Reflective Essay for global competency certificate
South africa project 2012
2. President = Jacob Zuma
The Republic of South Africa is a
constitutional democracy with a
federally-structured, three-tier system
of government and an independent
judiciary, operating in a nearly unique
system that combines aspects of
parliamentary and presidential
systems
4. Area: 1.2 million sq. km. (470,462 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capitals--administrative, Pretoria;
legislative, Cape Town; judicial,
Bloemfontein. Other cities--Johannesburg,
Durban, Port Elizabeth.
Terrain: Plateau, savanna, desert, mountains,
coastal plains.
Climate: moderate; comparable to southern
California.
Religions: Predominantly Christian;
traditional African, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish.
6. 35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
More Africans are
killed in one
year, than all those
killed in ten years of
war in Afghanistan!
8. South Africa is believed to
have the largest HIV/AIDS
epidemic in the world, with
almost six million people
estimated to be living with the
disease.
President Zuma, in a speech
on December 1, 2009, World
AIDS Day, announced a
nationwide campaign to
encourage all South Africans
to be tested for HIV and
pledged to provide treatment
for all infants under one year
who test positive for HIV by
April 2010.
9. In 2010, South Africa successfully hosted
the largest event ever held on the African
continent, the FIFA World Cup, an
international football (soccer) competition.
It was attended by over three million people
and drew over 300,000 tourists. South
Africa defied many expectations during the
event—six new stadiums were finished on
time, crime was low. Americans bought
more tickets to the event than any other
nationality. The games were a point of
pride, not only to South Africans, but to
many across Africa.
10. South Africa customs
Prohibited
• Narcotics and other controlled substances
• Pornography
• Weaponry, explosives and fireworks etc.
• Poisonous chemical and biological substances and other health
endangering substances
• Cigarettes with a mass of more than 2 kilogram per 1000 units
• Counterfeit goods
• Goods breaking copyrights laws
• Prison-made and penitentiary-made goods
Restricted
• Local currency of over 10 000,- gold coins, coin and stamp collections
and unprocessed gold need to be declared.
• Endangered species of plants or wildlife, whether alive or
dead, including any parts of and articles made from them will need
permit from CITES.
• Plants and products thereof (honey, margarine and vegetable
oils, seeds etc.)
• Animals and products thereof (dairy products, butter, eggs)
Medicines for personal use need to be accompanied by the prescription
11. Free Imports
200 cigarettes
• 20 of cigars
• 250g of tobacco
• 50ml of perfume
• 250ml of eau de toilette
• 2L of wine
• 1l of spirits
• Goods for personal use.
• Travelers may be asked to pay deposit
on expensive items like laptops, which is
refunded to you when the item is re-
exported. Residents who are coming
back to the country are advised to
register their personal items
(jewelry, watches, cameras, laptops
etc.) before leaving the country to avoid
paying duty on these items when re-
importing them.
12. Sales
- Agriculture 2%:
wine, fruit, nuts, corn, wheat, dairy, sugar
cane, wool.
Agriculture
- Industries 30.8%:
gold, platinum, coal, diamonds, aluminu Industrial
m, automotive parts and Services
accessories, other machinery and
equipment.
- Services 66.7%: financial, retail, and
tourism
15. - South Africa is a member of the World Trade
Organization (WTO).
- South Africa is also an eligible country for the
benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity
Act (AGOA), and most of its products can enter the
United States market duty free.
- South Africa has done away with most import
permits except on used products and products
regulated by international treaties.
- In July 1996, the United States and South Africa
signed an investment fund protocol for a $120
million OPIC fund to make equity investments in
South Africa and southern Africa. –
- The Trade and Development Agency also has been
actively involved in funding feasibility studies and
identifying investment opportunities in South Africa
for U.S. businesses.
- The United States government considers South
Africa to be one of its strategic partners on the
continent, and the two countries commenced a new
Strategic Dialogue in 2010, with the encouragement
of the U.S. Congress.