<Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> South African Provinces </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> North West Northern Cape Gauteng Limpopo Mpumalanga Free State KwaZulu - Natal Eastern Cape Western Cape </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Category </Th> <Td> Unitary state </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Location </Th> <Td> Republic of South Africa </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Number </Th> <Td> 9 Provinces </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Populations </Th> <Td> 1,145,861 (Northern Cape)--12,272,263 (Gauteng) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Areas </Th> <Td> 47,080 km (18,178 sq mi) (Gauteng)--372,890 km (143,973 sq mi) (Northern Cape) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Government </Th> <Td> Provincial government, National government </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Subdivisions </Th> <Td> Districts </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> South African Provinces </Th> </Tr>

How many states are there in south africa