Government of South Africa
Long Conventional Name
Republic of South Africa
Short Conventional Name
South Africa
Long Local Name
Union of South Africa
Short Local Name
RSA
Government Type
Republic
Capital City
Pretoria
Administrative Divisions
9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Western Cape.
Independence Day
Tuesday, 31st May 1910
Constitutional History
10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3 February 1997; it is being implemented in phases.
Legal System
Based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law.
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal.
Executive Branch
Chief of State
President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999); Executive Deputy President Phumzile MLAMBO-NGCUKA (since 23 June 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government.
Head of Government
President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999); Executive Deputy President Phumzile MLAMBO-NGCUKA (since 23 June 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government.
Cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
Elections
President elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 24 April 2004 (next to be held April 2009).
Legislative Branch
Bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has special powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities); note - following the implementation of the new constitution on 3 February 1997, the former Senate was disbanded and replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no change in membership and party affiliations, although the new institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new constitution.
Judical Branch
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate Court.
Flag Description
Two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which 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.
