Africa SOUTH AFRICA

Situated at the southern

tip of Africa, South Africa

has a landmass of

1,233,404 km²

Edged on 3 sides by a

nearly 3000km by the

Indian Ocean and the

Atlantic.

MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA

It is bordered in the

north by Namibia,

Botswana,

Zimbabwe and

Mozambique, and

also wraps itself

around two

independent

countries, the

Lesotho and

Swaziland.

MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA

MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA

The flag was first used on 27

April 1994.

The design and colors are a

summary of principal elements

of the country's flag history.

Individual colors, or color

combinations represent

different meanings for different

people and therefore no

universal symbolism should be

attached to any of the colors.

FLAG INFORMATION

Religion:

80% - Christian

15% - No religion

5% - Undetermined, Islam,

Hinduism, Judaism

Currency:

South African Rand (ZAR)

POPULATION AND CURRENCY

South Africa is a nation of

diversity, with nearly 52-million

people and a wide variety of

cultures, languages and religious

beliefs.

"Coloured" South Africans (the

label is contentious) are a people

of mixed lineage descended from

slaves brought to the country

from east and central Africa, the

indigenous Khoisan who lived in

the Cape at the time, indigenous

Africans and whites.

POPULATION

The South African population is made up of four broad

groupings:

The Nguni, comprising the Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi

people

The Sotho-Tswana, who include the Southern, Northern and

Western Sotho (Tswana people)

The Tsonga

The Venda

White South Africans include:

Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch, German and French

English-speakers, descendants of settlers from the British Isles

Immigrants and descendants of immigrants from the rest of

Europe, including Greeks, Portuguese, Eastern European Jews,

Hungarians and Germans.

POPULATION

South Africa is a multilingual

country. It recognizes 11 official

languages, to which it guarantees

equal status. These are:

Afrikaans

English

isiNdebele

isiXhosa

isiZulu

Sesotho sa Leboa

Sesotho

Setswana

siSwati

Tshivenda

Xitsonga

POPULATION

Much fertile land - agriculture is

important.

Many fruit orchards

Sheep and cattle farming

Produces pineapples, chicory, dairy

products, coffee and tea, maize, sorghum,

olives

Potential for forestry – dense forests

Coastal areas receive good summer

rainfall and have a moderate climate,

becoming more subtropical to the

north-west.

Squid and hake are common

EASTERN CAPE

Can be cold during the winter months, especially towards the eastern mountainous regions. The western and southern areas are semi-desert.

Agriculture is central to its economy, while mining on the rich goldfields reef is its largest employer.

90% of the country's cherry crop is produced here, along with two largest asparagus (main vegetable crop in this region) canning factories.

Soya, sorghum, sunflowers and wheat are cultivated

About 40% of the country's potato yield comes from the province's high -lying areas.

The province exports about 1.2-million tons of cut flowers a year.

FREE STATE

A summer-rainfall area, hot summers, cold

winters

Gauteng's agricultural is focused to provide the

cities and towns of the province with daily fresh

produce – not export

A large area falls within the Maize Triangle:

holds important agricultural land, where

ground-nuts, sunflowers, cotton and sorghum

are produced

Food and food processing make up a significant

part of the economy, with half of South Africa's

agriprocessing companies

New and competitive products include organic

food, essential oils, floriculture, medicinal

plants and health foods

GAUTENG (GOW -T ING)

Known as the garden province of South Africa,

Subtropical region of lush and well-watered valleys, washed by the warm Indian Ocean.

Between the mountains and the humid, subtropical coastline is savannah grassland.

There are also areas of indigenous forest along the coast that are filled with twisting rivers.

It is a summer rainfall area, with a climate that ranges from hot along the coast in summer, to snow on the mountains in winter. The Midlands are drier than the coast and can be very cold in winter.

The coastal belt is a large producer of subtropical fruit, while the farmers concentrate on vegetable, dairy and stock -farming.

The KwaZulu- Natal coastal belt yields sugar cane, wood, oranges, bananas, mangoes and other tropical fruit .

KWAZULU-NATAL (QUAH-ZOO-LU-NAH-TALL)

Known for its dairy industry and production of tropical fruit and sugar.

Grasslands, thick forests with thundering waterfalls and areas of tropical climate

Summer-rainfall area, with occasional winter snow on high ground. Thick mist is common during the hot and humid summers .

An abundance of citrus and many other subtropical fruit – mangoes, avocados, l itchis, bananas, pawpaws, granadillas and guavas – as well as nuts and a variety of vegetables are produced

The second-largest citrus-producing area in South Africa is located here and is responsible for one third of the country's export in oranges.

Other crops such as cotton, tobacco, wheat, maize, peanuts, and sunflowers

MPUMALANGA ( M A - P O O - M A - LU NG - G AH )

A summer-rainfall region, the northern and

eastern areas are subtropical with hot and

humid summers and mist in the mountains. Winter is mild and

mostly frost-free.

Extensive ranching and controlled hunting - about 80% of South

Africa's hunting industry is found in Limpopo.

Sunflowers, cotton, maize, peanuts, and grapes are cultivated

Tropical fruit, such as bananas, litchis, pineapples, mangoes

and pawpaws, as well as a variety of nuts, are grown, along with

tea and coffee plantations

Produces the majority of South Africa's mangoes, papayas,

avocados and tomatoes. As well as thousands of tons of

potatoes, the province also produces tea, citrus, bananas, and

litchis in abundance.

LIMPOPO (L IMB-POE-POE)

Semi- arid region with little rainfall in summer.

The weather is extreme – cold and frosty in

winter, with extremely high temperatures in

summer.

Vast arid plains with haphazard rock piles. The

cold Atlantic Ocean forms its western boundary.

