Delegate Info
South Africa Country Information
Basic Information
| Population: | 47.9 million |
| Currency: | Rand (ZAR) |
| Exchange rate: | GBP£1 = ZAR15.5 (check www.xe.com for latest) |
| Capital: | Pretoria/Tshwane (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial) |
| Time difference: | GMT +2 hours |
| Ethnic groups: | Black Africa c. 79%; White c. 10%; Asian c. 2.5% |
| State division: | Federal – 9 provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North-West, Western Cape |
| President: | Thabo Mbeki, African National Congress (ANC) |
| Johannesburg: | Johannesburg has a population of about 2.5 million people. The city is recognized as the financial capital of South Africa and is home to many big businesses. The national capital, Pretoria, is 35-45 minutes' drive north of Johannesburg. |
For more general information about South Africa please see: http://www.gov.sa
Travel Information
Visa
If you have a passport from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, Singapore, Japan, Switzerland or Liechtenstein, you do not need a visa. If you are from any other country you need a visa and you should apply at least four weeks before your date of departure. Approach your nearest South African embassy or consulate to secure your visa.
Health
Yellow Fever
Visitors entering South Africa from countries where yellow fever is
widespread will need to present a yellow World Health Organisation
(WHO) vaccination record or other proof of inoculation when entering
the country. Alternatively, visitors may be inoculated on arrival at
Johannesburg International Airport.
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
is one of the most common problems suffered by travellers in Africa,
often caused by dirty water. But the city Johannesburg assures that the
city has one of the world's most sophisticated water purification
operations. In any area other than informal or shack settlements, water
can be drunk straight from the tap and should present no problems.
Malaria
Johannesburg is not a malaria-infected area and no precautions are
needed. Malaria is prevalent only in the north-eastern parts of South
Africa, but there are certain popular tourist areas such as game parks
where it is advisable to take preventative measures during the summer
season. Ask your doctor or tourist service for information about areas
that you plan to visit.
Immunization
It is recommended that you have the required immunizations four to six
weeks before you travel to South Africa. Booster doses for Tetanus,
Hepatitis B and Measles may also need to be administered. Please check
with your doctor.
Should you fall ill or have an accident while visiting Johannesburg you have the options of private or public hospital. Public hospitals are spread throughout the city and their services can at times be stretched since they face large demand. There are many private hospitals, particularly in the city's north, and most of them offer 24-hour emergency services. Private medical services in Johannesburg can match those of any major international city.
Safety
Generally travellers will be safe in the main parts of Johannesburg, although more care must be taken after dark, and you should check with locals where is safe to go. Take care not to have valuables visible, and if you are unsure of anything, contact either the police, or the relevant authority. There are high levels of crime but these are mostly contained to township areas, and away from tourist areas. You must still be aware, especially in busy areas such as airports, and keep control of your belongings at all times. You must purchase adequate travel insurance before going to South Africa.
Donor Information
DFID
In 2006/07 DFID spent an estimated £1.05 billion on bilateral
and
regional programmes to reduce poverty in Africa, with an estimate to
spend up to £1.25 billion in 2007/08. The UK has made significant
commitments to support Africa’s development including through the G8
and the EU. DFID works with other UK government departments, African
partners and other donors to act on those promises.
For more information on what DFID does across Africa please see:
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/africa-factsheet.pdf
EU
Europe
and Africa are connected by strong trade links, making the EU the
biggest export market for African products. The purpose of the EU
Strategy for Africa is to give the EU a comprehensive, integrated and
long-term framework for its relations with the African continent. The
principal objective of the EU Strategy for Africa is to promote the
achievement of the UN Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa and
to support political reform and economic modernization.
In 2007
the relationship between EU and AU strengthened during the second
EU-Africa Summit held in Lisbon in December of that year, where a Joint
Africa-EU Strategy was adopted. For more information on the established
Action Plan please see:
http://ec.europa.eu/development/icenter/repository/EAS2007_action_plan_2008_2010_en.pdf#zoom=100
World Bank
The World Bank Group provided a record US$3.5 billion to the
15th
replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA) from
resources split between the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD) and IFC (International Finance Corporation), the
Bank’s private sector arm.
The Bank’s strategy in Africa is
anchored in the Africa Action Plan (AAP). Through the AAP, the Bank is
working in partnership with other development partners to undertake a
set of concrete, results-oriented actions to assist African countries
to meet as many of the MDGs as possible.
For more information on a regional World Bank brief, please see: http://go.worldbank.org/3IGKDWFTG1
Useful Contact
DMA – Amy Slonje
39-41 North Road
London
N7 9DP
United Kingdom
t. + 44 (0) 207 700 1990
amy.slonje@dmassocs.com