The Republic of South Africa is located at the southern tip of the continent. It expands over a total area of 1,219,912 sq. km.

The bordering countries are: at the Northwest: Namibia; at the North: Botswana and Zimbabwe; at the Northeast: Mozambique and Swaziland. Lesotho is is "inserted" into South-Africa' territory.

South-Africa has a lengthy coastline: 2,798 km which expands from South Atlantic Ocean to Indian Ocean with many ports and harbors: Cape Town, Durban, EastLondon, Mosselbaai, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha.

Population: 44,8-million (2001) 44,314,116 (July 2003). Population growth rate: 0.01% (2003 est.)

Independence from United Kingdom: May 31, 1910
National holiday: Freedom Day: April 27 (1994)

South-Africa is endowed with huge deposits of natural mineral resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas.

Arable land is scarce and represent only 10% of the country.
Agriculture main products: corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products

South-Africa is the "Heavyweight" of Africa; the largest and most sophisticated economy in Africa, and one that is supported by a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure with the broadest Internet bandwidth throughout the continent:

• It is the most advanced and productive economy in Africa, with a GDP nearly four times that of its nearest competitor on the continent, Egypt.
  

• Manufacturing represents the largest sector of the economy, contributing 26 percent of GDP. Mining accounting for 11% and commerce for 13%.
  

• South Africa is the gateway to the Southern African region. The leader of the regional organization Southern Africa Development Corporation - SADC- Its well-equipped ports and harbors; its transportation and communications infrastructures support an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers and the surrounding countries in the region.
  

• South Africa accounts for approximately 75 percent of GDP for the Southern African region, and 45 percent of GDP for the entire African continent.
  
  
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GNP: 5.3% (2006); 5.1% (2007); 2.8% (2008)
GNP-per capita: 3 ,148 (2006); 3,306 (2007) 3,398 (2008)

Per capita Gross National Product - US 3,398 (2007) - is just an average. The distribution of wealth is poor. The gap between the upper class' standard of living and the others is a concern for the future political and social stability of the country. Unemployment runs as high as 40% of the workforce.

Click here to read about the difference between GNP and Parity Purchasing Power

GDP-composition by sector

1. Agriculture: 9%

2. Industry: 26%
   
3. Services: 65% (2007 est.)

Exports: US$ 50,1 billion (f.o.b., 2005) US$81.47 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Commodities:gold 20%; other minerals and metals: 20%-25%; food: 5%; chemicals: 3%
Exports - partners: UK 12.8%, US 12.7%, Germany 9%, Japan 8.8%, Italy 5.8% (2005) / US 11.9%, Japan 11.1%, Germany 8%, UK 7.7%, China 6.6%, Netherlands 4.5% (2007)

Imports: US$ 52.91 billion (f.o.b., 2005)/ US$87.3 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Commodities:machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, textiles, scientific instruments.
Imports - partners: Germany 15.4%, US 9.4%, UK 9%, Saudi Arabia 6.9%, Japan 5.8%, France 5%, China 4.9%, Iran 4.1% (2005)/ Germany 10.9%, China 10%, Spain 8.2%, US 7.2%, Japan 6.1%, UK 4.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.2% (2007)

- ZUMA ELECTED STATE PRESIDENT: THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA?

The ANC won the legislative ballot of April 21-22, 2009 with a whooping 66% of the votes, and Jacob Zuma to be elected state president by the parliament on May 5, 2000 - to be sworn in two weeks times after parliament's selection.

That day will mark the end of a long and fierce power-struggle that gripped and crippled the whole country's developing process for nearly 10 years. 10 years lost during which physical and psychic energies had been spent for "nothing" towards destroying the social and economic structure of the country.

Now that the power-struggle is over, and Mbeki's camp is well defeated (COPE the political party of former Mbeki's staunch supporters gaining 7% of the votes), let us hope that the ANC will now concentrate efforts and energy to implementing a strategic plan that will "Empower the Impoverished".