Depends heavily on sheep farming, the Karakul

pelt industry, dried fruit industry, and wine-

making (grapes)

Farmers are into value-added activities such as

game farming. Food production and processing

for the local and export market is also on the

common.

Wheat, fruit, peanuts, maize and cotton are

produced using irrigation systems

NORTHERN CAPE

The landscape is flat regions of scattered

trees and grassland, with he Magaliesberg

mountain range in the northeast and the Vaal

River on the southern border.

A summer-rainfall region, temperatures

range from up to 31°C (high 90F) in summer

to 3°C (mid 30F) in winter.

Referred to as the Texas of South Africa, with

some of the largest cattle herds in the world

Other areas are fertile, mixed- crop farming

land

Important food basket in South Africa

Maize and sunflowers are the most important

crops and the North West is the major producer of

white maize in the country.

NORTH WEST

Mountains, patchworks of farmland set in valleys, long

beaches and coastline, and the wide-open landscape of the

semidesert

Two oceans meet on the coast of the Western Cape: the cold

Atlantic Ocean is in the west, while the warmer Indian Ocean

l ies on the southern coast.

WESTERN CAPE (1 OF 2)

Ideal for the cultivation of export -grade fruit such as apples,

table grapes, wine grapes, olives, peaches and oranges.

Cultivate a variety of vegetables and the region is known for

wheat-growing and is the country's “breadbasket”

Produce wool and mutton

Other animal products include broiler chickens, eggs, dairy

products, sheep, beef and pork

The province is also a leader in the export of live horses and

ostrich meat, leather, and feathers.

The rich fishing grounds provide snoek, Cape lobster, abalone,

calamari, octopus, oysters and mussels

WESTERN CAPE (2 OF 2)

Early South Africans were mostly hunter -gatherers. They

depended on foods such as tortoises, crayfish, coconuts, and

squash to survive. Biltong , meat that is dried, salted, and

spiced (similar to jerky), and beskuits (dried sweetened

biscuits like rusks) were popular food among the original

pioneers and are both still enjoyed by twenty -first century

South Africans.

CULTURE

Most South Africans practice

Christianity than any other

religion. Like other Christians

around the world, South

African Christians celebrate

Christmas Day on December

25 and Good Friday and

Easter in either March or

April. Such occasions are

normally celebrated with

family and close friends.

A typical holiday menu may

include rock lobster tail or

seasoned lamb or pork

accompanied by cabbage.

CULTURE

South Africans are known for their hospitality and love to cook

for visitors. During a hearty meal featuring a main course

such as bobotie, seafood, or mutton stew, accompanied by

vegetables and rice, it not uncommon for a host to offer

guests a variety of drinks, such as wine, homemade beer, or

tea. Fruits, puddings, and cakes round off a great meal .

MEALTIME CUSTOMS

Traditional African food is

generally cooked over an open fire

or in a three-legged pot (or potjie),

so meat tends to be served in

either stewed or grilled form. A

starch usually accompanies the

meat: mieliepap (maize porridge),

potatoes or rice. Beetroot, carrots,

cabbage and pumpkin are the

vegetables most commonly

served.

Typical South African dishes

include tripe, morogo, chakalaka,

amadumbe, and the ubiquitous

boerewors roll .

MEALTIME CUSTOMS

For breakfast, most eat

some kind of hot cooked

cereal, such as putupap

(cornmeal porridge, similar

to grits), served with milk

and sugar.

Other breakfast foods

might be beskuit, a crusty,

dried sweet bread (similar

to rusks).

Tea and coffee are popular

morning beverages.

MENU ITEMS - BREAKFAST

Mealie bread is a South African favorite and is often served

before or during the meal. Modern Zulu people, most of whom

live in northeastern South Africa, enjoy a soft porridge made

from mealie-meal.

The boerewors roll is pure South African cuisine – our tastier

answer to New York’s hot dogs. At a roadside stand,

boerewors (a variety of spicy sausage) is char -grilled over an

open-flame then placed into a bun and covered in mustard

and tomato sauce. Delicious!

MENU ITEMS - LUNCH

The Boer (Dutch)

Chicken Pie is a

crusted chicken

potpie with plenty of

seasonings, topped

with eggs and ham.

Bobotie, a beef or

lamb potpie, contains

raisins, apples,

almonds, and curry

powder, a savory

seasoning.

MENU ITEMS - DINNER

Rice pudding is a common dessert. No matter what

meal is chosen, it is certain to be full of flavor.

Dried fruits, eaten whole or ground into a paste, are

also popular treats.

MENU ITEMS - DESSERT

Chakalaka is a spicy relish served

alongside a main course and consists

of grated carrots, green peppers,

sliced onion, vinegar, chilli.

Morogo is a type of wild spinach. It is

mixed with butter-braised onions and

tomato or mixed into maize porridge.

Amadumbe is a sweet potato and

peanut mash. A tasty restaurant

variation of the dish is to cook sweet

potatoes, mash them with butter and

sprinkle them with roasted peanuts,

topped off with a drizzle of honey.

MENU ITEMS - SIDES

Sosaties are most

frequently served at a

barbecue, or braai , party

and served with sauce and

biscuits. South Africans

make sosaties in different

ways, with a variety of

seasonings to make the

meal more flavorful.

Frikkadels ("little

hamburgers”) are

sometimes served wrapped

in cabbage leaves.

MENU ITEMS – SNACK/APPETIZER

http://country.southafrica.net/country/us/en/articles/entry/t

raditional-south-african-food-enus

http://www.foodbycountry.com/Kazakhstan-to-South-

Africa/South-Af

http://www.southafrica-newyork.net/consulate/flag.html

http://www.southafrica.info/about/people/population.htm#in

troduction

http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica.com/landstatic/82-fast-

facts