Landscape and Climate 

The Republic of South Africa occupies the southern part of the African continent. South Africa has the Indian Ocean on the south and southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. To the north is Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Mozambique is to the northeast, Swaziland to the east. Lesotho sits inside and is surrounded by South Africa. South Africa is divided into nine provinces.

The southern and eastern regions are mountainous, while the western and northwestern areas are dry and part desert. The central part of the country is a plateau. Much of the land consists of meadows and pastures ideal for raising cattle and sheep. In general, South Africa has a temperate climate and plenty of sunshine.

There are four main climatic regions: the eastern coast, the western coast, the Karkoo Desert and the northwestern central territory. The hot and humid weather conditions of the eastern regions include almost every type of wild game found in South Africa. In contrast, the western regions of the country are hot and dry. The Karkoo Desert in the north has occasional light rainfall. The northwestern central territory receives extensive rainfall. Its temperate climate is ideal for farming.
 



Summary Fact Sheet

Official Name:

The Republic of South Africa

Capital:

Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative) and Bloemfontein (judicial)

Type of Government:
 
Republic

Population:

41.7 million

Area:

1,219,912 sq km

Major Ethnic Groups:

African, European, East Indian and Asian

Languages:

English, Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu and Afrikaans

Religions:

Indigenous African religions, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam

Unit of Currency:

Rand

National Flag:

Two equal width horizontal bands, the top red and the bottom blue, separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal "Y". The arms of the "Y" end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a black triangle, separated by narrow yellow bands. The red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arm by narrow white stripes.

Date of Independence:

 
May 31, 1910

Freedom Day:

April 27, 1994





South Africa’s population of 47 million belongs to diverse origins, cultures, languages and religions. Africans are the clear majority with 79.4 million. They belong to various tribal and indigenous groups. The white population of South Africa is descendent from the British, Dutch, German and French immigrants. South Africa’s Asian population is mostly Indian in origin with a significant representation of Chinese South Africans.
 
The AIDS pandemic has orphaned more than a million children in South Africa and only half of them are registered thereby limiting access to social services.
More than a million school age children do not attend school for a variety of reasons including malnutrition, distance from schools, lack of resources and their parents own lack of education. Other problems plaguing children are child abuse and increasing numbers of street children and children needing institutionalization.
 
The Mission of T.E.A.R.S. works in close collaboration with a licensed adoption practitioner, legal practitioners and licensed foster homes in South Africa to facilitate international adoptions to Canada. Once approved by the Ministry of child and family services in Ontario, the dossier is sent overseas.
 
From then on the process involves:
• Awaiting a child referral from one of the orphanages
• Seeking the consent of the family in conjunction with the agency
   and social worker and obtaining the approval of the Ministry.
• Travel to the country and meetings with our overseas associates
• Court process and finalization of adoption
• Obtaining passports and completing immigration procedures
• Return to Canada
 
South African adoptions can take up to 24 months. Court appearance is required by the family. Our overseas associates will meet families at the airport and assist them with accommodations and all overseas adoption procedures.