High Five

Annual GDP: US$104 billion
Growth, 3-year avg.: 3.1%
Forecast, 2004: 3.1%

Currency: rand
Value, March 2004: C$0.21
Value, March 2003: C$0.18

Major industries: Mining (platinum, gold, coal), finance, insurance, food processing

Capital: Pretoria
Official language: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu
Visa required?

Stellenbosch

North of Hermanus on the Whale Coast

Filled with fine examples of Victorian, Georgian and Cape Dutch architecture, Stellenbosch is South Africa’s second-oldest town. It’s also the centre of South Africa’s wine region, where 28 estates and wineries offer samples to thirsty tourists. — SL

Hello. Do you speak English?

Hallo. Praat jy Engels? (/hallo. praat yay anchgels?/)

Thank you.

Dankie. (/dunkey/)

How are you?

Hoe gaan dit? (/who CHGAAN dit?/)