South Africa
Sort: Africa Time : (2008-1-31 9:43:30)
South Africa is the economic giant of the African continent, with nearly 40% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the manufacturing sector, 75 out of the 100 main African companies are South African. Growth is regular: GDP growth rate was 2.8% in 2003, 3.7% in 2004 and 4.3% in 2005. The economic indicators show positive signs: public accounts are under control and external debt is low (19.7% of the GDP in 2005). For 2005, the IMF forecasts a 3.9% growth. Nevertheless, the capital markets are having a confidence crisis and Rand's strong volatility can represent a high risk for foreign investors. The social situation still remains very worrying (30% of the population is unemployed) and AIDS pandemia is a major stake for South African attractivity.
South Africa is a big mining power: the country provides 70% of the world platinum. It is the largest producer of gold and the 5th largest producer of diamonds in the world. Because of poor oil resources, the country had to develop a substitute energy: coal, which in South Africa accounts for 60% of the world reserves. The industry is diversified and the service sector is flourishing (65.2% of the GDP). Agriculture represents only 3.8% of the GDP but employs 30% of the active population. The country is the 6th largest producer of wine in the world.
In accordance with the Trade, Development and Cooperation agreement signed with the European Union in the year 2000, almost all the products imported from the European Union (EU) should be exempted from customs duties by the year 2012. The three top import partners are Germany, the United-States and China. The main imported products are transport & equipment goods, manufactured products, oils and chemical products.
Energy mining resources provide 68% of the country's export revenue. The three top export partners are the United States, the United-Kingdom and Japon.
Population
Population origin
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LanguagesThere are 11 Official languages in South Africa. Besides Afrikaans and English, spoken languages are Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Venda. Business language: English, spoken by 40% of white population. Free translation tools in South Africa : Freedict.com Free Afrikaans-English-Afrikaans Dictionary |
ReligionReligious practises : Christians : 88,4% Hindus : 1,9% Sunni Muslims : 1,2% Others : 8,5%. |
Political systemSouth Africa is a Republic with a Presidential Regime. The President is elected by the House of Representatives. The members of the Parliament are elected by direct suffrage. The government, which was constituted after the elections of 1994, is a government of national unity. This implies a certain number of agreements in terms of power sharing. All parties that polled more than 5% in the House of Representatives (the IFP, the NP and the ANC) have been granted a proportional representation. There are also some provincial assemblies of which number of members vary according to the population. |
Climate |
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| The region of the Eastern plateau (Johannesburg) benefits from a dry and sunny climate over the winter (20?C in the daytime, 5?C at night) with thunderstorms in late afternoons between October and April. The Cap province, in the West, benefits from warm and dry summers (26?C), the wind often blows there causing violent storms. Winters can be cold (from 5 to 17?C) with occasional snowfalls on high summits. Along the Southern coast, the climate is temperate then tropical on the east coast when heading up North. For the same latitude, in Durban ( west coast), the climate is 6?C warmer than in Port Nolloth and it is sixteen times as rainy over there. |
Tourism |
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Tourist sites-Johannesburg (Jo'burg): barely a century old, this city is by far the most important of South Africa. -The Cap (or Kaapstad) is one of the most beautiful cities in the world: dominated by the Table Mountain, with its flat summit and vertiginous hillsides, it is surrounded by a superb mountainous landscape, prolonged with vineyards and beaches. -The Garden Route: a superb coast, extending from Still Bay to Plettenberg Bay, in the Eastern part of the country. -Durban: this city allies a certain holiday feeling with native flavours of India. The whole province - called Kwazulu-Natal - gathers most of the attractions sought-after when being in South Africa: the spectacular chain of Drakensberg, the distant savanna of the Veld and Zoulouland, in the heart of the Zulu homeland, without forgetting the long succession of subtropical beaches. -The National Kruger Park covers the major part of low oriental Veld, it is one of the oldest and biggest reserves in the world. For more information about tourism in South Africa , check out the following web site(s) : |
FoodTraditional dishesThe South African culinary tradition comes from several countries world-wide and reflects, on its own, the various episodes of the South African History. Indeed, only a few African dishes are strictly of South African origin. Most recipes have been imported before being acutely adapted with the passing centuries, with local ingredients. Biltong: meat strips, often game but mostly beef, marinated in a spicy and salty preparation, then, most of the time dried in the wind and the sun. It is often served as appetiser, accompanied with a drink or as a salad or dish garnish in traditional restaurants. Rusks / Boerebeskuit: it is called the farmers' biscuit: they are rural bread rolls cooked in open air clay ovens. Corn: Cooked corn is one of the South Africans' favourite dish. Famous under the name of " mealie ", it is equally eaten on the cob or in grains. Bobotie: Bobotie is a cheese-topped dish of minced meat spiced up with oriental spices and cooked fruits (apricots or peaches). It is covered with an egg based preparation and milk. It is oven-cooked and served with saffron rice and grapes. Pickled Fish: one of the the most famous dish of The Cap. It is a fishy curry, prepared from a firm white fish. It is served cold.
Food-related taboosCulinary taboos depend on the various religions present in South Africa. Moreover, there are several customs in the art of eating. For example, the Muslims wash their hands and rinse their mouth. Then the host pronounces the " Bis'millah ", which means " in the name of Allah ". The food is grabbed with the right-hand fingers but nowadays, the use of a fork and a knife is increasingly accepted. |
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