INTERN INFORMATION PACKET PART 3: ABOUT SOUTH ...

INTERN INFORMATION PACKET

PART 3: ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA

Table of Contents: 1. South Africa In A Nutshell

a. Geography b. Climate c. Demographics d. Languages

2. AIDS/HIV, Orphans, Poverty, and Refugees in South Africa a. AIDS/HIV b. Orphans c. Poverty d. Refugees and Immigrants

3. History a. A Chronology of Key Events in South African History

4. Miscellaneous Odds and Ends a. National Anthem b. Money c. Sports d. Food

5. A Primer on South African English a. Nicknames b. Derogative Racial Terms c. Swear Words d. Spelling Differences e. Commonly Used Abbreviations

6. Gauteng Province

PART 3: INFORMATION ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA IN A NUTSHELL:

South Africa is a beautiful and fascinating country! It is well known for it's ethnic and cultural diversity (often referred to as the "Rainbow Nation"), it's mineral wealth (Gold and Diamonds in particular), it's comparatively good economy (more than twice the total GDP of any other African country), it's game reserves (the Kruger National Park in particular, which is bigger than Israel!), it's beaches, surfing conditions (Jeffrey's Bay in particular, which draws surfers from around the world), and beauty in general (Table Mountain, the Garden Route, etc).

Negatively, South Africa is known as the former home of the racial segregation system called Apartheid (truly democratic elections, in which black people could vote, took place for the first time in 1994!), the country with the highest HIV+ population in the world, and a country struggling with poverty, high unemployment, immigration issues, and rampant and violent crime. South Africa is a country with huge mercy ministry needs, and with a multitude of problems that only the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it's resulting fruit, can truly address. GEOGRAPHY :

As it's name suggests, South Africa is the southernmost country in the African continent. South Africa is divided into 9 provinces. The largest of these, the Northern Cape, is mostly desert and home to only 2.5% of the population. Gauteng on the other hand, South Africa's smallest province, is home to about 20% of the population. South Africa's population is about 50 million -‐ roughly the same as the population of California and Pennsylvania, 2 of the USA's more heavily populated states, combined, and

about the same as the population of Spain or Ukraine in Europe. At 471,443 sq mi (1,222,037 km2), South Africa is the 25th largest country in the world. It is about 1/8th the size of the USA (or around the same size as California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah combined), and roughly the size of Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, and Switzerland combined. South Africa has 3 capital cities: Cape Town is the legislative capital, Bloemfontein is the judicial capital, and Pretoria is the executive (administrative) capital.


Cape Town and Durban are the country's major shipping ports, followed by Port Elisabeth, East London, and Richard's Bay. Kimberley was the site of South Africa's first major diamond mining operation, while Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, later became the major hub of both diamond and gold mining in the country. Namibia, which borders South Africa to the North West, was a German colony until it was taken away from Germany at the

end of World War I and became a part of South Africa. Namibia became an independent country in 1990. Botswana and Zimbabwe, which border South Africa to the North, were both British colonies before their independence. Mozambique, which borders South Africa to the East, was a Portuguese colony before its independence. Lesotho (completely surrounded by South Africa) and Swaziland (surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique) are Kingdoms of the Sotho and Swazi people respectively.

CLIMATE: Being in the Southern Hemisphere, South Africa’s seasons are opposite to American seasons (so yes -‐ Christmas is in the Summer!). Most of South Africa receives Summer rainfall, except for the South Western Cape, which is Mediterranean in climate and receives Winter rainfall. The North West of the country is hot and dry (semi-‐desert to desert), while the East coast is known for its humidity and sub-‐tropical lushness. The north eastern interior is less humid than the eastern coast and its high altitude results in colder winters (especially at night).


In Johannesburg, hot summer days are regularly interrupted by short, intense afternoon or evening thunderstorms. Lightning occurs with these storms frequently, and they also bring hail. Summer temperatures range from 61°F (16°C) at night to 86°F (30°C) during the day, with an average high of about 82°F (28°C). Winters are mild and dry with temperatures averaging between 41°F (5°C) and 68°F (20°C). The coldest part of Johannesburg's winter lasts about 6 weeks in July/ August. DEMOGRAPHICS: *Please note: The terms "black", "white", and "coloured" (the South African term used for people of mixed race) are widely used in South Africa and in and of themselves are descriptive, not derogatory. The same is true of the term, "Indian", which refers to people who trace their lineage to the Indian subcontinent. Further, it should be remembered that not all people fit neatly into these categories, particularly as times change in South Africa. It is far more common now than it used to be, for example, for someone to have parents from different tribes, particularly in South Africa’s bigger cities and the surrounding “townships” (shanty towns). Inter-‐racial marriage is more common than it used to be, but is still quite rare. Black population: About 37. 7 million people, roughly 80% of the total South African population Nguni tribes: 4 South African tribes are a part of this large family of peoples, including South Africa's 2 biggest tribes. Their languages are distinct, but mutually intelligible (as Spanish and Portuguese are to one another). Zulu: 23.8% of the total South African population are Zulu; about 10.5 million people. This tribe is most concentrated in the KwaZulu Natal province and is also the majority people group in the south-‐western half of the Mpumalanga province. The current South African president, Jacob Zuma, is Zulu. The Zulu language (isiZulu) is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Xhosa: 17.6% of the total South African population are of the Xhosa tribe; almost 8 million people. This tribe is most concentrated in the eastern 3/4s of the Eastern Cape Province. Nelson Mandela, who was the first democratically elected president in South Africa, is Xhosa. The Xhosa language (isiXhosa) is well known for its many clicks and is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Swazi: Around 2.7% of the total South African population are of the Swazi tribe: about 1.2 million people. They are most concentrated in the East of the Mpumalanga province, and are the majority tribe in the neighboring country, Swaziland. Their language, Swati (siSwati), is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Ndebele (or Southern Ndebele): The Ndebele are the smallest in number of the Nguni tribes in South Africa, making up only about 1.5% of the total South African population (about 712,000 people). They are well known for their interesting adornment and the colourful, geometric designs of their artwork, including paintings on the walls of their homes. They are most concentrated in the north of the Gauteng province. The Ndebele language (isiNdebele) is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Sotho-‐Tswana tribes: 3 South African tribes are a part of this family of peoples. Their languages are distinct, but mutually intelligible (as Spanish and Portuguese are to one another).


