ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA :

Africa’s largest economy, South Africa, enjoys comparatively higher rates of developing in areas of infrastructure, transport and telecommunications, than its continental neighbours. The country benefits from a diverse export profile with dominance in the extractive industries sector, which is complemented by burgeoning growth in manufacturing and services sector. A developed financial and banking framework unpins the South African economy as it undertakes sweeping labour law reform, which is likely to increase demand for up-skilling and education sectors.

Capital: Pretoria (administrative capital); Cape Town (legislative capital); Bloemfontein (judicial capital)

Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)

Population: 56.5 million (July 2020 est.)

Population Growth: 0.97% (2020 est.)

Language: isiZulu (official) 24.7%, isiXhosa (official) 15.6%, Afrikaans (official) 12.1%, Sepedi (official) 9.8%, Setswana (official) 8.9%, English (official) 8.4%, Sesotho (official) 8%, Xitsonga (official) 4%, siSwati (official) 2.6%, Tshivenda (official) 2.5%, isiNdebele (official) 1.6%, other 1.9% (2017 est.)

Government Type: Parliamentary republic

Economic Overview: South Africa is a middle-income emerging market with abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors. It is Africa's second largest economy by GDP (after Nigeria) and the continent's only member of the G20, South Africa is also Australia's most significant investment partner in Africa.

Access & Logistics: South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of the continent, and is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and eSwatini, and the country of Lesotho is an enclave within the central-east of the country. South Africa is a regional hub, hosting five major ports connecting the region to the world via access to both the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Rail freight networks are also reasonably well developed, connecting major cities as well as trade between Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Embassy Contact Details

AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY IN SOUTH AFRICA:

Telephone: +27 12 423 6000

Email: consular.pretoria@dfat.gov.au

This page is supported by the South African Embassy in Australia.