KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1931 (Statute of Westminster; left in 1961, rejoined in 1994) Population: 52,776,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 0.9% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 118 Official languages: 11 most widely spoken Time: GMT plus 2 hrs Currency: Rand (R)

Geography Area: 1,221,038 sq km Coastline: 2,800 km Capital: The Republic of South Africa has land borders with: Namibia, Botswana, , Mozambique and Swaziland. Its sea borders are with the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Lesotho is enclosed within its land area. The country comprises nine provinces: Eastern Cape (provincial capital ), Free State (), (), KwaZulu-Natal days and cold dry nights. The south-east Wildlife: South Africa’s wildlife, among (), (Polokwane), trade winds, blowing first over KwaZulu- which are the large mammals characteristic Mpumalanga (Nelspruit), Northern Cape Natal, are the principal source of of the African grassland, includes species, (Kimberley), North-West (Mafikeng) and precipitation, falling in summer. Winter rains such as the white rhino, that are endangered Western Cape (). reach the Western Cape. elsewhere. The game reserves such as the Kruger and Hluhluwe are considered among Topography: The southern part of the Environment: The most significant the world’s best. The wide range of bird ancient African plateau forms the centre of environmental issues are soil erosion, species includes many migrants from the South Africa, falling through rolling hills and desertification, air pollution and resulting acid northern hemisphere. South Africa was a coastal plains to the coastal belt. The Great rain, and pollution of rivers from agricultural founder member of the International Union Escarpment, containing the Drakensberg and run-off and urban discharges. In a country Cape mountain ranges, marks the high edge for the Conservation of Nature and Natural with relatively few major rivers and lakes, of the plateau. The plateau lies at an altitude Resources (IUCN). Some 24 mammal species extensive water conservation and control of about 1,500 metres in the south and east, and 41 bird species are thought to be measures are necessary to keep pace with dipping towards the north and west. On the endangered (2014). rapid growth in water usage. plateau, land is flat or undulating and dotted Main towns: Pretoria (administrative capital, with round hills or ‘koppies’. The Limpopo Vegetation: Varies with climate, including Gauteng, pop. 1.76m in 2011), Cape Town and Orange are the major river systems, temperate hardwood forest, dense coastal (legislative capital, Western Cape, 3.43m), although Natal and parts of the Cape are bush, Mediterranean scrub (including many Bloemfontein (judicial capital, Free State, traversed by fast-flowing, seasonal rivers with varieties of aloes and proteas), vast grasslands 464,591), Johannesburg (Gauteng, 7.86m), coastal lagoons. Surface water is in short of the veld dotted with flat-topped thorn Durban (KwaZulu-Natal, 2.79m), Soweto supply. trees, and scrub. South Africa’s (Gauteng, 1.27m), Bay Climate: Climate varies with altitude and native flora have been developed as garden (Eastern Cape, 1.15m), Port Elizabeth (Eastern continental position: Mediterranean climate flowers all over the world. Forest covers eight Cape, 876,436), Soshanguve (Gauteng, in the Western Cape; humid subtropical per cent of the land area, having declined at 728,063), Evaton (Gauteng, 605,504), climate on the northern KwaZulu-Natal coast; 1.8 per cent p.a. 1990–2010. Arable land Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal, 475,238), continental climate of the highveld; and arid comprises ten per cent and permanent Tembisa (Gauteng, 463,109), Vereeniging Karoo and Kalahari fringes, with a great cropland less than one per cent of the total (Gauteng, 377,922), East London (Eastern temperature range, giving very hot summer land area. Cape, 295,644), Boksburg (Gauteng,