Southern Sotho/ Sotho: This tribe is most concentrated in the Free State province of South Africa, and is the predominant people group in the neighboring country, Lesotho. The Southern Sotho make up 7.9 % of the total South African population: about 3.5 million people. Their language is Sesotho, which is one of the 11 national languages in South Africa and the official language of Lesotho. Northern Sotho (or Pedi): This tribe is most concentrated in the Limpopo, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces. They are the predominant tribe in most of the Limpopo province (all but the far North and East). The Northern Sotho make up about 9.4% of the total South African population; around 4.2 million people. Their language is Sesotho sa Leboa (or sePedi), and it is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Tswana: This tribe predominates the North West province of South Africa, and forms the majority of the Botswanan population as well. Their language is Setswana, which is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa and one of the 2 official languages in Botswana. Around 8.2% of the total South African population is Tswana: about 3.6 million people. Tsonga (or Shangaan): People of the Tsonga tribe are most concentrated in the north east of South Africa (in the east of the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces). They are also found in the southern parts of Mozambique, with small numbers in Zimbabwe and Swaziland as well. The Tsonga make up about 4.4% of the total South African population: just less than 2 million people. The Tsonga language (Xitsonga) is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Venda: People of the Venda tribe are most concentrated in the north east of South Africa's Limpopo province, as well as the neighboring country of Zimbabwe. They make up about 2.3% of South Africa's population: about 1.2 million people. Their language, Tshivenda, is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Khoi-‐San: The Khoi-‐San family of peoples is distinct from that of the above tribes, who are all part of the Bantu family of peoples. This family of peoples have resided in South Africa the longest, and were displaced by the Bantu peoples (the Zulu and Xhosa in particular) as those peoples migrated south from further north in Africa. San (Bushmen): The San are hunter-‐gatherer peoples who were once widespread in South Africa. Their traditional culture became better known to many through the "The God's Must Be Crazy" movies that came out in the 1980s. Small numbers of San continue to live off the land today in the Kalahari Desert (in the north-‐east of South Africa's Northern Cape province and in the neighboring country, Botswana), in much the same way they have for centuries. Khoi (Hottentots): The Khoi were pastoralists traditionally. Many of these people died from smallpox, brought to South Africa by European settlers. There are very few Khoi still in South Africa, and most of these (a group known as the Nama) are in Namaqualand, in the north of the Northern Cape Province. Larger populations live in Greater Namaqualand, in the neighboring country, Namibia. White population: About 4. 4 million. Afrikaners: The Afrikaners developed as a people in South Africa when Dutch (mostly), French, German, and Flemish settlers moved inland together in an effort to escape British rule. They intermarried and, over


time, developed a new language, Afrikaans (similar, but distinct from Dutch -‐ much like Portugese and Spanish are to one another). A number of European immigrants in more recent years (from Holland, Germany, etc) have adopted the Afrikaans language and culture. Afrikaners make up about 5.25% of the total South African population: about 2.64 million people. Afrikaans is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. English: Most of the white, "English" population in South Africa are of British decent. However, in South Africa the "English" also refers to other peoples with a European ancestry who speak English (including many people of Greek, Portuguese, French, or German heritage). The English make up around 3.5% of the total South African population: about 1.76 million people. English is one of the 11 official languages in South Africa. Coloured population: 4. 2 million people. In South Africa, "Coloured" is a broad term referring to any person of mixed race. In other parts of the world, first generation people of mixed race might have assimilated into either of their parents' cultures, but political policies of racial segregation kept that from happening for many years in South Africa. At the same time, since Apartheid clumped all people of mixed race together, many people of otherwise very different backgrounds developed a kinship and culture, and used a common language (most often this was Afrikaans, but sometimes English). The majority of Coloureds in South Africa are from families that have been “Coloured” for generations. Indian population: There are about 1. 2 million Indian people in South Africa. The majority of these people are descendants of indentured laborers who came to South Africa around 1860 to work on the Sugarcane plantations in Natal (now KwaZulu Natal) province, while others are descended from Indian traders who migrated to the same area shortly afterwards. English is now the first language of most Indian South Africans, while a small minority still speak some Indian language, such as Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Punjabi, or Gujarati as a first language. About half of South Africa's Indian population live in the greater Durban area, and only 1/4 of South African Indians live outside KwaZulu Natal province. Refugees and Immigrants: South Africa’s population of official refugees and “asylum seekers” is 256,000; including 116,000 people from Zimbabwe, 33,000 from The Democratic Republic of the Congo, 27,000 from Somalia, 11,000 from Ethiopia, and about 15,000 from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. These populations are mostly concentrated in South Africa’s bigger cities; Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth. Estimates of South Africa’s total immigrant population (including illegal immigrants) vary considerably. As one example, estimates of immigrants from Zimbabwe alone range from1 million to 3 million! LANGUAGES: South Africa has 11 official national languages in total. By mother tongue/home language, South Africa's languages can be divided up like so: Zulu (isiZulu): 23.8 % Xhosa (isiXhosa): 17.6% Afrikaans: 13.3% Northern Sotho (SeSotho sa Leboa): 9.4%

English: 8.2% Tswana (Setswana): 8.2% Southern Sotho (Sesotho): 7.9 % Tsonga (Xitsonga): 4.4%


Swati (siSwati): 2.7% Venda (Tshivenda): 2.3%

Ndebele (isiNdebele): 1.6%

Zulu, Xhosa, Swati, and Ndebele are all Nguni languages, distinct, but similar enough to each other to be mutually intelligible. The same is true of the Sotho-‐Tswana languages: Pedi (Northern Sotho), Sotho (Southern Sotho), and Tswana. Though English is the first language of only 8.2% of the population, it is the primary language of commerce and the language most widely understood in South Africa. Most of South Africa’s black population can speak multiple languages (particularly those who live in and around the bigger cities). Most of South Africa’s white population can speak English and Afrikaans.

