PESA
Republic of South Africa

Republic of South Africa

Political Economy Summary

Capital Pretoria
Independence 31 May 1910
Head of State & Govt H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ronald Ozzy Lamola
Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana
Central Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago
Next National Elections Date 2029
Government Website http://www.gov.za/
Parliament Website https://www.parliament.gov.za/
Political Economy

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PESA Editorial on South Africa: 2H2024/25

PESA Editorial on South Africa: 2H2024/25
Accurate and balanced analysis of the political economy in South Africa in 2H2024/25 ...
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PESA Editorial on South Africa: 1H2023/24

PESA Editorial on South Africa: 1H2023/24
South Africa’s economy has had a mixed recovery from the global shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 ...
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PESA Editorial on South Africa: 2H2022/23

PESA Editorial on South Africa: 2H2022/23
South Africa’s exports have had a slower growth since the recovery from the shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The country’s total merchandise exports had ...
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PESA Editorial on South Africa: 1H2022/23

PESA Editorial on South Africa: 1H2022/23
Accurate and balanced analysis of the political economy in South Africa ...
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Regional Integration

Click on a thumbnail below to read the relevant PESA Regional Integration Monitor relating to South Africa.

Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in SADC [EN]

Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in SADC
The January 2025 issue provides an update on the current state of regional integration in SADC by evaluating the drivers for sustainable industrialisation and the ...
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Facteurs moteurs d’une industrialisation durable dans la SADC [FR]

Facteurs moteurs d’une industrialisation durable dans la SADC
Le numéro de janvier 2025 fournit une mise à jour sur l’état actuel de l’intégration régionale dans la SADC en évaluant les moteurs d’une industrialisation ...
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Motores para a Industrialização Sustentável na SADC [PT]

Motores para a Industrialização Sustentável na SADC
A edição de janeiro de 2025 fornece uma atualização sobre o estado atual da integração regional na SADC, avaliando os impulsionadores da industrialização sustentável e ...
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SADC in the Global Year of Elections [EN]

SADC in the Global Year of Elections
The April 2024 issue provides an update on the current state of regional integration in SADC by evaluating the region in the global year of ...
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Policy Dialogues

Click on a thumbnail below to view the latest PESA Policy Dialogues on issues relating to South Africa.

Review of South Africa’s Role at the G7 and the Israeli-Iran War

Review of South Africa's Role at the G7 and the Israeli-Iran War
Interview discussion reviewing South Africa's role at the G7 Summit in Alberta, Canada. The discussion focuses on what is expected of President Cyril Ramaphosa in ...
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Review of South African State Visit to the United States

Review of South African State Visit to the United States
Interview discussion reviewing South African President Cyril Ramaphosa diplomatic visit to the United States. The discussion focuses on bilateral relations, trade partnerships, and geopolitical alignment; ...
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Review of Zimbabwe’s 45th Independence Anniversary

Review of Zimbabwe's 45th Independence Anniversary
Interview discussion reviewing Zimbabwe’s 45th anniversary of independence. The discussion focuses on the persistent socioeconomic challenges faced by its citizens. The panellists include Pan-African activist ...
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Eastern DRC Conflict and Trade Relations with South Africa

Eastern DRC Conflict and Trade Relations with South Africa
Interview discussion reviewing the current state of trade relations between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The discussion looks at the main ...
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South African Geographic Location
Geographic Location

South Africa occupies the southern tip of Africa and its coastline stretching more than 2,500 kilometres from the desert border with Namibia on the Atlantic coast, around the south-most tip of Africa, and around the northeast to the border with Mozambique on the Indian Ocean. The low-lying coastal zone is narrow and gives way to a mountainous escarpment, the Great Escarpment that separates the coast from the high-lying inland plateau. In some places, notably the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the east, a greater distance separates the coast from the escarpment. Although most of the country is classified as semi-arid, it has considerable variation in climate as well as topography.

The South African central plateau contains only two major rivers, namely the Limpopo and the Orange river which runs with a variable flow across the central landscape from east to west, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at the Namibian border.

South African Cities
South African Cities
South African Coat Arms
Coat of Arms

The present South African coat of arms was introduced on Freedom Day, 27 April 2000, and replaced the earlier national arms, which had been in use since 1910. The change reflected government’s aim to highlight the democratic change in South Africa and a new sense of patriotism. The first element is the motto, in a green semicircle. The motto is: !ke e: /xarra //ke, which means “Diverse People Unite” in the Khoisan language of the /Xam people. It represents individual effort to harness the unity between thought and action. On a collective scale it calls for the nation to unite in a common sense of belonging and national pride – unity in diversity.

Completing the semicircle are two symmetrically placed pairs of elephant tusks pointing upwards. Within the oval shape formed by the tusks are two symmetrical ears of wheat that in turn frame a centrally placed gold shield. The ears of wheat are a symbol of fertility and the idea of germination, growth and the feasible development of any potential. Elephant tusks symbolise wisdom, strength, moderation and eternity. The shield represents a dual function as a vehicle for the display of identity and of spiritual defence. It contains the primary symbol of the nation.

The human figures of red ochre are depicted in an attitude of greeting, symbolising unity. This also represents the beginning of the individual’s transformation into the greater sense of belonging to the nation and by extension, collective humanity. The spear and knobkerrie (club) represent a dual symbol of defence and authority; and are lying down, which symbolises peace.

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