The CommonweAlTh YeArbook 2015 South Africa

260,321), Polokwane (Limpopo, 227,407), Sotho), Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tsonga, and Die Burger (Cape Town). The most Kimberley (Northern Cape, 225,155), Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. influential national weeklies are Financial Welkom (Free State, 211,014), Benoni Mail , Mail & Guardian , The Sunday Religion: Christians 80 per cent (2001 (Gauteng, 158,777), Mafikeng (North-West, Independent and Sunday Times . census), with a wide range of denominations; 64,359), Nelspruit (Mpumalanga, 58,670), and minorities of Muslims, Hindus and . State-owned South African Broadcasting Richards Bay (KwaZulu-Natal, 50,511) and Traditional and Christian forms of worship are Corporation (SABC) provides a Bhisho (Eastern Cape, 11,192). often blended. comprehensive range of national and regional Transport: There are 364,130 km of roads radio stations covering 11 languages and an Health: Public spending on health was four (17 per cent paved) and 20,500 km of external service for a pan-African audience, per cent of GDP in 2012. Durban Academic railway (about half electrified). This Channel Africa. There are very many private Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, four new hospitals substantial rail network serves not only South radio stations. SABC also operates three in Northern Province and many new health Africa with its mining and heavy industries, national TV networks and two pay-TV centres were built in the late 1990s. Some 95 but also neighbouring countries. services. Many private TV channels are per cent of the population uses an improved available nationally; and private TV network Ports also serve South Africa and its drinking water source and 74 per cent have M-Net targets a pan-African audience. landlocked neighbours: Botswana, Lesotho, access to adequate sanitation facilities (2012). Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The main Infant mortality was 33 per 1,000 live births Some 75 per cent of households have TV sets commercial ports are at Durban, Port in 2013 (89 in 1960). (2009). There are 83 personal computers per Elizabeth, Cape Town and East London. 1,000 people (2005). AIDS is a severe problem. In 2013, 19.1 per Durban is the leading port, with capacity for cent of people aged 15–49 were HIV positive. Communications: Country code 27; internet deep-sea ro-ro vessels and a principal For many years the government appeared domain ‘.za’. Mobile phone coverage extends terminal of the 3,100-km long underground unable to accept the severity of the looming to most of the country. Internet cafes are oil pipeline. problem and failed to take measures to located in most parts of the country. International airports are at Bloemfontein, contain it. By 2000, when it became involved For every 1,000 people there are 92 landlines, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port in controversy over its claim that AIDS was 1,475 mobile phone subscriptions and 489 Elizabeth, while East London, Kimberley and not caused by HIV, there were – by some internet users (2013). Pretoria are important domestic airports. international estimates – more HIV-positive Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Human There are also some 210 licensed aerodromes cases in South Africa than any other country. Rights Day (21 March), Freedom Day (27 and 40 heliports. By April 2002, however, the government had April), Workers’ Day (1 May), Youth Day (16 committed itself to lead the battle against June), National