South Africa

South Africa is located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, the Indian Ocean on the south and east. Along its northern border, from west to east, lie Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, and to the northeast are Mozambique and Swaziland, while the Kingdom of Lesotho is an independent enclave surrounded by South African territory.

In many medical disciplines, South Africa is a global leader. In fact, South African trained doctors are sought after all over the world. South Africa is a global competitor also in the international pulp and paper industry, being the economic hub of Africa.

:: Background of South Africa ::

Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the East, founding the city of Cape Town. After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902); however, the British and the Afrikaners, as the Boers became known, ruled together under the Union of South Africa. In 1948, the National Party was voted into power and instituted a policy of apartheid – the separate development of the races. The first multi-racial elections in 1994 brought an end to apartheid and ushered in black majority rule.

South Africa is very culturally diverse, there is no single culture. There is great diversity in their cuisine, music, and even sports. Among their unique cultural symbols is the vuvuzela, also known as a blowing horn. This instrument became popular in the 1900s, and is blown by crowds of fans during football matches. When blown this instrument makes a monotonous sound similar to a deep foghorn or an elephant. This instrument has brought about some controversy as being distracting to the players and coaches during the football matches, but up to this day they continue to be played at the stadiums as some believe this instrument to carry roots in African history.

:: Geography of South Africa ::

Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 00 S, 24 00 E

Area:
total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)

Area – comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 4,862 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Land use:
arable land: 12.1%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.11% (2005)

Natural hazards: prolonged droughts
Environment – current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification.
Environment – international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling.

:: People of South Africa ::

Population: 48,782,756
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.2% (male 7,147,151/female 7,120,183)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 16,057,340/female 15,889,750)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 1,050,287/female 1,518,044) (2008 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.2 years
male: 23.8 years
female: 24.6 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.828% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: 20.23 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 16.94 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
total: 45.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 49.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 48.89 years
male: 49.63 years
female: 48.15 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS – adult prévalence rate: 21.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS: 5.3 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS – deaths: 370,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality: noun: South African(s) adjective: South African
Ethnic groups: black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5% (2001 census)
Religions: Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)
Languages: IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2% (2001 census)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 87%
female: 85.7% (2003 est.)

Geography of South Africa: Important Geographical Information about South Africa

South Africa consists of nine provinces: Eastern Cape, Western Cape, North-West, Northern Cape, Limpopo, Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu/Natal, and Gauteng Although South Africa is classified as semi-arid, it has considerable variation in climate and topography. The mountainous escarpment separates the low-lying coastal zone from the high inland plateau.

There are basically two geographic regions: a coastal region and a high interior plateau.

The coastal region extends from the deserts of the Namibian border to the sub-tropical Indian waters of Mozambique, forming an arc which is 2,400 km long and 160 km wide. In most areas, the land rises from narrow coastal plains in a series of steps created by steep escarpments. The last and highest step, the Great Escarpment, rises abruptly several thousand feet. Its loftiest part makes up the Drakensberg range, the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising up to 3,482 m in height. There are also dry plateaus, among them, the great inland Karoo plateau which is very dry.

Cape Town, the oldest city in South Africa, is located at the northern end of the Cape Peninsula. Table Mountain, South Africa´s most recognisable natural icon, forms a dramatic backdrop to the city bowl, with its plateau over 1,000 m high; it is surrounded by near-vertical cliffs, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head.

The high interior plateau, which occupies most of South Africa, consists of a series of rolling grasslands and lies at elevations between 600 and 1,800 m. The greater part of it, that known as the Highveld encompasses the entire Free State and lies above 4,000 feet (1,200 m). In general, the plateau slopes gently away from the edge of the Great Escarpment and in most places appears flat to rolling. There are, however, areas of rough terrain, including highlands and buttes. West of the Bushveld is the southern basin of the Kalahari Desert, which borders Namibia and Botswana.

Professional Translation Organizations & Associations in South Africa

Below is a list of the major translation organizations and associations of South Africa.

