Pretoria is the administrative capital, where the president and government departments are based. 

Cape Town, on the southwest coast, is the legislative capital and home to Parliament. 

And, Bloemfontein, in the centre of the country, is the judicial capital, hosting the Supreme Court of Appeal.

This unusual setup dates back to 1910 when the Union of South Africa was formed. 

There was a great dispute about the location of the new country’s capital city and a compromise was reached to spread a balance of power throughout the country and this led to the three capitals of South Africa.

Another thing that sets South Africa apart is the number of official languages. The country has 12 official languages: Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu and, since 2023, South African Sign Language or SASL.

Most South Africans speak at least two languages, making it one of the most multilingual nations in the world.

For centuries South Africa’s official languages were European – Dutch, English and Afrikaans. 

African languages, spoken by at least 80% of the people, were ignored. But, in 1996 a new constitution gave official protection to all of the country’s major languages.

As far as the economy is concerned, it’s not just about natural resources like gold and diamonds anymore. 

The country’s economy has diversified into industries like finance, technology, and manufacturing. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange is one of the largest in the world, valued at over $1 trillion.

However, the country also faces challenges. Political instability and unemployment are ongoing issues, and the gap between the rich and poor is still very big.

Despite this, South Africa remains a leader on the continent and is the only African member of the G20.