Women’s Day (9 August), HIV/AIDS, making antiretroviral drugs Society Heritage Day (24 September), Day of available through the health service. KEY FACTS 2013 Reconciliation (16 December), Christmas Day Education: Public spending on education Population per sq km: 43 and Day of Goodwill (26 December). was 6.6 per cent of GDP in 2012. There are Religious festivals whose dates vary from year Life expectancy: 57 years nine years of compulsory education starting to year include Good Friday and Family Net primary enrolment: 85% at the age of seven. Primary school comprises Day/Easter Monday. seven years and secondary five, with cycles of Population: 52,776,000 (2013); 64 per cent two and three years. The school year starts in of people live in urban areas and 34 per cent January. Economy in urban agglomerations of more than one million people; growth 1.6 per cent p.a. In January 2012 the Council on Higher KEY FACTS 2013 1990–2013; birth rate 21 per 1,000 people Education recognised 23 public universities, GNI: US$343.2bn (38 in 1970); life expectancy 57 years (53 in including two concentrating on distance GNI p.c.: US$7,190 1970 and 61 in 1990). education and six universities of technology. It had also registered 88 private higher GDP growth: 1.9% p.a. 2009–13 People of African origin constitute 79.0 per education institutions and a further 27 were cent of the population (2001 census), Inflation: 5.6% p.a. 2009–13 provisionally registered. There are some European origin 9.6 per cent, mixed descent left South Africa with unequal 892,940 students in public higher education 8.9 per cent (‘’) and Asian origin 2.5 distributions of income, distorted patterns of institutions, some 138,610 of whom are per cent. The African linguistic groups population settlement, imbalances in skills, postgraduate students (2010). Literacy comprise Zulu (23.8 per cent of the total low productivity and a large and inefficient among people aged 15–24 is 98 per cent population), Xhosa (17.6 per cent), Pedi (9.4 bureaucracy. Furthermore, in the last decade (2007). per cent), Tswana (8.2 per cent), Sotho (7.9 per of the old regime, prolonged recession (from cent), Tsonga (4.4 per cent), Swati (2.7 per South Africa hosted the 16th Commonwealth low gold and other commodity prices, high cent), Venda (2.3 per cent) and several smaller Conference of Education Ministers in Cape expenditure on security forces, economic groups. The ‘coloureds’ include descendants of Town in December 2006. Commonwealth sanctions and disinvestment) led to slaves brought from Malaya, Indonesia and Education Ministers meet every three years to weakening of the economic fabric. GDP grew Madagascar, and the Khoi-Khoi people of the discuss issues of mutual concern and interest. by 1.0 per cent p.a. 1980–90. Cape. There is also a substantial flow of inward Media: Among the many dailies in English In August 2000, the government announced migration of people seeking employment, are Business Day , Cape Argus , Cape Times , a programme of privatisation in telecoms, most from neighbouring countries such as The Citizen , Sowetan (Johannesburg), The energy and transport, accounting for a Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Times (in print by subscription only) and The substantial part of the state industrial sector. Language: Official languages are , Star (Johannesburg). Leading Afrikaans- The large state companies would first be English, Ndebele, Sesotho sa Leboa (Northern language dailies are Beeld (Johannesburg) restructured and then privatised. But since