Sotho (Southern Sotho) Tswana Swati Venda Tsonga (Shangaan) No language dominant

Afrikaans English Ndebele Xhosa Zulu Pedi (Northern Sotho)


Many refugees and immigrants in South Africa speak other languages. Many Zimbabweans speak Shona, and many Malawians speak Chichewa (both are tribal languages in their respective countries). In addition to tribal languages many would have spoken at home as a first language, many Nigerians, Congolese (from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)), Rwandans and Burundians speak French, while many Angolans and Mozambicans speak Portuguese (languages brought to their respective countries by European colonizing nations). Swahili is a common trade language of African origin spoken in several East African countries, and a number of refugees use it in South Africa too. These languages are most often spoken in South Africa’s biggest cities (Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, and Port Elizabeth), where most refugees and immigrants have settled. Afrikaans English Ndebele Xhosa Zulu Pedi (Northern Sotho) Sotho (Southern Sotho) Tswana Swati Venda Tsonga (Shangaan) No language dominant RELIGION: Almost 75% of South Africa’s population would describe themselves as Christian. There are 4,000 or more African Independent Churches (AICs) in South Africa. With a membership of more than 10 million people, this is the biggest religious affiliation in the country. These churches range considerably in their doctrine, and some, such as the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) (the largest church in South Africa) are heavily syncretistic, merging Christianity and African Traditional Religion. The prosperity gospel and extreme Charismatic movements are other examples of religion in South Africa that is Christian in name but very unbiblical. Also, like the USA, many churches in larger denominations have gone quite liberal (this is the case with many (but definitely not all!) churches in the Dutch Reformed Church (the historic, traditional church of the Afrikaans people)). By God’s grace, there are several healthy churches and encouraging Christian movements in the country too. Examples of generally healthy groups of churches widespread in South Africa include CESA churches (Church of England in South Africa), Reformed Baptist churches, and some Baptist and Independent Bible churches. Other religions in South Africa include Islam (1.5%), Hinduism (1.2%), Traditional African Religion (0.3%), Judaism (0.2%), and Buddhism (0.03%). Hinduism is mostly confined to the country’s Indian population, and Islam is mostly found within Indian and Coloured populations (many of the “Cape Malay” group of Coloureds in the Cape Town area have descendants from Malaysia who were Islamic). AIDS/HIV, ORPHANS, POVERTY, AND REFUGEES IN SOUTH AFRICA: AIDS/HIV:


About 5.6 million people were living with HIV or AIDS in South Africa in 2009, more than in any other country in the world. An estimated 310,000 South Africans died of AIDS in 2009. Around 15% of all South Africans have HIV or AIDS, with the prevalence in some population sectors much higher: almost 1/3 of women aged 25-‐29 are infected, as are over 1/4 of men aged 30-‐34. The only countries with a higher prevalence of HIV all border South Africa: Lesotho (3rd), Botswana (2nd), and Swaziland (1st). Namibia (5th), Zimbabwe (6th), and Mozambique (8th) also border South Africa, and Zambia (7th) borders Zimbabwe to the north.

Orphans: An estimated 3.7 million South African children (more than 20% of all South African children) have lost one or both parents: • About 800,000 have lost both their parents ("double orphans") • Conservative estimates state that there are around 1.4 million South African children who have lost their mothers. About 600,000 of those children have a living father. (The term "maternal orphan" is sometimes used to refer to children who have lost their mother but not their father, but at other times the term includes children who are "double orphans" as well). The number of maternal orphans in the country is increasing at the staggering rate of over 2,000 children a week! • Around 3.1 million South African children have lost their fathers. About 2.3 million of these children have a living mother. (The term "paternal orphan" is sometimes used to refer to children who have lost their father but not their mother, but at other times the term includes those children who are "double orphans" as well) • 1.4 million South African children have lost one or both parents due to AIDS ("AIDS orphans") Countless more children have living parents, but have been abandoned by them and are de facto orphans. Poverty: • South Africa's unemployment rate is a staggering 24.9%! • 34% of South Africans live on less than $2.15 a day (at 1993 international prices), with just less than a third of those people (10.7% of South Africans) living off an incredibly meager $1.08 or less a day (at 1993 international prices) • 50% of South Africans live below the poverty line Refugees and Immigrants:


Unemployment and poverty rates are high in South Africa, but political, tribal, and religious discrimination, wars (such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo), and even worse economic conditions in other countries (such as Zimbabwe) keep a steady stream of refugees and immigrants coming into the country from the rest of Africa. South Africa's population of official refugees and "asylum seekers" is 256,000; including 116,000 people from Zimbabwe, 33,000 from The Democratic Republic of the Congo, 27,000 from Somalia, 11,000 from Ethiopia, and about 15,000 from outside Africa: Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India. These populations are mostly concentrated in South Africa's bigger cities; Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth. Estimates of South Africa's total immigrant population (including illegal immigrants) vary considerably. As one example, Sky News reports some 3 million illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, while other sources estimate 1-‐1.5 million illegal immigrants from the same country. The difference in these estimates is huge, but even the lowest figures are staggering. The New York Times puts the total immigrant population at around 5 million people. Refugees and immigrants are not always welcomed in South Africa, particularly in some of the poorer settlements where they are viewed as "stealing jobs" from unemployed South Africans. Tensions spilled over into violent, "Xenophobic" attacks against foreigners that made headlines around the world in 2008. HISTORY: A chronology of key events in South Africa’s History: 4th century – Bantu migrants (9 of South Africa’s official languages are languages of Bantu peoples) from further north in Africa settle in South Africa, joining the Khoisan peoples already in the country (2 tribes – Khoikhoi or “Hottentots”, and San or “Bushmen”). 1480s -‐ Portuguese navigator Bartholomeu Dias is the first European to travel round the southern tip of Africa. 1497 -‐ Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama lands on the Natal coast (eastern South Africa). 1652 -‐ Jan van Riebeck, representing the Dutch East India Company, founds the Cape Colony at Table Bay (modern day Cape Town). This colony of mostly farmers produces and provides supplies to European ships travelling to and from the East for trade. 1660s – The Dutch East India Company brings slaves and exiled prisoners to the Cape Colony from Dutch colonies in Indonesia (mostly) and Malaysia. These “Malays” are mostly Muslim. The “Cape Malays” later become a prominent part of South Africa’s “Coloured” population.

*Reference Point: The American War of Independence took place from 1775 – 1783* 1795 -‐ British forces seize the Cape Colony from the Netherlands. The territory is returned to the Dutch in 1803; then ceded back to the British in 1806.


1816-‐1826 -‐ Shaka Zulu founds the Zulu empire in what is now KwaZulu Natal, creates a formidable fighting force, and expands his nation. Other tribes flee into other parts of South Africa. 1835-‐1840 – Settlers in the Cape Colony of Dutch (mostly), French, German, and Flemish ancestry (and a few others in smaller numbers as well), don’t want to be ruled by the British. They are called “Boers” (farmers). Those that leave the Cape Colony and head inland in the 'Great Trek’ are called “Voortrekkers” (pioneers). The language this community developed is Afrikaans – similar to Dutch but distinct from it.

