Cape Town is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country. It is the oldest city in the country, and the second-largest (after Johannesburg). Colloquially named the Mother City, it is the largest city in the Western Cape province and forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality. The other two capitals are located in Gauteng (in Pretoria, the executive capital, where the Presidency is based) and in the Free State (in Bloemfontein, the judicial capital, where the Supreme Court of Appeal is located).

Bloemfontein also known as Bloem, is one of South Africa's three capital cities and the capital of the Free State province. It serves as the judicial capital of the country, along with the legislative capital Cape Town and the administrative capital Pretoria. Bloemfontein is the seventh-largest city in South Africa.

Pretoria is one of South Africa’s three capital cities, serving as the seat of the executive branch of government, and as the host of all foreign embassies to South Africa. Cape Town is the legislative capital whereas Bloemfontein is the judicial capital.