Editing Union of South Africa
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|'''Government'''<br><br> - Monarch<br> - Governor-General<br> - Prime Minister<br> - President of the Senate<br> - Speaker of the House<br> - Chief Justice | |'''Government'''<br><br> - Monarch<br> - Governor-General<br> - Prime Minister<br> - President of the Senate<br> - Speaker of the House<br> - Chief Justice | ||
- | |Parliamentary democracy<br>Constitutional monarchy<br>Queen Elizabeth II<br>Festus Mogae<br>Morgan Tsvangirai<br>M.J. Mahlangu<br>Arthur Mutambara<br> | + | |Parliamentary democracy<br>Constitutional monarchy<br>Queen Elizabeth II<br>Festus Mogae<br>Morgan Tsvangirai<br>M.J. Mahlangu<br>Arthur Mutambara<br>Athalia Molokomme |
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| colspan="2" | <hr> | | colspan="2" | <hr> | ||
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|'''GDP''' (PPP)<br/> - Total<br/> - Per capita | |'''GDP''' (PPP)<br/> - Total<br/> - Per capita | ||
- | |2007 estimate<br>$ | + | |2007 estimate<br>$2.724 trillion<br>$30,626 |
|- | |- | ||
| colspan="2" | <hr> | | colspan="2" | <hr> | ||
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|'''GDP''' (nominal)<br/> - Total<br/> - Per capita | |'''GDP''' (nominal)<br/> - Total<br/> - Per capita | ||
- | |2007 estimate<br>$ | + | |2007 estimate<br>$2.477 trillion<br>$27,842 |
|- | |- | ||
| colspan="2" | <hr> | | colspan="2" | <hr> | ||
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- | |'''Gini''' (2004) || [[Image:10px-Green_Arrow_Down_Darker.PNG|10px]] | + | |'''Gini''' (2004) || [[Image:10px-Green_Arrow_Down_Darker.PNG|10px]] 54 (<font color="#e0584e">high</font>) |
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| colspan="2" | <hr> | | colspan="2" | <hr> | ||
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- | |'''HDI''' (2008) || [[Image:10px-Green Arrow Up Darker.PNG|10px]] 0. | + | |'''HDI''' (2008) || [[Image:10px-Green Arrow Up Darker.PNG|10px]] 0.875 (<font color="#009900">high</font>) |
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| colspan="2" | <hr> | | colspan="2" | <hr> | ||
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The powers of the Governor-General – to grant assent to legislation, to dissolve and prorogue Parliament, to call elections, to make appointments, and to deploy military forces and declare war – are exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister. | The powers of the Governor-General – to grant assent to legislation, to dissolve and prorogue Parliament, to call elections, to make appointments, and to deploy military forces and declare war – are exercised on the advice of the Prime Minister. | ||
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===Parliament=== | ===Parliament=== | ||
- | The bicameral Parliament serves as the legislative branch of the South African government. It is comprised of the | + | The bicameral Parliament serves as the legislative branch of the South African government. It is comprised of two houses: the House of Assembly (the lower house) and the Senate (the upper house). |
According to the Constitution, the Parliament has "full power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Union." | According to the Constitution, the Parliament has "full power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Union." | ||
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====Senate==== | ====Senate==== | ||
- | Unlike the House of Assembly, which is directly elected, most of the Senate is indirectly | + | Unlike the House of Assembly, which is directly elected, most of the Senate is indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of members of each of the eleven Provincial Councils and members of the House of Assembly; nine Senators are elected for each province. The remaining Senators are appointed by the Governor-General, who nominates two from each province. The Senate consists of 121 members, and is presided over by the President of the Senate (currently M.J. Mahlangu, of the African National Congress), chosen by the Senate from among its own members. Prior to or during the absence of the President of the Senate, the Senate may choose a senator to serve as Deputy-President and perform the President of the Senate's duties in his absence. The President of the Senate may be removed by a vote of the Senate. |
All questions in the Senate are determined by a majority of votes of members present other than the President of the Senate or the presiding member, who may, however, exercise a casting vote in the event of a tie. | All questions in the Senate are determined by a majority of votes of members present other than the President of the Senate or the presiding member, who may, however, exercise a casting vote in the event of a tie. | ||
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{| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" | {| border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | ! Party name !! Party leader | + | ! Party name !! Party leader !! House of Assembly !! Senate |
|- | |- | ||
