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WELCOME TO THE HOME OF AFRIKANER CULTURE WELCOME TO THE HOME OF AFRIKANER CULTURE The Voortrekker Monument is located just south of Pretoria in South Africa . The granite structure is located on a hilltop, and was raised to commemorate the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854. It was designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk . On 8 July 2011, the Voortrekker Monument was declared a National Heritage Site by the South African Heritage Resource Agency . The idea to build a monument in honour of the Voortrekkers was first discussed on 16 December 1888, when President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic attended the Day of the Covenant celebrations at Danskraal in Natal . However, the movement to actually build such a monument only started on 4 April 1931 when the Sentrale Volksmonumentekomitee (SVK; Central People's Monuments Committee) was formed to bring this idea to fruition. Construction started on 13 July 1937 with a sod-turning ceremony performed by the chairman of the SVK, Advocate Ernest George Jansen , on what later became known as Monument Hill. On 16 December 1938 the cornerstone was laid  by three descendants of some of the Voortrekker leaders: Mrs. J.C. Muller (granddaughter of Andries Pretorius ), Mrs. K.F. Ackerman (great-granddaughter of Hendrik Potgieter ) and Mrs. J.C. Preller (great-granddaughter of Piet Retief ). The monument was inaugurated on 16 December 1949 by Prime Minister D. F. Malan .[citation needed ] The total construction cost of the monument was about £ 360,000, most of which was contributed by the South African government. A large amphitheatre , which could seat approximately 20,000 people, was erected to the north-east of the monument in 1949. The Voortrekker Monument and Nature Reserve is more than just a heritage conservation site. It is the cultural home of the Afrikaner, where everyone is welcome. It is a beacon of hope that can be seen from any direction of Pretoria. It is a place of relaxation. The Voortrekker Monument offers the public the opportunity to learn more about the Afrikaner’s remarkable story of faith, heroism, perseverance, and a vision of the future to be where we are today. Why was the Voortrekker Monument erected? What is the symbolism behind each element and room that makes up this well-thought-out work of art? What is the history behind each of the other attractions that can also be seen on the site? Bring your family, friends or school group and come dig deeper to find answers to all these questions! Besides the rich history, the Voortrekker Monument is also a place of relaxation! Here you can enjoy outdoor activities like horse riding, jogging, walking and cycling, have a picnic or braai, drink coffee and enjoy traditional Boerekos! Come and visit the cultural home of the Afrikaner today and discover our heritage like never before! In 1835, thousands of people left the Cape Colony with all their possessions in search of freedom to create their own future. A future in which they could be free to live according to their view of their own lives and future. The Voortrekker Monument is the symbolic embodiment and representation of their journey woven with idealism, courage, perseverance, ingenuity and hope … for freedom. The Voortrekker Monument is, therefore, a symbol of an ideal of freedom. The Hall of Heroes is the first room visitors enter when they walk through the Monument’s front door. On the walls of the Hall of Heroes, the story of the Great Trek is depicted clockwise by 27 marble frieze panels. These are the longest continuous frieze panels in the world. Here, visitors can also learn more about the symbolism behind the widening circular patterns that cover the Hall of Heroes’ marble floor and the two remarkable domes above the Hall of Heroes. CENOTAPH HALL As you descend the stairs on either side of the Hall of Heroes, you reach the Cenotaph Hall. With the cenotaph in the middle, you stand in a massive room, surrounded by paintings that tell more about the day-to-day life of the Trekkers. The cenotaph is the central focal point of the Monument. The Historical Trek-Route Garden is a modern, interactive learn-while-you-explore outdoor exhibition where young and old can come and relax and learn about the Great Trek and the history of the Voortrekkers. The garden, which depicts the story of the Great Trek on a small scale, contains replicas of various monuments commemorating historical events across South Africa. Along with the replicas, there are also plaques with poems on them. These poems summarise the experience of the Great Trek strikingly by lyrically reflecting on the role that the ox wagons, the Bible, the children and the Vow played during the Great Trek. PANARAMA : OF THE VOORTREKKER MONUMENT Voortrekker Monument North Roof in Tshwane The great grey colossus of the massive Voortrekker Monument can be seen from all directions as you approach Pretoria. Built in honour of the Voortrekkers (Pioneers), who left the Cape Colony in their thousands between 1835 and 1854. The Voortrekker Monument is the biggest monument in Africa, and is a nature reserve. The Voortrekk Monument's dimentions are 40 meters wide, by 40 meters wide, by 40 meters high. A Cube. The cornerstone was laid by Mrs. J.C. Muller (granddaughter of Andries Pretorius), Mrs. K.F. Ackerman (great granddaugther of Hendrik Potgieter), and Mrs. J.C. Preller (great granddaughter of Piet Retief) on 16 December 1938. Eleven years later the Monument was inaugurated on 16 December 1949. The total cost for the construction of the Monument came to £359,600, of which the state contributed the most.Additional funds were obtained through donations, special stamp sales, commemorative envelopes, souvenirs and publications.This image was taken on the north east side of the roof, 60 meters above the ground. Camera was mounted on a 4.5 meter high pole. Full Virtual Tour of the Voortrekker Monument. Voortrekker Monument Hall of Heroes in Tshwane The Hall of Heroes is the main central hall of the Voortrekker Monument. It is a high domed hall, 25x25x41 metres, with marble floors and an impressive marble frieze (92 metres long and 2,3 metres high), depicting historical scenes from the Great Trek. Four huge arched windows made from yellow Belgian glass flank the hall and give the impression that the area is a revered place, like a temple. Below the Hall of Heroes is the Cenotaph Hall, and museum. Full Virtual Tour of the Voortrekker Monument. Main features 01 Main features The Voortrekker Monument is 40 metres high, with a base of 40 metres by 40 metres. The building shares architectural resemblance with European monuments such the Dôme des Invalides in France and the Völkerschlachtdenkmal in Germany but also contains African influences.The two main points of interest inside the building are the Historical Frieze and the Cenotaph. South window and frieze Historical Frieze The main entrance of the building leads into the domed Hall of Heroes. This massive space, flanked by four huge arched windows made from yellow Belgian glass, contains the unique marble Historical Frieze which is an intrinsic part of the design of the monument. It is the biggest marble frieze in the world. The frieze consists of 27 bas-relief panels depicting the history of the Great Trek , but incorporating references to every day life, work methods and religious beliefs of the Voortrekkers. The set of panels illustrates key historical scenes starting from the first voortrekkers of 1835, up to the signing of the Sand River Convention in 1852. In the centre of the floor of the Hall of Heroes is a large circular opening through which the Cenotaph in the Cenotaph Hall can be viewed. The Cenotaph Cenotaph The Cenotaph , situated in the centre of the Cenotaph Hall, is the central focus of the monument. In addition to being viewable from the Hall of Heroes it can also be seen from the dome at the top of the building, from where much of the interior of the monument can be viewed. Through an opening in this dome a ray of sunlight shines at twelve o'clock on 16 December annually, falling onto the centre of the Cenotaph, striking the words 'Ons vir Jou, Suid-Afrika' (Afrikaans for 'We're for you, South Africa'), a line from 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika '. The ray of light symbolises God's blessing on the lives and endeavours of the Voortrekkers. 16 December 1838 was the date of the Battle of Blood River , commemorated in South Africa before 1994 as the Day of the Vow . The Cenotaph Hall is decorated with the flags of the different Voortrekker Republics and contains wall tapestries depicting the Voortrekkers as well as several display cases with artefacts from the Great Trek. Against the northern wall of the hall is a niche with a lantern in which a flame has been kept burning ever since 1938. It was in that year that the Symbolic Ox Wagon Trek , which started in Cape Town and ended at Monument Hill where the Monument's foundation stone was laid, took place. Visitors to the monument enter through a black wrought iron gate with an assegai (spear) motif. After passing through the gate one finds oneself inside a big laager consisting of 64 ox-wagons made out of decorative granite.  The same number of wagons were used at the Battle of Blood River to form the laager.[citation needed ] Voortrekker woman and children by Anton van Wouw Statue of Piet Retief At the foot of the monument stands Anton van Wouw 's bronze sculpture of a Voortrekker woman and her two children, paying homage to the strength and courage of the Voortrekker women. On both sides of this sculpture black wildebeest are chiselled into the walls of the monument. The wildebeest symbolically depicts the dangers of Africa and their symbolic flight implies that the woman, carrier of Western civilisation, is triumphant. On each outside corner of the monument there is a statue, respectively representing Piet Retief , Andries Pretorius , Hendrik Potgieter and an "unknown" leader (representative of all the other Voortrekker leaders).  Each statue weighs approximately 6 tons .[citation needed ] At the eastern corner of the monument, on the same level as its entrance, is the foundation stone. Under the foundation stone is buried: A copy of the Trekker Vow on 16 December 1838. A copy of the anthem "Die Stem". A copy of the land deal between the Trekkers under Piet Retief and the Zulus under king Dingane. 02 German links According to Alta Steenkamp, the masonic subtext of the Monument to the Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlachtdenkmal) in Leipzig , Germany, is reflected in the Voortrekker Monument because the architect, Gerard Moerdijk , had used the geometric order and spatial proportions of the Völkerschlachtdenkmal. This Germanisation of the Voortrekker Monument occurred after Moerdijk's initial design had caused a public outcry in the South African press for its resemblance to an Egyptian temple . In Moerdijk's initial design, the monument consisted of a causeway linking two Egyptian obelisks . Finalising his design of the Voortrekker Monument, Moerdijk visited Egypt in 1936, including the Karnak Temple Complex in Thebes . In Thebes, the pharaoh Akhenaten , Nefertiti 's husband, had erected three sun sanctuaries, including the Hwt-benben ('mansion of the Benben '). The most prominent aspect of Moerdijk's monument is the annual mid noon sun illumination of the Benben stone, the encrypted cenotaph. The cenotaph is the symbolic tomb of Piet Retief and his delegation. In the years preceding World War II, several Afrikaner nationalists travelled to Germany for academic, political and cultural studies. In 1928 Moerdijk visited Germany, and viewed the Amarna bust of Nefertiti on public display in Berlin. By 1934 Chancellor Hitler had decided that Germany would not return the Amarna bust of Nefertiti to Egypt . He instead announced the intention to use the Amarna bust as the central show piece of the thousand years Third Reich , in a revitalised Berlin to be renamed Germania . Likewise Moerdijk's thousand years monument with Amarna sun symbol at its centre, became Afrikaner nationalists' centre show piece of their capital Pretoria. 03 Round floor opening Looking from the sky dome downwards, a chevron pattern on the floor of the Hall of Heroes, radiates outwards like 32 sun rays. In Moerdijk's architecture, the natural sun forms the 33rd ray through the floor opening. Moerdijk said the chevron pattern on the floor depicts water,as does the double chevron hieroglyph from the civilisation of ancient Egypt . Moerdijk stated that all roads on the terrain of building art lead back to ancient Egypt .  Based on Moerdijk's reference to the watery floor of the Hall of Heroes, as well as his statements about ancient Egypt , the floor opening may be identified with the watery abyss , as in the creation theology of ancient African civilisation . Rising out of this watery abyss, was the primeval mound, the Benben stone, to symbolise a new creation. Religious sun ray Gerard Moerdijk was the chief architect of 80 Protestant churches in South Africa . Moerdijk adhered to Reformed church tradition and thus his Renaissance trademark, the Greek-cross floorplan, always focused on the pulpit and preacher. In Protestant theology, the word of God is central.122  Moerdijk created a similar central focus in the Voortrekker Monument, but in vertical instead of horizontal plane, and in African instead of European style. The monument's huge upper dome features Egyptian backlighting  to simulate the sky, the heavenly abode of God. Through the dome a sun ray penetrates downwards, highlighting words on 16 December at noon. The sky oriented words: "US FOR YOU SOUTH AFRICA", are Moerdijk's focus point. These words are taken from an anthem, Die Stem : "We will live, we will die, we for thee South-Africa". The same anthem ends: "It will be well, God reigns." Thus the sun ray simulates a connection between the words on the Cenotaph and the heavenly abode above, a communication between God and man. The actual sun ray itself forms a 33rd sun ray shining onto the stone in the midst of floor opening. Heavenly vow In Moerdijk's biblical theology, God communicates in two ways: through scripture and nature.Moerdijk merges both methods, by using the sun in his simulation. Relief of an ox-wagon on the laager wall The Vow of the Trekkers was commemorated on 16 December as the Day of the Vow . On 16 December, the appearance of an illuminating sun disc on the wording of the Cenotaph stone, transform their meaning as per the Philosophers Stone of the alchemists. Instead of man below making an earthly vow, the sun shifts the focus upwards to the trinitarian god of the Trekkers, as it is God who communicates through Moerdijk's sun architecture, making Himself a heavenly vow with the words: WE – as in GOD – FOR THEE SOUTH-AFRICA. Thus God in the trinitarian tradition of the Trekkers, speaks a vow within the sun disc illuminating the words on the Cenotaph. The Trekker belief that God was for South Africa originates from the 9–16 December 1838 vow of Trekker leader Andries Pretorius at Blood River, who at around the same time made military and political alliances with Christian Zulus like prince Mpande . Egyptian origin Moerdijk was an outspoken supporter of ancient Egyptian architecture. Moerdijk referred to Africa's greatness as imparted by ancient Egyptian constructions at the inauguration of the Voortrekker Monument. Before his Voortrekker Monument proposal was accepted, Moerdijk and Anton van Wouw had been working in alliance for many years on their "dream castle" project: a modern African-Egyptian Voortrekker Temple in South-Africa. Van Wouw and Frans Soff had earlier employed the Egyptian obelisk , a petrified ray of the African Aten , as central motif for the National Women's Monument in Bloemfontein , South Africa , itself likewise inaugurated on the Day of the Vow , 16 December 1913. Whilst finalising the design of the Voortrekker Monument in 1936,Moerdijk went on a research trip to Egypt . There he visited the Karnak Temple Complex at Thebes ,  where an African Renaissance had flourished under Pharaoh Akhenaten , Nefertiti 's husband. The open air temples of Akhenaten to the Aten incorporated the Heliopolitan tradition of employing sun rays in architecture, as well as realistic wall reliefs or friezes. Moerdijk also visited the Cairo Museum , where a copy of the Great Hymn to the Aten is on display, some verses of which remind of Psalm 104. Moerdijk's wife Sylva related that he was intimately acquainted with ancient Egyptian architecture,and was strongly influenced architecturally by his visit to Egypt. Architectural purpose Looking upwards at mid noon on 16 December reveals a dot within a circle, the ancient African-Egyptian hieroglyph for the monotheistic creator god Aten Looking downwards from the dome The architect, Gerard Moerdijk , stated that the purpose of a building had to be clearly visible.  The aspect of the sun at mid-noon in Africa, was during Nefertiti's time known as Aten . In Egyptian hieroglyphics , Aten was written as a sun dot enclosed by a circle. The Aten-hieroglyph is depicted in the Voortrekker Monument when the sun shines through an aperture in the top dome. Likewise, looking downwards from the top dome walkway, the round floor opening is seen to encircle the sun disc illumination. Moerdijk's message as implied by the wall frieze: by exodus out of the British Cape Colony , God created a new civilisation inland. In order to give thanks to this new creation of civilisation, Moerdijk, recalling Abraham of old, outwardly designed the Voortrekker Monument as an altar Monument complex In the years following its construction, the monument complex was expanded several times and now includes: An indigenous garden that surrounds the monument. The Wall of Remembrance dedicated to those who died while serving in the South African Defence Force (SADF). Fort Schanskop , a nearby fort built in 1897 by the government of the South African Republic after the Jameson Raid . It is currently a museum and was added to the monument complex in June 2000. The Schanskop open-air amphitheatre with seating for 357 people that was officially opened on 30 January 2001. A garden of remembrance. A nature reserve was declared on 3.41 km2 around the monument in 1992. Game found on the reserve include Zebras , Blesbok , Mountain Reedbuck , Springbok , Black Wildebeest and Impala . A Wall of Remembrance that was constructed near the monument in 2009. It was built to commemorate the members of the South African Defence Force (SADF) who died in service of their country between 1961 and 1994. An Afrikaner heritage centre, which was built in order to preserve the heritage of the Afrikaans -speaking portion of South Africa 's population and their contribution to the history of the country. BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE

Mpumalanga "Eastern Transvaal" redirects here. For the rugby team formerly known as "Eastern Transvaal", see Falcons (rugby team) . For the team formerly called "South Eastern Transvaal" representing Mpumalanga, see Pumas (Currie Cup) . Pilgrim's Rest (Afrikaans : Pelgrimsrus) is a small museum town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa which is protected as a provincial heritage site . It was the second of the Transvaal gold fields , attracting a rush of prospectors in 1873, soon after the MacMac diggings started some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away. Alluvial panning eventually gave way to deeper ore mining. In the 1970s the town, not greatly changed, became a tourist destination. Here are some things to do and see in Mpumalanga 1 2 3 : Lowveld Botanical Gardens, Nelspruit Chasing waterfalls in Sabie Elephant Museum, Kruger National Park Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit Jock of the Bushveld Trail, Graskop Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve Three Rondavels Viewpoint Bourke’s Luck Potholes Panoramic views of the Blyde Riber Canyon and God’s Window. Mpumalanga means East or “the place where the sun rises” in several South African languages, including Xhosa, Swazi, Zulu and Ndebele. https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-waterfalls-during-daytime-3889929/ You can find South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province on the eastern side of South Africa. It borders Eswatini and Mozambique on the right. On its north is the Limpopo Province, and on the west is the Gauteng Province of South Africa. To the south of the province, you can find the KwaZulu-Natal Province. You can read more about South Africa’s 9 provinces here. The province is 6.5% of the land area of South Africa, making it the second-smallest province in South Africa. South African languages spoken here include Zulu, Ndebele, Tsonga and siSwati. The Towns and Cities of Mpumalanga Hippo in Kruger National Park Nelspruit is the capital of Mpumalanga. The other main towns and cities in Mpumalanga are: Badplaas Barberton Belfast Chrissiesmeer Dullstroom Ermelo Graskop Groblersdal Hazyview Komatipoort Lydenburg Malelane Marloth Park Middelburg Nelspruit Ohrigstad Piet Retief Pilgrim’s Rest Sabie Standerton Volksrust Waterval Boven White River Pilgrim's Rest Pilgrim's Rest (Afrikaans : Pelgrimsrus) is a small museum town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa which is protected as a provincial heritage site . It was the second of the Transvaal gold fields , attracting a rush of prospectors in 1873, soon after the MacMac diggings started some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away. Alluvial panning eventually gave way to deeper ore mining. In the 1970s the town, not greatly changed, became a tourist destination. History The alluvial gold was discovered by prospector Alec Patterson. He panned Pilgrim's Creek, as it became known, when the nearby MacMac diggings became too crowded. He kept his find a secret, but a gold rush resulted when fellow prospector William Trafford registered his claim with the Gold Commissioner at MacMac. After it was officially declared a gold field in September 1873, the town suddenly grew to 1,500 inhabitants searching for alluvial gold. Mining companies In the 1880s the alluvial gold dwindled and prospectors were attracted to Barberton 's newly discovered gold deposits. Towards the end of the 19th century claims were bought up and underground mining started by the company known as TGME. The better-funded mining companies started mining the deeper gold-bearing ore. By 1895 several small mining companies amalgamated to form the Transvaal Gold Mining Estates (T.G.M.E.). This company was listed on the London Stock Exchange and became the first listed gold mining company in South Africa. As the volumes of gold ore increased, the engineers constructed small, local hydro-electric plants to generate electricity for the electric tramway and the ore crushers at the reduction works, built in 1897.[2] In 1911 the 2,000 kW Belvedere power station (at 24°39′18″S 30°50′12″E ) was completed on the Blyde River , some 30 km to the east. It supplied hydro-electric power to Pilgrim's Rest and adjacent communities up to 1992. Pilgrim's Rest was southern Africa's second town with street electricity, the first being Kimberley , also a mining town.[2] Boer war Pilgrim's Rest was the location of an emergency mint during the Second Boer War . This mint struck the famous and extremely rare Veld Pond . Graveyard At the graveyard, every grave was laid facing in the same direction, except for the traditional Robber’s Grave which is laid at right angles to the rest, not facing the rising sun, and emblazoned simply with a cross and the large type words of "Robbers Grave". One legend attributes it to a robber who was shot when he was caught stealing a tent from another miner, while other legends would have it that he instead stole a wheelbarrow , or that the thief died after being lynched. The most detailed account attributes the grave to a fortune hunter, one Walter Scott, who committed suicide . Scott would have shot his friend Roy Spencer, son of a well-to-do English banker, after they returned drunk from a party. Scott suspected Spencer of stealing his purse of gold. Scott pursued Spencer and shot him near the church, the site of the present graveyard, whereafter Spencer was secretly buried. The sobered-up Scott found his purse in his tent, and committed suicide when he realised what he had done. Scott was then buried in an unmarked grave next to that of his friend, Spencer. Recent times and tourism Mining was closed down in 1971 and the village was sold to the government as a national museum. Transvaal Gold Mining Estates Limited started mining again in 1998. It is currently owned by Theta Gold Mines Limited, an Australian listed company. On May 15, 2004, the old TGME reduction works was added to the UNESCO World Heritage tentative List in the Cultural category but was removed in 2016. The town's original architecture remains largely unchanged since the heyday of the mining era, because the town was declared a National Monument. It became a provincial heritage site in 1986. The village is a cultural heritage site and living museum with a variety of village museums, tours, accommodation, restaurants and shops. Things to Do & About Mpumalanga Check out must-see sights and activities: Kruger National Park , Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve , Nature & Wildlife Areas , Hiking Trails . For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product. Mpumalanga (/əmˌpuːməˈlɑːŋɡə/ ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa . The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Nguni languages . Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique . It shares borders with the South African provinces of Limpopo to the north, Gauteng to the west, the Free State to the southwest, and KwaZulu-Natal to the south. The capital is Mbombela . Mpumalanga ZuluiMpumalanga AfrikaansMpumalanga SepediMpumalanga SwazieMpumalanga SetswanaBotlhabatsatsi Southern NdebeleiPumalanga Mpumalanga was formed in 1994, when the area that was the Eastern Transvaal was merged with the former bantustans KaNgwane , KwaNdebele and parts of Lebowa and Gazankulu . Although the contemporary borders of the province were only formed at the end of apartheid , the region and its surroundings have a history that extends back thousands of years. Much of its history, and current significance is as a region of trade. History Precolonial Era One of the Lydenburg Heads from around A.D. 500 found in Mpumalanga Archeological sites in the Mpumalanga region indicate settlement by humans and their ancestors dating back 1.7 million years.[6] Rock paintings, engravings and other archeological evidence throughout the province indicate that Mpumalanga has a long history of human habitation by groups of hunter gatherers. Excavations not far from the Mpumalanga border in the Origstad district, show evidence of Middle Stone Age habitation dating back to 40,000 years ago. The Lion Cavern, in Ngwenya on the Eswatini border, shows evidence of people mining iron ore in the Mpumalanga region and surrounding areas from at least 28 000 years ago. Evidence from mine shafts and trade goods shows that there was notable industry in tin, copper, gold, iron, ochre, and bronze. The Lydenburg Heads , from around 500 CE, are Africa's oldest Iron Age artworks south of the equator and were found in Mpumalanga. Evidence from a site near Mbombela shows evidence of agricultural societies from between the 6th to 17th century. Bokoni stone-walled sites on the Mpumalanga highveld are indicative of a large precolonial agropastoral society between ~1500 and 1820 CE. These societies became centers of trade, with increasingly large and centralised populations This pattern increased as they connected to the Portuguese trading post in Maputo Bay . In this era, groups that would become the Swazi , Pedi , Ndebele , Mapulana and others established themselves in the area that is now Mpumalanga. Colonial era In 1845, as part of the Great Trek , the first Dutch-speaking colonial settlers arrived in what they called the eastern Transvaal The rest of the 19th century in the region was characterised by colonial encroachment and conflict over land and political control. In 1852, the Boers established the South African Republic . The well established Pedi, Swazi and Zulu kingdoms put up significant resistance against the settlers. The Pedi fought wars with the Boers in 1876 (see Sekhukhune Wars ) and the Zulu fought with British settlers in 1879 (see Anglo-Zulu War ). These interconnected conflicts played a role in shifting the balance of power in southern Africa to colonial control. After 1860, missionaries, especially German missionaries like Alexander Merensky set up mission stations in the region, spreading Christianity and European values. Just as the region had been a center for trade in the precolonial era, in the colonial era, the Eastern Transvaal region became an important thoroughfare for trade between Johannesburg and Delagoa Bay (now Maputo ). Gold mining around areas like Pilgrims Rest and Barberton and farming were the main forms of economic activity. On farms in the Transvaal, under a system known as Inboekstelsel , Boers carried out raids to capture children and forced them into indentured labour. During the South African War , the region was the site of notable battles. Apartheid When the National Party came to power in 1948, their policy of apartheid intensified the segregation that had defined communities in the Transvaal . Under a policy of forced removals, Black South Africans were evicted from areas reserved for white people and moved into homelands, including KaNgwane , KwaNdebele , Lebowa and Gazankulu . As the apartheid regime implemented oppressive policies that defined almost every aspect of life, activists responded with resistance. In 1959, the small town of Bethal on what is now the Mpumalanga highveld was the center of the anti-apartheid consumer potato boycott in response to the working conditions Black South African labourers faced on farms in the area. The region was influenced by dynamics in exile and elsewhere in the country, for instance Black Consciousness , the Sharpeville Massacre and the 1976 Soweto Uprisings . In the 1980s, under intense repression, youth and labour organizations moblized against the government and townships and Bantustans erupted in political unrest and violence. In 1986, an avoidable disaster [clarification needed ] killed 177 mine workers in Kinross Mine in the region's highveld. The response to the disaster by the National Union of Mineworkers was a key point in the South African labour struggle. By the late 1980s, the intensity of resistance across South Africa (including areas like Mpumalanga, which hadn't previously been seen as key areas of resistance) combined with economic factors and international pressure was strong enough to end apartheid. On 27 April 1994, when South Africa held its first democratic elections , Mpumalanga province was formed. It was originally called the "Eastern Transvaal" province, but the name was later changed to Mpumalanga on 24 August 1995. Post-apartheid - Geography - Climate Post-apartheid The liberation movement turned leading party, the African National Congress (ANC) came into power in Mpumalanga after white minority rule ended. A program of land redistribution , aimed at granting land back to the black communities who were forcibly moved during apartheid, had redistributed tens of thousands of hectares to these communities and their descendants. However, the process has been marked by corruption, controversy and has been seen as inadequate to address the extent of apartheid spatial planning. In 2001, 1,270 hectares of the Boomplaats farm near Mashishing was the first farm in South Africa to be expropriated. Geography This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Mpumalanga" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message ) A view from the mountains of the Barberton Geotrail, where evidence of the earliest signs of life (3.2 billion-years-old) was found.[19] The Drakensberg escarpment divides Mpumalanga into a westerly half consisting mainly of high-altitude grassland called the Highveld and an eastern half situated in low-altitude subtropical Lowveld /Bushveld , mostly savanna habitat. The southern half of the Kruger National Park is in the latter region. The Drakensberg exceeds heights of 2000 m in most places, with this central region of Mpumalanga being very mountainous. These regions have alpine grasslands and small pockets of Afromontane forest . The Lowveld is relatively flat with interspersed rocky outcrops. The Lebombo Mountains form a low range in the far east, on the border with Mozambique . Some of the oldest rocks on earth have been found in the Barberton area; these ancient greenstones and metamorphosed granites form the Crocodile River Mountains in the southeast of the province. The Lowveld is underlaid by African Cratonic Basement rocks of ages in excess of 2 billion years. The Highveld is mostly Karoo Sequence sedimentary rock of a younger, Carboniferous to Permian age. Mpumalanga is the only South African province to border two provinces of Mozambique (Gaza Province to the northeast and Maputo Province to the east), as well as all four regions of Eswatini (Lubombo , Hhohho , Manzini , and Shiselweni districts). Climate The Lowveld is subtropical , due to its latitude and proximity to the warm Indian Ocean . The Highveld is comparatively much cooler and drier, due to its elevation of 1700 m to 2300 m above sea level. The Drakensberg escarpment receives the most precipitation , with all other areas being moderately well-watered by mostly-summer thunderstorms . The Highveld often experiences considerable freezing, while the Lowveld is mostly frost-free. Winter rainfall is rare, except for some drizzle on the escarpment . The differences in climate are demonstrated by comparing the capital, Mbombela , which is in the Lowveld, with Belfast , which is an hour away on the Highveld: Mbombela averages: January maximum: 29 °C (min: 19 °C), July maximum: 23 °C (min: 6 °C), annual precipitation: 767 mm Belfast averages: January maximum: 23 °C (min: 12 °C), June maximum: 15 °C (min: 1 °C), annual precipitation: 878 mm With climate change in the province, rainfall is becoming more variable, temperatures and evaporation rates are rising and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. It is predicted that these changes will shift biomes so that most of the province will be savanna. Ecology - Endemic species - Conservation areas & Law and government Ecology Some of the earliest signs of life on Earth have been found in Mpumalanga. In the Makhonjwa mountain range's greenstone belt near Barberton , a fossil layer shows microbial activity that is 3.22 billion years old. This discovery indicates that life emerged on Earth 300 million years earlier than previously thought. Mpumalanga has a high plant and animal diversity. Many species are endemic to the province. Endemic species A partial list of species that are endemic to Mpumalanga Robust Golden Mole (Amblysomus robustus) , a mammal in the golden mole family. Treur River Barb (Enteromius treurensis) , a river fish. Barberton sugarbush (Protea curvata), a protea plant threatened by mining activity. Sim's Spotted Aloe (Aloe simii) an aloe threatened by road construction. Komati Waterberry (Syzygium komatiense) a species of waterberry tree. Thorncroftia lotterii , a flowering plant. Acontias albigularis , a lizard species. Procrica mariepskopa , a moth species. Inkomati Mountain Catfish (Amphilius engelbrechti) Yellow Baberton Grass Aloe (Aloe craibii) Longtom oneye (Monopsis kowynensis) Graskop cliff aloe (Aloe nubigena) Kruger National Park, South Africa's largest conservation area Conservation areas The diverse and special flora and fauna of the province enjoys protection in a range of nature reserves. Barberton Nature Reserve Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park , previously known as Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park. This international game park brings together some of the best and most established wildlife areas in southern Africa. The park is managed as an integrated unit across an unprecedented three international boundaries which includes the Kruger National Park (South Africa), Limpopo National Park (Mozambique ) and Gonarezhou National Park (Zimbabwe ). Lowveld National Botanical Garden in Mbombela Sabi Sand Game Reserve , which is built up of numerous private reserves: Nottens Bush Camp, Idube Safari Lodge , Chitwa Chitwa Game Lodge, Djuma Game Reserve, Exeter Game Lodge, Inyati Private Game Reserve, Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, Londolozi Game Reserve, Mala Mala Game Reserve , Savanna Private Game Reserve and Ulusaba Game Lodge. Verloren Vallei near Dullstroom Many species of plants are unique to the different geological formations within Mpumalanga. Some examples of these formations include serpentines of Barberton Mountains, norites of Sekhukhuneland , quartzites of Blyde River Canyon , and the dolomites in the northern plateaus. Law and government Main article: Politics of Mpumalanga Mpumalanga is governed by the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature , a unicameral system of 30 legislators democratically elected though a closed list system. Under the constitution of South Africa, the legislature is intended to create laws, promote public participation and provide oversight. From 1994 to the present, the African National Congress has been the leading party in the Mpumalanga legislature. As of the 2019 elections, the Economic Freedom Fighters , Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus are in opposition in the legislature. Elected every five years, the premier of Mpumalanga is the head of government in the province. Since 2024 Mandla Ndlovu has held the office of premier. Municipalities Mpumalanga is governed by the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature , a unicameral system of 30 legislators democratically elected though a closed list system. Under the constitution of South Africa, the legislature is intended to create laws, promote public participation and provide oversight. From 1994 to the present, the African National Congress has been the leading party in the Mpumalanga legislature. As of the 2019 elections, the Economic Freedom Fighters , Democratic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus are in opposition in the legislature. Elected every five years, the premier of Mpumalanga is the head of government in the province. Since 2018, Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane has held the office of premier. Municipalities Main article: List of municipalities in Mpumalanga Mpumalanga districts and local municipalities Mpumalanga Province is divided into three district municipalities . The district municipalities are in turn divided into 18 local municipalities : District municipalities Ehlanzeni District Bushbruckridge Mbombela Nkomazi Thaba Chweu Umjindi Gert Sibande District Albert Luthuli Dipaleseng Govan Mbeki Lekwa Mkhondo Msukaligwa Pixley ka Seme Nkangala District Delmas Dr JS Moroka Emalahleni Highlands Steve Tshwete Thembisile Farming Farming Farm in Mpumalanga highveld 68% of land area in the province is used by agriculture. The climatic contrasts between the drier Highveld region, with its cold winters, and the hot, humid Lowveld allow for a variety of agricultural activities. Mpumalanga has been an important supplier of fruit and vegetables for local and international markets for decades. A history of dispossession mean that farming land is largely white owned, although policies of land redistribution era aim to address this. Crops include maize, wheat, sorghum , barley , sunflower seed , soybeans , macadamias , groundnuts, sugar cane, vegetables, coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, citrus , subtropical and deciduous fruit. Natural grazing covers approximately 14% of Mpumalanga. The main products are beef, mutton , wool , poultry and dairy. Farming in the province is driven by both a combination of seasonal , permanent and temporary labourers. Conditions on farms vary widely but seasonal and temporary workers, many of whom are migrant workers from nearby Mozambique , face intense insecurity. Forestry is extensive around Sabie and Graskop . Located near the forests, Ngodwana is the site of one of South Africa's largest paper mills (Sappi ). Mining Extensive mining is done and the minerals found include gold, platinum group metals, silica , chromite , vanadiferous magnetite , argentiferous zinc , antimony , cobalt , copper, iron, manganese , tin , coal, andalusite , chrysotile asbestos , kieselguhr , limestone , magnesite , talc and shale . Gold was first discovered in Mpumalanga province in 1883 by Auguste Roberts in the mountains surrounding what is now Barberton. Gold is still mined in the Barberton area today. Mpumalanga accounts for 83% of South Africa's coal production. 