1838 – After agreeing to a land treaty with the Boers, Zulu king Dingaan kills the Voortrekker leader Piet Retief and his delegation. War breaks out between the Zulus and Boers. 1839 – Boers found the Natalia Republic in eastern South Africa. 1843 – The British annex Natalia from the Boers. Boers found the Orange Free State Republic in central South Africa. 1852 – The British grant limited self-‐government to the Boer settlement in Transvaal (north eastern South Africa – north of/ across the Vaal river). 1856 – Boers proclaim the Transvaal a Republic (also known as the South African Republic). 1860 – The first Indians arrive in Durban, coming to work in the extensive Sugar plantations established by the British in the Natal Colony. The vast majority of the over 150,000 who came to Durban between 1860 and 1910 are “indentured servants”, but a few are free traders. Most are Hindu, others are Muslim.

* Reference Point: The American Civil War took place from 1861-‐1865* 1867 -‐ Diamonds are discovered at Kimberley. The “New Rush” diamond rush followed. 1877 – The British annex the Transvaal Republic from the Boers. 1879 – The British defeat the Zulus in the Anglo-‐Zulu War in Natal. 1880-‐81 -‐ Boers rebel against the British, sparking the first Anglo-‐Boer War. Conflict ends with a negotiated peace. Transvaal is restored as a Boer republic.


Mid 1880s -‐ Gold is discovered in the Transvaal, triggering a massive gold rush. South Africa’s currency, the Rand, takes its name from the Witwatersrand (White-‐waters-‐ridge), the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found. 1899 -‐ British troops gather on the Transvaal border and ignore an ultimatum to disperse. The second Anglo-‐Boer War begins. 1902 – The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the second Anglo-‐Boer War. The Transvaal and Orange Free State are made self-‐governing colonies of the British Empire. 1910 -‐ Formation of the Union of South Africa, made up of the former British colonies of the Cape and Natal, and the Boer republics of the Transvaal and Orange Free State. Each becomes a province in the Union of South Africa, which is a self-‐governing dominion of the British Empire. 1912 -‐ Native National Congress founded, later renamed the African National Congress (ANC). 1913 -‐ Land Act introduced to prevent blacks, except those living in Cape Province, from buying land outside black “reserves”.

*Reference Point: World War I took place from 1914-‐1918* 1919 -‐ After Germany was defeated in World War I, all previously German colonies in Africa were placed under the administration of Allied The South African flag from 1928 – 1994. The “flags within the flag” are L-‐ R: the British flag (representing the Cape and Natal colonies), the Orange Free State flag, and the Transvaal flag. European nations. South West Africa (modern day Namibia) came under South African administration. 1931-‐34 – British parliament passed the “Statute of Westminster”, granting legislative equality to the self-‐ governing dominions of the British Empire. The “Status of the Union Act” and the “Royal Executive Functions and Seals Act” (both 1934) were passed to confirm South Africa's status as a sovereign state.

*Reference Point: World War II took place from 1939-‐1945* 1948 -‐ Policy of Apartheid (separateness) adopted as official law when the National Party (NP) comes to power. 1950 – The “Population Registration Act” instituted, requiring that each inhabitant of South Africa be classified and registered according to their “racial characteristics.” Social rights, political rights, educational opportunities, and economic status were largely determined by the group to which an individual was decided to belong. There were three racial classifications under the law: Black, White, and Coloured (mixed race). Indians were later added as a separate classification. The “Group Areas Act” was passed to segregate

The South African flag from 1928 – 1994. The “flags within the flag” are L-‐ R: the British flag (representing the Cape and Natal colonies), the Orange Free State flag, and the Transvaal flag


where these different races could live. Many non-‐ Whites were forcibly relocated because they lived in the "wrong" areas. “Pass Laws” required that non-‐Whites carry pass books in order to enter the 'white' parts of the country for work. The ANC responded with a campaign of civil disobedience, led by Nelson Mandela.

1960 -‐ Seventy black demonstrators killed at Sharpeville (“Sharpeville Massacre”). ANC banned. 1960s -‐ International pressure against South Africa’s government begins, South Africa excluded from the Olympic Games. 1961 – The Union of South Africa becomes the Republic of

South Africa and South Africa breaks fully from the British Commonwealth. Mandela heads the ANC's new military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear The Sharpeville Massacre, 1960 of the Nation”), which launches a sabotage campaign against the Apartheid government. *Reference Point: Martin Luther King Jr. gives his “I have a dream” speech on August 28, 1963. The “Civil Rights Act”, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, was

passed in the USA in 1964* 1964 -‐ ANC leader Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment. 1970s -‐ More than 3 million people are forcibly resettled in ‘black homelands' designated according to tribal heritage – many of whom had never lived within those homelands. 1976 -‐ More than 600 people killed in clashes between black protesters and security forces during an uprising that started in Soweto. Since many of the protestors killed during the initial riot were High School students, June 16, the day commemorating their deaths in South Africa, is called “Youth Day”. 1977 September – Steve Biko, a black anti-‐apartheid activist, dies as a result of beatings and torture during a police interrogation. Police claim he died from a hunger strike. (His story is told in the movie, “Cry Freedom.”) 1984-‐86 – Large scale revolts occur in Townships across the country (the term “Township” refers to (often underdeveloped) urban living areas reserved for various non-‐white groups during Apartheid). Revolts gain steam and grow increasingly violent in efforts to make South Africa “ungovernable”. The government declares a state of emergency and pushes back with force. The violence surrounding the revolts puts apartheid under the international spotlight as never before. In 1986 the USA imposes economic sanctions against South Africa. The effect on the economy was such that it was widely realized that apartheid could not continue for long. *Reference Point: June, 1987 – USA President Reagan gives his famous speech urging Russian President

Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall*


1989 -‐ FW de Klerk becomes South African president and begins to dismantle Apartheid. Public facilities are desegregated and many ANC activists are freed. 1990 -‐ ANC unbanned and Nelson Mandela released after 27 years in prison. Namibia becomes independent from South Africa. 1991 -‐ Start of multi-‐party talks. De Klerk repeals all remaining apartheid laws. International sanctions against South Africa are lifted. 1992 – South Africa is allowed to participate in their first Olympic Games in 32 years, and their first ever Cricket World Cup.

