South Africa

Key facts

• Joined Commonwealth:1931 (Statute of Westminster; left in 1961, rejoined in 1994)
• Capital:Pretoria
• Population:47,208,000 (2004)
• GDP p c growth:0.4% p.a. 1990–2004
• Official language:11 most widely spoken
• Time:GMT plus 2hr
• Currency:rand (R)