South Africa Country and Tourist Information
Location
Southern Africa.
Area
1,219,912 sq km (471 011 sq miles).
Population
49.3 million (2009).
Population Density
40.4 per sq km.
Capital
Pretoria
Population: 1.6 million (2009).
Government
Republic. Gained partial independence from the UK in 1910 and was declared a republic in 1961.
Language
The official languages are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
Religion
Around two thirds
of South Africans are Christian of some form including Catholics, Anglicans, Dutch Reformed or African independent churches. There are significant Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities and traditional African beliefs are also practiced.
Time
GMT + 2.
Electricity
220/230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs have three fat round pins.
Head of State
President Jacob Zuma since 2009.
Recent History
Colonialism was taken to extremes in South Africa, with a white minority enforcing the system of Apartheid to subjugate the black majority. Decades of internal activism re-enforced by external sanctions eventually broke the system. The dismantling of Apartheid officially began in 1990 after negotiations between President FW De Klerk and jailed African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela.
The first historic one-man-one-vote elections in 1994 swept the ANC to power and Mandela became the country's iconic president. Mandela earned enormous international respect for leading South Africa into democracy with relatively little bloodshed.
Since his retirement the political stage has lacked such leadership or charisma, with his successor Thabo Mbeki doing little to combat the twin ravages of violent crime and an AIDS pandemic.
ANC leader Jacob Zuma was elected in April 2009 in a presidency so far more noteworthy for Zuma's headline-hitting personal life than for effective governance.
The legacy of Apartheid still shapes much about the country, its economy, education system, its workforce and the massively unequal division of wealth, and racial tension still occasionally flares up more than 16 years after the official introduction of democracy.
Telephone
Country code: 27. Area codes are used even for local calls.
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage extends to most of the country except the very remote areas. GPRS for data coverage is also widespread.
Internet
Internet cafes are common in towns throughout 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. Freedom of the press is constitutionally protected and many newspapers have begun to flex their muscles with stronger and more critical political analysis in recent months. The main English newspapers are The Star, Sowetan, The Citizen and weekly Mail & Guardian. The state-run SABC and commercial E.tv networks broadcast nationally, and many viewers subscribe to pay-TV operated by Multichoice. The proliferation of commercial and community radio stations includes Highveld, Jacaranda, 702 Talk Radio and Classic FM.
Post
Airmail takes a minimum of two days to Europe, three days to USA and four days to Australia.
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.
Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2010-December 2011 period.
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.
Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2010-December 2011 period.
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.
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Mar Human Rights Day.
22 Apr Good Friday.
25 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.
Contact Information:
The British High Commission in South Africa
255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa
Tel: (012) 421 7600.
Website: www.ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1700; Fri 0800-1230.
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 (Visa services)
5 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DD, UK
Tel: 090-655-40798 (appointments) or 0207 925 8900 (enquiries).
Website: www.southafricahouse.com/Consulate.htm
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1030 (appointments only).
South African Tourism Board in the UK
6 Alt Grove, Wimbledon, London SW19 4DZ, UK
Tel: (020) 8971 9350 or 0870 155 0044 (enquiry line).
Website: www.southafrica.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in the USA
3051 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 232 4400.
Website: www.saembassy.org
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1245 and 1330-1700.
Consular Section (for visas, passports, immigration matters)
4301 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 274-7991.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.
South African Tourism Board in the USA
500 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor, Suite 2040, New York, NY 10110, USA
Tel: (212) 730 2929 or 1 800 593 1318 (information and brochure requests).
Website: www.southafrica.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Southern Africa.
Area
1,219,912 sq km (471 011 sq miles).
Population
49.3 million (2009).
Population Density
40.4 per sq km.
Capital
Pretoria
Population: 1.6 million (2009).
Government
Republic. Gained partial independence from the UK in 1910 and was declared a republic in 1961.
Language
The official languages are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.
Religion
Around two thirds
Time
GMT + 2.
Electricity
220/230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs have three fat round pins.
Head of State
President Jacob Zuma since 2009.
Recent History
Colonialism was taken to extremes in South Africa, with a white minority enforcing the system of Apartheid to subjugate the black majority. Decades of internal activism re-enforced by external sanctions eventually broke the system. The dismantling of Apartheid officially began in 1990 after negotiations between President FW De Klerk and jailed African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela.
The first historic one-man-one-vote elections in 1994 swept the ANC to power and Mandela became the country's iconic president. Mandela earned enormous international respect for leading South Africa into democracy with relatively little bloodshed.
Since his retirement the political stage has lacked such leadership or charisma, with his successor Thabo Mbeki doing little to combat the twin ravages of violent crime and an AIDS pandemic.
ANC leader Jacob Zuma was elected in April 2009 in a presidency so far more noteworthy for Zuma's headline-hitting personal life than for effective governance.
The legacy of Apartheid still shapes much about the country, its economy, education system, its workforce and the massively unequal division of wealth, and racial tension still occasionally flares up more than 16 years after the official introduction of democracy.
Telephone
Country code: 27. Area codes are used even for local calls.
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage extends to most of the country except the very remote areas. GPRS for data coverage is also widespread.
Internet
Internet cafes are common in towns throughout 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. Freedom of the press is constitutionally protected and many newspapers have begun to flex their muscles with stronger and more critical political analysis in recent months. The main English newspapers are The Star, Sowetan, The Citizen and weekly Mail & Guardian. The state-run SABC and commercial E.tv networks broadcast nationally, and many viewers subscribe to pay-TV operated by Multichoice. The proliferation of commercial and community radio stations includes Highveld, Jacaranda, 702 Talk Radio and Classic FM.
Post
Airmail takes a minimum of two days to Europe, three days to USA and four days to Australia.
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.
Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2010-December 2011 period.
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.
Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2010-December 2011 period.
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.
1 Jan New Year's Day.
21 Mar Human Rights Day.
22 Apr Good Friday.
25 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.
Contact Information:
The British High Commission in South Africa
255 Hill Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa
Tel: (012) 421 7600.
Website: www.ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1700; Fri 0800-1230.
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 (Visa services)
5 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DD, UK
Tel: 090-655-40798 (appointments) or 0207 925 8900 (enquiries).
Website: www.southafricahouse.com/Consulate.htm
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1030 (appointments only).
South African Tourism Board in the UK
6 Alt Grove, Wimbledon, London SW19 4DZ, UK
Tel: (020) 8971 9350 or 0870 155 0044 (enquiry line).
Website: www.southafrica.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in the USA
3051 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 232 4400.
Website: www.saembassy.org
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1245 and 1330-1700.
Consular Section (for visas, passports, immigration matters)
4301 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 274-7991.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.
South African Tourism Board in the USA
500 Fifth Avenue, 20th Floor, Suite 2040, New York, NY 10110, USA
Tel: (212) 730 2929 or 1 800 593 1318 (information and brochure requests).
Website: www.southafrica.net
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
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