Such a strategic developing scheme, to succeed fast, should focus on generating double-digit annual growth rates over a lengthy period of at least 10 years, to creating wealth for all.

Implementing a scheme that would generate double-digit growth rates in African countries, year in year out, is not utopia - in spite of common belief. The author of this brief, who had for nearly three decades studied the possibility for African nations to speed up the developing process and bridge the developing gap with other nations worldwide, ascertain here that this is possible - in spite of the current worldwide financial crisis.

Further, implementing such a scheme is crucial and urgent in order to rise the living standard of the majority of the population and diffuse social tensions, which erupted last years during the riots against African migrants.

The author of this brief, is also convinced that the same people who resisted Mbeki ultra liberal economic policy are well aware that they should not follow the same path - if they want to avoid economic and social catastrophe for the country. He is convinced that the economic trend in South Africa can be quickly turn upward if the strategic scheme here briefly exposed is implemented. He is available for further consultation.

There is no doubt that following the path led by Mbeki ultra liberal economic policy would worsen a social situation already very bad as the majority of the population - as elsewhere throughout the whole continent - cannot afford two meals per day!

Therefore, saying that times is ticking by for disaster, if things stay "business as usual", one is telling the truth. Doubtless, failure to deliver, in a short span of time, jobs and alleviate poverty in the rank of the black majority (the constituency of the ANC) would have severe consequences on the future political stability of the country.

Indeed, as declared Tony Leon, the former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader at the inaugural DA Gauteng Congress in Krugersdorp, South Africa, on March 8, 2003:

"South Africa is in crisis. We face a poverty crisis. We face an unemployment crisis. We face an HIV/Aids crisis. We face a crime crisis. And the truth is that however long the ANC's list of achievements may be, on the defining issues, on the issues people care most about, it has failed...Ten years after the birth of democracy in South Africa, the political conversation of our elite is marked by abstraction, complacency, and denial. I am not prepared to be constrained by those parameters. Neither is this party. Our first constituency is the facts. Our paramount duty is to tell the truth to our voters and to turn our country around and make it better," Click here and search in "Speeches" for Tony Leon speech dated March 8, 2003 and titled: Facing the future: changing South Africa for good

Click here for Dynamic News Headlines about South Africa.

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A passport - valid for at least 6 months beyond date of departure - and a visa are required for some nationalities; but many are issued at the point of entry. An international vaccination certificate for yellow fever is compulsory for visitors arriving from infected areas.

There are South African embassies in all major capital cities around the world which deliver visa. Below are listed some contacts information:

Department of Home Affairs Private Bag X114 PRETORIA, 0001 Civitas Building corner Struben and Andries Streets PRETORIA Tel: +(27) 12 3148911 Fax: +(27) 12 3264571	England South African High Commission South Africa House Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DP Tel: +(44) 171 9304488 Fax: +(44)171 4517284 london@businesssouthafrica.com
Canada High Commission of the Republic of South Africa 15 Sussex Drive, Ottawa Ontario K1M 1M8 Tel: +(1) 613 7440330 Fax: +(1) 613 7411639 rsafrica@sympatico.ca	USA Embassy of South Africa 3051 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 Tel: +(1) 202 2324400 Fax: +(1) 202 2651607 / +(1) 202 2323402 safrica@southafrica.net

South-Africa national carrier South-Africa Airways - in association with SwissAir - connects the country to all major cities in the world. There is no problem to find an international carrier to or out of South Africa.

Railways: 21,431 km narrow gauge: 20,995 km 1.067-m gauge (9,087 km electrified); 436 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)

Ports and harbors: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mosselbaai, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha

Merchant marine: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 274,797 GRT/270,837 DWT ships by type: container 6, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)

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All major cities around the country are equipped with international standard hotels and guest houses. Deep in the countryside, all over the country - and particularly in the dynamic province of Kwazulu-Natal - right on the farms / estates are splendid guest houses. If you want to combine business and pleasure during your stay in South Africa, we recommend the following guest houses - amongst many.

For more choices in several SouthAfrica's Cities visit this link