90% of South Africa's coal consumption is used for electricity generation and the synthetic fuel industry. Coal power stations are in proximity to the coal deposits. A coal liquefaction plant in Secunda (Secunda CTL ) is one of the country's two petroleum-from-coal extraction plants, which is operated by the synthetic fuel company Sasol . The high density of coal power stations on the Mpumalanga highveld means that the region has the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution in the world. Attractions Mpumalanga is popular with tourists. Kruger National Park , established in 1898 for the protection of Lowveld wildlife, covering 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi), is a popular destination. The other major tourist attractions include the Sudwala Caves and the Blyde River Canyon . Many activities including the big jump, mountain and quad biking, horse trails, river rafting and big game viewing are endemic to the region. This is "Big Five " territory. Towns in the Lowveld are Barberton , Mbombela , White River , Sabie , Graskop , Hazyview , Malelane , Pilgrim's Rest , Lydenburg and Nkomazi .[42] In 2008, a Haute Cuisine route was formed, trickling from Mbombela down to Hazyview. The Lowveld Gourmet Route covers the four top fine dining restaurants the area has to offer. The restaurants include Summerfields Kitchen, Oliver's Restaurant, Orange and Salt. 2007-2010 Culture Ndebele traditional dress Mpumalanga is home to a diverse range of cultures, including Swazi, Ndebele, Afrikaans, Tsonga, Zulu, Mapulana, Portuguese and Pedi communities. The Ndebele Cultural Village at Botshabelo is a renowned center of cultural heritage, with displays of Ndebele house painting . Ndebele artist Esther Mahalangu gained international acclaim for her artwork rooted in Ndebele traditions and geometric patterns. Prominent South African artist Gerard Sekoto was born in Botshabelo . Many celebrated South African musicians, such as Ray Phiri , Rebecca Malope and Pretty Yende , are from Mpumalanga. Since 2003, Mpumalanga's capital city, Mbombela, has hosted the Afrikaans national arts festival Innibos. The festival features music, comedy, arts, crafts and theatre. Municipalities - Economy - Culture Municipalities Main article: List of municipalities in Mpumalanga Mpumalanga districts and local municipalities Mpumalanga Province is divided into three district municipalities . The district municipalities are in turn divided into 18 local municipalities : District municipalities Ehlanzeni District Bushbruckridge Mbombela Nkomazi Thaba Chweu Umjindi Gert Sibande District Albert Luthuli Dipaleseng Govan Mbeki Lekwa Mkhondo Msukaligwa Pixley ka Seme Nkangala District Delmas Dr JS Moroka Emalahleni Highlands Steve Tshwete Thembisile Economy Farming Farm in Mpumalanga highveld 68% of land area in the province is used by agriculture. The climatic contrasts between the drier Highveld region, with its cold winters, and the hot, humid Lowveld allow for a variety of agricultural activities. Mpumalanga has been an important supplier of fruit and vegetables for local and international markets for decades. A history of dispossession mean that farming land is largely white owned, although policies of land redistribution era aim to address this. Crops include maize, wheat, sorghum , barley , sunflower seed , soybeans , macadamias , groundnuts, sugar cane, vegetables, coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, citrus , subtropical and deciduous fruit. Natural grazing covers approximately 14% of Mpumalanga. The main products are beef, mutton , wool , poultry and dairy. Farming in the province is driven by both a combination of seasonal , permanent and temporary labourers. Conditions on farms vary widely but seasonal and temporary workers, many of whom are migrant workers from nearby Mozambique , face intense insecurity. Forestry is extensive around Sabie and Graskop . Located near the forests, Ngodwana is the site of one of South Africa's largest paper mills (Sappi ). Mining Extensive mining is done and the minerals found include gold, platinum group metals, silica , chromite , vanadiferous magnetite , argentiferous zinc , antimony , cobalt , copper, iron, manganese , tin , coal, andalusite , chrysotile asbestos , kieselguhr , limestone , magnesite , talc and shale . Gold was first discovered in Mpumalanga province in 1883 by Auguste Roberts in the mountains surrounding what is now Barberton. Gold is still mined in the Barberton area today. Mpumalanga accounts for 83% of South Africa's coal production. 90% of South Africa's coal consumption is used for electricity generation and the synthetic fuel industry. Coal power stations are in proximity to the coal deposits. A coal liquefaction plant in Secunda (Secunda CTL ) is one of the country's two petroleum-from-coal extraction plants, which is operated by the synthetic fuel company Sasol . The high density of coal power stations on the Mpumalanga highveld means that the region has the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution in the world. Attractions Mpumalanga is popular with tourists. Kruger National Park , established in 1898 for the protection of Lowveld wildlife, covering 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi), is a popular destination. The other major tourist attractions include the Sudwala Caves and the Blyde River Canyon . Many activities including the big jump, mountain and quad biking, horse trails, river rafting and big game viewing are endemic to the region. This is "Big Five " territory. Towns in the Lowveld are Barberton , Mbombela , White River , Sabie , Graskop , Hazyview , Malelane , Pilgrim's Rest , Lydenburg and Nkomazi . In 2008, a Haute Cuisine route was formed, trickling from Mbombela down to Hazyview. The Lowveld Gourmet Route covers the four top fine dining restaurants the area has to offer. The restaurants include Summerfields Kitchen, Oliver's Restaurant, Orange and Salt. Culture This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Mpumalanga" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2023) Ndebele traditional dress Mpumalanga is home to a diverse range of cultures, including Swazi, Ndebele, Afrikaans, Tsonga, Zulu, Mapulana, Portuguese and Pedi communities. The Ndebele Cultural Village at Botshabelo is a renowned center of cultural heritage, with displays of Ndebele house painting . Ndebele artist Esther Mahalangu gained international acclaim for her artwork rooted in Ndebele traditions and geometric patterns. Prominent South African artist Gerard Sekoto was born in Botshabelo . Many celebrated South African musicians, such as Ray Phiri , Rebecca Malope and Pretty Yende , are from Mpumalanga. Since 2003, Mpumalanga's capital city, Mbombela, has hosted the Afrikaans national arts festival Innibos. The festival features music, comedy, arts, crafts and theatre. Mpumalanga's population is 4,039,939 people (according to the 2011 census).[45] The average population density is 52.81 people per km². Some 30% of the people speak siSwati , the language of neighbouring Eswatini , with 26% speaking isiZulu , 10.3% isiNdebele , 10.2% Sepedi and 11.6% Xitsonga . As of the 2011 census, approximately 90.65% of Mpumalanga's population are Black, 7.51% are White, and 0.91% are Coloured and 0.69% are Indian or Asian. Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mpumalanga . See also List of heritage sites in Mpumalanga List of speakers of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature Care For Wild rhinoceros sanctuary BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE

SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOL PROJECTS

WILDLIFE PARKS The most incredible national parks in South Africa for wildlife From snow-capped mountains and the Bushveld to sub-tropical beaches and the Kalahari, South Africa is a mind-bogglingly diverse country. Showcasing an astonishing array of landscapes, the country's national parks and game reserves are great places to experience true wilderness and get close to Africa's famous wildlife. If you include private reserves, South Africa has hundreds of national parks and game areas. In some reserves, the focus is on wildlife encounters, while others are primarily wilderness sanctuaries or hiking areas. Here are the best national parks to add some natural wonder to your South Africa itinerary. Kruger National Park Best national park for wildlife watching Kruger National Park is one of the world's greatest wildlife-watching destinations. Some of Africa's most iconic species – elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and zebra – share the bushveld with a supporting cast of 136 other mammals and more than 500 bird species. Beautiful granite kopjes (hills) pepper the south, while the Lebombo Mountains rise from the savanna in the east, and tropical forests cover northern parts of this 7520 sq mile park. Yes, we concede that Kruger can sometimes become crowded with safari groups. And yes, you may have to wait in line to see those lions around a kill. On the flip side, Kruger's vast network of roads makes this one of Africa's most accessible parks, and it's well suited for families. You can explore with your own vehicle or join a huge range of guided wildlife safaris, and accommodation is plentiful and great value. Leopard close encounters are just one of the thrills that may be waiting in Kruger National Park . Royal Natal National Park Best national park for mountains Fanning out from some of the loftiest summits in the Drakensberg mountains, 30 sq mile Royal Natal National Park has a presence that far outstrips its modest size. With some of the Drakensberg’s most dramatic and accessible scenery, the park is crowned by the sublime Amphitheater, a 5km (3 mile) wall of cliffs and canyons that’s spectacular from below and even more dramatic when viewed from above. Here, the Tugela Falls drop 945m (3100ft) in five stages; the highest level often freezes in winter. Looming behind is Mont-aux-Sources at 3282m (10,768ft), the source – hence the name – of the Tugela, Elands and Western Khubedu Rivers. This last river eventually becomes the Senqu (Orange) River and flows all the way to the Atlantic. The park is renowned for its excellent day walks and more ambitious multiday hiking opportunities. The lush, green landscapes of Tugela Gorge draw hikers to the Drakensberg mountains. Golden Gate Highlands National Park Best national park for sunsets Just before the darkness erases the remaining flecks of color from the sky, something magical happens in Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The jagged sandstone outcrops fronting the foothills of the wild, maroon-hued Maluti Mountains glow golden in the dying light. The lemon-yellow rays may silhouette a lone kudu standing still in a sea of mint-green grasses before the sky explodes in a fiery collision of purple and red. Golden Gate Highlands National Park might not boast any of the Big Five, but it does feature some fantastic sunsets. There are plenty of animals in the park, however, including grey rheboks, blesboks, elands, oribi antelope, Burchell’s zebras, jackals, baboons and numerous bird species, including the rare bearded and Cape vultures and the critically endangered bald ibis. The park is popular with hikers on long treks, but there are also shorter walking trails. The tumbling hills of Golden Gate Highlands National Park are prime hiking country. Table Mountain National Park Best national park for activities Stretching from Signal Hill to Cape Point, Table Mountain National Park is a natural wonder, and the most recognizable natural feature in South Africa. The surrounding national park covers granite and sandstone mountains, giant-boulder-strewn beaches and shady forests. For the vast majority of visitors, the main attraction is the 1085m-high, table-flat plateau, the top of which can easily be accessed by cableway from the outskirts of Cape Town. The park is the setting for an impressive range of adventure activities including hiking, abseiling, mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, bird and wildlife watching, snorkeling and diving. Head to the top of Table Mountain on the cableway for South Africa's most famous views. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Best national park for desert landscapes A long, scorched highway leads between crimson dunes from Upington to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, one of the world’s last great, unspoiled ecosystems. As soon as you enter this magical park, tucked away alongside Namibia in the Northern Cape and spilling into southwest Botswana, you’ll see why the journey was well worth the effort. The Kgalagadi is a wild land of harsh extremes and frequent droughts, where shifting red and white sands meet clusters of spiky thorn trees and bone-dry riverbeds. Yet despite the desolate landscape, the park teems with wildlife. From prides of black-maned lions to packs of howling spotted hyenas, there are some 1,775 predators here. It’s one of the best places in the world to spot big cats, especially cheetahs. Add in giant, orange-ball sunsets and black-velvet night skies studded with twinkling stars, and you’ll feel like you’ve entered the Africa of storybooks. The Cape fox is just one of many less familiar predators that can be found in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park . Cederberg Wilderness Area Best national park for hiking Some of the Western Cape's finest scenery can be found in the desolate Cederberg Wilderness Area. Here, craggy peaks climb to around 2000m (6560ft), harboring weird rock formations, well-preserved rock art produced by the San people, and clear mountain streams. It's excellent terrain for hiking and rock climbing. Cederberg isn't known for its wildlife, though you might glimpse a baboon, a bat-eared fox or one of the small antelopes that hop amongst the rocks. Elusive leopards roam the crags at night, but you'd be extremely lucky to see one. The region is better known for its plant life – mountain fynbos (shrubby vegetation with fine leaves) abounds, and wildflowers erupt in spring. Vegetation varies with altitude, with the eponymous cedar stands growing between 1000m (3280ft) and 1500m (4920ft). This is also the only place in the world where rooibos (red bush) grows and is processed into tea. Climb through caves and rock formations in Cederberg Wilderness Area . Mapungubwe National Park Best national park for history Stunningly stark, rocky landscapes reverberate with cultural intrigue and throng with wandering wildlife at Mapungubwe National Park. A Unesco World Heritage site, Mapungubwe contains South Africa’s most significant Iron Age site, plus animals ranging from black and white rhinos to meerkats and the rare Pel’s fishing owl. The wildlife-watching is excellent, as is the birdwatching, and lions, leopards and elephants are commonly spotted. But the park is as much about history as wildlife – archeological finds uncovered in the 1930s are displayed at the excellent Interpretation Center, and the site itself can be visited on a tour. Mapungubwe National Park offers big landscapes, ancient sites, wildlife and more . Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve Best national park for rock formations The stunning Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is centered on the 26km (16 mile) Blyde River Canyon, where epic rock formations tower above forested slopes, and birds' eye views abound at the dramatic meeting of the Drakensberg Escarpment and the Lowveld. It's one of the world's largest canyons and one of South Africa’s most impressive natural sights. Most visitors drive along the canyon’s edge, where the Panorama Route (mostly Route 532) offers plenty of viewpoints where you can stop and gaze in awe, including the Three Rondavels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window. If you have enough time, however, the canyon is even better explored on foot, with numerous walking trails. Gaze down on the world's third largest canyon at Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve . iSimangaliso Wetland Park Best national park for coastline The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, another Unesco World Heritage site, incorporates a broad range of landscapes from the Mozambique border to Maphelane, at the southern end of Lake St Lucia. With the Indian Ocean on one side and a string of lakes on the other, this park protects five distinct ecosystems, covering everything from offshore reefs and beaches to lakes, wetlands, woodlands and coastal forests. Loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest along the park’s shores, and whales and dolphins appear regularly offshore. On land, the park is occupied by numerous mammals, including antelopes and zebras, but the showstoppers are the reserve's 800 hippos and 1200 Nile crocodiles. During the holiday season, big crowds gather on the ocean beaches for everything from diving to fishing. Addo Elephant National Park Best national park for elephant watching The jewel in Eastern Cape's crown is Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa's third-largest national park. It protects what remains of the once-huge elephant herds that used to roam the Eastern Cape. When Addo was proclaimed a national park in 1931, there were only 11 elephants left; today there are more than 600 in the park, and you’d be very unlucky not to see some. A day or two at Addo is a highlight of any visit to this part of the Eastern Cape, not only for the elephants but also for chances to spot lions, zebras, black rhinos, Cape buffaloes, spotted hyenas and myriad birds. This is also one of the few parks in Africa to boast the "Big Seven," thanks to sightings of great white sharks and southern right whales (in season) off the coastal section of the park. Elephants drinking at a water hole in Addo Elephant National Park . Namaqua National Park Best national park for wildflowers Flower-seekers flock to the small, remote Namaqua National Park each spring, when the shrubland and old wheat fields are transformed into vivid color by the annual wildflower bloom. There are short nature trails and drives with viewpoints, and plenty of spots where you can stop to photograph the flowers. For the rest of the year, the national park is largely forgotten, although that does make it a peaceful place for a hike. It's also a good destination for birdwatching, home to many small, colorful bird species. Most Dangerous Animals In South Africa That Are Deadly With a wide range of unique ecosystems and animals, South Africa is one of the most diversified nations in the world. There are many unusual animal species that most people are unfamiliar with that can be found in South Africa. Hippos, black mambas, African buffalos, and, shockingly, mosquitoes are only a few of the most dangerous animals in South Africa. This article lists the top 15 dangerous wildlife in South Africa along with some practical safety advice in case you ever find yourself in their habitat. Contents show What are the Most Dangerous Animals In South Africa? Here are 15 dangerous animals that you should know about before going to this beautiful country: 1. Hippopotamus Habitat: Water bodies; rivers, lakes, mangrove swamps, freshwater habitats, and estuarine waters. The biggest hippos concentration may be in South Africa, particularly in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. They are the most dangerous animal you will encounter in the nation because of their extreme aggression toward people. Their territorial nature prevents them from tolerating humans approaching them or their habitat. In Africa, hippopotamuses are thought to claim the lives of 500 humans annually. This borderline deadly animal frequently makes headlines for the wrong reasons, such as when it viciously mauls defenseless people or snaps a boat in half with its strong jaw. A hippo is alleged to have murdered three adults and badly injured a kid in South Africa in 2015. 2. Cape Buffalo (also African Buffalo) Habitat: Coastal savannas, mountains, woodlands, swamps, lowland floodplains, meadows, wetlands, etc. The Cape buffalo is the largest bovine native to South and East Africa, often known as the “Inyati.” Because they are so harmful to people and animals, they are frequently referred to as the “Black Death.” Each year, 200 individuals are said to die as a result of their attack. The Cape buffalo spread some epidemic diseases, including rift valley fever and bovine tuberculosis. Avoid strolling beside a Cape buffalo since it is nearly hard to stop one once it starts charging at you. 3. Black Mamba Habitat: Rocky hills, lowland forests, semi-arid savannas, light and open woodlands, scrub, mountain peaks, etc. Fun fact: A black mamba’s skin can be gray, brown, or olive. They are so named because when they feel threatened, the inside of their mouths turns blue-black. The black mamba is a poisonous snake that is indigenous to Southern Africa and is regarded as the deadliest snake in the world. Naturally shy animals, black mambas almost always try to flee when approached. However, if cornered, these snakes will become aggressive and strike repeatedly. You may want to avoid conflict with them because they are extremely quick snakes that can move at rates of up to 12.5 miles per hour. 4. Mosquito Habitat: Water, forests, plants, trees, tall grasses, artificial structures, ponds, swamps, marshes Probably the most harmful animal in Africa is the little mosquito. Each year, they infect more than 70 million people with various potentially fatal diseases like Yellow, dengue, West Nile, Zika, and malaria. The number of malaria cases worldwide increased from 229 million in 2019 to 241 million in 2020, according to the most recent World malaria report. The expected number of malaria-related deaths was 627,000 in 2020. There is a risk of contracting malaria, a potentially fatal illness, from these insects in various parts of South Africa. The far north of Kwa Zulu-natal Province, which borders Mozambique, White River, and the northeastern Province of Limpopo, are among the nation’s high-risk locations. 5. Lion Habitat: Open plains, thick bush, savanna, shrublands, grasslands, dense scrub, dry thorn forest. Throughout history, people have revered the beautiful South African lion as representing strength, courage, and power. They are the largest and friendliest of all African cats (they once roamed Europe, Asia, and much of Africa.) The lion subspecies in South Africa are called the Southern African lions, Panthera leo melanochaita. They are the remaining lions in South Africa that can still be seen in the wild in some parts of the country after the Cape lion was essentially driven to extinction in the 1860s. There are over 13,000 lions in South Africa, but only about 2,300 are wild; the rest are in game reserves and captivity. The 19,623 square kilometer Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s largest game reserves and is situated in the northeast of the country, near the borders of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, and is home to the majority of wild lions in South Africa. Smaller populations can be found in the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape (about 25), the border region with Botswana (about 40), and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal (about 120). Despite their reputation for being extremely violent, lions usually avoid hunting people when they encounter them. Nevertheless, lions have been killing people in the wild, particularly when starving. The lion may also strike if it feels threatened and aggravated by the human. The sad event when an American woman was killed by a lioness that came at her through the car window while trying to capture some shots while on safari in South Africa in June 2015 serves as a warning that lions are apex predators that prey on people. 6. Nile Crocodile Habitat: Brackish streams, dams, freshwater, flowing rivers, mangrove swamps, tidal lakes. The Nile crocodile is one of the most dangerous creatures in South Africa. It naturally occurs in the nation and is a fearsome freshwater predator, maybe the second-largest living reptile in the world after saltwater crocodiles. They can attack and kill practically any animal that comes into touch with this violent kind of crocodile. The Nile crocodile has a ferocious bite that is unmatched by any other animal and may kill or seriously injure large prey. The Nile crocodile is a dangerous crocodilian species that kills hundreds of people yearly. They are among the largest reptiles on Earth, and their size makes them extremely dangerous when provoked, even though they are not hostile toward humans unless provoked first. It is better to avoid provoking them because they can eat and swallow people whole if given a chance. 7. Transvaal thick/fat-tailed scorpion Habitat: Sand, shrubs under rocks and logs. One of the largest scorpions in South Africa is the Transvaal thick-tailed scorpion, which is found in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Gauteng. It can reach a maximum length of 90 to 140 millimeters and have a thick, prolonged tail. The thick-tailed scorpion has lighter pincers and is often dark brown to black. It lives in a bushveld habitat, typically found under rocks, logs, and other debris. The South African thick tail and enormous deathstalker are other names for this big species of scorpion. Although the kurtoxin venom of the Transvaal thick-tailed scorpion is extremely dangerous, it also has significant medical use. It is one of the deadliest in Southern Africa and has a neurotoxic venom that, if left untreated, can kill. 8. Sac spider Habitat: Forest, under vegetation, bark, debris, etc. Because they consume flies and mosquitoes, spiders may appear harmless to people, yet some species can bite you painfully. There are certain venomous spiders in South Africa. Their bites can aggravate existing medical conditions in some persons, especially the elderly, children, and those with compromised immune systems and allergies. According to legend, sac spiders are the most dangerous spiders in South Africa. They are extremely toxic and aggressive spiders that can seriously hurt people. Their venom can also have harmful effects on cells and nerves. Although sac spiders are to blame for 70–80% of all reported spider bites in South Africa, they have not been connected to any significant cases of spider envenomation there. Keep your environment clean and regularly to prevent the sac spiders from spotting a place to hide. Please ensure a booster tetanus shot if you are ever bitten by one. 9. Puff Adder Habitat: Savannas, grasslands Due to its widespread distribution, frequent appearance in densely populated areas, and aggressive nature, the clever Puff Adder is considered the deadliest snake in Africa and is to blame for most snakebite fatalities in the continent. It is widely accessible in South Africa. The average length of a puff adder is around 1.0 m, while larger species can grow up to 190 cm in total length. Male puff adders are often larger and longer than females. The average length of a puff adder is around 1.0 m, while larger species can grow up to 190 cm in total length. The color pattern of a puff adder differs depending on where it is found, but you can identify one by the two distinct dark bands on its head—one on the crown and the other between the eyes. It is a slow-moving snake species that hides via camouflaging, yet it may move at a startlingly fast rate when irritated. Despite having less toxicity than a black mamba, puff adders bite more people and result in over 32,000 fatalities yearly. Because it will puff out its body to appear larger than it is when directly threatened by a predator or a person, this gigantic snake earned its moniker. The puff adder was given the scientific name arietans, which means “striking violently,” by the German naturalist Blasius Merrem in 1820 because, during a strike, the puff adder moves so quickly and strikes its prey with such a powerful force with its long fangs penetrating deeply, that preys are frequently killed by the physical trauma alone. This species’ bites can cause serious local and systemic symptoms in humans. Bite symptoms can be categorized into two groups, those with little to no surface extravasation and those with hemorrhages visible as ecchymosis, bleeding, and swelling, depending on the severity and type of local effect. Both situations involve excruciating pain and tenderness, but the latter also features compartment syndrome and widespread superficial or deep necrosis. Serious bites result in substantial bleeding or coagulation in the afflicted muscles, which causes limbs to become immovably flexed. Humans may also experience shock, edema, watery blood seeping from puncture wounds, nausea, vomiting, subcutaneous bruising, blood blisters that may form quickly, and painful swelling of the local lymph nodes in response to bites. In most cases, swelling goes down within a few days, except for the region next to the bite site. Additionally, reported symptoms include hypotension, weakness, wooziness, and moments of semi-consciousness or unconsciousness. Necrosis spreads if it is not carefully managed, causing muscle, skin, and subcutaneous tissue to become detached from healthy tissue and slough with serous effusion. 10. Chacma Baboon Habitat: Trees, savannas, sub-desert, steppes, high, rocky outcrops, woodlands. One of the biggest monkey species, the Chacma baboon, is found mostly in Southern Africa, with substantial populations in Mozambique, Namibia, and Botswana. These baboons are so violent and deadly that they don’t get along well with people. They would aggressively retaliate against their predators if threatened. A single glance reveals all you need to know about a Chacma baboon. It can spread some infections to people and is large and frightening. These baboons pose several possible health dangers for people. Even though killings by Chacma baboons of people are sporadic, it is nonetheless possible. 11. Red Lionfish Habitat: Shallow and artificial coral reefs, holes and crevices, tropical waters, and all marine habitats. The red lionfish is a natural component of the coastal ecology of South Africa – It is one of the most invasive creatures on Earth that behaves violently. The fish is easily identified by its venomous spiky fins, which are unusual among reef-dwelling fishes along the American East coast and the Caribbean. This feature serves as a form of protection for the fish, making it challenging for predators to eat it. The highly strong venom from a lionfish’s spiky fins can induce serious allergic reactions in people, including chest pain, a drop in blood pressure, tongue swelling, shivering, nasal congestion, or lightheadedness. Other symptoms include extreme pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, breathing problems, convulsions, dizziness, redness in the affected area, headache, numbness, paresthesia (pins and needles), heartburn, diarrhea, and sweating systemic effects that it may potentially produce. Very young children, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and people who are allergic to the venom of red lionfish are more likely to die. Even though their venom seldom kills healthy adults, some species contain enough venom to cause excruciating pain for several days. The lionfish is quite dangerous, despite being stunning with a body color that acts more as a warning than a plea for human friendship. 12. Black Rhinoceros Habitat: Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, bushlands, mountains, moorlands, dry forests, deserts, and xeric shrublands Nearly 98% of the black rhino population, popular in South Africa, is concentrated in just four nations: Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Currently, it is thought that the Black Rhino species faces a major threat. Actually, only three of the four subspecies of black rhinoceros remain on the planet, with the West African black rhinoceros being officially declared extinct in 2011. Although black rhinos are smaller than white rhinos, adults can still grow to a height of 1.5 meters and weigh 1.4 tonnes. The black rhino is different from the white rhino, also known as the “square-lipped” rhino, by having trumpet-shaped and more rounded ears, a smaller head that is typically held high, and a prehensile upper lip (hence the alternate name of “hook-lipped” rhino), which it uses to feed on various herbaceous plants and twigs of woody plants (they have a particular liking for acacias.) Rhinos can defend their territory. However, they are rarely violent until provoked. They may protect themselves by charging if they feel threatened. Both black and white rhinos will retaliate by attacking anyone they see as a threat, but black rhinos are far more aggressive than white rhinos. 13. Black Widow Spider Habitat: Dark areas; crevices and woodpiles, hollow logs, loose barks, trees, bushes. In South Africa, black widow spiders are prevalent, especially in the Western Cape. They are not particularly aggressive spiders, but if threatened or mistreated, they may bite as a last resort. In contrast to the male widows, which have too-small mouthparts, the female black widow has long, sharp fangs that may puncture human flesh. A black widow bite may not hurt right away, but with time, the pain will spread up your limbs to your lymph glands. The bite will significantly impact blood pressure, resulting in weakness, leg pain, cramps, stiffness of the abdominal muscles, and profuse sweating. Make sure you go to the hospital to get treated if the dreadful black widow spider bites you. Even though black widow bites can be fatal, no deaths have been recorded in South Africa in the past 50 years due to the rarity of these attacks. 14. African Elephant Habitat: Tropical forests, grasslands, wetlands, shrublands, savannas The largest terrestrial animal at the moment is the African elephant, which may weigh up to 7000 kg. It can crush a person to death with its weight. They can hurt you even though they are primarily herbivores and won’t attack people for food. However, there are man-eating elephants in India, so this isn’t always the case. Human attacks by elephants are becoming more frequent. Elephant assaults on people have occurred 412 times in the last 15 years (2000–2020), resulting in 274 fatalities and 138 injuries. African elephants are typically non-aggressive creatures, although they may attack if they feel frightened, helpless, tormented, or provoked. It is best to stay away from an enraged elephant. 