:: List of Organizations ::

Faculty of the Humanities at the University of the Free State

Rand Afrikaans University, Department of Linguistics and Literary Theory

South African Translators’ Institute / Suid-Afrikaanse Vertalersinstituut

University of South Africa.Translation Studies. Department of Linguistics

University of the Witwatersrand, Graduate School for Translators and Interpreters

Information about the South African Flag: Colors and Meaning of the Flag of South Africa

:: Meaning of the South African Flag ::

The flag has horizontal bands of red (on the top) and blue (on the bottom). The two horizontal bands of colors with equal breadth are divided by a central green band which splits into a horizontal “Y” shape, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side (and follow the flag’s diagonals). The Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes. South African flag is the only national flag in the world with six colors and without a seal or brocade. The ratio of the South Africa flag is traced as 2:3.

Although the colors have no official meaning attached to them, they represent a synopsis of the country’s vexillological history and current political realities. Black, green and yellow are the colors of Nelson Mandela’s political party. Moreover, the flag incorporates also the colors of the African National Congress and the former Boer republics flags (red, white, and blue). The Y shape represents the convergence of South Africa’s diverse society and unity. The South African flag is basically made up of former South African flags and the past meanings of the colors were that red stands for bloodshed, blue for open blue skies, green for the land, black for the black people, white for the European people and yellow for the natural resources such as gold.

:: Meaning of the South African Coat of Arms ::

South Africa’s Coat of Arms was launched on Freedom Day, 27 April 2000. The change reflected government’s aim to highlight the democratic change in South Africa and a new sense of patriotism.

The central image is a secretary bird with uplifted wings. A sun, symbol of the promise of rebirth, the active faculties of reflection, knowledge, is placed between the wings of the secretary bird. Below the bird is the protea, an emblem of the beauty, a South African flower. The ears of wheat symbolizes the idea of germination, growth, fertility, while the tusks of the African elephant symbolize wisdom, steadfastness and strength. At the centre stands a shield signifying the protection of South Africans, above which are a spear and knobkierie. These assert the defence of peace rather than a posture of war. Within the shield are images of the Khoisan people, the first inhabitants of the land. The motto of the coat of arms is in the Khoisan language of the Xam people, and means “Power Through Unity”.

Extensive List of Languages of South Africa: Spoken and Extinct Languages

:: List of Languages ::

Afrikaans [afr] 5,811,547 in South Africa (1996 census). Population total all countries: 5,965,879. Pretoria and Bloemfontein are principal centers of population. Cape Malays live mainly in Cape Town, with some in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Port Elizabeth. Also spoken in Australia, Botswana, Canada, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, New Zealand, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Dialects: Cape Afrikaans (West Cape Afrikaans), Orange River Afrikaans, East Cape Afrikaans. A variant of the Dutch spoken by the 17th century colonists, with some lexical and syntactic borrowings from Malay, Bantu languages, Khoisan languages, Portuguese, and other European languages. Their ancestors were brought from Java 300 years ago. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian

Birwa [brl] Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Sotho
Camtho cmt] Soweto, Johannesburg, urban settings. Alternate names: Isicamtho, Iscamtho. Dialects: A development in the 1980s from the original Tsotsitaal, and sometimes called ‘Tsotsitaal’. Also described as a basically Zulu or Sotho language with heavy codeswitching and many English and Afrikaans content morphemes. Classification: Mixed Language, Zulu-Bantu

English [eng] 3,457,467 in South Africa (1996 census). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English

Fanagalo [fng] Several hundred thousand speakers in South Africa (1975 Reinecke). Also spoken in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Alternate names: “Fanakalo”, “Fanekolo”, “Kitchen Kaffir”, “Mine Kaffir”, Piki, Isipiki, “Isikula”, Lololo, Isilololo, Pidgin Bantu, Basic Zulu, Silunguboi. Dialects: The dialect in Zambia is called ‘Cikabanga’, that in Zimbabwe is called ‘Chilapalapa’. Influenced by Shona in Zimbabwe. About 70% of the vocabulary in Zimbabwe comes from Zulu, 24% from English, 6% from Afrikaans. Influenced by Bemba in Zambia. 70% of the vocabulary comes from Zulu, 24% from English, 6% from Afrikaans. Classification: Pidgin, Zulu based

Gail [gic] Mainly in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, and Port Elizabeth. Dialects: In Johannesburg it is more English based, in Pretoria more Afrikaans based. Reported to be related to Polari in the United Kingdom. Classification: Unclassified

