The Report: South Africa 2012

South Africa lies on the southern tip of Africa, occupying 1.22m sq km with some 2800 km of coastline along the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The so-called “Rainbow Nation” has a population of around 50.5m and is a melting pot of ethnicities, cultures and languages that reflect its rich and tumultuous history. South Africa is considered the most advanced economy in Africa, with well-developed financial, communications, energy and transport sectors. The country has vast deposits of minerals and natural resources and is the world’s fourth-largest source of gold and diamonds. The country’s banking, insurance, industry and telecommunications sectors are all poised to see substantial future growth.