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SOUTH AFRICA<\/STRONG><\/FONT>
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\n<\/FONT><\/SPAN>The AIDS pandemic plagues South Africa. Approximately 13% of all the people in the world living with HIV can be found in South Africa. A recent survey shows that South Africans spend more time at funerals (about 600 South Africans die of HIV-related illnesses each day) than having their hair cut, shopping or having Bar-B-Qs.<\/FONT><\/SPAN> \n
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$\"\"$ Today, for all its faults and problems, South Africa is a vibrant country, struggling to put the past behind it and move in a forward direction. It is not, nor will it ever be, a staid or uniform place. Its people and culture are too diverse for that. However, after decades of schism and imbalance, South Africa is finally at one with itself. This is not only remarkable, but a testament to mankind\'s nobility. On the eve of his retirement from politics, Nelson Mandela told the nation that is could do \'much, much better\'. It was a fair analysis of society that has come a long way in a short period of time and will continue to go forward. South Africa still lives in the hope of a brighter, fairer future. <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P>FACTS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA:<\/FONT><\/SPAN> \n
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Capital:<\/STRONG> Pretoria, Cape Town (legislative center), Bloemfontein (judicial center)<\/FONT><\/SPAN>
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Chief of State:<\/STRONG> President Jacob Zuma<\/FONT><\/SPAN>
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Languages:<\/STRONG> 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa<\/FONT><\/SPAN>
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Climate:<\/STRONG> mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights<\/SPAN>
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Population:<\/STRONG> 44,344,136<\/FONT><\/SPAN>
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Religions:<\/STRONG> Christian 68%, Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5%, indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%<\/FONT><\/SPAN>
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Life expectancy at birth:<\/STRONG> 43.27 years<\/FONT><\/SPAN>
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Facts gathered from A Traveller’s History of South Africa<\/U> by David Mason<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/EM><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/P>\n
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