Hindi [hin] 890,292 including all Indian languages (1986 USA Today). 2,000,000 speakers of Western Hindi languages in all Africa (1977 Voegelin and Voegelin). Mainly in Natal. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Kxoe [xuu] 1,100 in South Africa (2000). Smithsdrift. Alternate names: Khoe, Xun, Water Bushmen, Mbarakwena, Mbarakwengo. Dialects: ||Ani, Kxoedam. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Tshu-Khwe, Northwest

Nama [naq] 56,000 in South Africa (1989 UBS). Alternate names: Naman, Namakwa, Namaqua, Dama, Damara, Damaqua, Tama, Tamma, Tamakwa, Khoekhoe, Berdama, Bergdamara, Khoeknoegowap, Khoi, “Hottentot”, Rooi Nasie, Kakuya Bushman Nasie, “Klipkaffer”, “Klipkaffern”. Dialects: Gimsbok Nama. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Nama

Ndebele [nbl] 586,961 (1996 census). Transvaal, south and central. Alternate names: Nrebele, Ndzundza, Transvaal Ndebele, Southern Ndebele. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Sotho, Northern

N|u [ngh] 10 (2003 Crawhall). Ethnic population: 500 (1998 Nigel Crawhall, South African San Institute). 2 at Andriesvale (near Witdraai), 1 at Witdraai, 1 at Philandersbron (near Rietfontein), 2 in Olifantshoek, 3 in Upington townships, 1 in Raaswater (outside Upington). Alternate names: =|Khomani, Ng’uki, Nghuki, N|u||en, Nusan. Dialects: N|u, |’Auni, ||Kxau, ||Ng!ke (Ng||-|e, ||Ng, |Ing|ke). Close to |Xam. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Southern, !Kwi Nearly extinct.

Oorlams [oor] Transvaal. Classification: Creole, Afrikaans based

Ronga [rng] 86,618 in South Africa (2000 WCD). Alternate names: Shironga. Dialects: Konde. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Ronga (S.50)

Sotho, Northern [nso] 3,695,846 in South Africa (1996 census). Population total all countries: 3,709,717. Transvaal, south and central. Also spoken in Botswana. Alternate names: Pedi, Sepedi, Transvaal Sotho. Dialects: Masemola (Masemula, Tau), Kgaga (Kxaxa, Khaga), Koni (Kone), Tswene (Tsweni), Gananwa (Xananwa, Hananwa), Pulana, Phalaborwa (Phalaburwa, Thephalaborwa), Khutswe (Khutswi, Kutswe), Lobedu (Lubedu, Lovedu, Khelobedu), Tlokwa (Tlokoa, Tokwa, Dogwa), Pai, Dzwabo (Thabine-Roka-Nareng), Kopa, Matlala-Moletshi. Dialects Pai, Kutswe, and Pulana are more divergent and sometimes called ‘Eastern Sotho’. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Sotho, Northern

Sotho, Southern [sot] 3,104,197 in South Africa (1996 census). Alternate names: Suto, Suthu, Sesotho, Souto, Sisutho. Dialects: Taung, Phuthi. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Sotho, Southern

South African Sign Language [sfs] 12,100 deaf persons including 6,000 Black, 2,000 English white, 2,000 Afrikaans white, 1,200 Coloured, 900 Indian; 1986 Gallaudet Univ. Dialects: The North British sign system was used for the deaf in white English-speaking families. In 1881 a school for Afrikaans-speaking families was begun using British Sign Language. Several dialects are used unofficially in different schools. There are 9 sign language systems, 60% related to British or Australian sign languages, few to American Sign Language. Classification: Deaf sign language

Swahili [swh] 1,000 in South Africa (1987 Schreck and Barrett). Chatsworth, an urban area close to Durban on the Natal coast. Alternate names: Kiswaheli, Suahili, Kisuahili, Arab-Swahili. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.40)

Swati [ssw] 1,013,193 in South Africa (1996 census). Alternate names: Swazi, Siswazi, Siswati, Tekela, Tekeza, Thithiza, Yeyeza. Dialects: Baca, Hlubi, Phuthi. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.40)

