South Africa
Introduction
The republic of South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent. The Indian and Atlantic Oceans border it as well as the countries of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. South Africa is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations with the largest economy in Africa. South Africa is the most socially, economically, and infrastructurally developed country on the continent .
South Africa has a history that is different than other African nations due to the early immigration of European Unionropeans in 1652. The infrastructure of South Africa made its mineral wealth available and important to Western interests throughout the late nineteenth century. Ethnically, South Africa is extremely diverse. South Africa has the largest Caucasian, Indian and racially mixed communities in Africa. Black South Africans account for about 80% of the population .
Government & Politics
South Africa has three capital cities. Cape Town is the legislative capital. Pretoria is the administrative capital. Bloemfontein is the judicial capital. South Africa has a bicameral parliament (like the US) with ninety members in the National Council Provinces and four hundred members in the National Assembly .
South Africa is a constitutional democracy. The president is elected by parliament and the constitution is the supreme law of the land. The constitution provides for an independent corruption watchdog, public protector, and for independent commissions on human right, gender equality the restitution of land rights .
Monetary System, Policy and Exchange Rate
The Rand is the ...