Why Does South Africa Have Three Capital Cities

The Republic of South Africa does not have a single capital city. Instead, it is one of a few countries in the world that divides its governmental powers among three of its major cities: Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein. The Many Capitals of South Africa South Africas three capital cities are  strategically placed throughout the country, each hosting a separate segment of the nations government.  When asked about a single capital, most people would point to Pretoria. Pretoria is the administrative capital. It is home to the executive branch of the South African government, including the President of the Cabinet. The city also hosts many departments of government and foreign embassies.Located in the province of Gauteng, Pretoria is in the northeast part of South Africa and near the city of Johannesburg.Cape Town is the legislative capital.  It is home to the countrys legislative parliament, including the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces.Located in the southwest corner of South Africa in the province of Western Cape, Cape Town is the second largest city in population.Bloemfontein is considered the judicial  capital. It is home to the Supreme Court of Appeal, the second highest court in South Africa. The Constitutional Court (the highest court)  is located in Johannesburg.Located in the province of Free State, Bloemfontein is in the center of South Africa.   In addition to these three capitals on the national level, the country is divided into nine provinces, each with their own capital city. Eastern Cape: capital BhishoFree State: BloemfonteinGauteng: JohannesburgKwaZulu-Natal: PietermaritzburgLimpopo - PolokwaneMpumalanga: NelspruitNorthern Cape: KimberleyNorth West: Mahikeng (formerly Mafeking)Western Cape: Cape Town Map of South Africa. pop_jop/Getty Images When looking at a map of the country, you will also notice Lesotho in the middle of South Africa. This is not a province, but an independent country formally called the Kingdom of Lesotho. It is often referred to as an enclave of South Africa because it is surrounded by the larger nation. Why Does South Africa Have Three Capitals? The reason South Africa has three capitals is in part the result of its political and cultural struggles as a result of the influence of Victorian-era colonialism. Apartheid—an extreme version of segregation—is only one of the many issues the country faced since the 20th century. In 1910, when the Union of South Africa was formed, there was a  great dispute about the location of the new countrys capital city. A compromise was reached to spread a balance of power throughout the country and this led to the current capital cities. There is a  logic behind choosing these three cities: Both Bloemfontein and Pretoria were capital cities of one of the traditional Boer provinces prior to the Union of South Africa. Bloemfontein was the capital of the Orange Free State (now Free State) and Pretoria was the capital of Transvaal. There were four traditional provinces in total; Natal and Cape of Good Hope were the other two.Bloemfontein is located in the center of South Africa, so it is logical to place the judicial branch of government in this location.Pretoria had long been the home to foreign embassies and governmental departments. Its location near the countrys largest city of Johannesburg also makes it a convenient location.Cape Town had been host to a parliament since colonial days. Sources and Further Reading Clark, Nancy L. and William H. Worger. South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid. London: Routledge, 2011.  Ross, Robert. A Concise History of South Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008.