Tsonga [tso] 1,756,105 in South Africa (1996 census). Population total all countries: 3,275,105. Transvaal. Also spoken in Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe. Alternate names: Shitsonga, Thonga, Tonga, Shangana, Shangaan. Dialects: Luleke (Xiluleke), Gwamba (Gwapa), Changana, Hlave, Kande, N’walungu (Shingwalungu), Xonga, Jonga (Dzonga), Nkuma, Songa, Nhlanganu (Shihlanganu). ‘Tsonga’ is used to describe Changana, Tswa, and Ronga, although it is often used interchangeably with Changana, the most prestigious of the three. All are recognized as languages, although they are inherently intelligible. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Ronga (S.50)

Tsotsitaal [fly] It had tens of thousands of primary users; hundreds of thousands of second-language users (1984 Gilbert and Makhudu). In Gauteng province, around Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and other cities. Alternate names: Fly Taal, Flaai Taal. Dialects: Not intelligible to Afrikaans speakers. Uses many Afrikaans, English, and Bantu words, and others of unknown origin. Classification: Creole, Afrikaans based Nearly extinct.

Tswa [tsc] Alternate names: Shitshwa, Kitshwa, Xitshwa, Sheetshwa, Tshwa. Dialects: Hlengwe (Makawe-Khambana), Tshwa (Dzibi-Dzonga). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Tswa-Ronga (S.50)

Tswana [tsn] 3,301,774 in South Africa (1996 census). Alternate names: Tsiwaha, Beetjuans, Chuana, Coana, Cuana, Sechuana. Dialects: Tawana, Hurutshe, Ngwaketse, Thlaro, Kwena, Ngwato, Tlokwa, Melete, Kgatla, Thlaping (Tlapi), Rolong. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Sotho-Tswana (S.30), Tswana

Urdu [urd] 170,000 South Asian Muslims in South Africa (1987). Along the Natal coast and urban areas around Durban, Transvaal surrounding Johannesburg, and scattered smaller towns. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Western Hindi, Hindustani

Venda [ven] 876,409 in South Africa (1996 census). Population total all countries: 960,409. Transvaal, north. Also spoken in Zimbabwe. Alternate names: Chivenda. Dialects: Phani, Tavha-Tsindi, Ilafuri, Manda, Guvhu, Mbedzi, Lembetu. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Venda (S.20)

Xhosa [xho] 7,196,118 in South Africa (1996 census). Population total all countries: 7,214,118. Southwest Cape Province and Transkei. Also spoken in Botswana, Lesotho. Alternate names: Isixhosa, Xosa, Koosa, “Kaffer”, “Kaffir”, “Caffre”, “Cafre”, “Cauzuh”. Dialects: Gealeka, Ndlambe, Gaika (Ncqika), Thembu, Bomvana, Mpondomse (Mpondomisi), Mpondo, Xesibe, Rhathabe, Bhaca, Cele, Hlubi, Mfengu. 15% of the vocabulary is estimated to be of Khoekhoe (Khoisan) origin. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.40)

Xiri [xii] 87 (2000 WCD). Alternate names: Khiri, Grikwa, Griqua, Xrikwa, Xirikwa, Gry, Cape Hottentot, Gri. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Nama Nearly extinct.

Zulu [zul] 9,200,144 in South Africa (1996 census). Population total all countries: 9,563,422. Zululand and northern Natal. Also spoken in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland. Alternate names: Isizulu, Zunda. Dialects: Lala, Qwabe. Close to Swazi and Xhosa. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, S, Nguni (S.40)

:: Extinct Languages ::

Korana [kqz] Extinct. Ethnic population: 10,000 in South Africa (1972 Barrett). Western. Possibly also Botswana. Alternate names: Koranna, !Ora, !Kora, Koraqua, Gorachouqua. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Central, Nama

Seroa [kqu] Extinct. Also was in Lesotho. Dialects: !Gã!nge (!Gã!ne), ||Ku||e. Had three dialects. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Southern, !Kwi

|Xam [xam] Extinct. Alternate names: |Kham-Ka-!k’e, |Kamka!e, |Xam-Ka-!k’e. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Southern, !Kwi

||Xegwi [xeg] Extinct. Near the Swaziland border. Alternate names: ||Xegwe, ||Xekwi, Batwa, Bush-C, Abathwa, Boroa, Tloue, Tloutle, Kloukle, Lxloukxle, Amankgqwigqwi, Nkqeshe, Amabusmana, Gi|kxigwi, Ki||kxigwi. Classification: Khoisan, Southern Africa, Southern, !Kwi

