South Af·ri·ca [ sòwth áffrikə ]country in southern Africa. It became a fully democratic republic in 1994 when it rejoined the British Commonwealth (after withdrawing in 1961). Languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu. Currency: rand. Capital: Pretoria. Population: 42,768,678 (2003).
Area: 1,219,090 sq km (470,693 sq mi.) Official name Republic of South Africa