1993 -‐ The Nobel Peace Prize 1993 was awarded jointly to Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk "for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa." 1994 April – The ANC wins South Africa’s first truly democratic elections (in which every adult South African can vote, regardless of

race). Nelson Mandela becomes South Africa’s president. Commonwealth membership restored. Remaining sanctions lifted. South Africa takes their seat in the UN General Assembly after a 20 year absence. 1995 May-‐June -‐ South Africa hosts (and wins!) the Rugby World Cup – the first they’ve been allowed to participate in due to international sanctions during the Apartheid era. (The way in which Nelson Mandela used this event to unify the country is the subject of the movie, “Invictus.”) 1996 – The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, begins hearings on human rights crimes committed by former government and liberation movements during the Apartheid era. 2008 May – “Xenophobia.” A wave of violence directed at foreigners hits townships across the country (unemployment is high, and foreigners are accused of “stealing” jobs). Dozens of people die and thousands of Zimbabweans, Malawians and Mozambicans return home. 2009 April – May -‐ The ANC wins the general election, and Parliament elects Jacob Zuma as president of South Africa. 2009 July – Protests mounted by Township residents complaining about poor living conditions and the government’s unfulfilled promises about delivering services to their communities.


2010 June -‐ South Africa hosts the Soccer World Cup. Thousands of people worldwide decide they hate the sound of vuvuzelas! (A vuvuzela is a plastic “trumpet” blown at soccer games in South Africa)

2012 August-‐October -‐ Police open fire on striking workers at a platinum mine in Marikana, killing at least 34 people, and leaving at least 78 injured and arresting more than 200 others. *The basis for this timeline and several of the images used were taken from the BBC website: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-‐africa-‐14094918 EUROPEAN COLONIES IN AFRICA IN 1914


MODERN DAY AFRICA*:

*This map is current except for Sudan, which was divided into Sudan and South Sudan after a lengthy civil war on 9 July 2011 (South Sudan is highlighted red in the map to the right):


MISCELLANEOUS ODDS AND ENDS: NATIONAL ANTHEM: The South African national anthem is a hybrid song combining the hymn Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (God Bless Africa) and Die Stem van Suid-‐Afrika (The Call of South Africa), the former anthem from pre-‐Democratic South Africa. Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika was was originally sung as a church hymn but later became an act of political defiance against the apartheid government. Die Stem van Suid-‐Afrika was the co-‐national anthem with God Save the King/Queen, the anthem of Great Britain, from 1936 to 1957, when it became the sole national anthem until 1994.The South African government adopted both songs as national anthems from 1994, when they were performed at Nelson Mandela's inauguration. They were merged in 1997 to form the current anthem, which employs translated lyrics from the five most widely spoken of South Africa's languages. The new English lyrics were adapted from Die Stem and were modified to reflect hope in post-‐apartheid South African society. Language Lyrics English Translation Xhosa Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika

Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo, Lord bless Africa Let its (Africa's) horn be raised

Zulu Yizwa imithandazo yethu, Nkosi sikelela Thina lusapho lwayo.

Listen also to our prayers Lord bless us We are the family of it (Africa)

Sotho (Southern Sotho)

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso, Setjhaba sa, South Afrika — South Afrika.

Lord bless our nation Stop wars and sufferings Save it, save it, our nation The nation of South Africa — South Africa.

Afrikaans Uit die blou van onse hemel, Uit die diepte van ons see, Oor ons ewige gebergtes, Waar die kranse antwoord gee,

From the blue of our heavens, From the depths of our seas, Over our everlasting mountains, Where the crags give answer,

English Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom In South Africa our land.

SOUTH AFRICAN MONEY: The South African currency is the Rand (named after the Witwatersrand, where most of South Africa’s gold has come from). 100 Cents (100c) make 1 Rand (R1).


Coins include 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2, and R5 coins. On the 5c coin is the Blue Crane (South Africa’s national bird), on the 20c coin is the Protea (South Africa’s national flower), and on the R1 coin is the Springbok (South Africa’s national animal). The American terms nickel and dime are not used in South Africa, and there is no 25c (quarter) coin. 1c and 2c coins have been out of circulation for some time but may rarely be seen still.

A newer version of the R5 coin:

South African Bank Notes include: R10, R20, R50, R100, and R200. The newest notes (Right. Released November 2012) feature Nelson Mandela (South Africa’s first truly democratically elected president) on one side, and the “Big 5” of game viewing (Rhino, Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, and Leopard) on the other. The notes below are still in use too.


SOUTH AFRICAN SPORTS: Sports that are popular in both South Africa and the USA include golf, tennis, and soccer. Squash is similar to racquetball, and like racquetball, is a game commonly played at gyms. Common boys’ sports in South African schools include rugby, cricket, water polo (like soccer with your hands, in a pool), field hockey, soccer, swimming, and athletics. Common girls’ sports in school include netball (like basketball but one cannot bounce the ball or move with it, and there is no backboard behind the net), field hockey, softball, swimming, and athletics. The biggest professional and international sports in South Africa are rugby, cricket, and soccer. Rugby: Compared to American sports, rugby is most like American Football, but much more free-‐flowing and non-‐stop. South Africa’s national rugby team is called the Springboks (after South Africa’s national animal). Nicknames include the Boks,

Bokke, and “Amabokke bokke.” Their colours are green and gold. The movie Invictus tells the story of South Africa’s first Rugby World Cup, having just been allowed to compete after years of international sports isolation due to Apartheid. South Africa is typically ranked in the top 3 teams in the world, along with our arch nemeses: Australia (the Wallabies) and New Zealand (the All Blacks).

Cricket: Compared to American sports, cricket is most like baseball. There are 3 formats of cricket – Test cricket (played over the course of 5 days), ODI (One Day International) cricket (in which each team has 300 balls, or until they are all “out” if that comes first, to score as many runs as they can), and T20 (Twenty Twenty) cricket (in which each team has 120 balls, or until they are all “out” if that comes first, to score as many runs as they can). South Africa’s national cricket team is called the Proteas (after South Africa’s national flower). In Test cricket, both teams play in all white (except for their hats/ helmets). In the other forms of cricket, teams wear their national colours.


Soccer: South Africa’s national soccer team is called “Bafana Bafana.”

SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD: You’ll notice that many American breakfast cereals are in South Africa, even if they have different names (Kellogg’s “Frosted Flakes” are called “Frosties” etc.). There is not as much variety in breakfast cereal, but there are also a few South African cereals you don’t have in America. For example, ProNutro is a powdery cereal that you mix with milk to make a paste. It comes in many flavors. Maltabella is like Cream of Wheat in consistency, but dark brown in color and with a slightly different, malt flavoring.

South Africans also love PB&J! But what Americans call “jelly”, we call “jam” (“jelly” in South Africa is what Americans call Jell-‐O!). There are not as many bread varieties as there often are in America – you can pretty much plan on white or brown bread, period. South African spreads that Americans find strange include Fish Paste (it is what it sounds like!), and Marmite and Bovril (which are made from vegetables but have a “beefy” flavor).

South Africans eat a lot of the same vegetables as Americans. We eat more butternut than is eaten in most parts of the USA, and another squash that isn’t at all common in America: gem squash. Beetroot is more common than it is in much of the USA. Pumpkin is often eaten like mashed potatoes (it’s really good like that!), and never in sweet pies (disappointing, I know!). We eat more cucumber than Americans, especially in our salads, which also almost always include tomato and quite often, feta cheese. South Africans eat many of the same fruits as Americans. There’s more tropical fruit like “pawpaw” (papaya) and mango. Blueberries and cranberries are less available than in America. Our fruit juices can be quite different. litchi is popular, for example, and granadilla (passion fruit) is often an ingredient in juice blends. We have cantaloupe, but we call it “sponspek”.


South Africans eat a lot of meat! We eat less ham and much less turkey than Americans, but more lamb and mutton. Ostrich meat is available in grocery stores (though it’s a bird, this is a red meat that tastes more like beef than like chicken). “Braais” (barbecues) are very popular – a huge part of South African culture.

“Boerewors”, a type of sausage developed by the Afrikaans people, is very popular and often eaten on a roll (a “wors roll” or “boerie roll”). Biltong is similar to beef jerkey in some ways, but it tastes quite different. You can buy many different types of biltong – different meats (including Kudu, Impala, and other varieties of game biltong), different spices, and different levels of “wetness” and “dryness”. “Droe wors” is dried boerewors.

Tortillas and tortilla chips are difficult to find and are often expensive. The same is true of salsa.

A staple food amongst Southern Africa’s black population is maize meal, more commonly called “pap” (pronounced “pup”). It looks a bit like mashed potatoes and is like a more solid grits. This food was also assimilated into traditional Afrikaans cuisine – they often eat it with a tomato and onion sauce. Food popular amongst many of South Africa’s black population that most Americans would find “unusual” include chicken feet (often called “walkie talkies”) and maas/ amasi (sour/ fermented milk). In the far

north of the country, woodlands of Mopane trees get covered with caterpillars of the Emperor Hawk Moth, and these caterpillars (“mopane worms”) are a staple food. They are most often eaten dried, but are sometimes rehydrated and served with sauces. They are incredibly nutritious!

South Africa’s Indian population eat a lot of curry, and curry has become popular in South Africa in general. “Bunny Chow” is a hollowed out half-‐loaf of bread filled with curry (often just referred to as a “bunny”). Samoosas are triangle-‐shaped pastries filled with curried meat or vegetables and then deep fried. A roti is basically an Indian burrito/ wrap. Briyani is an Indian rice dish. Nan is Indian flatbread.

Another spicy flavoring common in South Africa is Peri-‐peri. This sauce (used as a seasoning or marinade) is made from the African Birds Eye Chili and was developed by Portuguese settlers in Angola and Mozambique. As one example, Peri-‐Peri is a popular flavor of Nando’s Chicken (more on Nando’s below). A prego roll is peri-‐peri falvoured steak on a Portugese roll. Distinctly Afrikaans foods (besides those already mentioned) include koeksusters (syrup drenched pastries, weaved together to look like a braid), potjie (a stew made in a cast-‐iron pot, slow cooked over coals), vetkoek (a deep fried pastry stuffed with savory mince or other fillings), and milk tart (a custard-‐like pie).


Foods that are common in South Africa thanks to its British heritage include “bangers and mash”, “fish and chips” (fried fish and sloppy-‐style French fries, often eaten with vinegar), and cottage and shepherd’s pies. Single-‐serving mini pies like chicken and mushroom, steak and kidney, pepper steak, sausage rolls, and cornish pasties are also common. You can buy these in boxes of frozen pies to bake at home or from fast food pie shops like “King Pie”. Irish style pubs are common across South Africa too. Probably the best known and most well-‐loved of South African dishes with a Malay heritage is Bobotie – a casserole with a fairly sweet and often fruity, mildly curry-‐flavoured mince and a baked-‐egg mixture topping. It sounds a little odd, but it’s great! � Chutney is a tangy fruit sauce of various levels of spicyness, popular with many South Africans. “Sweet Chilli Sauce” is also very popular in South Africa. Coca-‐cola is everywhere on planet Earth and South Africa is no exception! Pepsi is here too. Dr. Pepper and Mountain Dew are not. Some South African sodas include Lemon Twist and Granadilla Twist, Appletiser and Grapetiser (much like Martinellis, but you can buy it in cans or single-‐serving bottles), Tab (Cola flavored, but has no caffeine or sugar), Fanta Orange and Fanta Grape, and Crème Soda. You won’t find much Root Beer in South Africa, but Ginger Beer is popular. Iron Brew is a unique flavor (described as “rosy vanilla, fruity flavored”)! Oros and Lemos are popular, affordable cordials (orange and lemon flavored respectively).

Some of our favorite South African candy, snacks, and junk food includes Astros, Cadbury chocolate, Chutney-‐ flavored chips, dried fruit (mango especially), and fruit rolls (guava is a favorite). Tea is very popular in South Africa. English Breakfast tea (often Five Roses brand) and Rooibos (made from a shrub endemic to South Africa) are the most common teas. Rooibos (also called “bush tea” in South Africa) is growing in popularity in the USA where it is often called “red tea”. It has a red coloring and is caffeine free. Coffee is growing in popularity, but in homes it is most often instant coffee that is served. Another popular South African hot beverage is Milo – a malty, chocolatey flavored drink. American restaurants in South Africa include:

• Pizza Hut • Kentucky Fried Chicken • McDonalds • Subway

A sampling of other widespread restaurants/ fast food providers in South Africa:

• Wimpy -‐ a diner type hamburger restaurant. • Maxi’s -‐ a diner type restaurant.


