Here is a site where you can view some economic indicators of South Africa, there are two indicators that I would highlight, which is the GDP 283 million USdollars, which places South Africa at the 28th position worldwide, just in front of Iran. And the other indicator that I would highlight is the inflation of the price of food between feb.2007 and feb.2008, that is of +13.6%, which places South Africa on the 6th position in thi increase.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/SOUTHAFRICAEXTN/0,,menuPK:368086~pagePK:141132~piPK:141107~theSitePK:368057,00.html