15. Great White Shark Habitat: Temperate coastal and offshore waters. Great white sharks are very dangerous marine mammals that have killed more people than any other shark species. They represent the most significant danger to human surfers in the nation. Reports show that the great white shark murdered six people in 2020.10 Although the reason these sharks attack people is still unknown, a study concluded that this is because great white sharks confuse people for their prey. Due to the presence of seals, which are a white shark’s preferred meal. Dyer island is one of South Africa’s locations with the densest known Great white shark populations. Capetown, Sodwana Bay, and Protea Banks are places where you can find these great white sharks and other large pelagic sharks, so be careful when you are in these areas. South Africa Wildlife Safety Tips In South Africa, many dangerous animals are borderline deadly, so it is vital to follow safety rules while traveling in nature. Some of these tips include: Never approach any wild animal, including predators: Dangerous animals may be unpredictable and aggressive; they can bite, attack, and kill if provoked or threatened. Some of these animals may carry diseases transmitted through bites or scratches from their teeth or claws (such as rabies). Do not run if you encounter a predator: If you have time to think, identify the animal and determine whether it is dangerous or not. If so, do not approach but instead find cover where you can wait until help arrives. Always stay in your car when driving through game reserve areas: If you are driving through a game reserve area, keep your windows up and doors locked. Please do not leave your car to take photos of animals or take selfies with them. If you’re not sure what to do, ask someone who works at the park for advice before heading out onto the road. Do not attempt to feed a wild animal: Do not feed wild animals like spotted hyenas, jackals, etc., as this can make them addicted to human food, which makes them more likely to attack humans. Wild animals are not pets and should not be treated as such. Keep your distance! Avoid swimming in crocodile-infested rivers or lakes: The Crocs are very aggressive and will attack you if they feel threatened by your presence. Frequently Asked Questions Are there any dangerous animals found in South Africa? South Africa is renowned for its naturally stunning landscapes and for having a sizable area of wildlife-rich protected land. South Africa is home to a wide variety of animals and insects, some of which are fairly harmful. The African buffalo, great white shark, brown widow spider, boomslang, Gaboon viper, common ostrich, bearded vulture, and others are examples of these hazardous animals. The Big five are quite significant. This phrase, which is synonymous with safaris, exudes a strong sense of adventure and excitement. What are the big 5 then? This is a reference to some of the most hazardous animals in Africa, such as Cape buffalo, African lions, leopards, and rhinoceroses. Big Five safaris in South Africa What Are The Big 5 Animals? The Big Five animals of Africa: the African Elephant, Cape buffalo, black rhinoceros, African lion, and African leopard. The term Big Five was initially used to refer to the five most difficult and dangerous African animals to hunt on foot. The term was coined by ‘gentlemen hunters’ who moved to Africa in search of the wildlife trophies. The animals included the African elephant, Cape buffalo, black rhinoceros, African lion, and African leopard. The hunting of these magnificent beasts has often led to the serious injuries and death of the hunters. Following the independence of African states, the term was increasingly used by the tour companies and governments to promote tourism in their respective countries. They are also the target of conservation efforts due to declining populations and habitat destruction. 5. African Elephant The elephant is the largest land mammal and is known for its brute strength. The animal’s characteristic features include a long trunk, large head, tusks, and wide and flat ears. They are found across a wide variety of habitats including savannah, grasslands, swamps, highlands, and forests. A seasoned hunter will typically be on the lookout for recently fallen trees while tracking these beasts. Today, about 450,000-700,000 elephants roam the African continent up from an estimated 100,000 that were recorded at the turn of the century. The increase in population has been as a result of serious conservation measures such as the ban of poaching and fencing of habitats. While hunting elephants is generally frowned upon, officials from countries such as Zimbabwe have argued that capital raised from hunting licenses are critical to the funding of conservation projects. 4. Cape Buffalo The Cape buffalo, also known as the ‘black death’ among hunters, is a wild herbivore with similar characteristics as the domestic cow. This magnificent animal measures between 8 feet and 11 feet from head to tail and has a greyish-black hide that is often riddled with scars from previous fights and encounters with predators. They are mainly found along river beds and plains. The animals usually move in herds and congregate to fend off predators. Cape buffalos are not considered endangered as there are 900,000, most of which are in protected areas. Hunting of buffalos has caused little stir in the conservation world due to their stable population with experts only advocating for sustainable hunting practices. 3. Black Rhinoceros The black rhinoceros is a large herbivore with two horns on its naval bridge. It is smaller compared to the white rhino which has a square lip. The rhino is a favorite among game hunters and tends to charge aggressively at their attacker. Obtaining a hunting license is extremely difficult because black rhinos are classified as critically endangered species. There are around 5,000 rhinos which can be found in the wooded grasslands and acacia savannahs of Africa. Most of them are found in refuge areas where there are protected from poachers who threaten to drive them to extinction due to the high price of the rhino horn in the black market. Hunting rhinos is a subject to controversy with those in support arguing that the practice raises the capital needed to undertake conservation projects. 2. African Lion The lion is a large muscular carnivore in the cat family and is the most feared predator on the African savannah. A male lion has a mane on its head, neck, shoulders, throat, and chest area. A mature lion is 6-7 feet long excluding the tail. Lions are found in grasslands and dense scrubland. Hunting a lion can be extremely dangerous as they are known for their cunning predatory skills and unpredictability. Today, lions are considered endangered with a population of just 20,000 representing a 43% decline in their population in the last two decades. Fencing and the banning of poaching are the primary methods used to protect lions from external threats. Hunting captive lions in countries such as South African has led to controversy with some members of the Professional Hunting Association deeming it unethical for defying the rules of fair chase and endangering the species. 1. African Leopard The leopard is a large carnivore in the cat family that is closely related to the lion. It is around 84 inches long and weighs between 110 to 200 pounds. It is distinguishable by its white and yellowish coat riddled with black spots. Leopards can be found in open grassland and woodland. They are difficult to track and hunt due to their ability to camouflage and stark their aggressor and prey. Leopards can get extremely aggressive when confronted. Leopards are classified as vulnerable due to their decreasing population now set at 700,000. Human-wildlife conflict is the main threat to these animals hence fencing and banning poaching are the preferred methods of conservation. South Africa recently included a 7-year rule to guide the hunting of leopards. The rule has however come under fire with conservationists arguing the rule does little to conserve the species and encourages the unethical vice. Conclusion South Africa is one of the most fascinating places in the world to visit. It has numerous exotic species that live in various habitats all around the nation. It is crucial to abide by the safety precautions recommended in this article if you encounter any of these most dangerous animals in South Africa. Protecting the Big Five in South Africa The Big Five are a big deal. Synonymous with safaris, this term carries with it a distinct whiff of excitement and adventure. It wasn’t always about merely spotting animals, however – the phrase goes back to the Colonial Era and was once a hit list rather than a safari checklist. So, what are the Big Five and how did these animals come to be revered above the rest? Introducing the Big Five Big Five refers to African lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants, and Cape buffalo. The phrase today is usually used to market safaris, but was first coined by big-game hunters more than 100 years ago. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, everyone from European royalty to American presidents wanted to bag an African hunting trophy. The larger and more unpredictable the beast, the better – which is how the Big Five became famous. The Big Five may be dangerous, but they aren’t invincible. African lions , leopards , and elephants are all classed as Vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The black rhinoceros is Critically Endangered and the Southern white rhino is Near Threatened, while the Northern white rhino is on the verge of extinction. The Cape buffalo is of the least concern in terms of conservation, but this also makes it the most popular animal to hunt. Hunting, poaching, and habitat loss combined mean the Cape buffalo’s population is also on the decline. Where can you find the Big Five? South Africa is a premier destination for viewing the Big Five . Around 80 percent of Africa’s remaining wild rhino population live in South Africa, according to CITES, along with an elephant population of approximately 12,000 – a major recovery from a mere 120 in 1920. There are roughly 20,000 lions left in South Africa (down from 200,000 at the turn of the twentieth century), while leopard numbers are estimated at around 4,500. Tourists have a good chance of seeing the Big Five in many of South Africa’s national parks and private reserves. To get a closer look and better understanding of the Big Five, a volunteer program is a great alternative to a safari. Volunteering in a wildlife reserve in the Kruger Area will give you plenty of opportunities to observe the animals in their natural habitat. No safari tour can compare to monitoring the behavior of elephants and rhinos alongside an expert conservation team! The Big Five then and now: How has game hunting changed since colonial times? There is still an active trade in legal hunting in Africa . South Africa is the biggest game hunting destination in the world. This practice however has undergone significant changes in implementation and public perception over the last century. Four of the Big Five can be hunted in South Africa – the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) banned leopard hunting in 2016. A lioness is typically the cheapest of the ‘set’ to bag, costing around $9,000 to hunt, while a white rhino can cost more than $125,000, says a report by the Natural Resources Committee. Back in colonial times, big game hunting had connotations of aristocracy and glamour. Today, game hunting still belongs to the elite and privileged, thanks to the hefty price tags, but for the most part associations of prestige and sportsmanship have been stripped away. Outside of hunting cliques, public opinion leans towards disgust over the killing of the Big Five. Given the widespread disapproval and population perils facing the Big Five, game hunters have shifted the way they present the practice. Supporters insist that hunting is helping to protect, rather than destroy, the animals. The Influence of Big Five game hunting on South Africa’s economy and conservation Remember Cecil the lion? This big cat’s death and subsequent photo of a dentist gloating over his body triggered outrage around the world and deeper examination of big game hunting in Africa. Arguments surrounding modern game hunting are heavily polarized. Defenders of game hunting say it can aid conservation efforts by generating revenue necessary to protect animals and their habitat – in many areas, land would be used for agriculture if it wasn’t for commercial hunting. Hunters also argue that they are helping to control animal populations and support local communities by providing jobs and income. This in turn could motivate people to protect animals from poaching. Critics argue that minimal profits reach local communities, and that whether or not hunting supports conservation relies on the appropriate management of funds raised and sustainable allocation of animal quotas. Inadequate monitoring makes these factors difficult to control. Either way, trophy hunting is big business in South Africa . According to Africa Check, around 8,500 trophy hunters visit South Africa each year, compared to 9.5 million tourists. These hunters spend more than the average tourist, averaging around $10,000 per hunting trip. Trophy hunting generates an estimated $100 million a year, says South Africa’s DEA. Game hunting might help conservation when managed appropriately, but there are ways to help the Big Five that are much more appealing to animal lovers. What can you do to help preserve the Big Five? Wildlife lovers can assist in conservation efforts, either as tourists or volunteers. Tourists who come to shoot the Big Five with a camera lens rather than a weapon play an important role in conservation. The safari industry generates income to protect parks and reserves, provides jobs for locals, and incentivizes wildlife conservation . Volunteering with animals in South Africa is an even more direct way for you to help in thier conservation. Wildlife conservation centers and safari reserves act as hubs for education, provide refuge for orphaned and injured creatures and facilitate breeding programs to ensure the future of the Big Five. Volunteer program fees at these centers contribute toward running costs, and volunteers themselves return home as ambassadors for animal conservation. Sound good? We might have just the ticket for you. GoEco’s Big Five Volunteer Programs GoEco offers several options for animal lovers keen to enounter the Big Five in an ethical and sustainable way. You can choose to carry out research on elephants , contribute to wildlife conservation efforts by adding your own snaps to a photographic database, or geo-track elusive species . Each project is structured around learning more about and protecting Africa’s unique and beautiful animals. Volunteering in South Africa is a great opportunity for personal and professional growth. You’ll develop practical skills and gain comprehensive wildlife knowledge, all while living in some of the continent’s most stunning wilderness areas. If you’re feeling the call of the wildlife and want to get directly involved in Big Five conservation, reach out to us today to find out more about volunteering with South African animals. Sources: http://www.cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/cop/11/prop/20.pdf http://www.panthera.org/cat/lion http://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-how-much-does-hunting-contribute-to-african-economies/ http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/aa854b/pdf http://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/rhino_population_figures http://conservationaction.co.za/resources/reports/effects-trophy-hunting-five-africas-iconic-wild-animal-populations-six-countries-analysis/ http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/08/10/world/africa/africa-big-game-hunting.html http://conservationaction.co.za/resources/reports/effects-trophy-hunting-five-africas-iconic-wild-animal-populations-six-countries-analysis/ http://www.thedodo.com/does-hunting-help-conservation-1389284014.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_five_game http://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/127055/how-much-it-costs-to-hunt-the-big-five-in-south-africa/ http://www.reuters.com/article/us-safrica-leopards/big-5-off-the-cards-as-south-africa-closes-2016-leopard-hunting-season-idUSKCN0WF07C

Wildlife of South Africa The wildlife of South Africa consists of the flora and fauna of this country in Southern Africa . The country has a range of different habitat types and an ecologically rich and diverse wildlife, vascular plants being particularly abundant, many of them endemic to the country. There are few forested areas, much savanna grassland, semi-arid Karoo vegetation and the fynbos of the Cape Floristic Region . Famed for its national parks and big game, 297 species of mammal have been recorded in South Africa , as well as 849 species of bird and over 20,000 species of vascular plants. Geography South Africa is located in subtropical southern Africa, lying between 22°S and 35°S . It is bordered by Namibia , Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north, by Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland) to the northeast, by the Indian Ocean to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the coastline extending for more than 2,500 km (1,600 mi). The interior of the country consists of a large, nearly flat, plateau with an altitude of between 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and 2,100 m (6,900 ft). The eastern, and highest, part of this is the Drakensberg , the highest point being Mafadi (3,450 m (11,320 ft)), which is on the border with Lesotho , a country surrounded by South Africa. The south and south-western parts of the plateau, at approximately 1,100 to 1,800 m (3,600 to 5,900 ft) above sea level, and the adjoining plain below, at approximately 700 to 800 m (2,300 to 2,600 ft) above sea level, is known as the Great Karoo , and consists of sparsely populated shrubland . To the north the Great Karoo fades into the drier and more arid Bushmanland , which eventually becomes the Kalahari Desert in the far north-west of the country. The mid-eastern, and highest part of the plateau is known as the Highveld . This relatively well-watered area is home to a great proportion of the country's commercial farmlands. To the north of Highveld, the plateau slopes downwards into the Bushveld , which ultimately gives way to the Limpopo lowlands or Lowveld . The climate of South Africa is influenced by its position between two oceans and its elevation. Winters are mild in coastal regions, particularly in the Eastern Cape . Cold and warm coastal currents running north-west and north-east respectively account for the difference in climates between west and east coasts. The weather pattern is also influenced by the El Niño–Southern Oscillation . In the plateau area, the influence of the sea is reduced, and the daily temperature range is much wider; here the summer days are very hot, while the nights are usually cool, with the possibility of frosts in winter. The country experiences a high degree of sunshine with rainfall about half of the global average, increasing from west to east, and with semi-desert regions in the north-west. The Western Cape experiences a Mediterranean climate with winter rainfall, but most of the country has more rain in summer. Flora A total of 23,420 species of vascular plant has been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened.Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos , Succulent Karoo , desert , Nama Karoo , grassland , savanna , Albany thickets , the Indian Ocean coastal belt , and forests . The most prevalent biome in the country is the grassland, particularly on the Highveld, where the plant cover is dominated by different species of grass ; fires, frosts and grazing pressure result in few trees occurring here, but geophytes (bulbs) are plentiful and there is a high level of plant diversity, especially on the escarpments. Vegetation becomes even more sparse towards the northwest due to low rainfall . There are several species of water-storing succulents , like aloes and euphorbias , in the very hot and dry Namaqualand area. The grass and thorn savannah turns slowly into a bush savannah towards the north-east of the country, with denser growth. There are significant numbers of baobab trees in this area, near the northern end of Kruger National Park . Fynbos vegetation on the Cape Peninsula There are few forests in the country, these being largely restricted to patches on mountains and escarpments in high rainfall areas and gallery forests , and much of the plateau area is covered by grassland and savanna . The karoo occupies much of the drier western half of the country; this area is influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic and has winter rainfall. The vegetation here is dominated by dwarf succulent plants , with many endemic species of both plants and animals. Fynbos is a belt of natural shrubland located in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces with a unique flora dominated by ericas , proteas and restios . This area is part of the Cape Floristic Region . The World Wide Fund for Nature divides this region into three ecoregions : the Lowland fynbos and renosterveld , the Montane fynbos and renosterveld and the Albany thickets . There is some concern that the Cape Floristic Region is experiencing one of the most rapid rates of extinction in the world due to habitat destruction , land degradation , and invasive alien plants . The Cape Floral Region Protected Areas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site , a group of about thirteen protected areas that together cover an area of over a million hectares. This is a hotspot of diversity of endemic plants, many of which are threatened, and demonstrates ongoing ecological and evolutionary processes. This region occupies less than 0.5% of the area of the African continent yet has almost 20% of its plant species, almost 70% of the 9,000 plant species being endemic to the region. The Fynbos vegetation consists mainly of sclerophyllous shrubland. Of special interest is the pollination biology of the plants, many of which rely on ants, termites, birds or mammals for this function, the adaptions they have made to the fire risk, and the high level of adaptive radiation and speciation . The Mediterranean climate produces hot, dry summers, and many of the plants have underground storage organs allowing them to resprout after fires. A typical species is the silver tree , which grows naturally only on Table Mountain . Fire kills many of the trees but triggers the germination of the seeds, founding the next generation of these short-lived trees. Fauna Mammals See also: List of mammals of South Africa Cape buffalo Gemsbok Greater kudu bull Some 297 species of mammal have been recorded in South Africa, of which 30 species are considered threatened. The Kruger National Park , in the east of the country, is one of the largest national parks in the world, with an area of 19,485 square kilometres (7,523 sq mi) of grassland with scattered trees. It supports a wide range of ungulates including Burchell's zebra , impala , greater kudu , blue wildebeest , waterbuck , warthog , Cape buffalo , giraffe and hippopotamus . There are also black and white rhinoceroses , African elephant , African wild dog , cheetah , leopard , lion and spotted hyena . Elsewhere in the country there are gemsbok , alternatively known as oryx, nyala , bushbuck and springbok . There are seventeen species of golden mole , a family limited to southern Africa, five species of elephant shrew , many species of shrews, the southern African hedgehog , the aardvark , various hares and the critically endangered riverine rabbit . There are numerous species of bat and a great many species of rodent . Primates are represented by the Mohol bushbaby , the brown greater galago , the Sykes' monkey , the vervet monkey and the chacma baboon . Smaller carnivores include mongooses , genets , the caracal , the serval , the African wildcat , the Cape fox , the side-striped jackal , the black-backed jackal , meerkats , and the African clawless otter . The brown fur seal and other species of seal occur on the coasts and the waters around the country are visited by numerous species of whale and dolphin . Birds See also: List of birds of South Africa With its diverse habitat types, South Africa has a wide range of residential and migratory species. According to the 2018 edition of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World , 849 species of bird have been recorded in South Africa and its offshore islands. Of these, 125 species are vagrants, and about 30 are endemic either to South Africa, or the more inclusive South Africa/Lesotho/Eswatini region.The endemic species include the southern black and blue korhaans , the grey-winged francolin , the Knysna turaco , the Fynbos buttonquail , the southern bald ibis , the forest buzzard , the ground woodpecker , the Cape and Drakensberg rockjumpers , the Cape , eastern and Agulhas long-billed larks , the red , Karoo , Rudd's and Botha's larks , the Cape bulbul , the Victorin's and Knysna warblers , the Drakensberg prinia , the bush blackcap , the Cape sugarbird , the chorister robin-chat , the sentinel and Cape rock thrushes , the buff-streaked chat , the pied starling , the African Penguin , and the orange-breasted sunbird . The common ostrich is plentiful on the open grassland and savannah areas. Some birds breed elsewhere but migrate to South Africa to overwinter, while others breed in the country but migrate away in the non-breeding season. Migratory species include the greater striped swallow , white-rumped swift , white stork , African pygmy kingfisher , yellow-billed kite and the European bee-eater . Reptiles and amphibians There is a rich fauna of reptiles and amphibians , with 447 species of reptile recorded in the country (as compiled by the Reptile Database), and 132 species of amphibian (compiled by AmphibiaWeb). South Africa has the richest diversity of reptiles of any African country. Endemic species include the angulate tortoise and geometric tortoise , the Zululand dwarf chameleon , the Transkei dwarf chameleon and the Robertson dwarf chameleon , the Broadley's flat lizard , the dwarf Karoo girdled lizard , the Soutpansberg rock lizard , and the yellow-bellied house snake . Natal diving frog Also included among the fauna are the Nile crocodile , the leopard tortoise , the Speke's hinge-back tortoise , the serrated hinged terrapin , various chameleons, lizards, geckos and skinks, the cape cobra , the black mamba , the eastern green mamba , the puff adder , the mole snake and a range of other venomous and non-venomous snakes. Amphibian diversity reflects the many diverse habitats around the country. Species of interest include the endemic western leopard toad and the arum frog , the bronze caco , the spotted snout-burrower and the critically endangered Rose's ghost frog , found only on the slopes of Table Mountain . Another endangered endemic species is the Natal diving frog . National parks Main article: List of national parks in South Africa The following have been designated as national parks in South Africa: Addo Elephant National Park Agulhas National Park Augrabies Falls National Park Bontebok National Park Camdeboo National Park Garden Route National Park Golden Gate Highlands National Park Karoo National Park Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Kruger National Park Mapungubwe National Park Marakele National Park Mokala National Park Mountain Zebra National Park Namaqua National Park Richtersveld National Park Table Mountain National Park Tankwa Karoo National Park West Coast National Park South African endangered species Some animals occurring in South Africa are classified as "endangered " or "critically endangered ". These include: Giant golden mole , Chrysospalax trevelyani Van Zyl's golden mole , Cryptochloris zyli Marley's golden mole , Amblysomus marleyi Gunning's golden mole , Neamblysomus gunningi Juliana's golden mole , Neamblysomus julianae White-tailed rat , Mystromys albicaudatus African wild dog , Lycaon pictus Sei whale , Balaenoptera borealis Blue whale , Balaenoptera musculus African penguin , Spheniscus demersus Critically endangered De Winton's golden mole , Cryptochloris wintoni Riverine rabbit , Bunolagus monticularis Hooded vulture , Necrosyrtes monachus White-headed vulture , Trigonoceps occipitalis White-backed vulture , Gyps africanus WILD ANIMALS IN SOUTH AFRICA Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus They have broad shoulders, broad muzzles, and cow-like horns. They are typically slate-colored with tan forelegs, dark vertical stripes on their shoulders and backs, and white or tan manes and beards. Wildebeests are one of the most unique-looking animals in South Africa! Blue Wildebeests look like cows to me, although they are considered antelopes. They eat short grasses and live in various habitats. However, their favorite spots are moderately moist with rapidly regrowing grasses and a nearby water source. Despite their shrinking population, Wildebeest herds are protective of their young. Females give birth in the middle of the day, allowing the calf time to get steady on its feet before most predators come out in the evening. Blue wildebeest. (2023, August 16). In Wikipedia. The map above shows the ranges of the different Blue Wildebeest subspecies. While healthy adult Blue Wildebeests are perfectly capable of defending themselves, the calves are not. If the adults spot a potential predator, they bunch together, stamp their feet, and issue loud, shrill alarm calls. The larger the herd, the more likely the calf will survive. Blue Wildebeest herds are famous for their historic long-distance migrations with the change of season, where they move to areas where good forage is more available. Sadly, Blue Wildebeests have seen serious population declines. Today, they typically live in much smaller herds and are less nomadic. Only three populations are known to migrate more than 100 miles. Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus They have shaggy brown-gray coats, large rounded ears, and white patches above the eyes, on the throat, and around the nose and mouth. Males have prominently ringed horns that curve back and up and may reach 55–99 cm (22–39 in) long. The Waterbuck’s appearance may vary throughout its range. There are 13 recognized subspecies, all with slightly different traits! In general, all waterbucks have glossy coats with a unique oily secretion. It makes them smell a bit funny to humans, but the scent helps them to find a mate! The oil secretion also serves to help keep their coat waterproof. These robust animals live in grasslands in South Africa and are almost always found near water. Compared to some more migratory antelope species, Waterbucks tend to be rather sedentary, remaining in valleys with rivers and lakes. This is because their diet depends on access to fresh water along with the protein-rich medium and short grasses that grow in moist areas. Waterbuck. (2023, June 6). In Wikipedia. Waterbucks are social animals and usually live in herds of up to 30 individuals. Typically, bachelor males form herds together, and females form separate herds comprised of only females and their young. Once born, mothers leave their calf hidden in the thicket and only visit to nurse. This helps prevent predators from smelling or finding the calf, though mortality is still quite high. Tsessebes are one of the most territorial herbivores in South Africa. Their territories are taken seriously by other Tsessebe herds, to the point that traveling herds will go to great lengths to avoid them. They will move around the outskirts of another herd’s territory, occasionally risking entering neutral areas with lions and other predators! Tsessebe Range Map Damaliscus lunatus. (2023, July 9). In Wikipedia. The map above shows the ranges of the different Tsessebe subspecies. All of the Tsessebes’ territories have high vantage points, which allow females to alert others of danger and males to display their territory. They prefer grassland habitats, including open plains and lightly wooded savannas. As their habitat suggests, they feed primarily on grass. During the rainy season, when the grass is fresh and wet, they get all their water needs from their food, but during dry periods, they need fresh water every day or two. Tsessebes are most active in the morning and evening and spend the hotter parts of the day watering, resting, and digesting their food. Tsessebe Damaliscus lunatus They have glossy, tan coats with grayish or bluish-black markings on their upper legs, black faces and tail tufts, and light undersides. Both sexes have ringed, s-shaped horns but are typically slightly larger in males. Southern White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum simum Adults typically weigh 3,080 to 7,920 pounds (1,397 to 3,593 kg). They have pale-gray skin with dense, tough, plate-like folds. Relatively small eyes, square lips, long necks, humps, and two horns of unequal size. Southern White Rhinos are the second largest land animal in South Africa after the Elephant. They may not look like antelopes and other grazers, but White Rhinos feed primarily on grass, something their wide upper lip is specially adapted to. They usually spend their mornings along riverbanks and in open areas and move to denser woodlands for shade during the heat of the day. Females give birth to just a single offspring, which they aggressively defend, after 16 months of gestation. Interestingly, females can continue to breed every two to three years until they’re 46 years old! Unlike most other animals, White Rhinos live longer in the wild than in captivity. In the wild, they often live for 46 to 50 years, while they only live about 27 to 30 years in captivity. Southern White Rhinos almost went extinct at the end of the 19th century, when there were only between 20-50 individuals left. But since then, their population has recovered due to aggressive conservation efforts. Unfortunately, they are still threatened due to habitat loss and poaching for their horns in the use of traditional Chinese medicine. Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis They have white faces with dark stripes running from eyes to mouths, light brown coats with reddish stripes on their sides, and white undersides and rump flags. Both sexes have long black horns that curve backward and grow to 35-50 cm (14-20 in) long. Springboks were once one of the most hunted animals in South Africa. Dutch farmers killed enormous numbers because they ruined crops. Today, most live within game preserves. Amazingly, Springboks can live without drinking water for years! They survive by selecting various leaves, flowers, and other succulent vegetation high in moisture. They will graze and browse, and their diet varies seasonally. Springboks are preyed on by lions, cheetahs, and other big predators. When threatened or startled, Springboks display a unique defense tactic known as “pronking.” They leap straight into the air up to 2 m (6.6 ft) off the ground in a stiff-legged position with their tail up and back arched. This is believed to startle and throw off predators. Thankfully, predators don’t seem to impact this species’ population too severely. They are one of the few antelope species that are believed to be increasing. Southern Bushbuck Tragelaphus sylvaticus They are light brown with up to seven white stripes on their backs, white splotches on their sides, and often some white on their ears, chins, tails, legs, necks, and muzzles. Males have horns with a single twist up to 0.5 m (1.64 ft) long. Bushbucks are one of the least social antelopes in South Africa. Unlike many of their relatives that move about in herds, Southern Bushbucks are solitary animals. However, they aren’t aggressive towards each other and will sometimes forage in close proximity. Bushbucks only come together to mate and then go their separate ways. Females hide their young and go to great lengths to keep them hidden. When they visit their calves, they go so far as to eat their dung to keep the scent from attracting predators. Side-striped Jackal Lupulella adusta They are heavily built and have shorter legs and ears than other jackal species. Coloration is buff-gray with a darker gray back and a blackish tail with a white or almost silver tip. Look for these mammals in moist habitats in South Africa. Side-striped Jackals live in swamps, marshes, humid savannas, and wooded areas up to 2,700 m (8,800 ft) above sea level. They’re strictly nocturnal, so they can be hard to spot, but you may hear them calling out at night. These canines are incredibly vocal creatures that make various noises, including yipping to communicate with other jackals, screaming when threatened or wounded, and an owl-like hoot, which sets them apart from other jackal species. Side-striped jackal. (2023, September 6). In Wikipedia. Side-striped Jackals are omnivorous scavengers. While their diet varies with location and season, they commonly feed on insects, small vertebrates, fruit, carrion, and plant material. They occasionally kill small prey like rats or birds but spend the most time feeding on the leftovers from other large predators. Sadly, massive trapping and poisoning efforts have damaged the population of these animals. Side-striped Jackals have also been seriously impacted by rabies and distemper epidemics. While they’re rare in much of their range, they are not endangered and have been given some protection at national parks. Warthog Phacochoerus africanus Warthogs have disproportionately large heads with thick protective pads (“warts”) on the sides of their heads, two upper tusks that protrude from their snout, and sharp lower tusks. Sparse bristles cover their body, with manes of longer bristles down the top of their head and spine. A tuft of long hairs at the end of their tail. Warthogs live in various habitats in South Africa, including wooded savannas, grass steppes, and semideserts. But their lack of body fat and fur means they need certain landscape features to help them regulate their body temperatures. Common warthog. (2023, July 27). In Wikipedia. For example, they use wet areas called “wallows” to cool off in the mud when the temperature is hot. In cool temperatures, they go inside burrows to stay warm. They fill these holes with grass and use them as shelter and insulation from the hot sun and cold temperatures. Warthogs have some interesting feeding adaptations. They often kneel on their calloused, padded front knees when feeding on grass. They also use their strong, blunt snouts and tusks to dig up and eat tubers, bulbs, and roots. Suni Nesotragus moschatus Identifying Characteristics: Adults are 30-43 cm (12-17 in) tall at the shoulder. They may vary in color from gray to rich chestnut with a reddish tinge with paler underparts, and each leg has a black band above the hoof. Adult males have wide-set, black, ringed horns, which slant backward and measure 8–13 cm (3–5 in) long. These antelopes in South Africa are small but MIGHTY! They live in high-altitude forests that many other animals can’t tolerate. This helps Suni’s stay away from predators because their small size makes them an easy target for carnivores. Their coloring helps camouflage them in dense foliage as well. In addition to their inhospitable habitat, Suni are excellent at maintaining their diet through tough conditions. They eat fallen leaf litter and follow monkeys to feed on the fruit that they drop! Sunis don’t need to live near a fresh water source because all the water they need comes from their food. If a Suni does encounter a predator, their first instinct is to freeze when threatened. When this fails, they will quickly leap away through the underbrush in hopes of escaping larger animals. They tend to be shy and secretive, active in the early morning, late evening, and night. Straw-coloured Fruit Bat Eidolon helvum Wingspans up to 30 inches (76 cm). They have yellowish-brown necks and backs and tawny olive or brownish undersides. Large, narrow wings, long, pointed faces, large eyes, and widespread ears. Straw-colored Fruit Bats are the second largest African species of fruit bat. They are often called “flying foxes” for their large size, dog-like faces, widespread ears, and big eyes. These big bats are social animals in South Africa that live in large colonies of 100,000 to 10,000,000 individuals! While they are often active during the day, they mostly feed at night, leaving the colony in small groups to search for food in nearby forests. Straw-colored Fruit Bat Range Map Straw-coloured fruit bat. (2022, November 21). In Wikipedia. Unlike many of the smaller insectivorous bat species you may be familiar with, Straw-colored Fruit Bats are herbivores. When they find fruit, Straw-colored Fruit Bats grab it using their large thumbs and hold it to eat. Unlike most bats, Straw-colored Fruits Bats don’t use echolocation to navigate the skies. They rely upon their keen sense of smell and eyesight. Steenbok Raphicerus campestris They are reddish-fawn with a white throat and belly, large white-lined ears, and sharp hooves. Males have vertical horns that grow 7–19 cm (3-7.5 in) long. Steenboks are one of the smallest antelopes in South Africa! They prefer to live in open areas that offer some cover in the form of grasses or sparse trees. They’re herbivorous but don’t just graze like some antelopes. Steenboks will use their sharp hooves to dig up roots and tubers. They get most of the moisture they need from their food, so you may find them far from fresh water. Due to their small size, Steenboks must be on high alert for predators. If they sense danger, their first instinct is to freeze and lie low in dense vegetation, but if they still feel threatened, they will run and sometimes try to hide in aardvark burrows! Steenbok. (2023, August 21). In Wikipedia. You’ll usually see Steenboks by themselves or in pairs. The males are territorial and solitary, remaining in their territory for life. Males and females only come together to mate. Sable Antelope Hippotragus niger Adult males are black, adult females are chestnut, and all adults typically have white eyebrow markings, cheek stripes, bellies, and rump patches. Both sexes have horns that arch backward, but the horns of females are generally 61–102 cm (24–40 in) long, while males’ horns may reach 81–165 cm (32–65 in). These stunning animals in South Africa prefer mixtures of savanna, open woodlands, and grasslands. They tend to avoid extensive areas of open land. Researchers believe that their food preferences dictate their somewhat limited habitat. Sable Antelopes prefer grasses at specific heights and only graze during certain seasons in a highly specific feeding pattern. They also require water at least every other day. You will rarely spot this species far from a river or watering hole. Interestingly, Sable Antelopes will chew on bones to ingest important minerals they can’t get from grass. Sable antelope. (2023, May 3). In Wikipedia. Despite their calm appearance, these antelope are impressive fighters with few natural predators besides humans. Their formidable size and abilities make even lions think twice about taking on adults. However, the young are susceptible to predation from various species. To help protect against predators, Sable Antelopes typically live in herds of 15 to 25 members. The herds with females, their young, and one dominant male will rally around all the young to protect them in case of an attack. Non-dominant males will also form bachelor herds until they are old enough to mate. African Savanna Elephant Loxodonta africana Also called the African Bush Elephant. Thick, gray, creased skin, muscular trunks, and large triangular ears shaped a bit like the African continent. Both sexes have thick, curved ivory tusks. The African Savanna Elephant is the biggest land animal in South Africa (and the world). It is also the largest of the three elephant species (Forest and Asian). Due to their size, an elephant’s most significant requirement is food. They spend most of their time eating, and a single individual may eat 350 pounds (158 kg) of vegetation daily. Today, these magnificent creatures are restricted to preserves, but in the past, they would migrate hundreds of miles annually, moving from high to low elevations with food availability. Savanna Elephant Range Map African bush elephant. (2023, August 17). In Wikipedia. As you probably know, one of the most unique features of elephants is their trunks. Their trunks contain over 40,000 muscles and two sensitive finger-like projections on the tip, allowing them to handle small objects or pick up as much as 400 pounds (181 kg)! They can also use their trunks to breathe, drink water, or blow water onto their backs to cool themselves. The females have a 22-month gestation period, the longest among mammals, and give birth to a single calf, which the whole herd helps to raise. Elephants are considered ecosystem engineers because of their many impacts. For example, they dig in dry riverbeds in the dry season, creating watering holes with their tusks, which other animals rely upon. And as they move through the landscape, they create large pathways for other species to follow. They also rip up small trees and open areas for other grazers like zebras. Lastly, their dung also spreads seeds from several important plant species. Rusty-spotted Genet Genetta maculata They have slender bodies, long tails, and short legs. Coloration is yellowish-gray with rust-colored to black spots, a continuous dark line down their backs, and dark rings around their tails. Look for these cat-like animals in South Africa at night. Rusty-spotted Genets are small omnivores closely related to mongooses. They’re nocturnal and solitary but occasionally hunt or live in pairs. They LOVE to eat rodents, which means they’re frequently spotted around cultivated fields where mice and similar species feed. Side-striped jackal. (2023, September 6). In Wikipedia. These mammals are semi-arboreal, meaning they spend much of their time in the trees and prefer to live in densely forested areas. They sleep during the day and use densely vegetated tree branches, aardvark burrows, or rock crevices as shelter. As you might expect, they have excellent climbing skills! You may be able to spot a Rusty-spotted Genet right now on our LIVE animal camera from South Africa . They are often seen at night visiting the feeding station. Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis Also called Dassie, Cape hyrax, Rock Rabbit, and Coney. Short snouts, cleft upper lips, stout legs, short ears, and rubber-like soles on their feet. They are brownish-gray with creamy undersides, long black whiskers, and a black patch of hair on their back. These small animals may look like rodents in South Africa, but their closest living relatives are actually elephants and manatees! As their name suggests, they live in rocky, scrub-covered areas. Rock Hyrax have several adaptions that allow them to move about skillfully on steep, rocky surfaces. First, Rock Hyrax feet soles are rubber-like and kept moist by a glandular secretion. And second, their feet also have a depression in the center that acts a bit like a suction cup. Rock Hyrax Range Map Rock hyrax. (2023, June 9). In Wikipedia. Rock Hyraxes usually live in colonies called “kopjes,” ranging from 5 to 60 individuals. Usually, these groups are made of a male, several females, and their young. Interestingly, Rock Hyrax colonies usually urinate and defecate in a common restroom. This habit causes a build-up of calcium carbonate from the urine, turning the cliffs where they live white. In the past, African tribes and Europeans collected the calcium carbonate crystals for medicine to treat epilepsy, hysteria, and other injuries and ailments. Roan Antelope Hippotragus equinus They are reddish-brown with lighter undersides, black faces, and white eyebrows, cheeks, and around the nose. They have short, erect manes, light beards, and red nostrils, and both sexes have ringed horns that sweep backward. Roan Antelopes are one of the largest animals in South Africa! Look for these large ruminants in lightly wooded savannas with medium or tall grass and access to water. They feed in the morning and evening and retreat to shaded areas in the middle of the day, so you’ll need to rise early to observe them. Unlike many antelopes, healthy adult Roan Antelopes are formidable opponents to most predators. They don’t flee like many animals. Instead, they face down even the most fearsome predators, like lions. They’re known to gore attacking lions with their long, scimitar-like horns. Roan antelope. (2023, March 1). In Wikipedia. These fierce creatures don’t travel alone either, instead living in mixed herds of about 20 animals, including females, young, and one dominant bull. Less dominant bachelor males tend to form their own groups. Being a herd animal is one more way these animals discourage attacks. Roan Antelopes are currently listed as lower risk but conservation dependent by the IUCN. Their populations have rapidly declined in recent years due to hunting and poaching, habitat deterioration and loss, and slaughter as part of tsetse fly control efforts. Plains Zebra Equus quagga Zebras are boldly striped, with some populations tending to have more narrow, defined striping. They have upright ears with rounded tips, erect manes, tufts at the ends of their tails, relatively short legs, convex heads, and somewhat concave nose profiles. The Plains Zebra is probably the most recognized animal found in South Africa! Even the youngest children can identify their black and white coats. Interestingly, the exact coat pattern is unique to the individual, just like a fingerprint. As their name suggests, Plains Zebras prefer open terrain and spend most of their time in open savannas, grasslands, woodlands, and scrublands. Typically, zebras move about these areas in social groups called harems, consisting of one dominant stallion (male) and several females and their offspring. Plains Zebra Range Map Plains zebra. (2023, August 22). In Wikipedia. When threatened, Plains Zebras will often form a semi-circle. The stallion will attempt to protect his harem and may charge their two most common predators, Lions and Spotted Hyenas. Adults are fast animals, capable of running 40 miles per hour (64 kmh) to escape when necessary. To help avoid predation, newborn foals are incredibly well-developed when born. Unbelievably, they can STAND within 15 minutes and can run after an hour! Then, after a week, they are already feeding on grass, even though they aren’t fully weaned until 7 to 11 months old. Nyala Tragelaphus angasii Identifying Characteristics: Adults are 90-110 cm (35-43 in) tall at the shoulder. Females are a rusty red color, while males are slate gray, and both sexes have some white stripes and spots that vary with the individual. Both sexes have a dorsal crest of hair running from the back of the head to the base of the tail. Males also have spiraling horns up to 60–83 cm (24–33 in) long. Nyalas are one of the oldest antelope species in South Africa! These amazing animals emerged as a separate species at the end of the Miocene era, close to six million years ago! They live in savannas and woodlands, always within close proximity to freshwater sources. They’re mainly active in the morning and late afternoon when they browse and graze on grasses, twigs, fruit, and tree leaves. They’re clever, too, sometimes following baboons to eat the fruits and leaves that they dislodge from trees. Interestingly, Nyalas are among the few species that benefit from poor agricultural practices. Overgrazing by cattle usually encourages weeds to grow, and these plants are some of their favorite things to eat! Large carnivores are a major concern for these antelopes. When they feel threatened, they give a deep barking alarm call that warns other Nyalas in the area. Nyalas listen closely to other animals, too, and react to the alarm calls of impala, baboons, and kudu. Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus Adults are 2.8-3.5 m (9-11.5 ft) long. Coloration is dark olive to gray-olive with yellowish bellies, but young individuals may be more greenish or brown with darker crossbands on their bodies and tails. They have long, sturdy tails, long, powerful jaws, stout legs, and thick, scaly, heavily armored skin. The Nile Crocodile is the largest reptile in South Africa. These creatures have a nasty reputation as man-eaters, and it isn’t entirely undeserved. Nile Crocodiles are indiscriminate carnivores that feed on whatever they can catch, and because their habitat often overlaps with human settlements, run-ins happen. Although the data can be unreliable, some reports indicate that Nile Crocodiles kill about 200 people annually. These intimidating carnivores are patient, agile ambush predators. They will feed on nearly any prey that comes into range and may swallow it whole or rip it apart. Their conical teeth and strong jaws give them a uniquely powerful bite with a grip that’s nearly impossible to loosen. As if that weren’t enough, these incredible predators can swim at 30-35 kph (19-22 mph) and remain underwater for up to 30 minutes. During mating season, males attract females to their territory by bellowing, slapping their snouts in the water, blowing water out of their noses, and making other noises. In areas with high populations of males, they sometimes get into physical altercations over females, especially if they’re similar in size. These altercations aren’t common but can be quite a spectacle to witness! Lion Panthera leo They have short, tawny coats, white undersides, and long tails with black tufts at the ends. Males have manes, while females do not. Lions are probably the most famous animal found in South Africa. Though intimidating, lions aren’t very effective hunters on their own. Instead, lions usually hunt in groups, called prides, to take down large herbivores like zebras, impalas, gazelles, wildebeests, giraffes, and cape buffalo. Tommyknocker, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Lions live in groups called prides, which range from 2-40 individuals, though they are rarely all together at once. Female pride members are all related, as females don’t leave their mother’s territories. Females don’t have a dominance hierarchy and instead work together to find food and care for each other’s cubs. On the other hand, males are generally forced out of their father’s territory at about 2.5 years of age, roam for two to three years, and then attempt to take over their own pride by seriously injuring or killing the current leaders. While we often picture one male as the “king,” male lions sometimes form coalitions of 2-4 males to take over a pride. These coalitions are often brothers, and the larger the coalition, the longer they’ll be able to reign over their pride. While they don’t have natural predators, lions are still susceptible to starvation and human attacks. Their worldwide populations have declined significantly throughout their range. Sadly, some subspecies of lions are critically endangered, while others are already extinct. Leopard Panthera pardus Identifying Characteristics: They have relatively short heads and long bodies, broad heads, small round ears, and long whiskers. Adults may be tawny, light yellow, reddish-orange, or black, and they often have black rosettes on their faces and bodies and black rings on their tails. Leopards have the most varied coloring of any animal in South Africa. In fact, individuals’ coat coloring is so unique it can be used to identify individuals like fingerprints. Their color patterns help these carnivores to remain camouflaged in various habitats. This excellent camouflage is essential as leopards are ambush predators. They approach prey while remaining hidden, crouched low to the ground, and then pounce before the animal can react. These big cats have tremendous strength and can tackle prey up to ten times their own weight! Leopard. (2023, August 29). In Wikipedia. Leopards are some of the most athletic wildlife you will find in South Africa. They can swim, climb trees and descend from them head first, run at bursts of 60 kph (36 mph), and jump 6 m (20 ft) horizontally and 3 m (10 ft) vertically. This is one carnivore that would break every record in gym class! 🙂 Sadly, leopard populations are declining due to habitat loss, range fragmentation, and hunting. Today, they are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus Adults are stocky with short necks and bodies, large hindquarters, large rounded ears, and sometimes short, straight horns. Their coats may be yellow and speckled with brown, bright golden-yellow, or gray and dull, with each individual hair being light at the base and dark towards the tip. Look for these animals in the arid, rocky hills of South Africa. To make life in these rocky regions a bit easier, Klipspringers have specially adapted feet. The last joints of their toes are rotated so that they walk on the tips of their hooves. The rocks wear the hooves down into cylindrical shapes well-suited for balancing on the rocks. Klipspringer. (2023, January 18). In Wikipedia. These unique little creatures are also monogamous to a greater extent than most other antelopes. A pair will mark and defend a territory together, with males performing dominance displays and butting heads. Females are a bit aggressive, too, and may bite and rip out each other’s fur. Klipspringers are usually most active in the morning and evening. One of the pair, usually the male, will stand guard while the other feeds. They are preyed on by many large predators and have to remain constantly alert. Impala Aepyceros melampus They have reddish-brown hair on the upper parts of their bodies, and the undersides of their bellies, chins, lips, inside ears, the line over the eye, and tails are white. Look for these well-known animals in South Africa in grasslands and savannas. While Impala are predominantly grazers, especially when the grass is lush and abundant, they switch to shrubs, trees, and other plants as needed. They’re ruminants, meaning they have multi-chambered stomachs and regurgitate and chew their food, called cud, multiple times to get the most nutrients possible. Impala. (2023, July 30). In Wikipedia. Impalas share their grassland and woodland habitats with many large, capable predators, so they must stay alert and ready to make a quick escape! Impalas leap in random directions when they sense danger and run quickly to startle their enemies. They’re incredibly athletic and may jump up to 10 ft (3.5 m) in the air! To avoid being grabbed, Impalas often kick their back feet up as they land on just their front legs. Calves are the most susceptible to predation, harsh weather conditions, and illness. Thankfully, female Impalas have some incredible strategies to care for their young. For example, they can delay giving birth for up to one month if weather conditions are harsh. They also typically give birth around mid-day when most predators are sleeping. Honey Badger Mellivora capensis Identifying Characteristics: Adults are 55–77 cm (22–30 in) long. They have stocky bodies, large heads, small eyes, strong, wide forefeet, small hind feet with short claws, muscular necks and shoulders, and thick, loose skin. Their color varies with subspecies, but generally, their lower half is black, and they have an upper mantle of gray or bright white. Honey Badgers are one of the toughest animals in South Africa! They have a reputation for living anywhere, eating anything, and surviving no matter what. Honey badger. (2023, August 7). In Wikipedia. Their diet is as varied as their habitat. Honey Badgers are opportunistic foragers whose menu changes with the season and prey availability. They frequently prey on snakes, birds, eggs, frogs, and small rodents. As their name suggests, they’re also known for raiding honey bee hives to eat the larvae and honey inside. Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius Adult males weigh up to 9,920 pounds (4,500 kg), while adult females average 3000 pounds (1,360 kg). They’re typically purple or slate gray, brownish pink around their ears and eyes, and covered in sparse, thin hair. Hippos are the LARGEST animal in South Africa you will find in freshwater! In fact, the Hippopotamus is the third largest land animal alive today, after the Elephant and the White Rhinoceros! Hippos have unique skin that needs to be wet most of the day, meaning they spend most of their time submerged in shallow lakes, rivers, and swamps. But despite their aquatic lifestyle, Hippos can’t actually swim! They are just walking on the bottom when you see them in water. Hippopotamus Range Map Hippopotamus. (2023, August 25). In Wikipedia. At night, Hippos typically leave the water to feed to avoid the sun. They mainly feed on short grasses near the water but sometimes travel miles for food, using their acute sense of smell for dropped fruit. These big mammals may look cute, but beware, Hippos are one of the most aggressive and dangerous mammals alive, particularly the dominant males. They clash with anything in their territory, including other hippos, humans boating, and predators. Hippos have HUGE, sharp canines that grow continuously and may reach 20 inches (51 cm) in length! Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus Deeply sloping backs, long legs, long, narrow snouts, tufted tails, and large glands below their eyes. Their coloring varies, may be pale brown to brownish gray, and both sexes have dark, oddly shaped horns. Look for these animals in grasslands and savannas in South Africa. Hartebeests are almost entirely grazers; their diet is never less than 80% grass. Their odd, long snout may look funny, but it enhances their chewing ability, allowing them to gain more nutrition from poor-quality food. Hartebeest. (2023, August 21). In Wikipedia. The map above shows the ranges of the different Hartebeest subspecies. Hartebeests are usually rather sedentary animals that often appear to be relaxing, but don’t let their casual appearance fool you. They are alert and cautious. Hartebeests always have a sentinel watching for predators. When danger is spotted, the herd will bolt away as a group. Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros Their coloring ranges from reddish-brown to blue-gray, with 6 to 10 stripes down their back and black-tipped tails with white undersides. Males have beards and large horns with two and a half twists that can grow as long as 120 cm (47 in). This species is one of the biggest animals in South Africa! Greater Kudus are tall and large with impressive horns. These graceful creatures can easily clear obstacles up to 2.5 m (8 ft) tall and run up to 100 kph (62 mph). Greater Kudus are social and surprisingly vocal animals. You may hear them make whimpers, bleats, barks, grunts, and hums. The females stay together in groups of up to 25 with their offspring, and the males gather in small herds of 2-10. Males and females only come together to mate. Greater kudu. (2023, September 6). In Wikipedia. The map above shows the ranges of the different Greater Kudu subspecies. The females give birth during the rainy season when the grass is high, essential for keeping the calves hidden from predators. The calves remain hidden for the first four weeks of their lives before they can join the herd. During this time, their mother will only visit to nurse them to avoid attracting attention from predators. Gemsbok Oryx gazella Identifying Characteristics: Adults are about 1.2 m (4 ft) at the shoulder. They are typically light taupe to tan in color with lighter patches towards the bottom of their rump. Black markings extend from the base of the horns and sweep back in stripes over the eyes and cheeks, continuing down their necks and backs. They have black bands around all four legs. Both sexes have slightly curved black horns with light-colored rings that average 85 cm (33 in) long. Gemsboks are some of the most-hunted antelope in South Africa. They are prized by hunters for their long, curved horns, which are often turned into trophies or other ornamental objects. Although they’re a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List , there have been large declines in several parts of their range. They’re most susceptible to hunting, climate change, habitat destruction, and livestock overgrazing. Oddly, you can also find these unique creatures in parts of North America . The New Mexico Department of Fish and Game introduced a herd to the Tularose Basin between 1969 and 1977. Today, scientists estimate their current North American population at around 3,000 individuals, and an unknown number have also spread north into the San Andres Wildlife Refuge and the Jornada Biosphere Reserve. Common Eland Tragelaphus oryx Females are usually much smaller than males. They are a uniform fawn color with some vertical white striping on their upper parts. Both sexes have long dewlaps, short manes, and corkscrew horns that are 43–66 cm (17–26 in) long. Elands are incredibly large animals found in South Africa. But they are relatively slow compared to other wildlife, only running at speeds up to 32 kph (20 mph). However, they can jump nearly 1 m (3 ft) into the air. They are one of the world’s most adaptable ruminants and can survive in deserts, grasslands, and mountainous areas. Elands have another feature that sets them apart: a weird sound that lets you know they’re near. When walking, the tendons and joints in their front legs produce sharp clicking sounds that can be heard from a distance. Scientists believe that these sounds may help an Eland advertise their territory. Common eland. (2023, August 15). In Wikipedia. Elands are generally social creatures and may form large herds of up to 500 individuals. Typically, these larger herds are mostly females and their young, while males tend to roam by themselves or in small groups. Males often fight for mates, and females tend to select the most dominant males to breed with. Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Identifying Characteristics: Relatively long legs, small, rounded heads, and short ears. Their coloration is yellowish with a white or light tan underside, small black spots, and dark rings terminating in a white tip on the end of their tail. As you probably know, Cheetahs are the FASTEST animal in South Africa (and the world). Unlike most other big cats, Cheetahs do not stalk their prey. Instead, they use their incredible speed (80-130 kph, or 50-80 mph) to charge. However, they can only maintain this speed for short distances. Cheetahs are solitary except during mating. The cubs are cared for solely by their mother. When they’re young, the female will hide the cubs in tall vegetation, rocky outcrops, or marshy areas while she hunts, occasionally carrying them to new hiding spots. Once they are old enough to fend for themselves, the mother goes back to her solitary lifestyle until mating again. Cheetah. (2023, September 6). In Wikipedia. When a Cheetah overtakes its prey, it strangles its target by squeezing its neck in its jaw. They feed mostly on gazelles but also consume impalas, hares, and birds. Interestingly, most hunts are unsuccessful, and they work much harder than other big cats to get a meal. Cheetahs are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Researchers have found they have little genetic diversity, which leaves them susceptible to disease and environmental changes. Despite this, some countries still allow Cheetahs to be hunted, and they are sometimes persecuted for livestock losses. Caracal Caracal caracal Coloration is red to brown with white undersides adorned with many small spots and black facial markings. They have robust builds, disproportionately long, muscular back legs, short faces, long tufted ears, and short tails. These animals are nearly impossible to spot in South Africa. Caracals are nocturnal and generally very secretive. These medium-sized cats live in a range of habitats, including plains, rocky hills, scrub forests, woodlands, and thickets. They love edge habitats, especially the transition between forest and grasslands. Caracals are highly athletic, capable carnivores that can take down prey three times their size. They’re also known for their incredible bird-snaring leaps into the air. To hunt, they rely on stealth to get close to prey and then pounce on it, using their muscular back legs. Caracal. (2023, September 4). In Wikipedia. They’re also perfectly capable of avoiding predation. When they sense a threat, they often lie flat and use their coloring to blend in with the ground and go unnoticed. They’re also agile climbers that can escape lions and other large predators by climbing into trees. If all else fails, they’re known to chase off predators twice their size. Unfortunately, the one predator they can’t go up against is humans. Farmers and ranchers frequently kill them for feeding on small livestock. Cape Porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis Covered with bristly hairs and quills that they can erect. Long whiskers and hollow spines on their tail, which rattle when they shake. The Cape Porcupine is the largest rodent in South Africa! These formidable animals are most commonly seen at night and usually live in wooded areas with plenty of vegetation and rocky outcrops. They need shelter and frequently seek out crevices, caves, or antbear dens. They will build dens up to 65 feet (20m) long if none are available. Cape Porcupine Range Map Cape porcupine. (2023, June 23). In Wikipedia. Despite looking a bit clumsy, Cape Porcupines are formidable opponents for most predators. If approached by a lion, hyena, or other meat-eater, they freeze and lift the sharp quills running down their back, making them appear twice their size. They give other warning signs, too, by rattling their tails, hissing, and snorting. Bush Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia Adults only grow up to 50 cm (20 in) tall. They vary in color and may be chestnut, silvery gray, or light brown, with an erect tuft of hair on the top of their head. Males have small, spike-like horns up to 11 cm (4.3 in) long with grooves at the base. Bush Duikers are the smallest antelopes in South Africa! These little animals will adapt to various habitats and live in woodlands, savannas, grasslands, and mountainous areas. They inhabit higher altitudes than any other African ungulate. To help live in these inhospitable conditions, they consume insects and have occasionally been observed stalking and eating birds, rodents, lizards, and frogs. Bush Duikers are territorial and form monogamous pairs. Both sexes will use threat displays to drive other Duikers of the same sex out of their territory. If these displays fail, battles may ensue! Females will head-butt other females, and males may fight, chase, and stab each other with their horns. The lifespan of Bush Duikers in the wild is unknown, but they have lived up to 14 years in captivity. This species is listed as one of least concern on the IUCN Red List . Brown Hyena Parahyaena brunnea They have heavily built necks, shoulders, chests, and heads. Short brushy tails, large pointed ears, noticeably larger hind feet, and longer forelegs than hind legs, giving them a sloping appearance. They have long, shaggy hair that’s usually dark brown to black on their body and tan on the shoulders and neck and striped legs. Look for this predator in semi-arid regions of South Africa. Brown Hyenas can live in drier areas than some of their relatives because they consume fruit with high water content when fresh water sources aren’t available. While this is a great adaption, it also puts them at odds with melon farmers seeking to protect their crops. These canines protect themselves from heat by hunting nocturnally and taking shelter during the day. They build dens in sandy areas near rocks or vegetation, which helps provide shade. Brown hyena. (2023, August 21). In Wikipedia. Brown Hyenas may form clans or remain solitary, but all adults look for food alone. They don’t usually hunt live prey, instead using their keen sense of smell to locate carrion. However, they will go after birds and small mammals if a good opportunity presents itself. Brown Hyenas have decreasing populations and are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. They are often killed by farmers who blame them for crop and livestock losses. This is sad because they almost never prey on livestock since they are primarily scavengers. Serval Leptailurus serval Identifying Characteristics: They have the longest ears and legs in the cat family relative to their size. They have a coppery, golden-yellow, or buff coat with some white on their faces and undersides, black tail and ear tips, black rings on their tail, and various black stripes and spots on their bodies. Servals are some of the most playful wildlife you will find in South Africa! They have a kitten-like personality. Both young and adult Servals sometimes play with their food like domestic cats. They may throw animals into the air or let them scurry away before catching them again. They hunt by using their large ears and acute hearing to locate prey, sometimes remaining motionless for up to 15 minutes while they listen. Servals can pounce on prey from more than 4m (13 ft) away! These athletic cats have also been observed jumping 1.5 m (5 ft) into the air after birds. Serval. (2023, August 27). In Wikipedia. Servals are solitary creatures that spend most of their time in reed beds and grasslands but will also roam through thickets, forest brush, streams, and marshes. They’re crepuscular, spending most of their time hunting in the morning and evening, though Servals living close to human populations often become nocturnal to avoid people. Bontebok/Blesbok Damaliscus pygargus They are chocolate brown with black tails, white undersides, white stripes from their foreheads to the tips of their noses, and a white patch surrounding their tails. Both sexes have large, dark-colored, noticeably ringed, curving horns. The horns can reach a length of 0.5 m (1.64 ft). These animals are some of the easiest to spot in South Africa! They have a striking color pattern, with rich brown fur and a large white patch on the front of the head. Their curved, ringed horns add another level of glamor to their appearance. Males are territorial and fiercely guard harems of females and young year-round. They will attempt to intimidate other males by stamping their feet, digging up the soil with their horns, and swinging their heads. If their intimidation tactics fail, things may get violent. Males clash their horns and occasionally catch each other on the sides or head, which can be deadly. In the early 1900s, Bonteboks came within a hair’s breadth of extinction! In 1931, only 17 Bonteboks remained in the wild! Thankfully, these 17 were conserved, and Bontebok National Park was created. Today, their population ranges from 2,500 to 3,000 individuals descended from those original 17 animals. However, Bonteboks remain listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List . Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis Hairless except for their ears. Typically gray but may vary from yellow-brown to dark brown. They have two horns, short, rounded ears, and hooked or pointed upper lips. Black Rhinos are distinguished from White Rhinos by their hooked upper lip, which is flat in White Rhinos. This distinguishing feature is due to their different diets. White Rhinos are grazers feeding primarily on grass, while Black Rhinos are browsers, and their hooked lips help them pull leaves from trees and bushes. Black Rhinos will inhabit woodlands, forests, wetlands, and semidesert savannas. Good food sources are one of the most essential features of their habitat, as they need areas with plenty of shrubs and woody plants, water sources, and mineral licks. Black Rhino Range Map Black rhinoceros. (2023, June 25). In Wikipedia. Adults have NO natural predators due to their large size, deadly horns, and thick skin. Despite being aggressively defended by their mother, calves, and juveniles are sometimes preyed upon by lions and crocodiles. These incredible animals are classified as “critically endangered” in South Africa due to habitat loss and poaching. Black-backed Jackal Lupulella mesomelas They have a fox-like appearance with slender bodies, long legs, large ears, and bushy tails. They are reddish-brown to tan with a black saddle that has a mix of silver hair and black tail tips. Unlike many other animals in South Africa, Black-backed Jackals are noisy! These fox-like canines are highly vocal, making various sounds, including yelling, yelping, woofing, whining, growling, and cackling. They use sounds to advertise their presence and territory and express alarm and excitement. These opportunistic omnivores eat anything they can find. They take small prey like insects, small mammals, and young antelopes but will also go after larger species if the animal is wounded or sick. In coastal areas, Black-backed Jackals will consume seals, fish, and shorebirds. Black-backed jackal. (2023, September 6). In Wikipedia. Throughout the 1800s and 1900s, there were several attempts to eradicate Black-backed Jackals through hunting, poisoning, gas, and trapping, but they were all unsuccessful. These resourceful creatures have learned to regurgitate poisoned bait or avoid it altogether. Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis Coloration is yellow-brown with pale throats and underparts. Black outer ears, raccoon-like face masks, lower legs, feet, and tail tips. They have relatively short legs, huge ears, and more molars than other canids. Look for these small animals in the arid grasslands and savannas of South Africa. Named for their enormous ears, these interesting-looking foxes prefer areas with short grass. They live in large dens with long tunnels and several entrances, and they have multiple dens within their territory. Bat-eared fox. (2023, September 7). In Wikipedia. Bat-eared Foxes arrange their schedule by the weather. In the summertime, they’re mostly nocturnal to avoid the heat of the day, while during colder weather, they sleep at night. They spend much of their time feeding on insects and other arthropods. They often follow herds of wildebeest, zebra, and buffalo, which disturb the termites as they walk. Their dung also attracts dung beetles, which make a tasty treat. Their large ears allow them to hear insects even underground! African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus They have large, muscular legs, thin bodies, large, rounded ears, four toes on each foot, and blackish skin, which may show through where fur is sparse. Their coloring makes them appear painted in shades of yellow, white, brown, red, and black, with some black on their head and white on the tip of their tail. These canines live in savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands in South Africa. They’re widespread, social animals, often living in packs of up to 40 members. The pattern of colors on each African Wild Dog is unique to that individual, like a fingerprint. African wild dog. (2023, August 13). In Wikipedia. Like their wolf cousins, African Wild Dog packs are run by a dominant male and female pair. They have a complicated hierarchy that dictates their behavior, but the entire pack is incredibly nurturing toward one another. All members care for the pups once they’ve left the den, and pups may even nurse from other females. Upon returning from a hunt, all hunting pack members will regurgitate food for the puppies, old or sick dogs, and any adults unable to go on the hunt. African Wild Dogs are diurnal and do most of their hunting during the morning and evening. The alpha male usually leads the hunts. Once the pack locates prey, they chase it as a group. Chases may last several kilometers and reach speeds up to 56 kph (35 mph). African Wildcat Felis lybica Coloration varies and may be tawny brown, sandy yellow, reddish, or gray with faint tabby spots and stripes, banded legs, and reddish or rusty-brown on the backs of their ears. They have long legs, small ear tufts, and long, thin tails with rings near the end and black tips. You are looking at the ancestor of the domestic cat! African Wildcats are skillful hunters with incredible hearing. Once they’ve located prey, they slowly and sneakily approach it and pounce once they’re in range. They usually feed on mice, rats, and other small mammals. African wildcat. (2023, September 6). In Wikipedia. African Wildcats are most active at night. During the day, they tend to avoid the heat and rest under bushes or other shelter, although sometimes they can be observed out hunting on cloudy, overcast days. Additionally, when threatened, these cats raise their hair to make themselves seem larger and intimidate their opponents, similar to what we see in domestic cats. African Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis They have large heads, stout, tapered tails, partially webbed hind feet, long white whiskers on their cheeks, chin, and brows, and are clawless except for three grooming claws on each back foot. They have thick, shiny, dark brown coats with white markings on their upper lips, the sides of their faces, necks, throats, bellies, and lower ears. Otters are one of the most playful animals in South Africa! As a primarily aquatic species, you’ll almost always see African Clawless Otters around rivers and other freshwater habitats. They prefer areas with thick reed beds and shallow water because they don’t dive below 1.5 m (5 ft). African clawless otter. (2023, August 7). In Wikipedia. African Clawless Otters also spend time on land. They build dens with entrances above or below the water they share with other otters. They use their dens for giving birth, playing, eating, and resting. These creatures breed during the dry season, and the young otters are particularly fun to watch. They spend much of their time fighting, swimming, sliding on rocks, playing with food, and throwing pebbles into the water to dive and grab before reaching the bottom. Watching them is like a little circus show! African Civet Civettictis civetta They have large hindquarters, low heads, and short manes that extend down their backs. Coloration is silverish or cream with black or brown markings and spots, a black raccoon-like face mask, and white neck stripes. If you see this shy animal in South Africa, you might not know exactly what you’re looking at! African Civets are incredibly unique. They have similar features to raccoons and cats but aren’t related to either. Their large hindquarters and extended mane are dead giveaways that you have found an African Civet. African civet. (2023, August 31). In Wikipedia. These unusual-looking animals live in forested and open areas but need plenty of cover for hunting and hiding from larger animals. For example, in open areas, they require tall stands of grasses or thickets to shelter in during the daytime. African Civets are primarily nocturnal but occasionally move around during the morning or evening of cloudy days. They’re secretive and solitary except when they come together to breed. Aardwolf Proteles cristatus They have large pointed ears, slender skulls, thick manes that run from the back of their head to their tail, and longer forelegs than hind legs, giving them a sloping appearance. They have buff-yellow or dark brown fur with dark stripes on their bodies, horizontal dark stripes on their legs, and dark feet and tails. It’s easy to mistake this animal in South Africa for a hyena. Aardwolves are smaller than hyenas and have more defined stripes. However, their similarity is so uncanny that some researchers have suggested it may be a defense mechanism called Batesian mimicry . This trait, which is rare in mammals, is where one species mimics a more dangerous one in appearance. Aardwolf. (2023, August 26). In Wikipedia. Aardwolves don’t hunt large animals and are considered insectivores since they almost exclusively feed on insects. Their favorite food is termites, and they have specially adapted long, sticky tongues that help them lap up hundreds at a time. One Aardwolf can consume 300,000 termites in a single night! Aardwolves live in dry, open savannas and grasslands and spend most of their life either solitary or in pairs. During the daytime, they retreat into underground dens to escape the sun and heat. Despite being common and widespread, it’s rare to spot one since they’re nocturnal, shy, and secretive. Aardvark Orycteropus afer They have squared-off heads, long noses wider at the end, tapering tails, four-toed forefeet, five-toed hind feet, and massive bodies with muscular limbs. They have short hairs on their heads, necks, and tails and longer hair on their limbs that may be worn off in older individuals. Aardvarks might be the strangest-looking animal in South Africa! Aardvarks are highly specialized to forage for their favorite prey: ants and termites. Their large ears, long noses, and sticky tongues help them easily find, scoop, and eat these insects. Due to their highly specific prey preference, they avoid areas that flood or have hard, compacted, or rocky soil. Aardvark. (2023, August 23). In Wikipedia. When Aardvarks find an ant or termite mound, they dig rapidly into the side of it with sharp claws. Then, they sweep the ants and termites into their mouth with their long, sticky tongues. They don’t chew the insects but digest them in a gizzard-like stomach. The defenses ants and termites use, like stinging, biting, chemical defenses, and hard mounds, may work on other insectivores but are no match for Aardvarks. These odd-looking creatures have some equally odd methods of defending themselves. When threatened, Aardvarks will stand on their hind legs or lay on their backs to fight enemies with their large front claws. They also avoid predators and heat by building underground burrows, which they shelter in during the day. African Buffalo Syncerus caffer They are heavy, cow-like animals that are typically dark gray or black. Both sexes have heavy, ridged horns that go straight out from the head and curve downward, then up. African Buffalo are one of the most formidable animals in South Africa! They are widely regarded as dangerous and have few natural predators other than humans. Lions are the only carnivores that regularly hunt adults, but it is certainly not easy. Cheetahs, hyenas, leopards, and African wild dogs will only go after calves. Buffalo are known to defend themselves courageously against lions and will often fight off multiple individuals, chasing them until they jump into a tree. These large mammals are some of the most successful grazing wildlife found in South Africa. They live in a wide range of habitats so long as there is plenty of access to water and grass. You may spot them in semi-arid bushlands, savannas, lowland rainforests, grasslands, montane forests, and coastal savannas. This is one of my favorite videos to watch, and it shows the toughness of the African Buffalo. You must watch it to the end! The African Buffalo uses a safety-in-numbers approach to avoid predation, sometimes congregating in herds of thousands of animals. These large herds are critical to protecting young calves. Calves give low, mournful bellows if threatened, and their herd will come running to defend them! Wildlife in South Africa Several Big Five reserves protect the more charismatic large mammals associated with the African savannah. Foremost among these is the Kruger National Park and its abutting private reserves. Still, other key safari destinations include iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Madikwe, Pilanesberg, Addo Elephant National Park, and a variety of smaller and more exclusive private reserves. These premier reserves all support healthy lion, elephant, and buffalo populations. South Africa stands as the world’s most important stronghold for rhinos (around 90% of the global population of White rhinos and Black rhinos is concentrated there). At the same time, the private reserves bordering Kruger have few, if any, rivals when it comes to intimate leopard encounters. Other wildlife associated with these reserves includes African wild dogs, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, giraffes, zebra, warthogs, baboons, and Vervet monkeys. Leopards are elusive and shy animals so spotting one on safari is a magical experience The country supports around two dozen species of antelope, ranging from the outsized eland and stately spiral-horned greater kudu to the gregarious Blue wildebeest and impala and arid-country specialists such as gemsbok, springbok, and the diminutive forest-dwelling Red and Blue duikers. Several large mammal species are endemic to South Africa. The Black wildebeest and Blesbok are associated mainly with grassy habitats in the Highveld. At the same time, the Cape mountain zebra and bontebok are fynbos-dwellers more-or-less confined to the Western Cape. Marine wildlife is a strong feature of South Africa. The clifftop town of Hermanus offers the world’s finest land-based whale-watching, while other aquatic wildlife attractions range from caged shark dives at Mossel Bay and turtle-nesting excursions in iSimangaliso to the penguin colony at Cape Town’s Boulders Beach and dolphins that frequently visit many of the country’s bays. The African wild dog is one of the most endangered predators in Africa, but also the most efficient hunters in the bush South Africa is a key bird-watching destination . The national checklist comprises around 840 species and includes the world’s largest bird (ostrich) and what is reputedly its bulkiest flying species (kori bustard), along with a dazzling variety of bee-eaters, turacos, parrots, rollers, and waxbills. The iconic Mountain zebra in the Karoo National Park The national checklist comprises around 840 species and includes the world’s largest bird (ostrich) and what is reputedly its bulkiest flying species (kori bustard), along with a dazzling variety of bee-eaters, turacos, parrots, rollers, and waxbills. d several more are near-endemics with a range that extends a small way into Namibia and/or Botswana. A Southern right whale breaks the water near the coastal town of Hermanus in the Western Cape Avian variety is most significant in the southern summer (November-March) when several resident species assume a colorful breeding plumage and dozens of migrant species arrive from Europe or elsewhere in Africa. There are several sites in South Africa, most notably perhaps Kruger, where a moderately skilled birder could tick 100 species in a day. BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE

Western Cape The Western Cape Province of South Africa is on the southwestern coast of South Africa. It is the fourth largest of the South African provinces and is the province with the third most residents. The province borders the Northern Cape Province and the Eastern Cape Province. The largest cities in this province are Cape Town and George. The popular Garden Route is also in the Western Cape Province. Read more about South Africa’s 9 provinces here. The Regions of the Western Cape For local government purposes, the Western Cape Province is divided into one metropolitan municipality, the City of Cape Town, and five district municipalities. The five district municipalities consist of 24 local municipalities. City of Cape Town The City of Cape Town is on the southwestern side of the Western Cape Province. It is the smallest of the regions of the Western Cape with the highest population. In addition to the oldest buildings in South Africa, Cape Town offers many wonderful outdoor attractions. Cape Winelands District Municipality The seat of the Cape Winelands District Municipality is in Worcester. This district is the third-largest of the districts in the Western Cape, with the third-largest population of the districts. The Winelands is popular with tourists and features a variety of wineries in the towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Central Karoo District Municipality The Central Karoo District Municipality is the largest of the districts with the lowest population. Most people experience the Karoo when they drive from Johannesburg to Cape Town and stop halfway at places like Beaufort-West. Garden Route District Municipality The Garden Route District Municipality is home to the popular Garden Route, one of the most beautiful road trips to do in South Africa. The Garden Route District’s largest city, and one of the oldest towns in South Africa, is George. Other towns in this district include Knysna, Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay. Overberg District Municipality. Bredasdorp is the seat of the Overberg District Municipality. The Overberg offers stunning mountain ranges, fynbos, coastal vistas, rolling wheat, and canola fields. You can find the beautiful Clarens Drive and the Stony Point penguins in the Overberg District. Towns in the Overberg include Strand, Swellendam, Gordon’s Bay, Hermanus, Kleinmond and Gansbaai. West Coast District Municipality The seat of the West Coast District Municipality is Moorreesburg. The district is located above Cape Town. It is the second largest of the Western Cape’s districts and has charming fishing villages and fresh seafood. Some of the most visited places in this district are Saldanha Bay, Langebaan and Paternoster. Wine Routes in The Western Cape Province The Western Cape Province has the following wine routes to tour: Helderberg Wine Route Franschhoek Wine Route Paarl Wine Route Robertson Wine Route Stellenbosch Wine Route Worcester Wine Route The Complete List of Train Travel Options Between Johannesburg and Cape Town This post contains affiliate links. If you click on any of these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. There are several frequently asked questions tourists to South Africa have about train travel. Since the two most visited cities are Cape Town and Johannesburg, the first is whether there is a train from Johannesburg to Cape Town, and the answer is that there are several options for overnight train travel between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Another question is whether there is a high-speed train between Johannesburg and Cape Town. The answer to this question is no. The Gautrain is a high-speed train in Gauteng, but there is no Gautrain line between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Your options for train travel between Johannesburg and Cape Town depend on your budget, time in South Africa and what you want from your travel experience. Let’s explore the options for overnight train travel between Johannesburg and Cape Town, which includes the Shosholoza Meyl, Rovos Rail and the Blue Train. Bus travel between Cape Town and Johannesburg may suit your budget better if you are on a budget. Train Travel Between Johannesburg and Cape Town: Shosholoza Meyl The Shosholoza Meyl is a passenger train operated by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). It travels between Johannesburg, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth and Durban every week at reasonable rates. The trains travel between Park Station in Johannesburg and Cape Town’s train station. The train journey between Cape Town and Johannesburg lasts 25 hours and covers a distance of 1600 km across South Africa. The Shosholoza Meyl is a dedicated long-distance passenger train service, offering economy and deluxe sleeper class trains. In both tourist and premier classes, compartments have 2 or 4 berths. Solo travellers share a 4-bed compartment with solo travellers of the same gender. The leatherette benches in the compartments convert to bunk beds at night. Each compartment has a washbasin with hot and cold water under the table. There is a communal toilet, lockable shower cubicle and changing area at the end of the coach. Train Travel Between Johannesburg and Cape Town: The Shosholoza Meyl Service Offerings You can book either economy or deluxe tickets on the Shosholoza Meyl. You can also transport your car between Johannesburg and Cape Town. Economy or Tourist Class The restaurant in the tourist class coach makes South African meals which you can purchase with cash only. You can also buy snacks from a service trolley or bring food. You can get bedding from an attendant at R75 per person. Remember, the tourist class coaches do not have air conditioning, but you can open the train’s windows for fresh air and a cool breeze. The tourist class Shosholoza Meyl travels between Johannesburg and Cape Town on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The train leaves Johannesburg at 10:30 on these days and arrives in Cape Town the following day at 12:40. The journey is an hour longer than the premier class and takes 16 hours. In addition, the tourist train stops at many towns, whereas the premier train trains only have two stops during the journey. Deluxe or Premier Class for Train Travel Between Johannesburg and Cape Town When you book a deluxe ticket, you travel in the Premier Classe. One of the premier class ticket benefits is access to the VIP lounges in Johannesburg and Cape Town before boarding the train. In the Premier Classe, you get a classy food and beverage schedule. You get welcome drinks and snacks comprising tea/coffee and muffins when the train departs, a full English breakfast, a four-course lunch, high tea and a five-course dinner while travelling. Coffee/tea and juices are complimentary when travelling premier class, but you will pay extra for alcoholic beverages and sodas. You eat meals in a restaurant car and access the premier classe’s lounge coach with a television. The Premier Classe coaches have air conditioning. Your premier class fare includes bedding, towels and additional luxury amenities. The premier classe’s Shosholoza Meyl travels once a week on Thursdays from Johannesburg and Cape Town. The train leaves Johannesburg at 10:30 on a Thursday and arrives in Cape Town at 12:40 on a Friday. The train travels via Kimberley and Beaufort West to get to Cape Town. You can travel from Cape Town to Johannesburg in premier class once a week on Tuesdays. The train leaves Cape Town at 9:05 on a Tuesday morning and arrives in Johannesburg at 11:03 on a Wednesday. The train travels via Kimberley and Beaufort West to get to Johannesburg. How Much Are the Shosholoza Meyl Train’s Prices for Train Travel Between Johannesburg and Cape Town? The fare is R690 per trip for tourist class tickets, making this the cheapest train from Johannesburg to Cape Town. The premier class ticket costs R3120 per trip and is reasonable for a more luxurious train travel experience. How Do I Book the Shosholoza Meyl for Train Travel Between Johannesburg and Cape Town? The Shosholoza Website does not contain much information on the service. However, you can book through the following sales and reservation contact numbers: 086 000 8888 / (+27 11) 774 4555. The call centre operates from 8:00 to 16:00 on weekdays and 8:00 to 12:00 on weekends and public holidays. An online booking alternative is to book through a third-party website by completing a form to get a quote. You cannot make a direct and immediate online booking for travel on the Shosholoza Meyl, and you cannot book tourist class tickets or get a quote for longer than 90 days before your travel date. You can book premier class tickets one year before your travel dates. for Train Travel Between Johannesburg and Cape Town: Considerations for The Shosholoza Meyl Many travellers complain about the train often leaving late and last-minute cancellations. For the most updated information on your journey, follow the South African Railways on Facebook or Twitter. Train Travel Between Pretoria and Cape Town: Rovos Rail’s Train Rovos Rail started in 1989 and offers a steam-train experience. They provide several train journeys, including the first-class train between Pretoria and Cape Town. During the trip, guests visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein, with a museum on its platform. The train also stops in Kimberley to visit the Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. Here is a great place to stay if you visit Kimberley. Each train includes coaches for accommodation, dining and a lounge. There is also a small gift shop, a smoking lounge and an observation car with a balcony. The Rovos Train has no radios or television sets on board. Train travel between Johannesburg and Cape Town: The Big Hole Kimberley South Africa The Rovos Train does not use Pretoria Station, but the Rovos Rail Station in Capital Park, Pretoria. The train departs from Pretoria at 11:00 on the first travel day. During the second travel day, guests visit Kimberley, and on the third travel day, they see Matjiesfontein. The train arrives in Cape Town on the third day at 18:00. The journey from Cape Town to Pretoria has the same schedule, just in reverse. Choice of Compartments The Rovos Train offers a variety of compartments to choose from, including: Royal suites: These suites have a private lounge area and an en-suite bathroom with a Victorian bath, separate shower, basin and toilet. Guests can choose between double beds or twin beds. Deluxe suites: Each suite has a lounge area and en-suite bathroom with a shower, toilet and basin. Guests can choose between double beds or twin beds. Pullman suites: These are available on long journeys and have an en-suite bathroom with a shower, toilet and basin. During the day, these suites have a couch for seating that converts to a bed at night. How Much Does a Trip on the Rovos Rail Cost? The ticket prices depend on the type of compartment you book and whether you share a compartment or travel alone. A single supplement is a 50% add-on to a compartment’s regular price. The prices for the train tickets between Pretoria and Cape Town or from Cape Town to Pretoria are: Type of suitePrice in South African RandPrice in USD Pullman SuiteR26 500$1 875 Deluxe SuiteR39 500$2 794 Royal SuiteR53 500$3 785 1ZAR = USD0.0707 How to Book Tickets for Rovos Rail? You can submit an information request, a quote, or a booking on the Rovos Rail Website. Train Travel Between Pretoria and Cape Town: Blue Train The Blue train launched in 1946 and provides a luxury hotel experience. If you love old steam trains and want a first-class experience, this train is for you! The Blue Train does not travel from Johannesburg to Cape Town but from Pretoria Station to Cape Town station and between Cape Town and Pretoria. The Blue Train typically travels between Pretoria and Cape Town weekly. Train travel between Johannesburg and Cape Town: the University of South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa When travelling on the Blue Train, you can choose between suites with either twin or double beds. Each suite has an en suite bathroom. The suites also include the following: Radio and move channels. A digital entertainment area. A selection of music CVs and DVD movies. The train is air-conditioned, and the windows remain closed at all times. A butler is available in each coach, and room service is available 24 hours daily. When travelling from Pretoria to Cape Town, the Blue Train leaves Pretoria Station at 14:00 and arrives at Cape Town station at noon on the third day of the journey. The reverse journey from Cape Town to Pretoria has similar departure and arrival times. The Blue Train travels between Pretoria and Cape Town once a week. Depending on the month, there are between 3 and 5 trips a month. For the updated schedule, check their website. There is also a Blue Train route between Pretoria and the Kruger National Park. Compartment Options on The Blue Train You can also choose between a deluxe or luxury experience on the Blue Train. The deluxe compartment has either a double bed or two single beds. It also comes with an en-suite shower or small bath. The luxury compartments are identical, except they have a full bath in the en-suite bathroom. How Long Is a Trip on The Blue Train? The Blue Train travels 1660 km between Pretoria and Cape Town. The train journey on the blue train takes three days and includes an excursion in Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa if there is time and the weather is good. Guests visit the Kimberley Open Mine Museum and the Big Hole in Kimberley. What Should I Wear on The Blue Train? When travelling on the Blue Train, you must take formal clothing for dinner. Men need to wear a jacket or waistcoat with a tie , while ladies need elegant evening wear. During the day, the dress code is smart casual, but you cannot wear shorts or flip-flops in the dining car. How Much Does a Trip on The Blue Train Cost? The Blue Train’s rates include all meals, high tea every afternoon, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and excursions. The fare does not include French champagne, caviare or telephone calls. When you make your reservation, you can specify if you need special meals (such as halal, vegetarian or kosher) and whether you prefer a double or twin-bed suite. The rates for travelling on the Blue Train depend on whether you travel in the low or high season. The low season is from 1 January to 31 August each year and from 16 November to 31 December. The peak or high season is from 1 September to 15 November each year. The Blue Train’s rates from Pretoria to Cape Town or from Cape Town to Pretoria are: Type of bookingLow season (ZAR)Low season (USD)High season (ZAR)High season (ZAR) Luxury sharingR28 915$2 045R35 990$2 546 Luxury singleR43 370$3 068R53 980$3 819 Deluxe sharingR23 085$1 633R28 495$2 016 Deluxe singleR34 630$2 450R42 730$3 023 1ZAR = USD0.0707 How to Book Tickets for The Blue Train? You can book your tickets for the Blue Train online. About Western Cape The Western Cape (Afrikaans : Wes-Kaap [ˈvɛskɑːp] ; Xhosa : iNtshona-Koloni) is a province of South Africa , situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of 129,449 square kilometres (49,981 sq mi), and the third most populous , with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020.About two-thirds of these inhabitants live in the metropolitan area of Cape Town , which is also the provincial capital. The Western Cape was created in 1994 from part of the former Cape Province . The two largest cities are Cape Town and George . Geography Topography of the Western Cape. The Roggeveld and Nuweveld mountains are part of the Great Escarpment (see diagrams below). The other mountain ranges belong to the Cape Fold Belt , also shown in the diagrams below. The Western Cape's inland boundary lies for the most part at the foot of the Great Escarpment. The Western Cape is roughly L-shaped, extending north and east from the Cape of Good Hope , in the southwestern corner of South Africa. It stretches about 400 kilometres (250 mi) northwards along the Atlantic coast and about 500 kilometres (300 mi) eastwards along the South African south coast (Southern Indian Ocean ). It is bordered on the north by the Northern Cape and on the east by the Eastern Cape . The total land area of the province is 129,462 square kilometres (49,986 sq mi),: 9  about 10.6% of the country's total. It is roughly the size of England or the State of Louisiana . Its capital city and largest city is Cape Town , and some other major cities include Stellenbosch , Worcester , Paarl , and George . The Garden Route and the Overberg are popular coastal tourism areas. The Western Cape is the southernmost region of the African continent with Cape Agulhas as its southernmost point, only 3,800 kilometres (2,400 mi) from the Antarctic coastline. The coastline varies from sandy between capes, to rocky to steep and mountainous in places. The only natural harbour is Saldanha Bay on the west coast, about 140 kilometres (90 mi) north of Cape Town. However a lack of fresh water in the region meant that it has only recently been used as a harbour. The province's main harbour was built in Table Bay , which in its natural state was fully exposed to the northwesterly storms that bring rain to the province in winter, as well as the almost uninterrupted dry southeasterly winds in summer. But fresh water coming off Table Mountain and Devil's Peak allowed the early European settlers to build Cape Town on the shores of this less than satisfactory anchorage. Topography The province is topographically exceptionally diverse. Most of the province falls within the Cape Fold Belt , a set of nearly parallel ranges of sandstone folded mountains of Cambrian -Ordovician age (the age of the rocks is from 510 to about 330 million years ago; their folding into mountains occurred about 350 to about 270 million years ago). The height of the mountain peaks in the different ranges varies from 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) to 2,300 metres (7,500 ft). The valleys between ranges are generally very fertile, as they contain the weathered loamy soils of the Bokkeveld mudstones (see the diagrams below). The far interior forms part of the Karoo . This region of the province is generally arid and hilly, with a prominent escarpment that runs close to the Province's most inland boundary. A diagrammatic 400 km south–north crosssection through the Cape at approximately 21° 30' E (i.e. near Calitzdorp in the Little Karoo), showing the relationship between the Cape Fold Mountains (and their geological structure) and the geology of the Little and Great Karoo , as well as the position of the Great Escarpment . The colour code for the geological layers is the same as those used in the diagram above. The heavy black line flanked by opposing arrows is the fault that runs for nearly 300 km along the southern edge of the Swartberg Mountains. The Swartberg Mountain range owes some of its great height to upliftment along this fault line. The subsurface structures are not to scale. Escarpment The escarpment marks the southwestern edge of South Africa's central plateau (see the middle and bottom diagrams on the left).[10] [12] It runs parallel to the entire South African coastline, except in the very far northeast, where it is interrupted by the Limpopo River valley, and in the far northwest, where it is interrupted by the Orange River valley. The 1,000-kilometre-long (620 mi) northeastern stretch of the escarpment is called the Drakensberg , which is geographically and geologically quite distinct from the Cape Fold Mountains , which originated much earlier and totally independently of the origin of the escarpment. Rivers The principal rivers of the province are the Berg and Olifants which drain into the Atlantic Ocean, and the Breede and Gourits which drain into the Indian Ocean. Flora The Red Disa (disa uniflora ) is an orchid endemic to the Western Cape. It is the province's official flower. The Cape Floral Kingdom is one of the world's most diverse, and is found exclusively in the Cape. The vegetation of the region is also extremely diverse, with one of the world's seven floral kingdoms almost exclusively endemic to the province, namely the Cape Floral Kingdom , most of which is covered by Fynbos (from the Afrikaans meaning "Fine Bush" (Dutch: Fijnbosch), though precisely how it came to be referred to as such, is uncertain.). These evergreen heathlands are extremely rich in species diversity, with at least as many plant species occurring on Table Mountain as in the entire United Kingdom. It is characterised by various types of shrubs, thousands of herbaceous flowering plant species and some grasses.[ With the exception of the Silver tree, Leucadendron argenteum , which only grows on the granite and clay soils of the Cape Peninsula , open fynbos is generally treeless except in the wetter mountain ravines where patches of Afromontane forest persist. The West Coast and Little Karoo are semi-arid regions and are typified by many species of succulents and drought-resistant shrubs and acacia trees. The Garden Route on the south coast (between the Outeniqua Mountains and the Southern Indian Ocean ) is extremely lush, with temperate rainforest (or Afromontane Forest ) covering many areas adjacent to the coast, in the deep river valleys and along the southern slopes of the Outeniqua mountain range.[citation needed ] Typical species are hardwoods of exceptional height, such as Yellowwood , Stinkwood and Ironwood trees. Climate - Cape Liberal Tradition - Cape Independence Movement Climate The Western Cape is climatologically diverse, with many distinct micro- and macroclimates created by the varied topography and the influence of the surrounding ocean currents. These are the warm Agulhas Current which flows southwards along South Africa's east coast, and the cold Benguela Current which is an upwelling current from the depths of the South Atlantic Ocean along South Africa's west coast.[18] [19] Thus climatic statistics can vary greatly over short distances. Most of the province is considered to have a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Both the Great Karoo and Little Karoo , in the interior, have an arid to semi-arid climate with cold, frosty winters and hot summers with occasional thunderstorms . The Garden Route and the Overberg on the south coast have a maritime climate with cool, moist winters and mild, moist summers. Mossel Bay in the Garden Route is considered[by whom? ] to have the second mildest climate worldwide after Hawaii.[citation needed ] The La Niña phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle tends to increase rainfall in this region in the dry season (November to April). The effects of El Niño on rainfall in southern Africa differ between the summer and winter rainfall areas. Winter rainfall areas tend to get higher rainfall than normal and summer rainfall areas tend to get less rain. The effect on the summer rainfall areas is stronger and has led to severe drought in strong El Niño events. Sea surface temperatures off the west and south coasts of South Africa are affected by ENSO via changes in surface wind strength. During El Niño the south-easterly winds driving upwelling are weaker which results in warmer coastal waters than normal, while during La Niña the same winds are stronger and cause colder coastal waters. These effects on the winds are part of large scale influences on the tropical Atlantic and the South Atlantic High -pressure system, and changes to the pattern of westerly winds further south. There are other influences not known to be related to ENSO of similar importance. Some ENSO events do not lead to the expected changes. Thunderstorms are generally rare in the province (except in the Karoo ) with most precipitation being of a frontal or orographic nature. Extremes of heat and cold are common inland, but rare near the coast. Snow is a common winter occurrence on the Western Cape Mountains occasionally reaching down into the more inland valleys. Otherwise, frost is relatively rare in coastal areas and many of the heavily cultivated valleys. Cape Liberal Tradition The Cape has had a long tradition of holding liberal values. For example, the Cape Qualified Franchise before the Union of South Africa. Cape Qualified Franchise Main article: Cape Qualified Franchise The Cape Qualified Franchise was the system of non-racial franchise that was adhered to in the Cape Colony , and in the Cape Province in the early years of the Union of South Africa . Qualifications for the right to vote at parliamentary elections were applied equally to all men, regardless of race. This local system of multi-racial suffrage was later gradually restricted, and eventually abolished, under various National Party and United Party governments. In 1930 white women were enfranchised , and in 1931 property qualifications for white voters were removed . In 1936 black voters were then removed from the common voters' rolls and allowed only to elect separate members in 1936, and subsequently denied all representation in the House of Assembly in 1960. Coloured voters similarly followed in 1958 and 1970 , respectively. Contribution of the Western Cape in the National Youth Uprisings The Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) was a grassroots anti-Apartheid activist movement that emerged in South Africa in the mid-1960s out of the political vacuum created by the jailing and banning of the African National Congress and Pan Africanist Congress leadership after the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960. The BCM represented a social movement for political consciousness. In December 1968, the South African Student Organization (SASO) was formed at a conference held in Marianhill, Natal. The conference was exclusively attended by Black students. After its launch, SASO became the medium through which black consciousness ideology spread to schools and other university campuses across the country. In 1974, South African Minister of Bantu Education and Development MC Botha, constituted the imposition of using Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in black schools, effective with students in Grade 7 (Standard 5) upwards.As early as March 1976, students began passive resistance against Afrikaans, fueling the outbreak of the Soweto Uprising on 16 June 1976. Consequently, the student protests spread to other parts of the country, and Cape Town became a pivotal site for Western Cape student revolt. Student leaders at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the University of Cape Town (UCT) organised marches. Poster parades by UWC and Black Power Salute marches by UCT was broken by the police, resulting in 73 students getting arrested and detained at Victor Verster Prison , near Paarl. On 1 September 1976, the unrest spread to the city of Cape Town itself. Approximately 2000 black students from Western Cape townships, namely Langa, Nyanga and Gugulethu, matched the Cape Town central business district (CBD). Coloured students also contributed to the protests by peacefully marching to the city, but were blockaded by the police in the CBD. The protests turned violent when coloured students started burning schools, libraries and a magistrate's court in support of the student revolt. Thereafter, 200,000 coloured workers partook in a two-day strike staying away from work in the Cape Town area.