• Steers -‐ fast food burgers, and fantastic, seasoned French fries! • Nando’s -‐ Portuguese style chicken, from mild “lemon and herb” flavoring to very

spicy, “peri peri”. • Spur -‐ a family restaurant/ steakhouse. • Something Fishy, The Fish and Chips Co., and Fish Aways -‐ fast food fish and chips. • Ocean Basket – a nicer, sit-‐down fish and ships/ seafood restaurant. • Debonairs, Romans – take away pizza. • Cappuccinos – a restaurant and coffee shop. On Mondays, pizza and pasta is on sale. • Mugg & Bean, House of Coffees – sit down coffee shops, also offering meals. • King Pie, London Pie Co. – single serving pies for take away.

Steakhouses are common and steaks are more reasonably priced here than they typically are in the USA. Italian restaurants are quite common. There are several Greek restaurants/ fast food providers offering Shwarma and Gyros. There are several Chinese restaurants too, but don’t expect to find “orange chicken” – that is more American than truly Chinese! Sadly, Mexican food is hard to find and when you do, it is often not quite the real thing! A PRIMER ON SOUTH AFRICAN ENGLISH: South African English is a different “brand” of English to that spoken in the USA. Besides the difference in accent, there are quite a few differences in vocabulary. Sometimes the exact same word has a different meaning (for example, a “diary” is a dayplanner in South Africa, not a secret journal). South Africans have incorporated a few words from other South African languages into their English, and they also use a lot of slang! In the list below the South African term is listed first, then the American “translation”:

• Ag! (pronounced with a guttural g): An exclamation, like, “Oh!”

• Arb: Arbitrary. Can also be used as a verb: “Arbing” is the act of doing nothing in particular.

• Aunty: Often, South African children will address adult women with “aunty” in front of their name. Adult men are addressed as “uncle.”

• Baby Marrow: Zucchini • Baggies: Swim trunks/ board shorts • Bakkie (pronounced “bucky”): A pick-‐up

truck. In South Africa, “truck” refers to bigger trucks, like a semi.

• Biscuit: Cookie. American style “biscuits” are not typically found in South Africa.

• Bokkie: Technically means “little buck.” Used in slang for a girlfriend/wife. Also used to refer to a “goatee” (facial hair).

• Bonnet: The hood of a car

• Boot: The trunk of a car • Bos: Technically means “bush”. To “go bos”

is to go wild! • Braai: Can be a noun (a grill) or verb (the act

of grilling), depending on context. • Brinjal: Eggplant • Bru/ bra: Brother/ bro • Bucks: Money. 5 bucks = 5 Rand • Bush: A natural/ wild area • Bushveld: A technical term for grassland with

scattered small trees, mostly Acacias • Bush-‐wacking: See Bundu-‐bashing below • Budgie: Parakeet • Bundus: “The sticks” – out in the middle of

nowhere. • Bundu-‐bashing: Driving/ walking through

heavy bush/ rugged terrain • Chips!: Watch out! • Chips: Can either be used to refer to crisps or

to French fries. “Hot chips”, however, always


refers to French fries. “Slap chips” (pronounced “slup chips”) refers to softer, sometimes “soggy” French fries, usually flavoured with vinegar.

• Cherry: A girlfriend/ wife • Cheers!: Could mean either “Thank-‐you” or

“Good-‐bye”, depending on the context. • China: A friend. Eg: “Howzit China!/ Howzit

my China!” • Cokies: Markers • Cooldrink/ cold drink: Soda/ pop/ coke-‐type

carbonated beverages • Coriander: Cilantro • Costume/ cozzie: A swimsuit • Crumpet: A small pancake • Cutlery: Silverware • Dagga (pronounced with guttural gs):

Marijuana • Diary: More often a day-‐planner than a

secret journal • Doff: Stupid • Dorp: A small town • Dos: Sleep. Can be used as a noun (“have a

dos, bro”) or verb (“I’m going to dos now” / “he’s dossing”).

• Dummy: A pacifier • Earbuds: Q-‐tips • Eina!: Ouch! • Eish!: An expression of amazement. • Fanny: This does not refer to one’s “rear

end” in South Africa! It is commonly used as the “little kid appropriate” word for a lady’s most private parts. What Americans call “Fanny Packs” we call “Bum Bags” or “Moon Bags”.

• Fundi: An expert. Eg: “Jack is a political fundi.”

• Garage: Can refer to the building you park your car in, or can refer to a gas station.

• Gogo: Grandmother/ elderly lady • Goggo/ gogga (pronounced with guttural gs):

A bug • Gooi (pronounced with guttural g) (verb):

Technically means “to throw.” Slang for “do it”/“go for it”.

• Granadilla: Passion Fruit • Hawu! (pronounced “Howw?!”): This Zulu

word is an exclamation of amazement. • Hey?: It’s a common South Africanism to add

“hey?” onto the end of sentences (especially in some parts of the country). It’s a question anticipating agreement with the statement preceding it. Eg: “Sho! It’s a beautiful day, hey?”

• Howzit: Hello. Much like the American “what’s up?” this is a greeting, not a question. “How’s it going?” or “How are you?” however are questions which anticipate an answer.

• Hundreds/ Hundred Percent: A statement of approval. Eg: Q: “How is the food?” A: “Hundreds!”

• Jam: Jelly/ fruit preserve • Jelly: Jell-‐O • Jersey: A knitted sweater. We also refer to

sports jerseys as rugby jerseys, soccer jerseys, etc.

• Jol: To party/ have fun. Can be a noun (a good time, or a place/ event that is a lot of fun) or a verb (the act of “jolling”).

• Kiff!: Cool! • Kombi: A mini-‐bus type vehicle • Lip ice: Chapstick • Lekker (pronounced “Lekka”): Technically

means “delicious”, but used to refer to anything favorably, be it the weather, a pair of shoes, an experience, or how one is doing.

• Miggie (pronounced with guttural gs): A small flying insect

• Mozzie: A mosquito • Muti (pronounced “moo-‐tee”): Often used

colloquially for medicine in general. Technically, this term refers to traditional “medicines” often with more of a superstitious/ witchcraft based “healing quality” (much like garlic is supposed to keep witches at bay). Some muti can be quite dark -‐ occasionally there will be stories in the news of “muti killings” in which people are


killed for body parts to be used in traditional mutis.

