Information on South Africa brought to you by Conference Venues South Africa

Conference Venues in South Africa brings you information on South Africa including information on South African provinces, the South African Rand, languages, suburbs and towns of South Africa and the history of South Africa.

South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa. South Africa's coastline stretches 2,798 kilometres and borders both the Atlantic and Indian oceans. To the north of South Africa lies Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland, while the Kingdom of Lesotho is an independent enclave surrounded by South African land. Known for its diversity, South Africa has eleven official languages with english as the most commonly spoken language in official and commercial public life. South Africa is ethnically diverse, with Black, Caucasian, Indian, and racially mixed communities. In 2006, South Africa's population was estimated at 47.4 million people. South Africa has three capital cities with Cape Town as the legislative capital, Pretoria the administrative capital, and Bloemfontein the judicial capital.

South Africa is one of the founding members of the African Union and has the largest economy of all its members. It is also a founding member of the United Nations and NEPAD. Besides these South Africa is a member of the ATS, Group of 77, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Southern African Customs Union, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, G20 and G8+5.

South Africa's 11 official languages: Afrikaans, English, IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, SiSwati, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, SeTswana, Venda
South Africa's Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)

Provinces of South Africa

After apartheid ended in 1994, the South African abolished the four former provinces of South Africa and replaced them with nine fully integrated provinces. The nine provinces of South Africa are further subdivided into 52 districts with 6 metropolitan and 46 district municipalities. The 46 district municipalities are further subdivided into 231 local municipalities. The district municipalities also contain 20 district management areas that are directly governed by the district municipalities. The six metropolitan municipalities perform the functions of both district and local municipalities.

The nine new provinces of South Africa are: Western Cape, Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Limpopo Province, North West Province, Mpumalanga and Free State.

History of South Africa

Jan Van Riebeeck anchored at the foot of Table Mountain in 1652 after receiving a commission to establish a refreshment station from the Dutch-East Indian Trading Company. The station was to provide the ships going east with meat, vegetables and fresh fruit. They grew the fruit and vegetables, and the meat was obtained through trading with the natives. The need for labour increased as the port developed and slaves were imported. Dutch settlers arrived soon afterwards, followed by settlers from all over Europe...read full article

South African Economy

South Africa is a well-developed commercial country with an abundant supply of resources. The country excels in the energy, legal, transport and communications sectors and has one of the top ranked stock exchanges in the world. South Africa has a modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to main urban centres throughout the entire region....read full article

South African Geography

A great variety of climatic zones exists in South Africa, with its varied topography and oceanic influence, from the desert of the Namib to the lush subtropical climate in the eastern regions. The landscape rises over a mountainous escarpment towards the interior known as the Highveld; the interior of South Africa is a vast, flat scrubland. The extreme southwest of South Africa has a climate similar to the Mediterranean with wet winters and dry summers. This area hosts the famous Fynbos Biome and produces much of the wine in South Africa. On the southern coast of the country rainfall is distributed evenly throughout the year, producing a green landscape, also popularly known as the Garden Route....read full article

South African Fauna and Flora

South Africa has more than 20,000 different plants and is among the top six megadiverse countries in the world, 10% of all the known species of plants on Earth are in South Africa. It is particularly rich in plant biodiversity with the most prevalent biome in South Africa being the grassland where low shrubs, different grasses, and acacia trees dominate. Vegetation becomes sparse towards the northwest as a result of low rainfall and several species of water-storing plants exist in the dry Namaqualand area. The grass and thorny savannah turn slowly into a bush savannah towards the northeast of the country and there are significant numbers of baobab trees near the northern Kruger National Park....read full article

South African Government and Politics

South Africa has three capital cities; Pretoria is the administrative capital, Bloemfontein the judicial capital, and Cape Town is the legislative capital.The National Council of Provinces has 90 members, while the National Assembly has 400 members. Elections for The National Council and National Assembly are held every five years.The head of the majority party in the National Assembly is the President and ten members are elected to represent each province in the National Council of Provinces, regardless of the population of the province. ...read full article

South African Towns and Suburbs

Gauteng
Alberton , Arcadia , Auckland Park , Bardene , Bartlett , Bedfordview , Benoni , Boekenhoutskloof , Boksburg , Bonaero Park , Bredell , Bronkhorstspruit , Brooklyn , Bruma , Brummeria , Bryanston , Centurion , Chartwell , Club View , Constantia Park , Cradle of Humankind , Cullinan , De Wagensdrift , Die Wilgers , Dinokeng , Donkerhoek , Edenvale , Elandsdrift , Eldoraigne , Erasmuskloof , Erasmusrand , Fairland , Farrarmere , Ferndale , Fourways , Gallo Manor , Garsfontein ,Germiston , Glen Austin , Glen Marais , Glenvista , Groenkloof , Halfway House , Hartbeespoort , Hatfield , Heidelberg , Hennopspark , Honeydew , Houghton , Hyde Park , Illovo , Irene , Isando , Jet Park , Johannesburg , Kameeldrift , Kempton Park , Klippoortjie , Knoppieslaagte , Kromdraai , Krugersdorp , Kyalami , Lakefield , Lanseria , Linden , Little Falls , Lonehill , Lynnwood , Lyttelton , Magaliesburg , Melrose , Melville , Menlo Park , Menlyn , Meyersdal , Meyerspark , Midrand , Mnandi , Modderfontein , Mondeor , Monrick , Montana , Morningside , Muldersdrift , Murrayfield , New Redruth , Newmarket , Nigel , Noordheuwel , Northcliff , North Riding , OR Tambo Airport , Ormonde , Parktown , Pretoria , Pretoria East , Pomona , Randburg , Randfontein , Randhart , Raslouw , Riviera, Ravenswood , Rivonia , Roodepoort , Rosebank , Rosherville , Ruimsig , Rust de Winter , Samrand , Sandown , Sandton , Sandhurst , Selection Park , Silver Lakes , Solheim , Springs , Sunninghill , The Reeds , Vereeniging , Vanderbijlpark , Walkerville , Wapadrand , Waterkloof , Waverley , Weltevredenpark , Westcliff , Woodmead

