Title: Republic of South Africa, RSA (31 May 1961)
Previously known as Union of South Africa (1910–61)

Leaders since independence:

Form of government: Multiparty republic.
Executive: President elected by National Assembly. President then selects his cabinet from the National Assembly. Term of office is five years, next election is due in 2004.
Legislative: Bicameral parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400 seats) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, ten from each province) elected by the people. Term of office is five years, next election is due in 2004.
Judicial: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court of Appeal, High Courts and Magisterial Courts.

Capital: Pretoria (Administrative), Bloemfontein (Judicial), Cape Town (Legislative).

Official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu.

Religions: Christianity 68%, Indigenous 28.5%, Islam 2%, Hindu 1.5%.

Area: 1,221,040 km².

Population: Approximately 44 million.
Black (African) 76.8%, White (from Dutch British, French and German settlers) 13%, Coloured (mixed race) 8.7%, and Indian 1.5%

Borders with: Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe.

Main exports: Gold, diamonds, chromium, magnesium, vandadium, machinery.

Currency: 1 rand = 100 cents (R1 or ZAR1 = 100c).