[citation needed ] According to a report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the Western Cape experienced the second highest number of deaths and casualties associated with the 1976 uprising protests. 1994 and the Western Cape post-apartheid In 1994, at the introduction of the Interim Constitution and the first non-racial election , South Africa's original provinces and bantustans were abolished and nine new provinces were established. The former Cape Province was divided into the Western Cape, Northern Cape , Eastern Cape and part of North West . In the 1994 election, the Western Cape was one of two provinces that did not elect an African National Congress (ANC) provincial government (the other being KwaZulu-Natal ). The National Party (NP) won 53% of the votes and 23 seats in the 42-seat provincial legislature, and Hernus Kriel , a former Minister of Law and Order, was elected Premier . He resigned in 1998 and was replaced by Gerald Morkel . The 1999 election marked the beginning of a period of great turbulence in Western Cape politics. No party achieved an absolute majority in the provincial parliament, as the ANC won 18 seats while the New National Party (NNP), successor to the NP, won 17. The NNP went into coalition with the Democratic Party (DP), which won 5 seats, to form a government, and Morkel remained Premier. In 2000 the DP and the NNP formalised their coalition by forming the Democratic Alliance (DA). In 2001, however, the NNP broke with the DA over the removal of Peter Marais from office as Mayor of Cape Town by DA leader Tony Leon . The NNP instead went into coalition with the ANC; Gerald Morkel, who was opposed to the split, resigned as Premier and was replaced by Peter Marais. In 2002 Marais resigned as Premier due to a sexual harassment scandal, and was replaced by NNP leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk . During the 2003 floor-crossing period four members of the provincial parliament crossed to the ANC, giving it an absolute majority of 22 seats in the 42-seat house. However, the ANC remained in coalition with the NNP and van Schalkwyk remained as Premier. In the 2004 election , there was again no absolute winner in the provincial parliament; this time the ANC won 19 seats, the DA won 12, and the NNP won 5. The ANC-NNP coalition continued in power, but van Schalkwyk took up a ministerial post in the national cabinet and was replaced as Premier by the ANC's Ebrahim Rasool . The NNP was finally dissolved after the 2005 floor-crossing period and its members joined the ANC, again giving that party an absolute majority of 24 seats. In the 2007 floor-crossing period the ANC gained a further three members of the provincial parliament. In 2008 Rasool resigned as Premier due to internal party politics, and was replaced by Lynne Brown . The 2009 election marked a significant change in Western Cape politics, as the Democratic Alliance won 51% of the votes and an absolute majority of 22 seats in the provincial parliament, while the ANC won 14 seats with 31% of the vote. The DA leader Helen Zille was elected Premier. In 2010 the Independent Democrats , which had won 3 seats with 5% of the vote, merged with the DA. In the 2014 election the DA won 59% of the votes and an absolute majority of 26 seats in the provincial parliament, while the ANC won 14 seats with 32% of the vote. In 2018 King Khoebaha Cornelius III Declared the independence of the "Sovereign State of Good Hope". In the 2019 election , the DA retained their majority in the province, but with a reduction in support. It had won 24 seats with 55%. Helen Zille was term-limited and the DA premier candidate Alan Winde succeeded her. The ANC also lost support. It had received 12 seats with 28% support, its lowest showing since 1994. Veteran politician Peter Marais returned to the provincial parliament as the sole representative of the Freedom Front Plus . Patricia de Lille formed another party, Good , and it achieved a seat. The DA continued to win a majority of the votes in the 2021 municipal elections , receiving 54% of the vote province-wide, with support in Cape Town at 58%. Cape Independence Movement Main article: Cape independence Since the late 2000s there has been growing support for Western Cape, or Greater Cape, independence from South Africa.[citation needed ] Political parties such as the Referendum Party , Freedom Front Plus and organisations such as the Cape Independence Advocacy Group and CapeXit, wish to bring forth the constitutional and peaceful secession of the Western Cape. Proponents claim substantial support for the idea, with CapeXit having over 800,000 signed mandates in May 2021. Additionally, a poll conducted in 2023 by Victory Research on behalf of the Cape Independence Advocacy Group claimed that 58% of the Western Cape's registered voters would support independence, while 68% would support a referendum on the issue. Law and government - Municipalities - District and metropolitan municipalities Law and government Main articles: Government of the Western Cape and Politics of the Western Cape Provincial government headquarters in Cape Town The provincial government is established under the Constitution of the Western Cape , which was adopted in 1998. The people of the province elect the 42-member Western Cape Provincial Parliament every five years by a system of party-list proportional representation . The sixth provincial parliament was elected in 2024 ; 24 seats are held by the Democratic Alliance , 8 by the African National Congress , 3 by the Patriotic Alliance , 2 by the Economic Freedom Fighters , and 1 each by the African Christian Democratic Party , Al Jama-ah , Good , Freedom Front Plus , and National Coloured Congress . The provincial parliament is responsible for legislating within its responsibilities as set out by the national constitution ; these responsibilities include agriculture, education, environment, health services, housing, language policies, tourism, trade, and welfare. The provincial parliament also elects the Premier of the Western Cape to lead the provincial executive. Alan Winde , a member of the DA and former Provincial Minister of Community Safety, has served as Premier since the 2019 provincial election . The Premier appoints ten members of the provincial legislature to serve as a cabinet of ministers, overseeing the departments of the provincial government . These departments are Agriculture, Community Safety , Cultural Affairs and Sport, Economic Development and Tourism, Education , Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Health , Human Settlements, Local Government, Social Development, Transport and Public Works , and the Provincial Treasury. Politically, the Western Cape is a stronghold for the Democratic Alliance (DA). The DA has won an absolute majority of the vote in the province in every national, provincial, and municipal election since 2009 . Municipalities Main article: List of municipalities in the Western Cape The Western Cape Province is divided into one metropolitan municipality and five district municipalities . The district municipalities are in turn divided into 24 local municipalities . In the following interactive map, the district and metropolitan municipalities are labelled in capital letters and shaded in various different colours. Clicking on the district on the map loads the appropriate article: District and metropolitan municipalities NameCodeSeatArea (km2)Population (2016)Pop. density (per km2) Cape Winelands District Municipality DC2Worcester 21,473866,00140.3 Central Karoo District Municipality DC5Beaufort West 38,85474,2471.9 City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality CPTCape Town 2,4464,005,0161,637.6 Garden Route District Municipality DC4George 23,331611,27826.2 Overberg District Municipality DC3Bredasdorp 12,239286,78623.4 West Coast District Municipality DC1Moorreesburg 31,119436,40314.0 Transport The N1 national route atop the Hex River Pass. Railway network in the Western Cape The Western Cape has an excellent network of highways comparable with any first-world country. The primary highways are the N1 (from Cape Town to Three Sisters , continuing outside the province towards Bloemfontein and Johannesburg ), N2 (from Cape Town to Bloukrans River, towards Port Elizabeth ), N7 (from Cape Town to Bitterfontein, continuing towards Springbok and Namibia ), N9 (from George to Uniondale, continuing towards Graaff-Reinet and Colesberg ) and N12 (from George to Three Sisters, continuing towards Kimberley and Johannesburg). Other routes are the "R" roads which connect the smaller towns. All major roads are tarred with major rural gravel roads well maintained. Limited access motorways are limited to the Cape Metropolitan Area, Winelands and Garden Route, however due to the low population density of the remainder of the province, the highways remain efficient and high-speed, except during peak holiday travel seasons, when travel can be slow-going in places due to heavy traffic. Demographics Population density in the Western Cape <1 /km2 1–3 /km2 3–10 /km2 10–30 /km2 30–100 /km2 100–300 /km2 300–1000 /km2 1000–3000 /km2 >3000 /km2 Dominant home languages in the Western Cape Afrikaans English Xhosa No language dominant The 2022 South African census recorded the population of the Western Cape as 7,433,020 people living in 2,264,032 households.[48] As the province covers an area of 129,462 square kilometres (49,986 sq mi),: 9  the population density was 45.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (117/sq mi) and the household density 12.6 per square kilometre (33/sq mi). Education - Culture - Religion & Cities and towns Education Stellenbosch University The University of Cape Town The Western Cape province has the most highly educated residents with a very skilled workforce in comparison to any other African region.or higher was 4.8% (2005), the highest in the country. The province also boasts four universities: Cape Peninsula University of Technology Stellenbosch University University of Cape Town University of the Western Cape The province is also home to the South African Military Academy . Culture Cuisine See also: South African cuisine Types of cuisine originating from the Western Cape include Dutch and Malay cuisines. Other types of South African cuisine are also found and commonly enjoyed in the province. Over 50% of all cheese in South Africa is produced in the Western Cape. Four of the top ten entries in Trip Advisor's Best Fine Dining Restaurants – Africa list for 2021 are in the Western Cape. Winelands See also: Western Cape wine The Western Cape is known for its wine production and vineyards. The winelands are divided into six main regions : Boberg, Breede River Valley , Cape South Coast, Coastal Region, Klein Karoo and Olifants River . Each has unique climate, topography and fertile soil. Distilled wine or brandy is produced in the Cape Winelands, Overberg, and Garden Route districts of the province. Brandy from these regions is regarded as amongst the best in the world due to the high, legally-enforced distilling standards in the region, technically making it equivalent to Cognac . Religion According to the 2022 census, a majority of the population of the Western Cape is Christian . At 5.2% of the population, the Western Cape's Muslim minority is the largest among South Africa's provinces. Religious Affiliation (2022) Christianity 85.6% Traditional African 5.3% Islam 5.2% Judaism 0.2% Hinduism 0.2% Buddhism 0.1% Atheism 0.3% Agnosticism 0.3% No religious affiliation2.0% Other0.8% Cities and towns See also: List of cities and towns in the Western Cape Largest cities or towns in the Western Cape National Census 2011 RankMunicipality Pop.RankMunicipality Pop. Cape Town Paarl (including Wellington) 1Cape Town City of Cape Town 4,005,01611 Beaufort West Beaufort West Local Municipality 34,085 Worcester 2Paarl (including Wellington) Drakenstein Local Municipality 179,31912 Ceres Witzenberg Local Municipality 33,224 3George George Local Municipality 157,39413 Plettenberg Bay Bitou Local Municipality 31,804 4Worcester Breede Valley Local Municipality 127,59714 Grabouw Theewaterskloof Local Municipality 30,337 5Knysna Knysna Local Municipality 76,15015 Saldanha Saldanha Bay Local Municipality 28,142 6Atlantis City of Cape Town 67,49116 Stellenbosch Stellenbosch Local Municipality 21,799 7Oudtshoorn Oudtshoorn Local Municipality 61,50717 Vredendal Matzikama Local Municipality 18,170 8Mossel Bay Mossel Bay Local Municipality 59,03118 Gordon's Bay City of Cape Town 16,776 9Vredenburg Saldanha Bay Local Municipality 38,38219 Riversdale Hessequa Local Municipality 16,176 10Malmesbury Swartland Local Municipality 35,89720 Montagu Langeberg Local Municipality 15,176 Education See also Cape Colony Cape independence Cape Qualified Franchise List of Western Cape Municipalities by Human Development Index BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE

SOUTH AFRICAN SPORT The most popular sports in South Africa are soccer, rugby and cricket in South Africa" Other sports with significant support are hockey,swimming, athletics, golf, boxing, tennis and netball. Although soccer commands the greatest following among the youth, other sports like basketball, surfing, and skateboarding are increasingly popular. South African rugby union teams Rugby union in South Africa is centrally administered by the South African Rugby Union , which consists of fourteen provincial unions – the Blue Bulls Rugby Union, the Boland Rugby Union, the Border Rugby Football Union, the Eastern Province Rugby Union, the Free State Rugby Union, the Golden Lions Rugby Union, the Griffons Rugby Union, the Griqualand West Rugby Union, the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union, the Leopards Rugby Union, the Mpumalanga Rugby Union, the South Western Districts Rugby Football Union, the Valke Rugby Union and the Western Province Rugby Football Union. Each of these unions administers a senior professional rugby team that participates in the domestic Currie Cup and Rugby Challenge (previously Vodacom Cup ) competitions. In addition, these unions are responsible for amateur club rugby in their region. Clubs participate in provincial leagues organised by the unions; university sides also participate in the annual Varsity Cup competition, while non-university sides participate in the annual Gold Cup . 20 best Springbok rugby players ever: where are they today? Wednesday, December 07, 2022 at 8:42 PM by Priscillah Mueni Cyprine Apindi Did you know the Springboks was founded in July 1891? Over the years, there have been many Springbok rugby players. These elite sportsmen play for the South Africa National Rugby Union Team. They are known for playing in green and gold jerseys and white shorts. Read more: Rugby Rugby is one of the most popular sports in South Africa. The national team, the Springboks, have achieved great success, including winning the Rugby World Cup three times. The Springboks are known for their physical and aggressive style of play, and they have a passionate fan base all over the world. Rugby is played by people of all ages and abilities in South Africa. There are many different levels of competition, from schoolboy rugby to professional rugby. The Currie Cup is the premier domestic rugby competition in South Africa, and the Super Rugby competition is a regional competition that features teams from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Rugby is more than just a sport in South Africa. It is a part of the culture and the national identity. The Springboks are a symbol of national pride, and their victories on the field are celebrated by the entire country. Provincial Rugby Teams Blue Bulls Eastern Province Free State Cheetahs Golden Lions Griquas Leopards Sharks Stormers Western Province https://briefly.co.za/37259-list-20-springbok-rugby-players-ever.html https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/matches To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. SOUTH AFRICAN TEAMS Blue Bulls The Blue Bulls (known for sponsorship reasons as the Vodacom Blue Bulls) is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament and the United Rugby Championship . They are governed by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and are based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng province. In 1997 the Northern Transvaal team, representing the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union (NTRU), was renamed, officially taking on their then nickname the Blue Bulls. The NTRU itself became the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and the United Rugby Championship team operated by the union was renamed simply the Bulls . When Vodacom became the team's major sponsor their name was added. Previously the side was sponsored by ExxonMobil and known as the Mobil Blue Bulls. Their main colour is blue and their emblem a bull's head and horns. Blue Bulls Full nameBlue Bulls UnionBlue Bulls Rugby Union Founded1938; 86 years ago LocationPretoria , South Africa RegionPretoria , Gauteng Province Limpopo Province Ground(s)Loftus Versfeld (Capacity: 51,762) Coach(es)Jake White Captain(s)Marcell Coetzee League(s)Currie Cup 2023 Semi-finalist 4th on log 1st kit 2nd kit 3rd kit Official website bullsrugby.co.za Current season The Blue Bulls (known for sponsorship reasons as the Vodacom Blue Bulls) is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament and the United Rugby Championship . They are governed by the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and are based at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Gauteng province. In 1997 the Northern Transvaal team, representing the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union (NTRU), was renamed, officially taking on their then nickname the Blue Bulls. The NTRU itself became the Blue Bulls Rugby Union and the United Rugby Championship team operated by the union was renamed simply the Bulls . When Vodacom became the team's major sponsor their name was added. Previously the side was sponsored by ExxonMobil and known as the Mobil Blue Bulls. Their main colour is blue and their emblem a bull's head and horns. History Northern Transvaal The team as it is known today has its beginnings in 1938 when the then Northern Transvaal Rugby Union broke away from the Transvaal Rugby Football Union to gain status as an independent rugby union. The new team was named Northern Transvaal and donned light blue jerseys with a red Barberton Daisy emblem. However, in their very first match, they played in the red and gold hooped jerseys of the Pretoria Combined team that often "locked horns" with teams touring South Africa (red and gold being the colors of Pretoria). Eight years passed before they first lifted the Currie Cup in 1946, when they defeated the Western Province 11–9 at home at Loftus Versfeld thanks to two dropped goals (one off his left foot) by Springbok flyhalf Hansie Brewis ; the score was 8–9 to Province (a drop goal counted 4 points in those days). With time running out Brewis, the first true Northerns legend, received the ball in his own twenty-two. With an enormous kick, he tried to get the ball rolling out in the north-eastern corner, but the ball kept rolling and the Western Province full-back, Con de Kock, carelessly waited for it to roll out. When the ball jumped back in field, De Kock noticed Johnny Lourens storming down at full pace and, realising the danger, kicked hastily at the ball but missed it completely. Lourens scooped it up to score the winning try. Six members of the 1946 team later became Springboks: Hannes Brewis, Fonnie du Toit, Jorrie Jordaan, Flip Geel, Fiks van der Merwe, Louis Strydom and Daan Retief . Retief initially played on the wing, but later became a Springbok loose forward. It was a great pity that the Springboks did not play sooner after World War II as many players could have achieved national colours had they been given the opportunity.[citation needed ] They included centres, Hannes de Villiers and Attie Botha, as well as the lock Doerie van Deventer. Northern Transvaal next appeared in the Currie Cup final in the 1954 season against Western Province but this time Western Province ran out winners; after being up 11–0 at half time they eventually won the game 11–8. The match was played at Newlands . In 1956 they played Natal at Kingsmead, the well-known cricket ground in Durban in the final. King's Park rugby stadium had not been built yet. The wind was almost gale force and during this exciting struggle the two fly-halves, Thys van Zyl (Northern Tvl) and the later Springbok Keith Oxlee , kicked a lot. Five minutes before the final whistle flanker, Schalk van Dyk scored a try that allowed Northern Transvaal to win the match 9–8. 1968 saw the start of a golden era for Northern Transvaal rugby. Under the coaching of Buurman van Zyl they played Transvaal in the final, defeating them 16–3 at Loftus Versveld. Many players went on to become Springboks.[1] They were Willem Stapelberg, Alan Menter, Piet Uys , Mof Myburgh , Polla Fourie, Johan Spies, Frik du Preez and Thys Lourens. They defeated Western Province 28–13 in the subsequent season's final. This was the match in which South Africa's player of the century, Frik du Preez, dropped, scored and placed, according to his good friend and teammate, Springbok front ranker, Mof Myburgh. They faced Griqualand West in the 1970 final, with Griqualand West winning 11-9 thanks to two tries from winger Buddy Swarts. Buurman van Zyl described this as the single most disappointing occasion in his 14 seasons at Northerns. The 1971 team did not lose a single game and was most unlucky to play to a draw against Transvaal in the final, 14-all at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The controversy which surrounded Transvaal's equalising points - a try by prop Theo Sauerman - once again emphasized the necessity of objective referees for Currie Cup finals. Chris Luther kicked a huge penalty that put the game beyond question in injury time and the fans started to run onto the field. The referee ordered them off and indicated that there was still time left. From the restart, Transvaal got possession and after some good support play scored a try. Jannie van Deventer kicked the conversion and Transvaal got a hand on the Cup. This final marked the end of an era for Frik du Preez who announced his retirement from the game. In 1973 they defeated the Orange Free State 30–22 in the final. This was followed by the 17–15 win over Transvaal in 1974 in a match in which Northerns centre John Knox had a particularly strong game. This match also started a very successful coach and captain combination. Thys Lourens, playing in his fifth final was captain of the side this day. He was to captain Northerns in a further 3 finals and in total play 8 finals - none of them ever on a losing side. A record to this very day. In 1975 Northerns travelled to Bloemfontein to play against Free State. 2 hours before kick-off an extraordinary rainstorm flooded the field and the players, despite playing in sunshine for most of the match, were unrecognizable within the first ten minutes after the start. The match was closely contested with the conditions playing a strong equalising hand. In the dying seconds of the game with the score level at 6-all, Northerns centre Christo Wagenaar put in a chip kick that was collected brilliantly by right winger Pierre Spies (father of current Springbok and Bulls eight-man, also Pierre) who scored in the corner. Keith Thorresson added the two extra points to a try that was to become legendary and Northern ran out 12-6 winners. Northern Transvaal defeated the Orange Free State in the 1977 (27-12) and 1978 (13-9) finals as well. 1977 saw the emergence of a young 19-year-old that was to become one of the games greats - Naas Botha. The 1978 final was one that was donned the Free State backs against the Bulls forwards. Northerns ran out victors by scoring two fantastic tries by the backs, one of them by Naas Botha. They were runners-up with Western Province in 1979 after two fantastic drop goals by Naas Botha late in the second half. They won the 1980 final against Province in one of the most one-sided finals of all-time scoring five tries to nil and winning by 30 points, a record! In 1981 they defeated Free State 23–6 at Loftus in what was marked an unsatisfactory final. Returning from New Zealand, Northerns fielded all 10 their Springboks except Theuns Stoffberg. Free State did not field their 4 Springboks hoping that Northerns would not do the same and improve their chances of getting a rare victory. Although not in the same line as 1980, the match was still very one-sided. This marked the end of an era for Northerns, since their highly respected coach, Buurman van Zyl, died early in 1982. Another shock was the loss of Springbok flyhalf Naas Botha to America where he tried out American Football . South African rugby was to see a domination by Western Province for the following 5 seasons. Despite not being able to achieve any success during this time (except for a Lion Cup final victory over Free State in 1985), they still managed to reach the final on 3 occasions being runners-up to Western Province in the 1982, 1983 and 1985 finals. 1983 also saw the first time they lost a final on home ground. 1987 saw the return of the Cup to Pretoria. Under the coaching of John Williams and captaincy of Naas Botha (returning at the end of 1984 after his stint in America) they defeated Transvaal in the final with a legendary performance by the captain, who scored all 24 points with 4 penalties and 4 drop goals. In the 1988 final they defied all odds by beating Western Province and drew with Province again in 1989 at Newlands. This was the one finals victory that has always eluded the team and to this day The Bulls have never managed to win a final at Newlands against their greatest rivals. They were runners-up to the Sharks in the 1990 final at Loftus but won the cup back in 1991 by defeating Transvaal. Northerns, Province and Free State ended tied second after Transvaal on the 1991 Currie Cup log. Due to points difference, Province and Northerns had to slug it out in a first semi-final on a Tuesday afternoon and managed to do so by winning 34–21. On the Saturday they had to play Free State in the second semi-final and after trailing at one stage 11–0 in the first half and with about 20 minutes to go by 20–9, they managed to turn around the match and run out victors 27-23 - fullback (and old Grey College learner) Gerbrand Grobler being the hero with 6 penalties and a conversion! The following Saturday Northern easily won the final 27–15. They also managed to win the Lion Cup (for a second time) with a record victory of 62–6 over The Sharks. The rest of the 1990s was a dismal period for Northerns. They lost a lot of players to Transvaal, most notably Uli Schmidt - a legend in his own right and son of former Springbok and Northerns flanker Louis Schmidt (often called the first Blue Bull). Other players included Gavin Johnson, Rudolf Straeuli , Theo van Rensburg , Heinrich Rodgers , Johan Roux , Gerbrand Grobler and Hannes Strydom . The biggest upset came when two Northern Transvaal stalwarts for many years, Ray Mordt and Kitch Christie accepted offers from Transvaal boss Louis Luyt to coach. Christie, after being asked to leave by the Northerns administration halfway through the 1990 season, moulded the players into a great unit and achieved success in 1993 and 1994 at Currie Cup level before becoming Springbok coach to win the World Cup in 1995. Most of the players who followed him would represent his Transvaal side before doing duty at a national level. Without doubt one of the darkest periods in Northern Transvaal's history! Lion Cup Northern Transvaal participated in the Lion Cup between 1983 and 1994. The Lion Cup was a domestic rugby union knock-out competition held in South Africa. Northern Transvaal tasted success in the competition on three occasions, winning the competition in 1985 , 1990 and 1991 . They also finished as runners-up three times in 1987 , 1988 and 1989 . Northern Transvaal claimed the Lion Cup 62–6 against Natal in 1991 which is one of the biggest victories ever in a final . Currie Cup / Central Series The Northern Transvaal rugby team participated in the Currie Cup / Central Series from 1986 to 1994. The competition saw the top Currie Cup teams play the Currie Cup Central A teams, with the Currie Cup team with the best playing record awarded the Percy Frames Trophy. Northern Transvaal was the most successful team, claiming six consecutive titles between 1987 and 1992.[citation needed ] Super 10 Prior to the professional Super Rugby competition, Northern Transvaal competed in the Super 10 , which was a tournament featuring ten teams from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Tonga and Western Samoa, which ran from 1993 to 1995. The top three teams from the previous Currie Cup season qualified for each of the Super 10 tournaments. Northern Transvaal competed in the 1993 season, where they were grouped in Pool B alongside Transvaal, New South Wales, North Harbour and Waikato. Transvaal finished at the top of the pool, with Northern Transvaal finishing third, behind New South Wales. Northern Transvaal did not qualify for the 1994 or 1995 Super 10 seasons. Northern Transvaal played four fixtures in the 1993 Super 10: Northern Transvaal 22–42 Transvaal Northern Transvaal 45–20 New South Wales Waratahs Northern Transvaal 28–18 Waikato Northern Transvaal 14–29 North Harbour Name Change: Northern Transvaal became Blue Bulls Logo of Northern Transvaal prior to 1997, still used on the jersey The team had been known informally as the Blue Bulls since the 1940s and from 8 June 1963 in a newspaper cartoon by Victor Ivanoff had been portrayed as such.[2] Their name officially changed to the Blue Bulls at the end of 1997 season and in 1998 after 6 years of not reaching the final and some very heavy defeats at Currie Cup level, the Bulls, captained by another legend, Joost van der Westhuizen , managed to reach the final for a record 24th time after the come-back of the century in the semi-final against a star-studded Sharks outfit. The Bulls' triumph was nothing short of remarkable. After André Joubert 's second try early in the second half, which stretched the Sharks' lead from 10–3 to 17–3, even their coach, Eugene van Wyk, believed that they had no chance. But whatever Bulls captain Van der Westhuizen told his team while Gavin Lawless was setting up for the conversion of Joubert's second try, it made them realise that it was now or never. Suddenly, they started playing with new life and new direction. Franco Smith scored a couple of penalties and then prop Piet Boer dived over for a try. The last 12 minutes with the score on 17-all, were dramatic. First, flanker Nicky van der Walt put the Bulls ahead with a magnificent try following Van der Westhuizen's brilliant opportunistic play and great ball skills. And the last nail went into the Sharks coffin when the Bulls were awarded a penalty try for an early tackle by André Joubert on Grant Esterhuizen in the in-goal area. The following Saturday they defeated Western Province 24–20 at Loftus. With only a few minutes left on the clock, Province must have thought they won it when their Springbok-winger Chester Williams went over in the corner, but referee André Watson ruled the pass from Robbie Fleck forward. The 1998 side was not a side with great names except maybe for Joost van der Westhuizen and Ruben Kruger (who missed the final with injury), but most certainly the one that has showed the most character and guts in the history of the union. As Kruger described it after the final: "The team's success could be ascribed to the fact that the Light Blue jersey made every player's heart beat faster." 2002 was the start of the Heyneke Meyer and Anton Leonard era. They defeated the Golden Lions 31–7 at Ellis Park thanks mainly to heroics by a 19-year-old Derick Hougaard who scored a try, 2 drop goals and 5 penalties for a record 26 points. The following season they defeated the Sharks 40–19 in the final with most of the team doing duty at the 2003 World Cup. The Blue Bulls then won the 2004 final, defeating the Cheetahs by 42–33. This match saw one of the finest individual tries scored in a final. Ettiene Botha received the ball just inside the Free State half and skipped and dummied his way past a legion of defenders - epitomising the great Mannetjies Roux against the Lions of 1962 - to score a brilliant try next to the posts. A player that surely would have achieved higher honours, he died in a motor car accident the following year. Free State eventually won the Cup (the first time since 1976) in the following final by beating the Bulls in their own backyard. This was only the third time ever that the Bulls had lost a final at fortress Loftus (1983 and 1990 being the other years). The Blue Bulls shared the 2006 Currie Cup with the Free State Cheetahs with the score remaining locked at 28-all after twenty minutes of extra time. Northern Transvaal competed in all the years of Super 12 competition but were never very successful. In 1996 they managed to reach the semi-final but suffered a heavy defeat to the Auckland Blues by 48–11. From 1997 to 2002 The Bulls did not reach the final on a single occasion, at times ending last in the competition. 2003 saw them ending fifth and 2004 to 2006 saw them reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1996, but every time away from home. In 2007 they reached the final for the first time and also became the first South African team to win the Super Rugby competition by beating fellow South Africans, The Sharks, in a humdinger final in Durban. Down by 13–19, they kept the ball alive after the final hooter, taking it through various phases which eventually led to a try by Springbok winger Bryan Habana . Derick Hougaard added the conversion and The Bulls won by 20–19. The Blue Bulls have a positive winning record against all the South African domestic sides including their arch rivals, Western Province. Rivalries Through the years the rivalry between the Blue Bulls and Western Province has become legendary, and a clash between these two sides is one of the Currie Cup's biggest rivalries.[3] The first time that the two sides met in an actual Currie Cup final was in 1946, which was also Northern Transvaal's first final contest. The match was played at Northern Transvaal's home ground at Loftus Versfeld, and saw the Western Province go down 11 to 9. After meeting in numerous other finals following 1946, it would not be until the 1982 season, when the Western Province would defeat Northern Transvaal in a Currie Cup final. In the 1980s the two sides met in six Currie Cup finals, with the Western Province winning three of them and one being drawn. One of the most recent Currie Cup seasons when both sides made it to the final was the 1998 season: The Blue Bulls beat the Western Province by four points, 24 to 20, at Loftus Versfeld. In recent years, the great rivalry between the Blue Bulls and Western Province has faded. It has been many years since the decades that these two teams dominated the Currie Cup competition and new rivalries have come to the foreground. Many Blue Bull fans actually agree that the rivalry has shifted towards Free State, especially after both teams qualified for the Currie Cup final for the third consecutive year in 2006. Statistics have shown that Loftus Versfeld currently experiences more incidents of bad behaviour during Bulls home games against Free State and the Sharks, than during any other games in the season, including those against Western Province.