Pretoria is the capital city of the Republic of South Africa. It is situated on the banks of the Apies River in the Gauteng province in the north east of the country and has a population of approximately 500,000. Pretoria is primarily a seat of government, and most people are employed in the service sector. It is also an important rail centre, with an industrial economy based upon the South African Iron and Steel Corporation. Other activities include engineering, food processing, and diamond mining.