Discover South Africa

South Africa is a country with an abundant supply of resources, well developed financial, legal, communications and transport sectors, and the largest energy producer and consumer in Africa. The country has a modern infrastructure to support the efficient distribution of goods and has several major airports and harbours, which makes it the central point for most trade in southern Africa. It has a stock exchange that ranks among the top twenty in the world and has recently joined the CLS (Continuous Linked Settlement) Group.

South Africa's principal international trading partners - besides other African countries - include Germany, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, East Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States. South African industry types include motor vehicles and parts, machinery, textiles, chemicals, fertilizer, information technology, electronics, manufacturing, minerals, mining and agriculture. Exports include minerals, metals, motor vehicles and parts, and agricultural products. The country's main imports are machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, textiles, scientific instruments and manufactured goods.

The country has a well developed and growing agricultural industry which is a major job creator. The industry produces enough for local consumption and huge exports. The livestock industry mainly consists of cattle, sheep, pig, poultry and game, which are farmed in most parts of South Africa. Livestock by-products include items such as leather and ostrich feathers. Crops, plants and related products range from maize (approx 9 million tons per year), deciduous fruits, citrus, peanuts, sunflower seeds, avocados and beans to sugar, tobacco, wool, dried fruit, wine and many other fruits, vegetables and by-products.

The commercial fishing industry is a valuable contributor to the economy. The dairy industry is also an important employer with 4 300 milk producers employing about 60 000 farm workers and indirectly providing jobs to some 40 000 people. The electronics industry in South Africa is growing at a rate above expectations and tourism is also one of the fastest growing sectors of South Africa's economy.

The mining industry is the country's biggest employer, with around 460 000 employees and another 400 000 employed by the suppliers of goods and services to the industry. The country supplies about 80% of the world's platinum and is the world's second largest producer of gold. South Africa's chemicals industry, including fuel and plastics fabrication as well as pharmaceuticals, is the largest of its kind in Africa, and has been identified by the government as a key driver of economic growth.

Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban are the most developed areas. However, areas such as Mossel Bay to Plettenberg Bay, the Rustenburg and Nelspruit areas, Bloemfontein, Cape West Coast, and KwaZulu-Natal's North Coast amongst others are experiencing rapid growth. Beyond these economic centres many characteristics associated with developing countries are still prevalent, and unemployment is still at unacceptably high levels. The Government has demonstrated its commitment to creating a favourable investment climate with its introduction of the GEAR (Growth, Employment and Redistribution) strategy.

The Government is open to, and encourages, foreign investment, which it views as a means to drive growth, improve international competitiveness and obtain access to foreign markets. Virtually all business sectors are open to foreign investors and there are almost no restrictions on the form or extent of foreign investment. The South African property market has registered an exceptional performance over the past number of years. Non residents can own property in South Africa with Freehold being the most common form of property ownership. Other forms of ownership include leasehold, sectional title and share block. Property can be owned individually, jointly or by a company, closed corporation or trust.