South Africa is a country lying at the southernmost tip of the African continent. Some facts about South Africa, the country is bordered by six other African countries. These are: Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.
The country is marked by several distinct ecosystems. Inland, the Kruger National Park covers vast shrub lands populated by big game. South Africa’s largest city is Johannesburg.
Capitals: Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein
Currency: South African rand
Government: Unitary Parliamentary Republic
President: Jacob Zuma
Population: 55 Million (a 2016 estimate)
Official Languages: Africaans, English, Ndebele, North Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu.
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Amazing Facts About South Africa
Here are 11 other amazing facts about South Africa that you will like to read.
1. FAMILY MEANS A LOT
In traditional South African society, family is most important. And family could be nuclear, extended, or even widen to as far as tribe. That is why the tribe is the most important community; it is the equivalence of nation. The tribe provides emotional and financial security.
2. TRIBAL TIES REMAIN
Even today when rural-urban drift is a global phenomenon, it is amazing that South African family members who drift from rural areas to urban areas still maintain familial or tribal ties. This includes provision of financial support to family members remaining in the village.
3. GREETINGS
Greeting matters to most South Africans. While greeting a foreigner, South Africans usually shake hands while maintaining eye contact. Women, on the other hand, may just nod without shaking hands. It is best to wait for a woman to initiate the handshake.
4. TWO BEST BIRTHDAYS
Generally, the South African gift-giving occasions are Christmas and birthdays. But two birthdays in the life of every individual are celebrated with more fervor. These are the 21st and 40th. Amazing, right? It is common for friends to contribute to defray the cost of celebration.
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5. HONORING AN INVITATION
When honoring an invitation to the home of a South African, it is good manners to take along good flowers, good quality chocolates, and/or a bottle of wine as appreciation. Make extra effort to have the gifts wrapped. Expect the gifts to be opened immediately it is received.
6. BE CONSIDERATE
Also, when honoring an invitation to the home of a South African, it is acceptable behavior to call and ask any of the following:
- If your planned arrival time is ok
- If you could/should bring a dish
- What would not be too casual
Asking these tells your host that you are considerate and don’t want to cause offence.
7. OFFER HELP
When you arrive the home of a South African to honor an invitation, offer to help in the preparation of food. When the meal is over, offer to help clearing the table, and even cleaning. Often times, the amazing thing is that the offer would be turned turn. But it is good manners.
8. TRANSACTIONAL
South Africans are transactional in nature or by custom. The amazing thing about that is they usually do not need to establish any cordiality before delving into business discussions. What that means is to get to the point as soon as business meeting commences.
9. EVERYONE IS EQUAL
The society is egalitarian. People consider everyone equal. But in the business community, people respect those senior to them on the corporate ladder. More especially, people respect those who have attained their senior level through hard and diligent work.
10. FACE-TO-FACE PREFERRED
Most South African communication media such as letter, email, telephone all function well. That is why it is amazing that, irrespective of ethnicity, South Africans prefer face-to-face meetings and discussions to any other medium of communication.
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11. WOMEN STILL STRUGGLING
South African women are yet to get their desired top positions in the corporate and government circles. Therefore, even if your company’s personnel in charge of the business you have to discuss in South Africa is a women, it is more advisable to send a man. However, if you do send the woman, she must expect condescending behavior and be tested in ways that her male colleague would not.
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