The CommonweAlTh YeArbook 2015 South Africa

Real growth in GDP soon recovered, maintaining average growth Continuing friction on the Eastern Cape of about 2.5 per cent p.a. 2010–15. frontier and the abolition of slavery by Britain % 4.0 % triggered a significant migration, the Great 3.5 Mining, oil and gas Trek, which from 1836 to 1838 onwards 3.0 brought them into direct conflict with the 2.5 The country has the world’s largest reserves 2.0 of gold, manganese, platinum, chromium, African peoples. While the black societies 1.5 andalusite, vanadium and alumino-silicates. It welcomed the traders and missionaries, g between them and the was direct 1.0 has substant ial am o unts of antimony,

0.5 competition for land. asbestos, coa l , cop p er, diamonds, iron ore, 0.0 lead, oil and gas, t itanium, uranium, The Africans were themselves in upheaval in -0.5 vermiculite, zinc and zirconium. Mining and the 19th century. In Natal, a military genius, -1.0 minerals-processing accounts for more than -1.5 Shaka, had moulded the formerly 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 half of export revenue. insignificant Zulus into a powerful fighting Offshore oil production from fields south- force and developed an economy of war. The Xhosas had been weakened by 100 years of Inflation west of the Cape started in 1997, and substantial reserves of natural gas were battle with the white settlers along the % 8 discovered off the west coast in 2001. In Eastern Cape frontier. The Boers trekked 7 October 2014 the government announced inland, defeating first the Ndebele and then 6 plans to intensify offshore oil and gas other tribes, and establishing the Boer Republics of the (South African 5 exploration. Republic) and Orange Free State. 4 Meanwhile, Britain was also expanding, 3 History taking Natal in 1843 and then following the Stone-age Khoisan hunter-gatherers 2 Boers inland. The first Indians came in 1860 inhabited the region for about 8,000 years. 1 to work as indentured labourers in the Natal At some period before 300 CE iron-age sugar fields and, in 1867, diamonds were 0 communities of pastoralists (almost certainly 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 discovered, triggering adventurer immigrants people of the Bantu groups) were living in from many countries. Gold was discovered in the interior. The San people (Bushmen) were 1871 – in a Boer Republic. Britain went to GDP by sector (2013) pushed towards the hostile desert areas; the war with the Boers and, with difficulty, Khoi-Khoi (Hottentots) added pastoralism to defeated them. Having also finally defeated their economy, possibly learned from the Agriculture the Zulus, Britain gained control of all South more advanced and powerful Bantu, and 2.3% Africa. The four provinces were united in inhabited the South-West Cape. Industry 1910 into the dominion of the Union of 29.9% People of the Bantu groups, constituting South Africa, and the country’s independence Services South Africa’s majority, are related to the was formally recognised under the Statute of 67.8% peoples of other east and southern African Westminster in 1931. countries, and come from four main linguistic The country had come to independence with groups: the Nguni, Sotho-Tswana, Venda and this programme was opposed by many a constitution which effectively denied black Tsonga. The Nguni (including Zulu, Xhosa and rights. Most areas excluded black, coloured government supporters progress was slow. Swazi peoples) are by far the largest. and Indian people from the vote. Resistance From the mid-1990s the economy picked up, The first European settlers – Dutch farmers to racial discrimination was begun by led by manufacturing, tourism and financial sent to re-provision ships of the Dutch East Mahatma Gandhi, who arrived in South services. It slowed in 1998, then continued to India Company – arrived at the Cape in 1652. Africa as a young lawyer in 1893. He led the grow steadily from 1999; recording growth They were joined in 1688 by Huguenots first passive resistance to the pass laws in of 2.1 per cent p.a. during 1990–2000. The (French Protestant refugees), followed by 1906. In 1912, the African National Congress government has promoted a programme of groups from Belgium, Britain, France and (ANC) was founded, to fight for full black economic empowerment, notably Germany, and augmented by often highly constitutional rights for blacks. through the Broad Based Black Economic skilled slaves from Indonesia and Malaya. However, South Africa steadily reduced black Empowerment Act (2003), which gives Control of the Cape passed from the Dutch rights. In 1913, land acts severely limited the previously marginalised groups opportunities to the French and, after 1814, to the British. rights of blacks to own land or live in certain that were not available to them in the The European and racially mixed groups areas. In 1936, black voters were removed apartheid era. developed the language of Afrikaans, a sense from the common voters’ roll in the Cape. Strong domestic demand, as a result of rising of folk identity as , or Boers disposable income and wealth, has driven the (farmers), and a religious identity as strict The apartheid years good steady growth during the 2000s, Calvinists. They developed a ranching-centred In 1948 the National Party (NP) came to averaging 4.7 per cent p.a. during 2004–08, style of agriculture suitable to the terrain (and power on an electoral platform of apartheid, with relatively low inflation. This long period similar to that of the Bantu peoples) and, as and moved rapidly in enacting a policy of of good growth was interrupted in the world their numbers grew and the distant racial segregation into law. The ANC, in economic downturn of 2008–09. The administrative authority became more collaboration with the Indian Congress, economy expanded by 3.6 per cent in 2008 irksome and foreign, migrated towards the Coloured People’s Congress and Congress of and contracted by 1.5 per cent in 2009. It interior. Democrats (mainly white communists and

