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The nine provinces and their capitals

South Africa’s nine provinces, their capitals, borders and coastlines. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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The map

Northern CapeKwaZulu-NatalFree StateEastern CapeLimpopoNorth WestMpumalangaWestern CapeGautengAtlantic OceanIndian OceanN
The nine provinces. Limpopo in the far north borders Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
ProvinceCapital
Western CapeCape Town
Eastern CapeBhisho
Northern CapeKimberley
Free StateBloemfontein
KwaZulu-NatalPietermaritzburg (Durban is here too)
North WestMahikeng
GautengJohannesburg
MpumalangaMbombela (formerly Nelspruit)
LimpopoPolokwane (formerly Pietersburg)

South Africa’s neighbours are Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho. Limpopo borders three countries: Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • South Africa has nine provinces; a premier heads each provincial government.
  • Largest: Northern Cape. Smallest but most people: Gauteng (“place of gold” in Sesotho).
  • Three capitals: Pretoria (administrative, Gauteng), Cape Town (legislative, Parliament), Bloemfontein (judicial).
  • Lesotho lies inside South Africa and borders the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape; the Free State has no coast. Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal border Eswatini.
  • Four provinces have a coast: Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Western Cape: Atlantic and Indian Ocean; Northern Cape: only the Atlantic.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Three capitals = three jobs: Pretoria Paperwork (government), Cape Town Creates laws (Parliament), Bloemfontein Benches (courts).

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

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