South Africa

Chapter three of South Africa’s 1996 Constitution begins “...in the Republic, government is constituted as national, provincial and local spheres of government which are distinctive, interdependent and interrelated.” This sentence, which underpins the nation’s federalist system of authority, has had a profound impact on the development and implementation of government policies...

South Africa’s ascent as a major diplomatic and economic player within Africa and on the global stage over the past two decades has been swift. In December 1994, less than a year after winning South Africa’s first democratic election in a landslide, the African National Congress (ANC) released a document outlining the party’s perspective on foreign policy. “South Africa is...

In April 2014 South Africans celebrated the 20th anniversary of both the end of apartheid and the creation of the modern Republic of South Africa. These two events highlight just how far South Africa has come in the past two decades, during which the nation’s numerous assets – including a liberalised and internationally competitive economy; a strong and active civil...

Born out of a chequered past, a democratic South Africa has unequivocally stated that it is open for business and ready to tackle the challenges it faces. While the rest of the world is still suffering from the impact of the global economic downturn, South Africa has remained relatively isolated due to its highly regulated banks...

Useful information for visitors to South Africa

The South African legal system is a colourful amalgamation of several varied legal systems. Its Roman-Dutch law basis, and its inherent ability to look to other systems for solutions, has made it particularly suitable for South Africa’s diverse society. As noted by Lord Tomlin in a 1934 judgment when he was a judge in the House...