Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 269 KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1931 (Statute of Westminster; left in 1961, rejoined in 1994) Population: 50,460,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$6,960 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 123 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 common law is based on Roman–Dutch Law. 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 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, which 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, other less serious cases by the magistrates’ courts. Cases before the High Court are heard by a single judge, appeals by at least two judges. South Africa
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