:: Reference :: Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.), 2005. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Fifteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/

Famous South African People: South African Artists, Scientists, Leaders, Musicians, Politicians and Athletes

Under the prominent people that played a significant role in the society of South Africa count brilliant leaders in different disciplines, heroes of wars, famous discoverers, high-placed officials, legendary figure who represent a category of people that changed not only South Africa, but the entire world by their thoughts and deeds, and left an eternal trace in the centuries.

:: List of Famous People from South Africa ::

Nelson Mandela
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest political figures of all times, one of the most inspirational figures, spent 27 years as a political prisoner in South Africa before becoming the country’s first black president. He is regarded as a symbol of peace and reconciliation between the races. He is widely known for his determination for achieve equality and fair treatment of blacks in South Africa. He went to jail for what he believed to be wrong: judging people solely based on their skin color. Most of the people put him on the same level as Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 1993 to Nelson R. Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk “for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa”.

John Michael Coetzee
An author and academic from South Africa, a novelist and literary critic as well as a translator, author of “Waiting for the Barbarians” and “Life and Times of Michael K,” Coetzee was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swedish Academy in Stockholm described his books as being “characterized by their well-crafted composition, pregnant dialogue and analytical brilliance. But at the same time he is a scrupulous doubter, ruthless in his criticism of the cruel rationalism and cosmetic morality of western civilization.”

Basetsana Kumalo
Is acclaimed South African television personality, fashion icon, outstanding businesswoman as President of the Business Women’s Association of South Africa and philanthropist. She was crowned Miss South Africa in 1994 and in the same year also became the first runner up in the Miss World Pageant.

Cecil John Rhodes
Was an English-born businessman, mining magnate, colonialist, diamond prospector, a white supremacist and political figure in southern Africa. Speculating in diamond claims, he founded the diamond company De Beers, which today markets 40% of the world’s rough diamonds and at one time marketed 90%. He was the founder of the state of Rhodesia, which was named after him. Rhodesia, later Northern and Southern Rhodesia, eventually became Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively.

Basil Rathbone
Basil Rathbone, the master of stage and screen, was a South African actor most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and of suave villains in such swashbuckler films as The Mark of Zorro, Captain Blood, and The Adventures of Robin Hood. climatic sword fight between Flynn and Basil Rathbone is one of the most memorable sequences in movie history.

Charlize Theron
Not only one of the most elegant women alive with a beauty beyond comparison, but also a very talented and versatile actresses, Charlize is an Academy Award-winning South African-American actress, film producer and former fashion model. She rose to international stardom in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil’s Advocate, and The Cider House Rules. Her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster, won her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Charlize was named Esquire’s Sexiest Woman Alive in 2007.

Christiaan Barnard
Barnard was a South African distinguished cardiac surgeon, famous for performing the world’s first successful human-to-human heart transplant. Christiaan Barnard performed the world’s first human heart transplant operation in 1967 and the first double-heart transplant in 1974.

V. (J.E.A.) Volschenck
Jan Volschenck is one oft he first professional artists of South Africa. Volschenck (1853–1935) is sometimes called the “father of South African art.” As an exceptionally observant, painter and as a naturalist , he is noted for his majestic landscapes of the Langeberg Range in the Western Cape Province. Some of his famous works are: The House On The Hill, Evening”, “Dassiehoek, Robertson”, “The Valley Of The Kaffirkuils” and many other.

Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 10 November 2008) has a long and dramatic career behind her, both as a South African singer and civil rights activist. The Grammy Award winning artist is often referred to as Mama Afrika. Her career spanned parts of six decades and helped bring African music to a global audience, moreover she was the first vocalist to put African music onto the international map in the 1960s. Miriam Makeba is African music’s first and foremost world star.

Lyndon Ferns
Lyndon Ferns, one of the premier butterfly/freestyle specialists in the world, is an outstanding South African swimmer, who was a member of the Men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team that won gold and broke the world record at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Moreover, three of the team were in the team that broke the record and won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.