alt Grove, Wimbledon, London SW19 4DZ, UK
Postal address: PO Box 49110, Wimbledon, London SW19 4XZ, UK
Tel: (020) 8971 9350 or 0870 155 0044 (tourism enquiry line and brochure request).
Website: www.southafrica.net

South African High Commission in the UK
South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DP, UK
Tel: (020) 7451 7299.
Website: www.southafricahouse.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

South African Consulate in the UK
15 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DD, UK
Tel: (020) 7925 8900/01/10.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0845-1245 (appointments only), 1500-1600 (collections).
Website: www.southafricahouse.com/Consulate.htm

Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in the USA
3051 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 232 4400.
Website: www.saembassy.org

South African Tourism Board (SATOUR) in the USA
500 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor, Suite 2040, New York, NY 10110, USA
Tel: (212) 730 2929 or 1 800 593 1318 (tourism enquiry line and brochure request).
Website: www.southafrica.net


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