Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 253 KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1931 (Statute of Westminster; left in 1961, rejoined in 1994) Population: 52,776,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 0.9% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 118 Official languages: 11 most widely spoken Time: GMT plus 2 hrs Currency: Rand (R) Geography Area: 1,221,038 sq km Coastline: 2,800 km Capital: Pretoria The Republic of South Africa has land borders with: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland. Its sea borders are with the South Atlantic and Indian oceans. Lesotho is enclosed within its land area. The country comprises nine provinces: Eastern Cape (provincial capital Bhisho), Free State (Bloemfontein), Gauteng (Johannesburg), KwaZulu–Natal (Pietermaritzburg), Limpopo (Polokwane), Mpumalanga (Nelspruit), Northern Cape (Kimberley), North-West (Mafikeng) and Western Cape (Cape Town). Constitution Status: Republic with executive President Legislature: Parliament of the Republic of South Africa The constitution came into effect in February 1997. It provides inter alia for the supremacy of the constitution, a federal state, a bill of rights, universal adult suffrage, regular multiparty elections, recognition of traditional leaders, 11 official languages and democracy-buttressing institutions, such as the Public Protector, and Commissions for Human Rights and Gender Equality. It also includes a Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. The bicameral legislature comprises the 400-seat National Assembly – elected every five years by universal adult suffrage under proportional representation – and the 90-seat National Council of Provinces, with direct representation of members of provincial governments. The President is elected by the National Assembly and can serve a maximum of two five-year terms. The Deputy President and cabinet are appointed by the President. Judicial system Supreme court: Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa Ministry: Department of Justice and Constitutional Development The judicial system comprises the Supreme Court of Appeal, High Court and magistrates courts, as well as several special courts, including the special income tax courts, labour and labour appeal courts, and the Land Claims Court. The Supreme Court of Appeal, in Bloemfontein, is presided over by a president, and is supreme in all matters except those relating to the constitution, which, together with human rights cases, are the responsibility of the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. The High Court has at least one division in every province. Circuit courts are part of the High Court and move around the country, sitting periodically in the more rural areas. The High Court deals with appeals from the magistrates courts and the most serious civil and criminal cases, while other less serious cases are seen by the magistrates courts. Cases before the High Court are heard by a single judge and appeals by at least two judges. Judges are appointed by the President of the republic with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. South African common law is based on Roman–Dutch Law. Indigenous, or customary, law refers to legal systems originating from the culture of particular tribes. With some legal issues, Africans can ask to be judged by their tribal law and custom, South Africa
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