• Nappy: A diaper • Naught: Zero. Also used as an emphatic “no.”

Eg: “Did you enjoy the game?” “Naught, bru! It was terrible!”

• Neh?: Not so? • Nil: Nothing/ zero. • Now: There are various forms of “now” in

South Africa, all often misunderstood! Depending on context, they could be used to refer to the future or the past.

• Now: Soon • Just now: Later (undefined – could be soon

or not soon at all!) • Now now: Very soon • Right now: This moment • Nu nu: A bug. Also sometimes used to refer

to something cute • O: Don’t be surprised when you hear “O”

(the name of the letter) used to refer to a zero in a phone number!

• Pancake: Crepe • Pawpaw: Papaya • Petrol: Gasoline. If you use the term “gas” to

refer to car fuel, South Africans will be lost! Along those lines, gas

• stations are petrol stations or a “garage”. • Plastic: Used as it is in the USA, but also used

as shortening for “plastic bag”. When you check out in a grocery store, you will often be asked “would you like a plastic?”

• Plaster: A band aid • Pram: A baby stroller • Pudding: Any type of dessert • Robot: A traffic-‐light • Skabenga: A criminal/ someone who is up to

no good • Serviette: A napkin • Saffa: A nickname used for South Africans

abroad • Sammie (pronounced “sar-‐mee”): A

sandwich • Snackwich: A grilled sandwich

• Shame!: An expression used to express either sympathy or cuteness.

• Sharp!/ sharp sharp!: Cool! Also used as an affirmative.

• Shebeen: A bar/ beer hall, often (but not always) illegal.

• Sho! / Shu!: An expression of amazement. • Shongololo: A millipede • Siss!: Gross! • Skoens/ skoene: Shoes • Skollie: Someone lacking class or manners,

often quite dirty or unkempt • Slops: Flip flops • Smaak (pronounced “smark”): If you

“smaak” something, you like it. • Sosatie: A kebab, usually with pieces of meat

interspersed with vegetables (eg: onions, mushrooms, butternut, or peppers) and/ or fruit (like apricot slices).

• Sponspek: Cantaloupe • Stoep: A patio • Sweets/ sweeties: Candy • Takkies/ tekkies: Sneakers/ tennis shoes • Taxi: You will notice that most taxis in South

Africa are mini-‐bus type vehicles, which operate more like a bus than like a taxi (i.e.: with a set route – you can’t tell them where to take you, you must catch one taking the appropriate route). There are some American style taxis in South Africa too though.

• Titty: Don’t be too shocked when you hear the Baby Home Caregivers refer to a pacifier as a “titty”! � You can

• use “dummy” instead if you prefer – they will understand! �

• Tomato sauce: Ketchup • Torch: Flashlight • Tsotsi: A thief/ gangster • Trek: A long journey. Also a verb: “trekking”. • Tune: To “tune” someone is to tell them off. • Uncle: Often, South African children will

address adult men with “uncle” in front of


their name. Adult women are addressed as “aunty.”

• Veranda: A patio • Veld: Grassland/ savannah • Voetsak! (pronounced “foot sack!”) : Go

away!/ Get lost! Generally only used for animals and jokingly with people.

• It would be very offensive if used seriously with a person.

• Wendy: “Wendy” is short for “wendy house” -‐ a small, prefabricated wooden shack that can be used for storage or can even include a toilet and kitchenette and be used as a small backyard cottage.

• Yebo: Yes • Zip/ Zilch: Nothing • Zed: The way South Africans pronounce the

name of the letter “Z”. • Zol: Marijuana

Nicknames / alternative names for areas, places, and famous people: The Berg: Drakensberg mountains The Cape: Western Province/ Cape Town area Durbs: Durban The Highveld: “A high plateau region of inland South Africa” – essentially the greater Gauteng area. Jo’burg, Jozi: Johannesburg Madiba: Nelson Mandela Zim: Zimbabwe Derogative racial terms to be aware of: Kaffir: A very derogative term for black people Coolie: A derogative term for Indian people Swear words to be aware of: “Crap” is much more offensive in South Africa than it typically is in the USA. On the other hand, “Hell”, “damn”, and “ass” are much less offensive here than they are often considered in the USA. Most other cuss words in the USA are cuss words here too. What sounds like “Yissus” is the Afrikaans for “Jesus” – don’t use it as an exclamation! Spelling differences: In addition to different vocabulary, there are also spelling differences between South African (British) English and American English. A few examples: Aluminium: Aluminum Centre: Center Cheque: Check (money) Colour: Color Favourite: Favorite Grey: Gray Tonne: Ton


Commonly used Abbreviations: .CO.ZA (sometimes pronounced “dot, C-‐O, dot, Zed-‐A” and sometimes pronounced “dot, co-‐za”): the most common South African web hosting address. BEE (pronounced “B, E, E”): Black Economic Empowerment – a policy put in place by the government to replace affirmative action. Through a variety of ways, businesses must earn X number of BEE points per year in order to prove they are playing their part in empowering South Africa’s black population. BBM (pronounced “B, B, M”): Blackberry Message CESA (pronounced “see-‐sa”): Church of England in South Africa (generally a solid, healthy group of churches) DRC (pronounced “D, R, C”): The Democratic Republic of Congo KZN (pronounced “K, Zed, N”): KwaZulu Natal (one of South Africa’s provinces) RSA (pronounced “R, S, A”): Republic of South Africa SA (pronounced “S, A”): South Africa SAP (pronounced “S, A, P”): South African Police SMS (pronounced “S, M, S”): Used as a noun (a text message) or verb (the act of text messaging). TIA (pronounced “T, I, A”): “This is Africa!” UNISA (pronounced “U-‐nee-‐sa): University of South Africa VAT (pronounced “Vat”): Value Added Tax (the tax on things you buy, included in the price in South Africa) ZA (pronounced “Zed, A”): Zuid Afrika – this is the official abbreviation for South Africa ZAR (pronounced “Zed, A, R”): South African Rand ZCC (pronounced “Zed, C, C”): Zion Christian Church (“Christian” in name, but heavily mixed with ancestor worship and other traditional African beliefs) GAUTENG PROVINCE

Gauteng province is the hub of South Africa. As Johannesburg and Pretoria grow, they are beginning to merge into one huge urban area. The population of the province was estimated at 14.6 million in 2015. When one flies to and from Johannesburg, they use the Oliver (OR) Tambo airport (JNB).

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