The Republic of South Africa

1. The Republic of South Africa Area: 1,228,376 sq. kmPopulation: c. 46 millionCapital City: Pretoria (1.25 million)People: African/Black – 76.7%, White – 10.9%, Coloured – 8.9%, Indian/Asian – 2.6%Languages: South Africa has eleven officially recognised languages: English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Sepedi, Setswana, Sesotho, Zitsonga, Siswati, Tshibenda, NdebeleReligion(s): All principle religions are represented in South AfricaHead of State: President Mr Thabo MbekiForeign Minister: Dr Clarice Nkosazana Dlamini-ZumaMembership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), African Union, Commonwealth, Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Southern African Development Community (SADC). Evelin Aavik

2. The Political System in South Africa Evelin Aavik

3. THE PARLAMENT Parliament is the legislative authority of South Africa and has the power to make laws for the country in accordance with the Constitution. It consists of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Parliamentary sittings are open to the public. National Assembly (NA) The National Assembly consists of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members elected through a system of proportional representation. The National Assembly, which is elected for a term of five years, is presided over by a Speaker, assisted by a Deputy Speaker. The National Assembly is elected to represent the people and to ensure democratic governance as required by the Constitution. It does this by electing the President, by providing a national forum for public consideration of issues, by passing legislation, and by scrutinising and overseeing executive action. National Council of Provinces (NCOP) The NCOP consists of 54 permanent members and 36 special delegates, and aims to represent provincial interests in the national sphere of government. Delegations from each province consist of 10 representatives. Evelin Aavik

4. THE CABINET The Cabinet consists of the President, as head of the Cabinet, the Deputy President and Ministers. The President appoints the Deputy President and Ministers, assigns their powers and functions, and may dismiss them. The President may select any number of Ministers from among the members of the National Assembly, and may select no more than two Ministers from outside the Assembly. The have 46 ministers, 29 of the are members of the Cabinet, the other 17 are Deputy ministers. Evelin Aavik

5. THE PRESIDENCY The President is the Head of State and leads theCabinet. He or she is elected by the NationalAssembly from among its members, and leads the country in the interest of national unity, in accordance with the Constitution and the law. The President has the powers entrusted by the Constitution and legislation, including those necessary to perform the functions of Head of State and head of the national executive The President of South Africa isMr Thabo Mbeki. The Deputy President The President appoints the Deputy President from among the members of the National Assembly. The Deputy President must assist the President in executing government functions. South Africa’s Deputy President is Mr Jacob Zuma. Evelin Aavik

6. The History of Apartheid in South Africa The discovery of diamonds in these lands around 1900 resulted in an English invasion which sparked the Boer War. Following independence from England, an uneasy power-sharing between the two groups held sway until the 1940's, when the Afrikaner National Party was able to gain a strong majority. Strategists in the National Party invented apartheid as a means to cement their control over the economic and social system. With the enactment of apartheid laws in 1948, racial discrimination was institutionalized. Race laws touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of ``white-only'' jobs. In 1950, the Population Registration Act required that all South Africans be racially classified into one of three categories: white, black (African), or colored (of mixed decent). The coloured category included major subgroups of Indians and Asians. Evelin Aavik

7. Classification into these categories was based on appearance, social acceptance, and descent. For example, a white person was defined as ``in appearance obviously a white person or generally accepted as a white person.'' A person could not be considered white if one of his or her parents were non-white. In 1951, the Bantu Authorities Act established a basis for ethnic government in African reserves, known as ``homelands.'' All political rights, including voting, held by an African were restricted to the designated homeland. The idea was that they would be citizens of the homeland, losing their citizenship in South Africa and any right of involvement with the South African Parliament which held complete hegemony over the homelands. From 1976 to 1981, four of these homelands were created, denationalizing nine million South Africans. The homeland administrations refused the nominal independence, maintaining pressure for political rights within the country as a whole. Nevertheless, Africans living in the homelands needed passports to enter South Africa: aliens in their own country. Evelin Aavik

8. The penalties imposed on political protest, even non-violent protest, were severe. During the states of emergency which continued intermittently until 1989, anyone could be detained without a hearing by a low-level police official for up to six months. Thousands of individuals died in custody, frequently after gruesome acts of torture. Those who were tried were sentenced to death, banished, or imprisoned for life, like Nelson Mandela. Evelin Aavik