South Africa

SAFETY: fair
The country's crime rate is high, especially in the big cities (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth). The situation is relatively better in smaller towns, but still calls for an appropriate level of vigilance. Violence against foreigners is not uncommon. It is important to use only recognised agencies or tour guides. It is also advisable to avoid places where demonstrations may be held.

TRANSPORT: very good
The country boasts the best road network on the continent: vast, extensive and generally well maintained. The rail infrastructure is also very extensive, but suffers from inadequate rolling stock. Domestic flights are excellent.
Main airports: Cape Town, Johannesburg International, Durban, East London.
Main ports: Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay

ACCOMMODATION: very good
An excellent choice in terms of quality, range and scale in all tourist areas.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Republic of South Africa –  Location: at the southern tip of the African continent. Borders: Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north, Mozambique and Swaziland to the north-east; Lesotho lies entirely within its borders -  Time zone: +1 hour ahead of Italy; the same time when daylight saving time is in force in Italy –  Area: 1,219,090 sq km –  Capital: Pretoria – Population: 55,653,654 –  Religion: mainly Christian, predominantly Protestant with a Catholic minority. Just under a third of the population follows traditional and animist rites. There are also large Hindu and Muslim communities. – Languages: there are 11 official languages. The most widely spoken are English (the lingua franca, spoken almost everywhere except in the most remote rural areas), Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa - Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: South African rand (ZAR). –  The largest and most widespread banks with foreign exchange counters are Allied, First National, Nedbank, Standard, Trust, United and Volkskas; there is no black market, so there are plenty of bureaux de change.  Credit cards: The major credit cards can be used in restaurants, hotels, shops, travel agencies, car hire firms and petrol stations; at banks, local currency can be withdrawn directly with a credit card. -  Exchange: bring euros. Tipping: more or less obligatory; the tip is generally at least 10% of the bill.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Sockets: In hotels and lodges the sockets (which are not used anywhere else in the world) have large holes and take only three-pin plugs (round or rectangular), one of the pins being particularly large. The international multi-plug set therefore cannot be used, and a special adapter is needed, which can be bought locally or requested at hotel reception.

DOCUMENTS: An electronic passport is required, valid for at least 30 days beyond the planned date of departure from the country, with at least 2 blank pages in the Visas section. Hand-renewed passports are not accepted. The local authorities are increasingly firm in refusing entry to foreigners who do not hold a document meeting these requirements. Refusal of entry results in arrest at the border and repatriation, by the same airline, on the first available flight. -  Driving: An Italian driving licence in the European Union format is accepted, but an international driving permit (1968 Vienna Convention or 1949 Geneva Convention model) is required to hire a vehicle. – Car: Third-party insurance is compulsory and cover must be unlimited. The third-party insurance premium is included in the price of petrol.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 0027 –  mobile telephony is active throughout the country. The import of fixed-line or mobile telephones is prohibited. -  Internet: good coverage in the major cities – Web domain: .za – Emergency numbers: all emergencies 112, Netcare 911 (life-threatening emergencies): tel. 082.911, Police emergency response: tel. 10111. Ambulance and Fire Brigade emergency response: tel. 10177. Roadside assistance “AASA”: tel. 0861 000234 police 110, traffic police 122, fire brigade 119, ambulance 120, roadside assistance 400 8108202, international operator 115.

RULES, LAWS AND CUSTOMS: The use and/or dealing of drugs (including soft drugs) is a criminal offence and severely punished, as are offences against minors and rape. Homosexuality is not a criminal offence, but homosexual relations with a partner under the age of 19 are punishable by imprisonment.

HEALTH: The health situation is satisfactory overall.
The standard of private medical facilities, including highly specialised ones, is good, although the cost of hospital stays can be very high. Public hospitals are considered unreliable. There is no particular difficulty in obtaining the major medicines on the market.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January New Year's Day; 21 March Human Rights Day; March/April Good Friday; 17 April Family Day; 27 April Freedom Day; 1 May Workers' Day; 16 June Youth Day; 9 August Women's Day; 24 September Heritage Day; 16 December Day of Reconciliation; 25 December Christmas Day; 26 December Day of Goodwill

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: Mon-Fri 8.00-17.00, Saturday from 9 to 13.  Banks: Mon-Fri 8.00-17.00, Saturday from 9 to 13. Shops: Mon-Fri 8.00-17.00, Saturday from 8.30 to 13.00.

CLIMATE: mild, especially in the coastal areas, except for the northern part of the east coast, which is tropical. The interior, by contrast, enjoys a considerably drier climate. Summer (October - April) is generally hot, cooler in the evenings. Winter (June - August) is dry and sunny, with temperatures of around 15-25 degrees during the day and 0-10 degrees at night. In the rainy season (October-March), very intense thunderstorms can occur. Snowfall is also possible in the mountain areas. In the Cape region the climate is Mediterranean, with winter rain and fine summer weather, but with strong winds all year round and marked variability over the course of the day.

Monthly min/max temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/rainfall in mm

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Embassy of Italy, Pretoria
796, George Avenue, 0083 Arcadia, Pretoria
Tel: 0027 124230000/1
0027 12 4230013 (Secretariat 2)  

Consular Chancery: 0027124230026/27
Office Fax: 0027124305547 (Diplomatic Chancery Cape Town 002721-4245559)
Consular Chancery Fax: 0027 12 342 56 18
Emergency-only mobile: 0027827815972
Website: ambpretoria.esteri.it
E-mail: segreteria.pretoria@esteri.it 
 
CONSULAR OFFICES
Consulate General of Italy JOHANNESBURG  
37, 1st Avenue (corner 2nd Street) 2196 Houghton Estate, Johannesburg
P.O. Box 46306 Orange Grove
2119 Johannesburg
Tel. +27-11-7281392/3 Fax +27-11-728-3834
Emergency mobile: 0027 828544725
Website: consjohannesburg.esteri.it
General e-mail address – information:info.johannesburg@esteri.it