The CommonweAlTh YeArbook 2015 South Africa

anti-racists), launched the Freedom Charter Within South Africa, political protest grew, Nelson Mandela, President of the ANC, was and, in 1952, the Defiance Campaign in and began to take an increasingly violent elected President of South Africa at the first response. More apartheid laws, separating form, influenced by Umkhonto we Sizwe sitting of the National Assembly in May 1994. education and public amenities, followed. (‘Spear of the Nation’, the military wing of Although the ANC had an overall majority, in Then, in 1960, the police at Sharpeville shot the ANC). The country was becoming the interests of achieving consensus, a and killed 69 peaceful demonstrators. The ungovernable, and its economy disastrously Government of National Unity (GNU) was ANC, Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), South weakened. formed, with a cabinet comprising 18 ANC, African Communist Party (SACP) and other six NP, three IFP MPs and one independent anti-apartheid movements were banned and The ending of apartheid MP. Mandela appointed Thabo Mbeki (ANC) went under ground or into exile. The ANC In 1989 F. W. de Klerk succeeded P. W. Botha and de Klerk (NP) as Deputy Presidents. The adopted a policy of armed struggle and as President, and immediately began then ANC Secretary-General Cyril Ramaphosa Nelson Mandela, as head of its new military negotiations to unscramble apartheid. Within was elected Chairperson of the Constitutional wing, launched a sabotage campaign. In months Walter Sisulu and seven other Assembly. In June 1994 South Africa rejoined 1963 Mandela, Walter Sisulu and other ANC imprisoned leaders were released and the the Commonwealth and reclaimed its seat at leaders were sentenced to life imprisonment. bans on the ANC, PAC and SACP were lifted. the UN. After the Sharpeville massacre the world In February 1990, Mandela was released. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission woke up to apartheid. South Africa became a Apartheid laws were repealed. In August (TRC) was established with Archbishop pariah nation, forced out of the 1990, the ANC suspended the armed Desmond Tutu as its chair in 1996 to provide Commonwealth and increasingly isolated struggle, and began negotiations with the a public forum for the personal accounts of internationally. The UN declared apartheid to government. human rights abuses during the apartheid be a danger to world peace in 1961 and a Political violence intensified within South years. It was attended by some 7,000 crime against humanity in 1966. Africa, with fierce competition between the individuals (including ANC leaders, but not During the 1970s some three million people ANC and the Zulu traditionalist Inkatha IFP’s Mangosuthu Buthelezi, or F. W. de Klerk) were forcibly resettled in ‘homelands’. Further Freedom Party (IFP). Nonetheless, all-party and delivered its final report in October 1998. shockwaves ran through the international negotiations – the Convention for a People attended hearings on a voluntary basis media when, in 1976, schoolchildren in Democratic South Africa – began in and were then entitled to apply to the TRC Soweto protesting against school classes in December 1991. An all-white referendum for amnesty from prosecution. the Afrikaans language were shot by police showed that the whites were in favour of The NP withdrew from the GNU in 1996 to and this sparked a violent uprising abolishing apartheid and agreement was form the parliamentary opposition, but the throughout the country in which some 600 reached in June 1993. A multiparty IFP remained in the national government, mainly young people were killed. Popular transitional executive council was formed to although this collaboration was not reflected activist Steve Biko (a young leader of the partner the government until the elections for in the provincial government of KwaZulu- Black Consciousness Movement) was beaten a new Parliament could be held. As the Natal. In October 1996 a new constitution to death while in police custody in 1977, and reform process gathered momentum from was approved by the National Assembly and his name became a rallying cry of resistance. 1989, international sanctions were lifted. came into force in February 1997. At the In 1983 the government introduced a new South Africa’s first non-racial and democratic 50th national conference of the ANC in tricameral Parliament, which gave elections were held in April 1994, with December 1997, Mandela stood down as representation (in separate chambers) to Commonwealth, UN and other teams of party President, making way for Thabo white, coloured and Indian people, but observers present. The observers concluded Mbeki. excluded blacks. Intended as an act of that despite technical problems during the In the second democratic general election in appeasement, this aroused new united elections, the results were an overwhelming June 1999, the ANC received 66 per cent of opposition, led by a new umbrella body, the expression of the will of the people. The the votes, the Democratic Party (DP) nine per United Democratic Front, with strong elections gave the ANC an overall majority cent, the IFP just under nine per cent, the representation from the churches and trade with 252 seats, and 63 per cent of the votes. (renamed) New National Party (NNP) seven unions as well as political parties. In 1985, The NP obtained 20 per cent and the IFP 11 per cent and the newly formed United the Congress of South African Trade Unions per cent. Democratic Movement (UDM) four per cent. was founded. Despite the powerful police and military apparatus, black resistance South Africa on the international stage intensified. From the mid-1980s the Commonwealth, Nelson Mandela led the struggle to replace the former white supremacist regime with USA and EU introduced political, sporting, multiracial democracy and, after 27 years in prison, in 1994 he became South Africa’s first cultural and economic sanctions. The black president. His funeral in 2013 was attended by national leaders from around the world. Commonwealth was consistently among the Of the many internationally acclaimed South African writers, two – Nadine Gordimer (in leaders in international action against 1991) and John Maxwell Coetzee (in 2003) – have Nobel Prizes; and Coetzee (2000) and apartheid, for example with its Gleneagles Manu Herbstein (Best First Book in 2002) have been overall winners in the Commonwealth Agreement against sporting contacts with Writers’ Prize. South Africa (1977). The Commonwealth also On the sporting front, Francois Pienaar, born in 1967 in Vereeniging, led the South African led the peaceful dismantling of apartheid, team to its first World Cup triumph in 1995, winning the event on home soil. starting in 1985 with establishment of the He was portrayed by in the 2009 film Invictus , which told the story of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (led build up to the 1995 tournament. The South African with the most international caps is by Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and former Marsha Cox, born in 1983 in Durban, captain of the women’s hockey team. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser).