Western Cape
Arniston , Albertinia , Bantry Bay , Bellville , Barrydale , Beaufort West , Bloubergrant , Bloubergstrand , Brackenfell , Caledon , Century City , Ceres , Camps Bay , Cape Town , Citrusdal , Clanwilliam , Claremont , Constantia , Darling, De Rust , De Waterkant , Durbanville , Fish Hoek , Franschhoek , Fresnaye , Gardens , Gordon's Bay , Gansbaai , George , Grabouw , Green Point , Greyton , Hout Bay , Hermanus , Kenilworth , Kleinmond , Knysna , Lakeside , Lambert's Bay , Langebaan , Malgas , McGregor , Melkbosstrand , Milnerton , Morreesburg , Muizenberg , Montagu , Mossel Bay , Mowbray , Newlands , Noordhoek , Observatory , Oranjezicht , Oudtshoorn , Paternoster, Paarl , Parow , Pinelands , Plettenberg Bay , Prince Albert , Pringle Bay , Rawsonville , Robertson , Riebeeck West , Rondebosch , Stellenbosch , Somerset West , Simon's Town , Saldanha , Sea Point , Sir Lowry's Pass , Stanford , St Helena Bay , Strand , Swellendam , Table View , Tokai , Tulbagh , Tygerberg , Uniondale, Vermont , Vredendal , Wellington , Wilderness , Witsand , Worcester , Wynberg , Yzerfontein

Eastern Cape
Addo , Aliwal North , Bathurst , Beachview , Beacon Bay , Bluewater Bay , Cape St Francis , Cintsa , Coffee Bay , Cradock , East London , Gonubie , Graaff Reinet , Grahamstown , Haga Haga , Hogsback , Humewood , Humerail , Jansenville , Jeffreys Bay , Kei Mouth , Kenton-on-Sea , King Williams Town , Kirkwood , Nahoon , Mthatha , Paterson , Port Elizabeth , Port Alfred , Port St Johns , Qolora Mouth , Quigney , Rhodes , Richmond Hill , St Francis Bay , Storms River , Stutterheim , Summerstrand , Sunland , Swartkops , Tsitsikamma , Uitenhage , Walmer

Northern Cape
Augrabies , Colesberg , Kimberley , Springbok , Upington

Kwazulu-Natal
Amanzimtoti , Assagay, Ballito , Bayala, Beachfront, Bergville , Berea , Bishopstowe , Blythedale , Botha's Hill , Cowies Hill , Curry's Post , Dargle , Drakensberg, Dundee, Durban City , Durban North , Empangeni , Estcourt , Eston , Geluksburg , Gillits , Glenwood , Greyville , Hillcrest , Hilton , Hluhluwe , Howick , Illovo , Inchanga , iSamangaliso Wetlands ,Isandlwana , Ixopo , Kloof , Kokstad , La Lucia , Lake Jozini , Lidgetton , Margate , Marina Beach , Melmoth , Mkuze , Mooi River , Morningside , Mount Edgecombe , Mtunzini , Musgrave , Newcastle , Nottingham Road , Oribi Gorge , Oslo Beach , Paulpietersburg , Pennington , Pietermaritzburg , Pinetown , Pongola , Pongolapoort , Port Edward , Port Shepstone , Richards Bay , Rosetta , Salt Rock , Scottburgh , Southbroom , Spioenkop . St Lucia , St Lucia Wetlands , Sydenham, Ulundi , Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park , Ulundi , Umhlanga Rocks , Umtentweni , Umzumbe, Underberg , Vryheid , Wartburg , Westville , Winkelspruit , Winterton , Zimbali , Zinkwazi Beach

Free State
Bethlehem, Bloemfontein, Brandwag, Clarens, Dan Pienaar, Ficksburg, Fouriesburg, Gariep Dam, Harrismith, Kroonstad, Ladybrand, Langenhovenpark, Parys, Philippolis, Rayton, Sasolburg, Senekal, Smithfield, Thaba Nchu, Vredefort, Welkom, Wepener

North West Province
Beestekraal , Brits , Broederstroom , Christiana , Groot Marico , Hartbeespoort , Koster , Klerksdorp , Lichtenburg , Madikwe , Mooinooi , Mahikeng , Pilansberg , Potchefstroom, Rustenburg , Sun City , Swartruggens , Temba , Wolmeransstad

Limpopo Province
Bela-Bela , Ba-Phalaborwa , Hoedspruit , Immerpan, Leeupoort , Lephalele , Louis Trichardt , Mabula Gate, Magoebaskloof , Mokopane , Modimolle , Mookgopong, Musina , Naboomspruit , Nylstroom , Polokwane , Rooiberg , Sibasa , Thabazimbi , Thohayandou , Timbavati , Tshipise , Tzaneen , Vaalwater , Vivo , Waterberg

Mpumalanga
Badplaas , Belfast , Dullstroom , eMakhazeni , eMalahleni , eNtokozweni , Ermelo , Graskop , Groblersdal , Hazyview , Komatipoort , Lydenburg , Machadodorp , Malelane , Mbombela, Middelburg , Nelspruit , Ohrigstad , Piet Retief , Pilgrim's Rest , Sabie , Sabi Sands , Secunda , Skukuza , Schoemanskloof , Standerton , Stoffberg , White River , Valschfontein, Villiers , Witbank