South Africa - Government
Based on the etymolgy of South Africa, it was self-descriptive name from the country's location on the continent; "Africa" is derived from the Roman designation of the area corresponding to present-day Tunisia "Africa terra," which meant "Land of the Afri" (the tribe resident in that area), but which eventually came to mean the entire continent. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape
National symbols

Springbok (antelope), king protea flower; national colors: red, green, blue, yellow, black, white.

The flag
The National flag of South Africa has two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes; the flag colors do not have any official symbolism, but the Y stands for the "convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"; black, yellow, and green are found on the flag of the African National Congress, while red, white, and blue are the colors in the flags of the Netherlands and the UK, whose settlers ruled South Africa during the colonial era.
The National Anthem
Title "National Anthem of South Africa"
Lyric/music Enoch SONTONGA and Cornelius Jacob LANGENHOVEN/Enoch SONTONGA and Marthinus LOURENS de Villiers
More about the government of South Africa
Date of Independence 31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
National holiday Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Legal system mixed legal system of Roman-Dutch civil law, English common law, and customary law
International law organization participation has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Constitution
History Several previous; latest drafted 8 May 1996, approved by the Constitutional Court 4 December 1996, effective 4 February 1997
Amendments Proposed by the National Assembly of Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional sections on human rights and freedoms, non-racism and non-sexism, supremacy of the constitution, suffrage, the multi-party system of democratic government, and amendment procedures requires at least 75% majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council of Provinces, and assent of the president of the republic; passage of amendments affecting the Bill of Rights, and those related to provincial boundaries, powers, and authorities requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, approval by at least six of the nine provinces represented in the National Council, and assent of the president; amended many times, last in 2020
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth no
Citizenship by descent only at least one parent must be a citizen of South Africa
Dual citizenship recognized yes, but requires prior permission of the government
Residency requirement for naturalization 5 year
Executive Branch
Chief of state President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
Head of government President Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (since 19 June 2024)
Cabinet Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections/appointments president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 May 2024 (next to be held in May 2029) note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Election results
2024: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed

2019: Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA (ANC) elected president by the National Assembly unopposed

 

 
Legislative branch
Description Bicameral Parliament consists of:

National Council of Provinces (90 seats; nine 10-member delegations, each with 6 permanent delegates and 4 special delegates, appointed by each of the 9 provincial legislatures to serve 5-year terms)

National Assembly (400 seats; half the members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies and half in a single nationwide constituency, both by proportional representation popular vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections National Council of Provinces and National Assembly - last held on 15 June 2024 (next to be held on 30 June 2029)
Election results

National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANC 29, DA 13, EFF 9, FF+ 2, IFP 1; composition - men 30, women 24, percentage women 44.4%; note - 36 appointed seats not filled

National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 40.1% DA 21.8%, MK 14.5%, EFF 9.5%, IFP 3.8%, PA, 2.06%, FF+ 1.3%, Action SA 1.2%, ACDP 0.60%, UCM 0.49%, RISE 0.42%, BOSA 0.041%, ATM 0.40%, Al Jam-ah 0.24%, NCC 0.23%, PAC 0.23%, UAT 0.22%, GOOD 0.18% other 4.38%; seats by party - ANC 159, DA 87, MK 58, EFF 39, IFP 17, PA 9, FF+ 6, Action SA 6, ACDP 3, UDM 3, RISE  2, BOSA 2, ATM 2, AL Jam-ah 2, NCC 2, PAC 1, UAT 1, GOOD 1; composition - men 210, women 181, percentage women 46.3%; total Parliament percentage women 46.1%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s) Supreme Court of Appeals (consists of the court president, deputy president, and 21 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the chief and deputy chief justices and 9 judges)
Judge selection and term of office Supreme Court of Appeals president and vice president appointed by the national president after consultation with the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), a 23-member body chaired by the chief justice and includes other judges and judicial executives, members of parliament, practicing lawyers and advocates, a teacher of law, and several members designated by the president of South Africa; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the national president on the advice of the JSC and hold office until discharged from active service by an Act of Parliament; Constitutional Court chief and deputy chief justices appointed by the president of South Africa after consultation with the JSC and with heads of the National Assembly; other Constitutional Court judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the chief justice and leaders of the National Assembly; Constitutional Court judges serve 12-year nonrenewable terms or until age 70
Subordinate courts High Courts; Magistrates' Courts; labor courts; land claims courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Ismail ESAU (since 3 May 2024)
Chancery 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone [1] (240) 937-5760
FAX [1] (202) 265-1607
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://www.saembassy.org/
Consulate(s) general Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission Ambassador Reuben E. BRIGETY II (since 11 August 2022)
Embassy 877 Pretorius Street, Arcadia, Pretoria
Mailing address 9300 Pretoria Place, Washington DC  20521-9300
Telephone [27] (12) 431-4000
FAX [27] (12) 342-2299
Email address and website
[email protected]

https://za.usembassy.gov/
Consulate(s) general Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites 12 (7 cultural, 4 natural, 1 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales

Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa (c); iSimangaliso Wetland Park (n); Robben Island (c); Maloti-Drakensberg Park (m); Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape (c); Cape Floral Region Protected Areas (n); Vredefort Dome (n); Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape (c); Khomani Cultural Landscape (c); Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains (n); Human Rights, Liberation and Reconciliation: Nelson Mandela Legacy Sites (c); The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa (c)
Key Political parties and their leaders in South Africa
    • International organization participation
  • ACP
  • AfDB
  • AIIB
  • AU
  • BIS
  • BRICS
  • C
  • CD
  • FAO
  • FATF
  • G-20
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  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICC (national committees)
  • ICCt
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • IHO
  • ILO
  • IMF
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  • Interpol
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  • IPU
  • ISO
  • ITSO
  • ITU
  • ITUC (NGOs)
  • MIGA
  • MONUSCO
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  • OECD (enhanced engagement)
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  • Paris Club (associate)
  • PCA
  • SACU
  • SADC
  • UN
  • UNAMID
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
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  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • Wassenaar Arrangement
  • WCO
  • WFTU (NGOs)
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
  • ZC
    • All Important Facts about South Africa

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    South Africa is found in Southern Africa