- | | African National Congress || Morgan Tsvangirai | + | | African National Congress || Morgan Tsvangirai || 273 || 56 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Democratic Party || Ian Khama | + | | Democratic Party || Ian Khama || 128 || 40 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | South African Party || Christiaan Willem Smuts | + | | South African Party || Christiaan Willem Smuts || 110 || 19 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | National Party || Marthinus van Schalkwyk | + | | National Party || Marthinus van Schalkwyk || 70 || 5 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Communist Party of South Africa || Blade Nzimande | + | | Communist Party of South Africa || Blade Nzimande || 52 || 1 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Shaka Party || Mangosuthu Buthelezi | + | | Shaka Party || Mangosuthu Buthelezi || 38 || 0 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | African Christian Democratic Party || Kenneth Meshoe | + | | African Christian Democratic Party || Kenneth Meshoe || 26 || 0 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Minority Front || Amichand Rajbansi | + | | Minority Front || Amichand Rajbansi || 14 || 0 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Azanian People's Organisation || Mosibudi Mangena | + | | Azanian People's Organisation || Mosibudi Mangena || 10 || 0 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Green Party || Judy Sole | + | | Green Party || Judy Sole || 6 || 0 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Economic Freedom Movement || Josh Latimer | + | | Economic Freedom Movement || Josh Latimer || 6 || 0 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Workers International Vanguard League || Shaheed Mahomed | + | | Workers International Vanguard League || Shaheed Mahomed || 5 || 0 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Purified National Party || Ferdinand Hartzenberg | + | | Purified National Party || Ferdinand Hartzenberg || 2 || 0 |
|- | |- | ||
- | | Independent (no party affiliation) | + | | Independent (no party affiliation) || not applicable || 3 || 0 |
|} | |} | ||
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The personal income tax is a flat-rate 20%, while the corporate income tax rate is 35%. Provincial governments obtain revenue through sales taxes (the rate varies by province) and/or a small poll (head) tax (the rate of which also varies by province). Some local governments also have property taxes. Inheritance tax was abolished in 1997. | The personal income tax is a flat-rate 20%, while the corporate income tax rate is 35%. Provincial governments obtain revenue through sales taxes (the rate varies by province) and/or a small poll (head) tax (the rate of which also varies by province). Some local governments also have property taxes. Inheritance tax was abolished in 1997. | ||
- | In spite of the shrinking disparity between rich and poor, South Africa still has a | + | In spite of the continually shrinking disparity between rich and poor, South Africa still has a higher rate of income inequality than most other First World countries. The rift between whites and blacks in particular is considerable. Whereas under 5% of whites live below the poverty line, more than 20% of blacks live below the poverty line (although this percentage continues to decrease). This disparity is also reflected in employment, with the white unemployment rate standing at 3% and the black unemployment rate at nearly 12%. |
==Society== | ==Society== | ||
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===Education=== | ===Education=== | ||
- | With a literacy rate of over | + | With a literacy rate of over 97%, South Africa's population is among the most literate in the world. Education is free and compulsory through the age of sixteen. Education (except for higher education) is generally the responsibility of provincial and local governments, and as such, the quality, curricula, etc. vary by province. |
In South Africa, one can find the concept of public and private school which vary according to character, size, quality of education, and financial advantages. With both public and private intuitions, the education in South Africa is very promising. Most of the schools are supported by the state, but private schooling is also widely common. 2.8% of the total school population is private. Generally, public secondary and primary schools are administered and funded by provincial and local governments, while public universities are handled by the national government. An increasing percentage of South African parents are choosing to home-school their children. | In South Africa, one can find the concept of public and private school which vary according to character, size, quality of education, and financial advantages. With both public and private intuitions, the education in South Africa is very promising. Most of the schools are supported by the state, but private schooling is also widely common. 2.8% of the total school population is private. Generally, public secondary and primary schools are administered and funded by provincial and local governments, while public universities are handled by the national government. An increasing percentage of South African parents are choosing to home-school their children. | ||
