Institutional structure and basic data
Land area
1.221.038 km²
Capital
Pretoria (administrative) Cape Town (legislative) Bloemfontein (judicial)
Other main cities
Johannesburg, Durban
Type of State
Federal Republic (National Government and 9 Provincial Governments)
Type of Government
Presidential Republic: the President who is elected by Parliament is the head of the State and the Government and the Ministers are subjected to him. Parliament can impeach the Ministers via a vote of “no confidence”.
Head of State and Government Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 15 February 2018)
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ms Grace Naledi Mandisa PANDOR
Legislative system
Bicameral, the Parliament is made up of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces
Legal system
Based on Roman-Dutch Law and Common Law; the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ was accepted with reserve.
Voting eligibility
Universal from the age of 18
International Organization participation
ACP, AFDB, AU, BIS, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, NSG, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Population and Social indicators
Population
60,142,978 (estimates 2021)
Ethnic groups
Black 79,2%, White 8,9%, Coloured 8,9 %, Indian 2,5%
Religion
Christian 68%, Muslim 2%, Hindu 1,5%, indigenous beliefs 28,5%
Languages
11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Pincipal Political Parties
African National Congress – ANC (Jacob ZUMA); Democratic Alliance – DA (Mmusi MAIMANE); Economic Freedom Fighters – EFF (Julius Malema); Inkatha Freedom Party – IFP (Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI); National Freedom Party – NFP United Democratic Movement – UDM; Congress of the People – COPE.
Political Pressure groups
Congress of South African Trade Unions – COSATU; South African Communist Party – SACP (COSATU e SACP are ANC allies); South African National Civics Organization – SANCO
POLITICAL COOPERATION
Italy considers South Africa a strategic partner and is strongly engaged in further improving the positive developments in terms of partnerships in political, economic, cultural and scientific fields, thanks to a renewed attention towards Africa by the Italian Government.
Italy and the Italians have always been very close to the black people in their struggle against the apartheid. Oliver R. Tambo spent most of his long exile time in Italy. In 2013 former President Zuma bestowed one of the highest honours, the “Order of the Friends of O. R. Tambo” to two Italian citizens from Reggio Emilia for their support to the anti-apartheid struggle of SA.
One of our best assets is the dynamic, well-integrated and respected Italian community in the Country, with more than 35.000 Italian passport holders. And there is also a more recent presence of young and dynamic Italian entrepreneurs. We enjoy the benefits of their good reputation, which increase the appeal of the “Brand Italia”.