What is the capital of South Africa?

South Africa's Three Capitals

• Cape Town : legislative capital, seat of the national Parliament
• Pretoria : administrative capital, seat of government and the presidency
• Bloemfontein : judicial capital, seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal

Why Three Capitals?

This tripartite organization reflects the separation of three powers: legislative, executive and judicial. It also results from a political compromise during the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, allowing institutions to be distributed across different regions of the country.

Key Takeaways

Johannesburg, although being the largest city in the country and the economic center, is not an official capital. This peculiarity makes South Africa one of the rare countries in the world with multiple capitals.