rn/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--South African(s); adjective--South African

_#_Ethnic divisions: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%,
Indian 2.6%

_#_Religion: most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of blacks are
Christian; about 60% of Indians are Hindu; Muslim 20%

_#_Language: Afrikaans, English (both official); many vernacular
languages, including Zulu, Xhosa, North and South Sotho, Tswana

_#_Literacy: 76% (male 78%, female 75%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1980)

_#_Labor force: 11,000,000 economically active (1989); services 34%,
agriculture 30%, industry and commerce 29%, mining 7% (1985)

_#_Organized labor: about 17% of total labor force is unionized;
African unions represent 15% of black labor force

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Republic of South Africa; abbreviated RSA

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: administrative, Pretoria; legislative, Cape Town;
judicial, Bloemfontein

_#_Administrative divisions: 4 provinces; Cape, Natal, Orange Free
State, Transvaal; there are 10 homelands not recognized by the US--4
independent (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, Venda) and 6 other
(Gazankulu, Kangwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu, Lebowa, QwaQwa)

_#_Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK)

_#_Constitution: 3 September 1984

_#_Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

_#_National holiday: Republic Day, 31 May (1910)

_#_Executive branch: state president, Executive Council (cabinet),
Ministers' Councils (from the three houses of Parliament)

_#_Legislative branch: tricameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of
the House of Assembly (Volksraad; whites), House of Representatives
(Raad van Verteenwoordigers; Coloreds), and House of Delegates
(Raad van Afgevaardigdes; Indians)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--State President
Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 13 September 1989)

_#_Political parties and leaders:
white political parties and leaders--National Party (NP), Frederik
W. DE KLERK (majority party);
Conservative Party (CP), Dr. Andries P. TREURNICHT (official opposition
party);
Herstigte National Party (HNP), Jaap MARAIS;
Democratic Party (DP), Zach DE BEER;

Colored political parties and leaders--Labor Party (LP), Allan
HENDRICKSE (majority party);
Democratic Reform Party (DRP), Carter EBRAHIM;
United Democrati