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Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein: South Africa's three capitals and a President elected by the National Assembly

South Africa, whose local government elections and constitutional court rulings are in the news this week, divides its capital functions across three cities.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation describes three capitals split in accordance with government functions: Pretoria is the executive and administrative capital, Cape Town the legislative capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital.
Government is organised in three spheres, national, provincial and local, linked by a constitutionally mandated system of cooperative governance.
Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
The President is elected by the National Assembly and leads the Cabinet, so the same office is both head of state and head of government.
The National Assembly has 400 members, with seats allocated in proportion to the votes each party receives.

Executive capital: Pretoria Legislative capital: Cape Town Judicial capital: Bloemfontein National Assembly members: 400
Why it matters for exams: The three capitals and a President who is both head of state and head of government are among the most frequently asked facts about South Africa.
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In plain words

DIRCO Department of International Relations and Cooperation — South Africa's foreign ministry.

Cooperative governance Cooperative governance — The constitutional principle requiring South Africa's three spheres of government to work together.

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