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Due to the growing costs, inefficiency, bureaucratization, and long waiting lists involved with the NHS, many South Africans are increasingly turning to private clinics for their health care needs. The opposition Democratic Party, has introduced legislation that, if passed, would allow citizens to opt out of the NHS if they so choose. Some even call for the outright abolition of the NHS, such as the Economic Freedom Movement's leader, Austrian School economist Josh Latimer, but more than 96% of South Africans oppose this idea; most favor either increased funding for NHS, making it optional, or both. | Due to the growing costs, inefficiency, bureaucratization, and long waiting lists involved with the NHS, many South Africans are increasingly turning to private clinics for their health care needs. The opposition Democratic Party, has introduced legislation that, if passed, would allow citizens to opt out of the NHS if they so choose. Some even call for the outright abolition of the NHS, such as the Economic Freedom Movement's leader, Austrian School economist Josh Latimer, but more than 96% of South Africans oppose this idea; most favor either increased funding for NHS, making it optional, or both. | ||
- | The quality of sanitation in most areas - even most rural areas - is | + | The quality of sanitation in most areas - even most rural areas - is excellent. Over 97% of South Africans have safe access to drinking water. |
Vaccination against illnesses such as measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, etc. is free and compulsory for children; as such, incidences of these diseases are extremely rare. However, due to irresponsible sex and other factors, some diseases preventable by vaccination - like hepatitis B - are fairly common, particularly in poorer areas. Some provincial and local governments offer free anti-retroviral treatment for those at high risk of contracting HIV. HIV does, however, remain much less prevalent than in other African countries, largely due to comprehensive education programs that alert people to the risks and how to minimize them. | Vaccination against illnesses such as measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, etc. is free and compulsory for children; as such, incidences of these diseases are extremely rare. However, due to irresponsible sex and other factors, some diseases preventable by vaccination - like hepatitis B - are fairly common, particularly in poorer areas. Some provincial and local governments offer free anti-retroviral treatment for those at high risk of contracting HIV. HIV does, however, remain much less prevalent than in other African countries, largely due to comprehensive education programs that alert people to the risks and how to minimize them. | ||
===Crime=== | ===Crime=== | ||
- | The crime rate in most of South Africa is | + | The crime rate in most of South Africa is moderately high, and tends to be highest in large urban areas, though on a lower scale than in many other large cities in the world. Declining poverty and rising living standards have caused the crime level to steadily decline. Most crimes, especially in the cities, are of a petty variety, such as pickpocketing and assault. In poorer neighborhoods, property crimes are common. The overall crime rate is higher than in most Western European countries, but not quite as high as in the United States. |
Domestic violence is rampant in some rural areas, although the police have only had mixed results in dealing with this problem, due to their sparse presence in these areas. | Domestic violence is rampant in some rural areas, although the police have only had mixed results in dealing with this problem, due to their sparse presence in these areas. | ||
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<br>'''Religions''' | <br>'''Religions''' | ||
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<br>Roman Catholic = 6.9% | <br>Roman Catholic = 6.9% | ||
<br>Pentecostal/Charismatic = 6.67% | <br>Pentecostal/Charismatic = 6.67% | ||
+ | <br>Dutch Reformed = 6.45% | ||
<br>Methodist = 5.53% | <br>Methodist = 5.53% | ||
+ | <br>Anglican = 5.1% | ||
<br>Eastern Orthodox = 2.2% | <br>Eastern Orthodox = 2.2% | ||
<br>Lutheran = 1.2% | <br>Lutheran = 1.2% | ||
- | <br>Other Christian = | + | <br>Other Christian = 18.7% |
- | <br>Syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) = | + | <br>Syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) = 17.2% |
- | <br>Indigenous beliefs = | + | <br>Indigenous beliefs = 7.35% |
<br>Hindu = 3.9% | <br>Hindu = 3.9% | ||
<br>Jewish = 2.25% | <br>Jewish = 2.25% | ||
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<br>'''Literacy rate''' | <br>'''Literacy rate''' | ||
<br>Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write | <br>Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write | ||
- | <br>Total population: | + | <br>Total population: 97.7% |
- | <br>Male: | + | <br>Male: 97.8% |
- | <br>Female: | + | <br>Female: 97.6% |
==Culture== | ==Culture== | ||
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[[Category:Nations|South Africa, Union of]] | [[Category:Nations|South Africa, Union of]] | ||
- |