f of mission: Ambassador James A. JOSEPH
embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083
mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244
consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Flag description: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and
blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal
Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a
black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow
yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band
and its arms by narrow white stripes
note: prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in
one-three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band
of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal
horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags
are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a
horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal
flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side

@South Africa:Economy

Economy-overview: South Africa is a middle-income, developing country
with an abundant supply of resources, well developed financial, legal,
communications, energy, and transport sectors, a stock exchange that
ranks among the 10 largest in the world, and a modern infrastructure
supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers
throughout the region. Growth has been positive since the historic
election of President Nelson MANDELA in the country's first
multi-racial elections in 1994, but not strong enough to cut into the
substantial unemployment. Daunting economic problems remain from the
apartheid era, especially the problems of poverty and economic
empowerment among the blacks. Other problems are crime and corruption.
The new South African Government demonstrated its commitment to open
markets, privatization, and a favorable investment climate with the
release of its macroeconomic strategy in June 1996. Called "Growth,
Employment and Redistribution," this policy framework includes the
introduction of tax incentives to stimulate new investment in
labor-intensive projects, expansion of basic infrastructure services,
the restructuring and partial privatization of state assets, continued
reduction of tariffs and subsidies to promote economic efficiency,
improved services to the disadvantaged, and integratio