The African Community in Shanghai and China
Directories | South Africa
Republic of South Africa South Africa embassy in Beijing, China
No.5, Dong Zhi Men Wai Da Jie
Tel: +8610-65320171
Fax: +86-10-65327319
E-mail: safrican@163bj.com
Consulate General of the Republic of South Africa in Shanghai
Room 2706, the Bund Center, No.220, East Yan'an Rd, Shanghai
Tel: +86-21-53594977
Fax: +86-21-63352980
China embassy in Pretoria, South Africa
972 Pretorius Street, Arcadia 0083, P.O.BOX 95764, Waterkloof, 0145 Pretoria, South Africa
Tel: 0027-12-3424194
Fax: 0027-12-3424154
E-mail: reception@chinese-embassy.org.za
Website: http://www.chinese-embassy.org.za
http://za.china-embassy.org
http://za.chineseembassy.org
Introduction
South Africa lies at the southernmost part of the African continent. It is bordered to the north by Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the northeast by Mozambique and Swaziland and to the northwest by Namibia. On the east coastline lies the Indian Ocean, the Southern coastline the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and Atlantic Ocean on the western side. South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho.
Most of South Africa has elevations of over 914m (3,000 ft) and at least 40% of the surface is at an elevation of over 1,220m (4,000 ft). Parts of Johannesburg are 1,829m (6,000 ft) above sea level. Resembling an inverted saucer, the land rises steadily from west to east to the Drakensberg Mountains, the tallest of which is Mont-aux-Sources at 3,300m (10,823 ft).
The coastal belt in the west and south varies from 3 to 30 miles in width, is between 152m (500ft) to 182m (600ft) above sea level, and is very fertile, producing citrus fruits and grapes, particularly in the Western Cape. North of the coastal belt stretch, the Little and the Great Karoo, which are bounded by mountains, lie higher than the coastal belt, and are semi-arid to arid, merging into sandy wastes that ultimately join the Kalahari Desert.
The high grass prairie, or veld, of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal is famous for its mineral deposits,. From Drakensberg, the land falls towards the Indian Ocean in the rolling hills and valleys of Natal, which are covered with rich vegetation and, near the coast, subtropical plants, including sugarcane.
Other Information Capital City Pretoria; Cape Town is the legislative center and Bloemfontein the judicial center Independence Day 31 May 1910; South Africa became a republic in 1961 following an October 1960 referendum Government Type Republic Population 42,718,530 Total Area 1,219,912 sq km Languages 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu Religions Christian 68%, Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5%, animist 28.5% Life expectancy 44.19 Currency rand (ZAR) GDP per capita (USD) 10,700 Industries mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs Disclaimer: Data provided above are for reference only; Afroshanghai.com does not guarantee their accuracy.
