| The actual Republic of South Africa (generally known as South Africa, SA or RSA) is often a state in southern Africa. Located at the the southern part of tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with 2, 798 kilometres (1, 739 mi) of coastline around the Atlantic and Indian oceans. To the north in the country lie the neighbouring territories of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe; to the east are usually Mozambique and Swaziland; while Lesotho is an enclave surrounded by Southern African territory.
South Africa is multi-ethnic and contains diverse cultures and languages. Eleven official languages are recognised in the constitution. Two of these languages are of European foundation: Afrikaans, a language which came from mainly from Dutch that is spoken by nearly all white and Coloured Southerly Africans, and South African British. Though English is common in public and commercial life, it is only the fifth most-spoken home dialect. All ethnic and dialect groups have political representation in the country's constitutional democracy composed a parliamentary republic; unlike most parliamentary republics, the positions of scalp of state and brain of government are merged in a parliament-dependent President.
About 79. 5% of the Southern African population is regarding black African ancestry, divided among a selection of ethnic groups speaking various Bantu languages, nine of which have got official status. South Africa also offers the largest communities of European, Asian, and racially mixed ancestral roots in Africa. About a quarter in the population is unemployed and lives on under US $1. 25 a day. |
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