South Africa has three capital cities because of the decentralized nature of the South African government. The country is divided into nine provinces, each with its own government, and the capital cities serve as administrative centers for the three branches of the national government: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. Pretoria is the administrative capital, where the executive branch is based and where the President’s office is located. Cape Town is the legislative capital, where the Parliament of South Africa meets. Bloemfontein is the judicial capital, where the Supreme Court of Appeals is located. Having three capital cities allows the government to better serve the needs of the country’s diverse population and decentralizes power.