The CommonweAlTh YeArbook 2015 South Africa

With 266 out of the National Assembly’s 400 representation of members of provincial A new political party, the Congress of the seats, the ANC was able to command a two- governments. The President is elected by the People (COPE), was launched in December thirds majority (necessary for changes to the National Assembly and can serve a maximum 2008 under the leadership of Mosiuoa constitution) with the support of the Minority of two five-year terms. The Deputy President Lekota, former chairman of the ANC and a Front, which had one seat. Mbeki succeeded and cabinet are appointed by the President. close ally of Mbeki. Mandela as President and IFP leader Facing the challenge of COPE and the DA, Mangosuthu Buthelezi was reappointed as Politics the ANC nevertheless won 66 per cent of Home Affairs Minister, while the 22-member Last elections: 7 May 2014 votes (264 seats) in the parliamentary cabinet was partially reshuffled with Jacob elections in April 2009. The DA, led by Helen Zuma becoming Deputy President. The DP Next elections: 2019 Zille, received 17 per cent of votes (67 seats) replaced the NNP as the official opposition, Head of state: President Jacob and COPE seven per cent (30 seats). Turnout and in June 2000 the DP and the NNP Gedleyihlekisa Zuma was 77 per cent. At the first sitting of the merged to become the Democratic Alliance. Head of government: The President National Assembly in May 2009, Zuma was formally elected President; and he then Ruling party: African National Congress Constitution appointed Motlanthe Deputy President. Women MPs: 42% Status: Republic with executive President COPE’s candidate in the presidential contest In the third democratic general election, in was Bishop Mvume Dandala rather than its Legislature: Parliament of the Republic of April 2004, the African National Congress leader, Lekota. South Africa (ANC) won a decisive mandate, securing 70 Nelson Mandela died on 5 December 2013. The constitution came into effect in February per cent of the votes, while the Democratic 1997. It provides inter alia for the supremacy Alliance (DA) took 12 per cent (and 50 seats) President Zuma and the ANC won the of the constitution, a federal state, a bill of and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) seven per general election on 7 May 2014, securing rights, universal adult suffrage, regular cent (28 seats). The ANC achieved a majority 249 seats with 62.2 per cent of the vote. multiparty elections, recognition of traditional in seven of the nine provinces and, with 279 The DA – led by Helen Zille – won 89 seats leaders, 11 official languages, and seats, gained the two-thirds majority needed (22.2 per cent of the vote), Economic democracy-buttressing institutions such as to change the constitution, though they had Freedom Fighters – led by former ANC the Public Protector, and Commissions for not promised any changes in their manifesto. member – 25 seats (6.4 per Human Rights and Gender Equality. It also cent) and IFP ten seats (2.4 per cent). In December 2007, defeated includes a Commission for the Promotion and Turnout was 73 per cent. On 21 May 2014 President Thabo Mbeki in the ANC leadership Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious the National Assembly re-elected Jacob elections, paving the way for his candidacy in and Linguistic Communities. Zuma President and he was sworn in for a the 2009 presidential elections. In the same second term on 24 May. The bicameral legislature comprises the 400- month, the ANC National Executive seat National Assembly – elected every five Committee ‘recalled’ Mbeki from the years by universal adult suffrage under presidency, he resigned, and Parliament International relations proportional representation – and the 90-seat elected ANC deputy leader Kgalema South Africa is a member of the African, National Council of Provinces with direct Motlanthe to succeed him. Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, African Union, Indian Ocean Rim Association, Further information Non-Aligned Movement, Southern African Customs Union, Southern African South Africa government: www.gov.za Development Community, United Nations Independent Electoral Commission: www.elections.org.za and World Trade Organization. Parliament of the Republic of South Africa: www.parliament.gov.za Statistics South Africa: www.statssa.gov.za South African Reserve Bank: www.reservebank.co.za Traveller information South African Tourism: www.southafrica.net/za/en Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Immigration and customs: Passports must Commonwealth of Nations: www.commonwealthofnations.org/ be valid for at least 30 days from the date of country/South_Africa departure. Visas are required by most Media Commonwealth nationals. A yellow fever Business Day : www.businessday.co.za vaccination certificate is required from all Cape Argus : www.capeargus.co.za travellers aged over nine months arriving Cape Times : www.capetimes.co.za from the countries where the World Health Sowetan : www.sowetanlive.co.za Organization (WHO) recognises a risk of The Citizen : www.citizen.co.za yellow fever transmission, and from certain The Star : www.thestar.co.za other African countries listed by the South Financial Mail : www.financialmail.co.za African authorities where vaccination is not Mail & Guardian : www.mg.co.za generally recommended by the WHO, The Sunday Independent : www.sundayindependent.co.za including United Republic of Tanzania and The Times/Sunday Times : www.timeslive.co.za Zambia. Restricted imports include plants SABC: www.sabc.co.za and plant products – including honey, Channel Africa: www.channelafrica.org margarine, seeds and vegetable oils – and News 24: www.news24.com animals and animal products – dairy South African Press Association: www.sapa.org.za products and eggs.

The CommonweAlTh YeArbook 2015 South Africa

Travel within the country: Traffic drives on South Africa has a comprehensive transport Travel health: Prevalent diseases where the left. Visitors can drive with a foreign network including air, train and bus services. appropriate precautionary measures are driving licence if it is in English. The road There are luxury trains that run between recommended include cholera, dengue fever, network is mostly paved. Seat belts are Cape Town and Pretoria. Taxis are widely diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, malaria, mandatory. available in the main towns. rabies, schistosomiasis (bilharzia) and typhoid. There were 9,510,000 tourist arrivals in 2013.

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The CommonweAlTh YeArbook 2015