[4] The team has one of the largest support bases, averaging over 38,000 to Super rugby games and 26,000 in the Currie Cup competition. Most of the Bulls support is concentrated in Pretoria and the Limpopo Province, however the Bulls also have significant support in Johannesburg, Mpumulanga Province, the North West Province and in Aliwal North. Notable players Through the years Northern Transvaal/Blue Bulls have produced many great players that captured the imagination of the rugby public. Lucas Strachan was a brilliant Springbok flanker and one of members of the legendary 1937 Springboks that won a series in New Zealand. He was the first of the truly great Springbok rugby players produced by the Blue Bulls. And after his playing days, he achieved fame as both coach and selector. He will also be remembered for his enthusiastic team talks and witty speeches. Northern honoured him by naming the club rugby trophy in Pretoria after him - teams compete for the Lucas Strachan Shield. Hannes Brewis was one of the best South African fly-halves of all time and played in 10 tests between 1949 and 1953 and never on the losing side. Brewis who was renowned for his speed and deadly drop goals, was a great playmaker that graced the Light Blue side when they won the Currie Cup in 1946. In his playing career, he was regarded as probably the best fly-half in world rugby, and together with Fonnie du Toit, he formed the legendary halfback pair both at national and international level. Tom van Vollenhoven the brush-cut wing who appeared on the scene in 1955, was the kind of player who captured the imagination every time he touched the ball. His try for the Light Blues against the Junior Springboks in 1955, when he beat one player after another in spectacular a zigzag run of almost 80 metres, is still lauded as the try of all tries. This got him into the Springbok side against the 1955 British Lions of Robin Thomson and in the second test scored a hat trick of tries. He would probably have been one of the greatest heroes if he had not gone off to play professional rugby league in England so early in his career. Louis Schmidt played only two tests as Springbok flank, but for the Light Blues this man with the monster moustache, was a true hero who also made his mark as captain. Schmidt, who ran out in 63 games for the Northern Transvaal in the fifties and sixties, is generally regarded "the first Blue Bull". Controversy surrounded his omission from the side after a heavy tackle on Province winger Jannie Engelbrecht resulting in a broken collarbone for the Springbok winger. Schmidt was dropped and never played for the Bulls again. Frik du Preez is probably the greatest Northerns hero of all heroes. The Springbok lock and flank was not only a dazzling player on the field, but was equally popular off the field. Together with his close friend, Mof Myburgh, both played a total of 109 matches for the Northern Transvaal. Du Preez and Myburgh were inseparable, and Myburgh also proved to be a hero of note. Despite being rather short for a lock, Du Preez's line-out work was practically unequalled and his powerful sprints struck fear in the hearts of his opposition, while he also kicked for posts for the Springboks and Northern Transvaal and put away some magnificent drop goals. How popular he was, even outside Pretoria, is apparent from the fact that he was carried, shoulder high, off the field after his last game at Newlands in Cape Town in a match that Northerns won by 25–14. Frik retired at the end of the 1971 season. Du Preez was nominated by the magazine SA Rugby as the South African player of the century, and was the first South African to be honoured, along with Dr Danie Craven, in the International Hall of Fame in Auckland, New Zealand. Thys Lourens represented Northern Transvaal in 168 games of which 84 he captained. He played in 8 Currie Cup finals (4 as captain) and was never on a losing side. He was a very resourceful captain and player and highly respected on and off the field. The partnership he established with Brigadier Buurman van Zyl, was the foundation on which the Blue Bulls built their dominance of the Currie Cup scene in the 1970s. Naas Botha was, without doubt, the most controversial Northerns hero ever, because no-one was ever neutral about him. People either loved him or loved to hate him. Just like his predecessor, Hannes Brewis, Botha was a genius at fly-half and the great points machine. Amongst all true Northerns supporters, he was one of the greatest heroes of all time, however outside Northern Transvaal he was hated, because the supporters of other teams feared him. Botha's popularity was mainly due to his excellence with the boot. He was the greatest match winner SA rugby has ever seen and has a record that speaks for itself. Botha was fetched by Buurman van Zyl from the Tukkies under-20 team, and included him as a 19-year-old in the most successful side of the 1970s. It was also Oom Buurman who chose him as captain of the Blue Bulls in 1980 over many other more senior players like Daan du Plessis, Jan Oberholzster and Louis Moolman. His great claim to fame came on the 1981 tour to New Zealand where he had the local public in canter. He was an absolute genius and his insight into and knowledge of the game and its rules, and his ability to motivate players, made him the ideal player-captain. Botha would probably have rewritten the record books far more often had it not been for apartheid, which robbed him of the opportunity to play regular test rugby. He was both a brilliant kicker and a true strategist. He received the SA Rugby Player of the Year award a record 4 times (1979, 1981, 1985 and 1987). Uli Schmidt , son of Louis Schmidt, was the prince of hookers and a genius of a player. A medical doctor by profession he was a favourite amongst all Bulls supporters, even when leaving Northerns for arch-enemies Transvaal at the beginning of the 1993 season. Thanks to his fiery performance and expertise he played many times for his province and country and was desperately unlucky to miss out on the 1995 World Cup year due to a neck injury. If he had been able to play test rugby on a regular basis especially during the late 1980s, he would probably have been regarded as one of the world's greatest hookers. Legendary All Black lock, Colin Meads, in fact described Schmidt as the world's best hooker. Johan Heunis was a true gentleman and probably the best full-back the union had ever produced. Except for the scrum-half, he played and gave outstanding performances in all the backline positions. In 1989, Heunis was nominated as SA Player of the Year. Naas Botha described Heunis as a; " ... ideal team mate in any crisis situation." He was rock solid on defence, very secure under the high-ball and fantastic with ball in hand. In 1992, a young scrumhalf by the name of Joost van der Westhuizen partnered Naas Botha as the Bulls' halfback combination. Everyone knew he would become something very special, and with time he did. He is one of only a handful of players that have won a World Cup winners medal (1995), and Tri-Nations winners medal (1998) and a Currie Cup winners medals (1998 and 2002). He captained his side in both the Currie Cup finals he played and was later also awarded the captaincy of the Springboks in the 1999 World Cup. It was not just on the field where Northern Transvaal have there heroes. Off the field heroes are as important as the on-the-field ones. Professor Fritz Eloff and Brigadier Buurman van Zyl will be remembered as the greatest of all Blue Bulls heroes off the field. Eloff was the chairman of the Northern Transvaal Rugby Union for 26 years, and one of the most acclaimed and respected rugby personalities in South Africa. He was also Deputy Chairman of the South African Rugby Board for 15 years, member of the International Rugby Board for 27 years as well as chairman for a term, and co-chairman of the SA Rugby Football Union (SARFU). During his time at the helm Northern Tranvaal played in 18 finals, winning 11 and drawing 3 times. Brig. van Zyl remains not only the most successful coach the Blue Bulls have produced to date, but also the most successful Currie Cup coach of all time. He started coaching the Bulls in 1968 and for the following 14 seasons (except 1972 when poor health forced him to take a temporary leave from coaching) he coached Northerns to 12 finals winning 9 times sharing it twice. He lost only once in a final. Springbok and Northern Transvaal lock and later coach, John Williams said, "For him, it was about fitness, motivation and discipline. In his days as coach, Northern Transvaal won many of their matches in the dying minutes of the game." Williams in his own right a legend was privileged to be able "to drink from the full rugby cup", first as a player and thereafter as coach and administrator. He doesn't know whether his remarkable hat trick is a first for Blue Bull rugby, but he is proud of the fact that, as player, he was on the winning side in Currie Cup rugby three times from 1973 to 1975 and was the Bulls coach when they won the Cup in 1987 and 1988 and shared it with Western Province in 1989. He was part of the Blue Bulls' administration when the team won the cup in 1998. Another Bulls coaching legend is Heyneke Meyer . Meyer has coached his side to victories in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 finals, and drew in the 2006 final. He became the first South African coach to achieve success at Super Rugby level when the Bulls beat the Sharks in 2007. Meyer coached the Springboks from 2012 to December 2015. Home Stadium Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, which was first used for sports in 1906, and rugby in 1908, when the site was known as the Eastern Sports Ground. The stadium was later renamed after Mr Robert Loftus Owen Versfeld , the founder of organised sports in Pretoria, and dedicated many years of his life to rugby union. Due to the Bulls exemplary record when playing at home, the stadium is often referred to as "Fortress Loftus" by South Africans. The stadium at its current configuration has a 52,000 all-seater capacity, and is shared with the Bulls .[5] The stadium is expected to receive minor upgrades in the near future as it will be hosting matches at the 2010 FIFA World Cup . It will not be the first time this has happened and since 1948 there have been continuous improvements on the stadium: 1972 - Upper Eastern Pavilion 1974 - Lower Southern Pavilion 1977 - Main Pavilion 1984 - Northern Pavilion 1989 - South just as it is today 1995 - East just as it is today The Blue Bulls represent the Limpopo province in the Currie Cup, the northernmost province in South Africa , as well as part of the Gauteng province, drawing all their players from these two areas. In age group and Women's rugby Limpopo is represented by a sub union called the Limpopo Blue Bulls . During the 1920s the Pretoria Sub-union had not foreseen the growing need for fields, but in the first part of that decade, the Sub-union, in co-operation with the Municipality, systematically put their existing rugby fields under kikuyu. University and Boys' High followed their example in 1923, so that there were seven grass fields available in that year. The Railway Institute field at Berea Park was similarly grassed in 1924. At the end of 1928 there were ten grass fields in Pretoria. The Pretoria Sub-union also wished to improve the facilities at the Eastern Sports Ground. In 1923 the City Council commenced the building of a concrete stand which could accommodate 2 000 spectators. At the end of 1928, mainly as a result of the All Blacks tour, the Sub-union could show a record financial gain and used the profits to erect the changing-rooms and toilets they had waited for, for so long. Springbok rugby players ever: where are they today. 20 best Springbok rugby players ever: where are they today. Did you know the Springboks was founded in July 1891? Over the years, there have been many Springbok rugby players. These elite sportsmen play for the South Africa National Rugby Union Team. They are known for playing in green and gold jerseys and white shorts. Best Springbok rugby players ever Photo: canva.com (modified by author) Source: UGC Springbok rugby players have a native antelope, the springbok, as their emblem. They are known for their agility, speed, muscular strength, and power, just like the springbok. Best Springbok rugby players ever Below is a list of the best Springbok rugby players' names and photos. They have made indelible marks in the sports scene in South Africa. 20. Cobus Reinach Springbok rugby players Cobus Reinach holding a trophy and a rugby ball. Photo: @cobus.reinach (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Jacobus Meyer Reinach Date of birth: 7th February 1990 Age: 32 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Bloemfontein Cobus Reinach followed in his father's footsteps. His dad, Jaco, is also on the list of Springbok rugby players who propelled the team to greater heights. Jaco won four caps on the wing for the Springboks in 1986. Read also Mpilwenhle Mokopu's biography: age, idols, P.O.B, occupation, social media Reinach made his South Africa debut against Australia in September 2014. In 2019, he made history after scoring the fastest hat trick from the start of a match. 19. Eben Etzebeth Springbok rugby players Eben Etebeth holding a trophy and posing for a picture with his dog. Photo: @ebenetzebeth4 (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Eben Etzebeth Date of birth: 29th October 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Eben Etzebeth has a towering 6' 7" stature and normally plays number four lock, but can switch to a flanker. He started his career in the Western Province youth setup and is currently signed with French Top 14 side Toulon. In 2017, Etzebeth was named the new captain of the Springboks. In the 2019 World Cup, he helped South Africa get its famous win over England. 18. Franco Mostert Full name: Franco John Mostert Date of birth: 27th November 1990 Age: 32 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Welkom Read also Who is Kwezi Ndlovu? Age, boyfriend, height, pictures, profiles, net worth Growing up, Franco Mostert dreamed of becoming a golfer. He started his age-grade rugby career for the Blue Bulls and later for the Tuks at the University of Pretoria. His older brother, Jean-Pierre, is an athlete who played flanker for the Pumas and Falcons until 2017. In June 2016, Franco Mostert made his international debut for South Africa in a match against Ireland. He played for South Africa in the 2019 World Cup. 17. Trevor Nyakane Full name: Trevor Ntando Nyakane Date of birth: 4th May 1989 Age: 33 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Bushbuckridge Trevor Nyakane is an alumnus of Hoërskool Ben Vorster and is the first-ever Springbok from this high school. His late dad briefly played representative football. Nyakane signed with the Bulls in 2015 and has been playing with the team since then. He was selected for the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad but had to go home after tearing his right calf in the opening pool match. Besides rugby, he is a businessman and entrepreneur. Read also Cebolenkosi Mthembu’s biography: Age, family, career, qualifications, net worth 16. Tendai Mtawarira Springbok rugby players Tendai Mtawarira at Karl Lagerfeld Store in Sandton City, South Africa. Photo: @Oupa Bopape/Gallo Images via Getty Images Source: Getty Images Full name: Tendai Mtawarira Date of birth: 1st August 1985 Age: 37 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Harare Tendai Mtawarira is arguably the greatest South African prop of all time. He has been in over 150 games for the Sharks in Super Rugby. At Springboks, he is known as the beast. In 2019, he played a crucial role in the final of the Rugby World Cup, which the Springboks won. 15. Faf de Klerk list of springbok rugby players Faf de Klerk pictured in rugby uniform. Photo: @fafster09 (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Francois "Faf" de Klerk Date of birth: 19th October 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Mbombela Faf de Klerk is a household name in the South African sports scene. He is a strong and powerful scrum half. Klerk started his career in high school. He was scouted by the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions at the youth level. He was first picked to represent South Africa in 2016 and has been an integral part of the team. Read also Who is Mbalenhle Mavimbela? Age, family, pregnancy, TV roles, profiles, net worth 14. Bongi Mbonambi Full name: Mbongeni Theo 'Bongi' Mbonambi Date of birth: 7th January 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Bethlehem Did you know Bongi Mbonambi was once told he was too small to play rugby? He beat the odds to become one of South Africa's best rugby players of all time. Mbonambi comes from a sporty family. His dad is a boxer and baseball player, while his mother played tennis. In 2016, Mbonambi made his international debut against Ireland. 13. Duane Vermeulen Springbok rugby players Duane Vermeulen posing for pictures in black, grey, and white outfits. Photo: @customs08 (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Daniel Johannes "Duane" Vermeulen Date of birth: 3rd July 1986 Age: 36 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Mbombela Duane Vermeulen plays as a number-eight forward. In 2021, he was inducted into the RugbyPass Hall of Fame for his impressive work. The major teams he has played for include the Blue Bulls, Barbarians, Bulls, Emerging Springboks, Cheetahs, Stormers, Western Province, and Toulon. In the 2020/21 season, he was named SA Rugby Player of the Year. Read also List of Standard Bank branch codes in 2024: All universal codes 12. Damian de Allende Full name: Damian de Allende Date of birth: 25th November 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Damian de Allende is arguably one of the best defensive centres globally. He first featured at the professional level for Western Province and made his international debut for South Africa in 2014. He made his first try for the Springboks in 2015. After winning the 2019 World Cup, he signed for the Panasonic Wild Knights on a short-term basis. 11. Malcolm Marx Springbok rugby players Malcolm Marx holding a trophy and at the gym. Photo: @malcolm_marx (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Malcolm Justin Marx Date of birth: 13th July 1994 Age: 28 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Germiston Malcolm Marx is one of the Springbok rugby players in 2022. He was a member of the South African squad at the 2014 Junior World Cup in New Zealand. In September 2016, Marx made his international debut for the Springboks against New Zealand. In his career, he has been voted SA Rugby Player of the Year and SA Rugby Young Player of the Year. Read also Esme Creed-Miles: age, boyfriend, height, movies, TV shows, interview, worth 10. Pieter-Steph du Toit Full name: Pieter Stephanus du Toit Date of birth: 20th August 1992 Age: 30 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Pieter-Steph du Toit can play in both the second and back rows. He comes from a sporty family and one of his siblings, Johan, is a back-row or lock for the Stormers. In November 2013, Du Toit made his senior Springbok debut against Wales. He tore his ACL in 2014 and had a transplant before the 2019 World Cup. 9. Siya Kolisi list of springbok rugby players Siya Kolisi looks on during the South Africa Springboks training session held at The Lensbury in Teddington, England. Photo: @David Rogers/Getty Images Source: Getty Images Full name: Siyamthanda Kolisi Date of birth: 16th June 1991 Age: 31 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Zwide, Eastern Cape Province In 2020, the Rugby World magazine named Siya Kolisi the rugby’s most influential person. Kolisi is the national team’s first black captain. The athlete started playing rugby at seven, following in the footsteps of his family members. His professional career began in 2011 at Western Province. Besides rugby, he runs the Kolisi Foundation that assists children from underprivileged backgrounds. Read also Joe Cole (actor): age, family, movies and TV shows, height, profile, net worth 8. Lood de Jager list of springbok rugby players Lood de Jager posing for pictures against a brown door and inside a room. Photo: @loodejager (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: Lodewyk de Jager Date of birth: 17th December 1992 Age: 30 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Alberton Lood de Jager is a brilliant defender with a towering height of 6' 9". He joined the English club Sale Sharks in 2019 and is also part of the South African national team. In 2019, he played in the World Cup final. However, he was forced to exit from the game after dislocating his shoulder in the 22nd minute. 7. Sbu Nkosi list of springbok rugby players Sbu Nkosi holding a trophy and standing in front of a red car. Photo: @sbu_nkosi14 (modified by author) Source: UGC Full name: S'busiso Romeo Nkosi Date of birth: 21st January 1996 Age: 26 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Barberton Sbu Nkosi plays as a winger. He is a professional rugby union player for the South Africa national team and the Bulls in United Rugby Championship. He has previously played for the Pumas, Golden Lions, Sharks, UKZN Impi, and South Africa Under-20. He was part of South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Read also Izabela Vidovic: age, family, movies and TV shows, profiles, net worth 6. Francois Louw springbok rugby players in 2022 Francois Louw at the 14th Annual Feather Awards at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo: @Oupa Bopape/Gallo Images Source: Getty Images Full name: Francois Louw Date of birth: 15th June 1985 Age: 37 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Francois Louw is a former player who retired in 2019. He made his professional rugby debut in 2006 for the Western Province. He later played for the Stormers. He then joined the English Premiership giants Bath and was signed with the team until his retirement. He made 76 appearances during his career at Springboks. 5. Willie le Roux Full name: Willem Jacobus le Roux Date of birth: 18th August 1989 Age: 33 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Stellenbosch Did you know Willie le Roux was part of the 2019 World Cup-winning squad? He made his International debut against Italy in June 2013. In 2013, he was named the South African Players’ Association Player of the Year. The following year, he was nominated for the World Player of the Year award, but Brodie Retallick bagged the title. Read also Tendai Ndoro: age, twin, family, health, current team, stats, salary, net worth 4. Jesse Kriel Full name: Jesse André Kriel Date of birth: 15th February 1994 Age: 28 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Cape Town Jesse Kriel is the Springboks centre. He previously played for the Bulls, Lions, Stormers, and South Africa U20. He made his Springbok debut right before the 2015 World Cup. He participated in the opening game at the 2019 World Cup but had to leave due to a hamstring injury. 3. Frans Steyn how much do springbok rugby players earn Francois Steyn plays a shot during an offbeat session golf day for the Springboks South Africa national rugby squad at Wentworth Club in Virginia Water. Photo: @Tertius Pickard/Gallo Images Source: Getty Images Full name: François Philippus Lodewyk Steyn Date of birth: 14th May 1987 Age: 35 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Aliwal North Frans Steyn has earned a good reputation because of his long-range goal-kicking ability. He started his professional career in 2007 at the Sharks. In 2019, Steyn made history as the second South African to win the Rugby World Cup twice. He is also the youngest player to win a Rugby World Cup. Read also Mulatto's net worth, age, real name, parents, ethnicity, songs, profiles 2. Elton Jantjies Full name: Elton Thomas Jantjies Date of birth: 1st August 1990 Age: 32 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Graaff-Reinet Elton Jantjies is a veteran member of the Lions. He has played for South Africa since 2012. His younger brother, Tony Jantjies, is also a professional rugby player. At 21, he played in the Currie Cup final and won the Man of the Match award. His body has dozens of tattoos that tell his life story. 1. Handré Pollard Springbok rugby players Handré Pollard of Leicester Tigers poses during the EPCR 2022/2023 Season Launch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Beaconsfield, England. Photo: @David Rogers/Getty Images Source: Getty Images Full name: Handré Pollard Date of birth: 11th March 1994 Age: 28 years (as of 2022) Place of birth: Somerset West Handré Pollard is arguably the best Springbok rugby player ever. He is respected for kicking South Africa to Rugby World Cup glory in 2019. Pollard can kick, pass, run and tackle, which is quite impressive. He played in three Junior World Championships, where he honed his skills. Read also Rick Ross' net worth, age, real name, height, albums, mansion, profiles Who is the best rugby player in South Africa in 2022? Handré Pollard is arguably the best South African rugby player as of 2022. Besides playing for the national team, he is signed with Leicester Tigers in England. How much do Springbok rugby players earn? The amount a player earns varies depending on the terms of the contract they signed. More experienced athletes typically earn more than those with less experience. Who is the best rugby player in Springbok? The best Springboks player as of 2022 is Handré Pollard. The athlete also plays for the Leicester Tigers. Who is the youngest Springbok player in 2022? The youngest player in the 2022/23 season is Canan Moodie. Moodie is 20 years old as of 2022. Springbok rugby players have placed South Africa on the map, especially after winning the 2019 World Cup. The team is made of members of different ages and strengths. Read more: https://briefly.co.za/37259-list-20-springbok-rugby-players-ever.html RWC 2023 Spotlight: South Africa South Africa are one of only two teams, alongside New Zealand, to have won Rugby World Cup on three occasions. The Springboks missed the first two tournaments due to their exclusion from international sport, but have more than made up for it since. As hosts in 1995, they united the country with victory against the All Blacks and then went on to lift the Webb Ellis Cup again, in 2007 and 2019, with England the beaten team on both occasions. RWC debut: 25 May, 1995 v Australia at Newlands, Cape Town RWC appearances: Played 43 – Won 36 Drawn 0 Lost 7 – Points for 1,512 Points against 552 – Win ratio 84 per cent Most RWC appearances: Schalk Burger, 20 Most RWC tries: Bryana Habana, 15 Best finish: Champions 1995, 2007, 2019 Qualification for RWC 2023: RWC 2019 champions Most memorable match: For sheer drama, the 1995 final against New Zealand eclipses either of the Springboks’ finals against England. With the scores locked at 9-9 at full-time and 12-12 in extra-time, the destiny of the Webb Ellis Cup was still undecided until Joel Stransky received the ball from Joost van der Westhuizen and drop kicked himself and the Springboks into history. Iconic moment: While the sight of Nelson Mandela presenting the Webb Ellis Cup to Francois Pienaar in the Springbok captain’s number six jersey in 1995 will forever remain the iconic image of Rugby World Cup, Siya Kolisi leading the Springboks to victory in 2019 as the team’s first black captain is right up there, too. Low point: Ten places and just over 13 points separated the sides in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings when South Africa and Japan met on day two of RWC 2015. Japan had not won a RWC match since 1991, while South Africa were world champions in both 1995 and 2007. Nobody gave the Brave Blossoms a prayer. But the formbook went out the window as the Springboks succumbed to the biggest shock in the tournament’s history, losing 34-32 to a late try from Karne Hesketh. Iconic player: Chester Williams. Now sadly deceased, Williams became only the third non-white player to play for the Springboks in 1993. Two years later, he was the reluctant poster boy of Rugby World Cup 1995. Injury delayed his involvement at RWC 1995 until the quarter-finals but he made an instant impression with four tries against Samoa and then went on to play a pivotal role in the semi-final and final. Record-breaker: Anyone who shares a record with Jonah Lomu must be good, very good, and Bryan Habana definitely falls into that category. The lightning-quick winger equalled Lomu’s record of most tournament tries when he completely his hat-trick in a 64-0 win against USA at RWC 2015 to take his overall tally to 15. Did you know? Jannie de Beer’s ‘nap-hand’ of drop goals against England in the 1999 quarter-finals is a record for a single Rugby World Cup match. Quote: “I dropped down to my knees just to say a quick prayer and before I realised it, everybody was around me. All the tension of the six weeks, everything that led to the final just came to the fore, it was very, very emotional. I was incredibly proud of the team, proud of that moment and very much proud to be a Springbok rugby player.” – Francois Pienaar, after the Springboks won the RWC 1995 final. Western Province (rugby union) Full nameWestern Province UnionWestern Province Rugby Football Union Nickname(s)Province, Die Streeptruie and WP Emblem(s)Disa uniflora or Red Disa Founded1883 LocationCape Town , South Africa RegionWestern Cape , South Africa Ground(s)Cape Town Stadium (Capacity: 55,000) Coach(es)John Dobson Captain(s)Ernst van Rhyn League(s)Currie Cup 2022 Finals: DNQ 6th on log Team kit 2nd kit Official website www.wprugby.com Current season Western Province (known for sponsorship reasons as DHL Western Province) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Newlands , Cape Town , that participates in the annual Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments. Founded in 1883, the team has won multiple titles, a record of 34 Currie Cup titles including the inaugural competition, the Vodacom Cup, the Absa Nite Series, and the Lion Cup. The club is nicknamed Die Streeptruie ("The Striped Jerseys" in Afrikaans) in reference to their legendary blue and white hooped jerseys. These Striped Jerseys were the colours of Malmesbury Rugby Football Club, established in 1881. They are also known simply as "Province" by all South African rugby lovers, while Afrikaans -speaking supporters also refer to the team by its abbreviation, W.P. (pronounced: "vee pee" ["ee" as in "beer"]). Western Province were the 2012 Vodacom Cup Champions, having defeated the Griquas in 2012 by 20 points to 18. They also are the 2014 Currie cup champions, having defeated the Lions 19–16 in the final. Western Province is the only South African Team besides the Blue Bulls to have appeared in every final of every competition in South African rugby: the Vodacom Cup, the Lion Cup, the Absa Nite Series, the Currie Cup the Super Rugby Competitions and the United Rugby Championship (as the DHL Stormers ). Another accomplishment of Western Province, which no South African team has ever been able to match, is the double victories over the All Blacks the first being (10–3) played on 15 August 1928 and again (12–11) on 16 July 1976, while several countries have never been able to beat the All Black team, Province managed this feat. In 2010 province again did a remarkable victory over all of New Zealand's five super unions, this was the first and only time such an accomplishment has been achieved. Province has also beaten the Wallabies 17–6 in a thrilling encounter in 1963. Province has also drawn to other countries including England in 1984 with a score of 15 all, however province has beaten the British and Irish Lions numerous times, including three times in 1903 and won another match in 1924, the match then had been regarded as "test" status. The only two teams to have beaten overseas countries as well as combination teams (Lions) are yet again the Blue Bulls and Western Province. Province was unstoppable by any other opposition in the 1980s except for Northern Transvaal. Among the ten Currie Cup trophies in the 1980s 5 went to Province 4 went to Northern Transvaal and 1 was shared, this shows the dominance between the two teams and the constant intense rivalry between the unions. Since 1983 Western Province has been sponsored by Adidas , in 2013 this will mark the 30th Anniversary of the sponsorship and the 130th anniversary of the team itself. In 1983 Province launched their centenary jersey of which 50 only ever came into existence, but this is not the rarest province top, the rarest being a complete maroon kit of which only 15 were ever made, this team played under the WP Presidents XV. The maroon jersey along with the centenary jersey as well as the original Stormers orange tops are the three most sought after Province and or Stormers tops. Team sponsor DHL has officially renewed their sponsorship with Western Province until 2016, following an emphatic 2012 season. Boland falls within the Western Province and combines with Boland Cavaliers to compete as the DHL Stormers in the United Rugby Championship competition. Stormers UnionSouth African Rugby Union Founded1883 (Western Province Rugby Union) 1997 (Stormers franchise) LocationCape Town , South Africa RegionCape Town Cape Winelands or Boland West Coast Ground(s)Cape Town Stadium (Capacity: 55,000) Coach(es)John Dobson Captain(s)Salmaan Moerat Neethling Fouche League(s)United Rugby Championship 2022–23 Runners-up 1st South African Shield (3rd overall) 1st kit 2nd kit Official website thestormers.com/home/ The Stormers (known for sponsorship reasons as the DHL Stormers) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Cape Town in the Western Cape that competes in the United Rugby Championship , a trans-hemispheric competition that also involves sides from Ireland , Italy , Scotland and Wales . They competed in the Super Rugby competition until 2020. They are centred on the Western Province Currie Cup side, but also draw players from the Boland Cavaliers (covering the Cape Winelands and West Coast districts, with home matches in Wellington ). Through 2005, they also drew players from the SWD Eagles (George ), which meant that they drew players from all three unions in the Western Cape Province . However, the general realignment of franchise areas resulting from the expansion of the competition resulted in the Eagles being moved to the area of the Southern Spears (later succeeded by the Southern Kings ). Before 1998, South Africa did not use a franchise system for the Super 12, instead sending the top four unions from its domestic competition, the Currie Cup, into the Super 12. In 1996, the Stormers qualified and competed in the Super 12 as Western Province. In 1997, they did not qualify, the 4th South African team being the Orange Free State (now the Free State Cheetahs at Currie Cup level; the region would later be represented in Super 12 by the Cats (now known as the Lions) and in Super 14 by the Cheetahs ). The Stormers played their first ever final, against the Bulls in front of 36,000 fans in Johannesburg,[1] in 2010 after beating the Waratahs in the semi-final stage but ultimately lost to the Bulls. In the two previous years in which they reached the semi-finals, 1999 and 2004, they were eliminated by the Highlanders and Crusaders . They made consecutive home semifinals in 2011 and 2012, but lost both at Newlands to the Crusaders and the Sharks respectively. In 2015 they won the South African conference for a third time, before losing their home quarterfinal against the Brumbies. In 2021–22, the Stormers, with their other South African Super Rugby colleagues the Bulls , the Sharks and the Lions , left Super Rugby to join the newly renamed United Rugby Championship with teams from Ireland, Scotland, Italy and Wales. Their first season in the URC was a success, winning the South African shield as the top team in their national conference, followed by the overall URC title with a win against the Bulls in the 2022 final . On 2 June 2022 it was confirmed that the four South African URC franchises, and the former Pro 14 franchise, the Cheetahs would be entering the European Professional Club Rugby competitions for the first time in 2022-23, with the Stormers in the first tier European Rugby Champions Sharks (rugby union) The Sharks (known as the Hollywoodbets Sharks as they are their title sponsor) is a South African professional rugby union team based in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal . They compete internationally in the United Rugby Championship and EPCR Challenge Cup , having competed in the Super Rugby competition until 2020. They are centred on the Sharks union, also based in Durban and drawing players from all of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape . The team plays its home matches at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium in Durban . In 1993–1995 South Africa was represented in the Super 10 by their three top unions (top three teams from the previous years Currie Cup). Natal (as they were called then) qualified in 1993 and 1994. Natal were runners-up in 1994 after having lost to Queensland 21–10 in the final. In 1996 and 1997 South Africa was represented in the Super 12 by their four top unions rather than franchises, and Natal qualified and competed both years. They have never won the Super Rugby competition, but have reached the final four times, as Natal in 1996 and as the Sharks in 2001, 2007 and 2012. The side sports many Springbok players, including Ox Nche , Makazole Mapimpi , Lukhanyo Am , Eben Etzebeth and Bongi Mbonambi . They have also featured many international stars including France international Frédéric Michalak and former Australian International Ben Tapuai . Cheetahs (rugby union) Unionouth African Rugby Union Emblem(s)Cheetah Founded1895 (Orange Free State Rugby Union ) 2005 (Cheetahs franchise) LocationBloemfontein , Free State , South Africa RegionFree State Northern Cape Ground(s)Free State Stadium (Capacity: 46,000) Coach(es)Izak van der Westhuizen Captain(s)Victor Sekekete League(s)European Rugby Challenge Cup 2022−2023 (Round of 16) Team kit 2nd kit Official website www.fscheetahs.co.za The Cheetahs (known for sponsorship reasons as the Toyota Cheetahs), is a South African professional rugby union team based at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein . They have played Super Rugby between 2006 and 2017, then the Pro14 (now United Rugby Championship ) from 2017 to 2020, and currently the EPCR Challenge Cup since 2022. The franchise area encompasses the western half of the Free State province, the same as that of provincial Currie Cup side the Free State Cheetahs . Between 2006 and 2015 , the Griffons from the eastern half of the Free State province and Griquas from the Northern Cape province were Cheetahs franchise partners, but this ended prior to the 2016 Super Rugby season .[1] The Cheetahs was one of the two new franchises that entered the expanded Super 14 competition in 2006, the other being Australia's Western Force . The Central Union was awarded the fifth South African franchise over the SEC franchise in April 2005. In its first season the Cheetahs did surprisingly well, finishing tenth in the final standings, out of 14 sides. Prior to being accepted into the 2006 Super 14 season, the Cheetahs were represented as a part of the Cats . In addition, before the South African Rugby Union entered regionalised franchises into the competition, the Free State Cheetahs side competed in the 1997 Super 12 season . SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA Sports in South Africa have a passionate following, although they remain largely divided along ethnic lines.Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in South Africa, particularly amongst blacks who constitute the majority of the population. The national football team is nicknamed Bafana Bafana (meaning the boys, the boys). South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the first one hosted in Africa.Cricket is the second most popular sport in South Africa, and is traditionally the sport of the Anglo-African and Indian South African communities, although it is now followed by members of all races. The national cricket team is nicknamed The Proteas. Rugby union is also very popular, especially among persons of Afrikaner descent. The national rugby union team, The Springboks, have enjoyed considerable success since the early 20th Century, including two Rugby World Cup victories in 1995 & 2007.Other popular sports include: boxing, hockey, tennis, golf, surfing, netball and running.South Africa was absent from international sport for most of the apartheid era due to sanctions, but started competing globally after the country's white electorate voted in a referendum in favour of a negotiated settlement of the apartheid question. The South African government and SASCOC have been striving to improve – incrementally – the participation of the previously excluded majority in competitive sports (i.e. Blacks in rugby and Whites in association football), but so far with limited success, due to resistance on part of numerous federations. South Africa was banned from the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo due to the apartheid policies. This ban effectively lasted until 1992. During this time, some sports people (like Zola Budd and Kepler Wessels) left for other countries in order to compete internationally. Some athletes continued their sports careers in South Africa in isolation, with some stars like women's 400 metres runner Myrtle Bothma running a world record time at the South African championships. Some sports teams toured South Africa as "Rebel Tours" and played the Springbok rugby and Proteas cricket teams in South Africa during the isolation period.In 1977, Commonwealth Presidents and Prime Ministers agreed, as part of their support for the international campaign against apartheid, to discourage contact and competition between their sportsmen and sporting organisations, teams or individuals from South Africa. South Africa has an active athletics schedule and has produced a number of athletes who compete internationally and qualify for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, the relay team of Shane Victor, Ofentse Mogawane, Willem de Beer and Oscar Pistorius set a national record time of 2:59.21 seconds in the heats. South Africa went on to win a silver medal in the finals with the team of Victor, Mogawane, de Beer and Louis Jacob van Zyl.In 2012 Caster Semenya won a silver medal in the women's 800m of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, with a time of 1:57.23 seconds. Also in 2012, Oscar Pistorius became the first double amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympic Games, but did not win a medal. Pistorius won a gold medal and a bronze medal in the T44 class at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, and three gold medals at the 2008 Summer Paralympic Games in Beijing. He also won two gold medals at the 2012 Paralympic Games and remained the T43 world record holder for the 200 and 400 metres events. The South African team of Pistorius, Arnu Fourie, Zivan Smith and Samkelo Radebe won a gold medal and set a Paralympic record in the 4x100m relay with a time of 41.78 seconds. Fourie also set a world record in the heats of the T44 200m event and won a bronze medal in the 100m event. Australian rules football is a popular sport in South Africa. Since 1996 the sport has been growing quickly and especially amongst the indigenous communities. South Africa's has a national team the South African national Australian rules football team. The team made history in 2007 by competing against Australia's best Under 17 players, as well as defeating a touring Australian amateur senior team for the first time. There is an annual national championships which was first held in 2008. The South African national team also competes in the Australian Football International Cup which is essentially a World Cup for all countries apart from Australia which is the only place where the sport is played professionally. The South African national team highest finish at the International Cup is 3rd which was in 2008. Cricket is the second most popular sport in South Africa. It is popular among English-speaking whites. It is the only sport in South Africa to feature in the top two sports of all race groups. The national team is known as the Proteas.South Africa is one of the leading cricket-playing nations in the world and one of ten countries that is sanctioned to play test cricket. Cricket was traditionally popular among English-speaking whites and the Asian community, though the latter were not able to compete in top-level South African cricket in the apartheid era. Since the end of the apartheid era, a higher proportion of white players have come from Afrikaans-speaking backgrounds, and attempts have been made to increase the number of non-white players, in part through a quota system. The current national team features prominent non-white players, such as Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla (the first Muslim to play for South Africa), Herschelle Gibbs, Monde Zondeki, Loots Bosman, Charl Langeveldt, and Makhaya Ntini. Afrikaners in the team include AB de Villiers, Albie Morkel, Morné Morkel, Johan Botha and Dale Steyn The team has had success with batsmen like Herschelle Gibbs, who is one of the sport's most dominating batsmen, all-rounders like Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock, the former being one of the greatest all rounders of the game, and bowlers such as Makhaya Ntini, who reached number two in the ICC Player Rankings in 2006. Dale Steyn is currently ranked as one of the best test bowlers, and captain Graeme Smith is one of the most dominant left-handed batsmen in world cricket today. Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has the world record for the most number of dismissals for a wicketkeeper and continues playing for the team. Kevin Pietersen, who is white, left the country claiming that he was put at a disadvantage by positive discrimination, and within a few years became one of the world's top batsmen, playing for England. South Africa is one of the strongest teams and in 2006, in Johannesburg in what was the highest scoring 50 over ODI ever, South Africa led by Gibbs' 175 chased down Australia's mammoth and then world record score of 434–4. South Africa hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup an event that was disappointing to them as they lost against Sri Lanka in what happened to be in a farcical situation and were eliminated on home soil. In the 2007 Cricket World Cup, South Africa reached the semi-finals of the event but lost to Australia. Rugby league is a popular sport in South Africa. It has a long history, and consisting of no less than three and possibly four different administrative boards, committee or interests over 40 odd years that attempted to establish the game of rugby league in South Africa. None of the earlier attempts were very successful.The first attempted expansion of the code into South Africa was primarily put together by the English and encouraged by the French for the purpose of expanding the game into new nations that would inevitably bring more tests to the English and French shores, ensuring a lucrative future. At least, that was the plan however, it was not to be; the South African public did not take to the sport and the expansion plans were stopped prematurely, causing the cancellation of a third scheduled match in London. The second attempted expansion was a strange double act in the 1960s consisting of two separate factions, known as the National Rugby League and South African Rugby League. Each fought for their own survival until the RLIF laid down the law that saw the NRL effectively shut down and its clubs moved to the SARL. All was looking good for SARL until a South African representative team toured Australia and were embarrassingly beaten, enough to discourage South African fans from supporting their national team and thus it never caught on.The 1990s brought forth a more committed band of entrepreneurs. The foundation left by the 1990s administration still lives on today, albeit a former shadow of itself.The rugby league competition in South Africa is the Tom van Vollenhoven Cup. Rugby union is a popular sport in South Africa, especially amongst Afrikaners. The national team is known as the Springboks. South Africa hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, in what was their first appearance. The defeat of the All Blacks in the final is remembered as one of the most famous South African sporting moments. The domestic league the Currie Cup is also played annually, as well as the international Super Rugby.After being tainted by associations with apartheid, the Springboks (or 'Boks') have sought to become part of the 'New South Africa', with President Nelson Mandela wearing the Springbok jersey, once only worn by whites, at the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup.South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Rugby league is a team sport played in South Africa. There has been three dynasties of rugby league in South Africa that attempted to establish a thriving rugby league. Not all attempts were in the interest of South Africans; rather an interest in financial windfall. Others took to the townships and promoted the league at the grass roots, which saw some of the most successful periods of rugby league in South Africa. The game has changed over 50 years of involvement in South Africa and today is played by a small number of teams in the Tom van Vollenhoven Cup which is administered by the South African Rugby League. Rugby league in South Africa has a long and turbulent history, consisting of no less than three administrations over 40 years that attempted to establish the game of rugby league in South Africa. Neither, certainly the earlier attempts were very successful.The first attempted expansion of the code into South Africa was primarily put together by the English and encouraged by the French for the purpose of expanding the game into new nations, that would inevitably bring more tests to the English and French shores, ensuring a lucrative future. At least, that was the plan; however it was not to be, the South African public did not take to the sport and the expansion plans were stopped prematurely causing a 3rd scheduled match in London to not be played. The second attempted expansion was a strange double act in the 1960s consisting of two separate factions, known as the National Rugby League and South African Rugby League. Each fought for their own survival until the RLIF laid down the law that saw the NRL effectively shut down and its clubs moved to the SARL. All was looking good for SARL until a South African representative team toured Australia and were embarrassingly beaten.In 1991 the South African Rugby Football League was established to promote amateur rugby league.1998's World Club Challenge between the British and Australian champions was mooted as a showpiece fixture at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. However this didn't eventuate.In 2009 there are currently three South Africans playing in Australia, Jarrod Saffy who plays for the St. George Illawarra Dragons, Allan Heldsinger who plays for the Redcliffe Dolphins and Daine Laurie who plays with the Wests Tigers. In 2010 the Sydney Roosters have signed South African rugby union junior JP Du Plessis. The NRL plan to sign more South Africans in the future.So far the Sydney Roosters have signed four South African rugby union players and Peter O'Sullivan stated he will bring them all on a bus back to Bondi the Melbourne Storm have also recruited players from the country.In 2011 a host of changes were implemented by the remaining clubs, the first of which was to elect a representative board and establish a Commercial Entity to take the sport forward. The result is a new National Club Championship as well as several international tours next year. The South African Senior Side also played in the Rugby League World Cup Qualifier in 2011 and will hope to build in 2012 towards a strong showing in the 2012 and 2013 international seasons.The South African Students will be competing in the Rugby League Students World Cup in July 2013 in England. Sports in South Africa The South Africa national rugby union team (Afrikaans : Suid-Afrikaanse nasionale rugbyspan) commonly known as the Springboks (colloquially the Boks, Bokke or Amabhokobhoko), is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union . The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts. Their emblem is a native antelope, the Springbok , which is the national animal of South Africa. The team has been representing South African Rugby Union in international rugby union since 30 July 1891, when they played their first test match against a British Isles touring team. Currently, the Springboks are the number one ranked rugby team in the world and are the reigning World Champions, having won the World Cup on a record four occasions (1995 , 2007 , 2019 and 2023 ). They are also the second nation to win the World Cup consecutively (2019 and 2023). The team made its World Cup debut in 1995 , when the newly democratic South Africa hosted the tournament. Although South Africa was instrumental in the creation of the Rugby World Cup competition, the Springboks could not compete in the first two World Cups in 1987 and 1991 because of international anti-apartheid sporting boycotts . The Springboks defeated the All Blacks 15–12 in the 1995 final , which is now remembered as one of the greatest moments in South Africa's sporting history , and a watershed moment in the post-Apartheid nation-building process . This cast a new light on South Africa, where people of all colour united as one nation to watch their team play. South Africa regained the title as champions 12 years later, when they defeated England 15–6 in the 2007 final . As a result of the 2007 World Cup tournament the Springboks were promoted to first place in the IRB World Rankings , a position they held until July the following year when New Zealand regained the top spot. They were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards . South Africa then won a third World Cup title, defeating England 32–12 in the 2019 final . As a result of this, the South African National Rugby Union Team were named 2020 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards for a second time. They went on to retain their title in 2023 . The Springboks also compete in the annual Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri-Nations), along with their Southern Hemisphere counterparts Argentina , Australia and New Zealand . They have won the Championship on four occasions in Twenty-Four competitions and are the only team to have won a version of the competition and the Rugby World Cup in the same year. For almost a century, South Africans have taken great pride in the performance of their national rugby union team. The team has gained widespread recognition around the world, even among non-rugby fans. Rugby union is a highly popular sport in South Africa, and it is often the preferred sport of the country's most talented athletes. Sixteen former Springboks and influential South Africans have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame . They are also the only team with a 50% win-rate in the Rugby World Cup series. Many teams have had their biggest defeats to the Springboks; including Australia , Italy , Scotland , Uruguay , Wales and New Zealand . south african rugby teams Organisation Blue Bulls Rugby Union ( Pretoria) Boland Rugby Union ( Wellington) Border Rugby Football Union ( East London) Eastern Province Rugby Union ( Gqeberha) Falcon-Valke Rugby Union ( Brakpan) Free State Rugby Union ( Bloemfontein) Golden Lions Rugby Union ( Johannesburg) Griffons Rugby Union ( Welkom) Springboks.rugby a Few Players André Esterhuizen Centre Age 30 Caps 16 Points 0 Height 193 cm Weight 116 kg View Stats Full Bio Bongi Mbonambi Hooker Age 33 Caps 68 Points 65 Height 176 cm Weight 106 kg View Stats Full Bio Canan Moodie Wing Age 21 Caps 10 Points 25 Height 191 cm Weight 92 kg View Stats Full Bio Cheslin Kolbe Wing Age 30 Caps 31 Points 91 Height 171 cm Weight 77 kg View Stats Full Bio Cobus Reinach Scrumhalf Age 33 Caps 32 Points 65 Height 175 cm Weight 85 kg View Stats Full Bio Damian de Allende Centre Age 32 Caps 78 Points 55 Height 189 cm Weight 106 kg View Stats Full Bio Damian Willemse Flyhalf Age 25 Caps 39 Points 56 Height 184 cm Weight 95 kg View Stats Full Bio Deon Fourie Loose Forward Age 37 Caps 13 Points 10 Height 176 cm Weight 98 kg View Stats Full Bio Duane Vermeulen Loose Forward Age 37 Caps 75 Points 15 Height 193 cm Weight 117 kg View Stats Full Bio Eben Etzebeth Lock Age 32 Caps 119 Points 30 Height 203 cm Weight 120 kg View Stats Full Bio Evan Roos Loose Forward Age 24 Caps 5 Points 0 Height 191 cm Weight 109 kg View Stats Full Bio Faf de Klerk Scrumhalf Age 32 Caps 55 Points 50 Height 171 cm Weight 75 kg View Stats Full Bio Sport in South Africa South Africa was banned from the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo due to the apartheid policies. This ban effectively lasted until 1992. During this time, some sports people (like Zola Budd and Kepler Wessels ) left for other countries in order to compete internationally. Some athletes continued their sports careers in South Africa in isolation, with some stars like women's 400 metres runner Myrtle Bothma running a world record time at the South African championships. Some sports teams toured South Africa as "Rebel Tours" and played the Springbok rugby and cricket teams in South Africa during the isolation period. In 1977, Commonwealth Presidents and Prime Ministers agreed, as part of their support for the international campaign against apartheid, to discourage contact and competition between their sportsmen and sporting organisations, teams or individuals from South Africa. South Africa was banned from the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo due to the apartheid policies. This ban effectively lasted until 1992. During this time, some sports people (like Zola Budd and Kepler Wessels ) left for other countries in order to compete internationally. Some athletes continued their sports careers in South Africa in isolation, with some stars like women's 400 metres runner Myrtle Bothma running a world record time at the South African championships. Some sports teams toured South Africa as "Rebel Tours" and played the Springbok rugby and cricket teams in South Africa during the isolation period. In 1977, Commonwealth Presidents and Prime Ministers agreed, as part of their support for the international campaign against apartheid, to discourage contact and competition between their sportsmen and sporting organisations, teams or individuals from South Africa. Regulation The National Sport and Recreation Act (1998) provides for the promotion and development of sport in South Africa, and coordinates relationships between the Sports Commission, sports federations and related agencies. It aims to correct imbalances in sport by promoting equity and democracy, and provides for dispute resolution mechanisms. It empowers the Minister to make regulations, and allows the Sports Commission (and NOCSA in respect of the Olympic Games) to co-ordinate, promote and develop sport in South Africa. Membership of the Sports Commission is open to a wide range of sports bodies, as long as these meet the criteria set by the commission. Sports bodies that permit forms of discrimination based on gender, race, disability, religion or creed, are for instance not allowed. A draft amendment bill (December 2019) proposed by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture aims to strengthen the minister's regulatory control over sports codes (at local, provincial or national levels), besides clubs and fitness organisations. If accepted, a Sport Arbitration Tribunal will be created. The tribunal will determine the delegation of sporting powers and will be tasked with disputes arising between different sports bodies. It will also regulate the fitness industry (registration and certification), set up procedures in bidding for and hosting of international sports events, regulate combat sport, and decide on offences and penalties (including jail sentences). Sports bodies would not operate independently anymore, but would promote their sports in consultation with the minister. The role of sport in the formation of a South African identity, post-Apartheid Association football has historically been particularly popular amongst persons of African descent, although it does have a strong following amongst white South Africans as well and is South Africa's most popular sport overall. South Africa also hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup . The South Africa national rugby union team , which is nicknamed Springboks or the Bokke, are currently ranked no. 1 in the world in Rugby union , and have had multiple successful international and world cup campaigns. Rugby union is traditionally the most popular sport among white South Africans overall, with half of whites preferring it. (Cricket is a distant second, favored by 1 in 5 white South Africans).[4] Today, rugby is played and enjoyed amongst all races in South Africa. South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup , the first in Africa, and won it as well. Cricket is popular among the English-speaking white and Indian communities, although it has followers among all races. The national cricket team is nicknamed The Proteas. South Africa hosted the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup and 2007 ICC World Twenty20 . Other popular sports include: athletics , basketball , boxing , golf , netball , softball , field hockey , swimming , surfing and tennis . Women's sport Sport in South Africa is still largely seen (in the words of a former member of Women and Sport South Africa) as "the domain of men". In 1997, one writer described "massive gender inequalities in the sporting structures of the country, and a strong association between sport and masculinity". National teams and names South Africa's national sporting colours are green, gold and white. The protea is the national emblem worn by South Africans representing their country in sport. The national rugby union teams are nicknamed the "Springboks", while the national cricket teams are known as the "Proteas". Rugby Rugby union Main article: Rugby union in South Africa The 1906 Springboks team Rugby union is the most popular team sport among white South Africans, but in more recent years has garnered a dedicated following among other ethnic groups.[4] The national team is known as the Springboks . South Africa hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup , in what was their first appearance as South Africa emerged from the isolation of the Apartheid era. The defeat of the All Blacks in the final is remembered as one of the most famous South African sporting moments overall. The domestic league – the Currie Cup – is also played annually. From 1996, South Africa fielded sides against teams from Australia and New Zealand in the Super Rugby competition. This was expanded to include teams from Argentina and Japan but, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the competition to split into three, South Africa left and joined the United Rugby Championship facing teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. This new alignment to the Northern Hemisphere led to South Africa's inclusion in the European Rugby Champions Cup from 2022. After being tainted by associations with Apartheid, the Springboks (or 'Boks') have sought to become part of the 'New South Africa', with President Nelson Mandela wearing the Springbok jersey, once only worn by white South Africans, at the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup . South Africa has won the Rugby World Cup four times, in 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2023, the only country in the world to ever do so. Rugby league Main article: Rugby league in South Africa Rugby league is popular, although to a much lesser extent than rugby union.[citation needed ] The national team , nicknamed the Rhinos, have enjoyed moderate success since their first international matches in the 1960s, reaching the World Cup in 1995 and 2000 and were among the premier nations in the sport in the 1990s and early 2000s. They are ranked 25th in the world. Rugby league (XIII) is a more recently growing spectator sport in South Africa in current years, but it has struggled to gain a foothold in the country due to the popularity of sports such as soccer, rugby union and cricket, and also due to their location, meaning a lack of meaningful international matches. The South Africa national rugby league team (Rhinos) is ranked 25th in the world out of 51 countries ranked and doesn't manage to enjoy the success or media attention that most other sports receive.[citation needed ] The national team dates back to the early 60's and have featured in 2 World Cups, the 1995 Rugby League World Cup and the 2000 Rugby League World Cup .[11] [12] South African players who have played professionally in Australasia's NRL and the Super League include Tom Van Vollenhoven (St Helens R.F.C. ), Jamie Bloem (Castleford Tigers , Huddersfield Giants and Halifax ) and Jarrod Saffy (Wests Tigers and St. George Illawarra Dragons ). There are currently three competitions, the top-level Rhino Cup consisting of 8 teams, the Protea Cup , consisting of 4 and the Western Province Rugby League , consisting of 5. Rugby sevens The South Africa national rugby sevens team (known as the Blitzbokke) compete in the World Rugby Sevens Series, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the Summer Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. They won the bronze medal in the 2016 Olympic Games, and silver in the 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens. They have won the Commonwealth Games tournament twice in 2014 and 2022. As of 2024, South Africa have won the Sevens World Series four times. The South Africa Sevens is an annual tournament held in Cape Town as the South African leg of the Sevens World Series. Soccer Main article: Soccer in South Africa Soccer , as the sport is known in South Africa, is the most popular team sport amongst all South Africans.[13] [4] [5] [6] South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup , becoming the first African nation to do so. Bafana Bafana , as hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, were drawn in Group A with Mexico , Uruguay and France , they played their first match against Mexico which ended in a 1–1 draw in Johannesburg . They played their second match against Uruguay and the match ended in a 3–0 defeat in Pretoria , their last match was against France in Bloemfontein which South Africa needed more goals to advance to the knockout stages but the match ended in a 2–1 win that was not enough for them to progress to the knockout stages, thereby becoming the first host nation to exit at the group stage in history of World Cup. After the world cup the team continues to struggle as they missed the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups . The team has made three appearances in the FIFA World Cup ; 1998 , 2002 and 2010 and, as of 2024, has made 11 appearances in the Africa Cup of Nations . Their best result was in 1996 when, as hosts, they won the tournament. Mamelodi Sundowns is the most successful team in the South African Premiership era, boasting the most appearances in the CAF Champions League (Champions in 2015), Africa Football League (inaugural participant in 2023) and in the FIFA Club World Cup (2016). Other popular teams include Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, dubbed the Soweto rivals. The domestic cups are the MTN 8 , Black Label Cup and Nedbank Cup while the international cups are CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup . The sport's governing body is SAFA . Cricket Main article: Cricket in South Africa The Proteas at The Oval in August 2008 Cricket is one of the most popular team sports in South Africa. The national team is known as the Proteas . South Africa is one of the leading cricket-playing nations in the world and one of the twelve countries sanctioned to play test cricket . South Africa is famous for its batters, fast bowlers and fielders such as AB De Villiers, Dale Steyn and Jonty Rhodes. Cricket was traditionally popular among English-speaking whites and the Asian (Subcontinent) community, though the latter were not able to compete in top-level South African cricket in the apartheid era. Since the end of the apartheid era, a higher proportion of white players have come from Afrikaans-speaking backgrounds, and attempts have been made to increase the number of non-white players, in part through a quota system. The current national team features prominent non-white players, such as Kagiso Rabada , Hashim Amla (the first Muslim to play for South Africa), Keshav Maharaj , Temba Bavuma , Vernon Philander , Lungi Ngidi , and Tabraiz Shamsi . Afrikaners in the team include Faf du Plessis , Rassie van der Dussen , Wiaan Mulder , and Heinrich Klaasen . Charl Langeveldt , a non-white player, also became the first South African to take a hat-trick in an ODI match in 2005. Kagiso Rabada became the third after JP Duminy, and currently boasts the best match figures by a South African, 6 for 16, in an ODI. The team has had success with batsmen like Herschelle Gibbs , who was one of the sport's most dominating batsmen, all-rounders like Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock , the former being one of the greatest all rounders of the game, and bowlers such as Makhaya Ntini , who reached number two in the ICC Player Rankings in 2006. Dale Steyn is currently ranked as one of the best test bowlers, and former captain Graeme Smith was one of the most dominant left-handed batsmen in recent world cricket history. Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher has the world record for the most dismissals for a wicketkeeper in Tests. Kevin Pietersen , who is white, was forced to leave the country to pursue his career given he was put at a disadvantage by the discriminatory racial quotas, and within a few years became one of the world's top batsmen, playing for England . South Africa is one of the strongest teams[citation needed ] and in 2006, in Johannesburg in what was the highest scoring 50 over ODI ever, South Africa led by Gibbs' 175 chased down Australia's mammoth and then world record score of 434–4. South Africa hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup an event that was disappointing to them as they tied against Sri Lanka in what happened to be in a farcical situation and were eliminated on home soil. In the 2007 Cricket World Cup , South Africa reached the semi-finals of the event but lost to Australia . They were sent home by New Zealand in the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the same team also defeated them in the 2015 Cricket World Cup in a thrilling semi-final. South Africans are at the top and are a consistent team in the test format for the last half decade.[citation needed ] They are often considered as fearsome for the teams touring from the Indian subcontinent because of their brutal fast bowling. Hockey Major events: Hockey Africa Cup of Nations , Hockey World Cup and Women's Hockey World Cup Hockey in South Africa has been played for decades, mainly by the white minority. Like most other sports, South Africa was banned from international Hockey from 1964 onwards. In August 1992, the South African Hockey Association was formed, with the aims of "Creat[ing] opportunities for participation without distinction based on colour, race, creed, religion or gender" and to "Redress historical disparities to allow all to participate and compete equally and specifically address the needs of historically disadvantaged communities through special programmes."[14] As a result, South Africa was allowed to take part in international competitions from 1993 onwards, including the Hockey Africa Cup of Nations , a trophy that has been won every time since by both the South African Men's Hockey team and the South African Women's Hockey team . On the national level, the major competition within South Africa is the Premier Hockey league. This consists of two leagues (one men, one women) each of six teams. The men's teams are the Addo Elephants, Drakensberg Dragons, Garden Route Gazelles, Golden Gate Gladiators, Mapungubwe Mambas and the Maropeng Cavemen. The women's teams are the Blyde River Bunters, Madikwe Rangers, Namaqualand Daisies, Orange River Rafters, St Lucia Lakers and the Wineland Wings. The Golden Gate Gladiators and the Namaqualand Daisies are the South African national U21 teams for men and women respectively. The teams played each other on a round robin tournament and the bottom two teams are eliminated (and then play each other to determine 5th and 6th place.) The top four teams play in two semi-finals, the 1st against the 3rd and the 2nd against the 4th. The winners of each semi-final then play each other in the final (and the losers play each other for 3rd and 4th place.)[15] The league usually plays over four weekends from late November to mid December. On the world stage, the men's team has qualified for the Olympics four times, highest placing 10th (2004). They've also qualified for the Hockey World Cup seven times, highest placing 10th (1994 and 2010 ). The women's team has qualified for the Olympics four times, highest placing 9th (2004), and the Women's Hockey World Cup six times, highest placing 7th (1998). South Africa's Men's and Women's teams are both members of the African Hockey Federation , the governing body for Hockey in Africa, and the International Hockey Federation . BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE

Tribes of South Africa: A Journey Through Diverse Cultures and Traditions In the vibrant tapestry of South Africa’s heritage, the diverse tribes stand as vibrant threads, each contributing its unique hue to the nation’s rich cultural fabric. From the Nguni-speaking Zulu and Xhosa to the Sotho-Tswana, and the colorful tapestry of smaller ethnic groups , South Africa is a kaleidoscope of traditions, languages, and customs that blend harmoniously, painting a vivid picture of a nation united in diversity. The differentiation among these tribes often extends beyond linguistic variations, encompassing distinctive rituals, beliefs, and social structures. These unique traits, passed down through generations, serve as a testament to the resilience of South Africa’s cultural heritage, while also presenting opportunities for mutual understanding and appreciation. South Africa’s myriad tribes are a testament to the country’s rich history and cultural diversity. Each tribe brings its unique traditions, beliefs, and customs to the nation’s tapestry, creating a vibrant and dynamic society. The diverse tribes of South Africa exemplify the country’s resilience and adaptability, having survived centuries of change and adversity. They are a source of pride and identity for South Africans, and their stories continue to be told and celebrated. The Vibrant Tapestry of South Africa: Exploring the Diverse Tribes and Their Cultural Heritage South Africa, a nation brimming with natural beauty, captivates the world with its diverse cultural tapestry. In this rich landscape, the influence of various tribes and ethnic groups has profoundly shaped the country’s history, traditions, and vibrant cultural identity. This article takes you on a captivating journey to explore the different types of tribes in South Africa, uncovering their unique customs, languages, and practices. The Xhosa Tribe: Keepers of the Nguni Legacy With a rich history spanning centuries, the Xhosa tribe proudly ranks among South Africa’s most prominent ethnic groups. Their ancestral lands lie primarily in the Eastern Cape Province, where their resilient spirit and cultural heritage have flourished for generations. The Xhosa people, renowned for their intricate beadwork and expressive music, have significantly influenced South Africa’s political, social, and cultural landscapes. The Zulu Tribe: A Legacy of Strength and Unity In the southeastern region of South Africa, the Zulu tribe stands tall, a testament to resilience and unity. Their history is intertwined with that of iconic leaders like Shaka Zulu, whose leadership and military prowess shaped the Zulu nation into a formidable force. Known for their vibrant dance performances, stunning beadwork, and elaborate ceremonies, the Zulu people have indelibly imprinted their mark on South Africa’s cultural fabric. The Pedi Tribe: Guardians of the Northern Sotho Heritage From the Northern Sotho linguistic group emerges the Pedi tribe, a proud people with deep-rooted traditions. Their ancestral home lies in the Limpopo Province, where they preserve their cultural identity through captivating music, intricate pottery, and mesmerizing dance performances. The Pedi tribe’s history is replete with tales of bravery, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to their cultural legacy. The Tswana Tribe: A Legacy of Harmony and Adaptation In the vast and arid regions of South Africa, the Tswana tribe has thrived, showcasing remarkable adaptation and resilience. Their ancestral lands are primarily situated in the North West Province, where they have cultivated a rich heritage of music, dance, and storytelling. The Tswana people are renowned for their harmonious communal living and their ability to adapt to the challenging conditions of their environment. The Venda Tribe: Echoes of Ancestral Wisdom From the northeastern corner of South Africa, the Venda tribe emerges as a bastion of cultural preservation. Their traditional lands lie within the Limpopo Province, where they have nurtured a deep connection to their ancestral spirits and the natural world. The Venda tribe’s traditions, expressed through mesmerizing music, intricate beadwork, and captivating dance performances, reflect their profound reverence for their cultural roots. The Ndebele Tribe: A Symphony of Colors and Patterns In the heart of South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province, the Ndebele tribe paints a vibrant canvas of culture and artistry. Their traditional attire, adorned with intricate beadwork and bold geometric patterns, captivates the eye with its kaleidoscope of colors. The Ndebele people’s unique architectural style, characterized by brightly painted houses with intricate murals, further showcases their artistic flair and cultural pride. The Sotho Tribe: Embracing Unity and Tradition The Sotho tribe, a significant ethnic group in South Africa, predominantly occupies the central and eastern regions of the country. Their cultural heritage is deeply rooted in unity, community spirit, and respect for elders. The Sotho people have a strong oral tradition, passing down stories, legends, and historical accounts through generations. Their traditional music and dance performances showcase their vibrant cultural expressions. The Swazi Tribe: Upholding Royal Traditions Orientation Identification. The Swazi nation is named for Mswati II, who became king in 1839. The royal lineage can be traced to a chief named Dlamini; this is still the royal clan name. About three-quarters of the clan groups are Nguni; the remainder are Sotho and Tsonga. These groups have intermarried freely. There are slight differences among Swazi groups, but Swazi identity extends to all those with allegiance to the twin monarchs Ngwenyama "the Lion" (the king) and Ndlovukati "the She-Elephant" (the queen mother). Location and Geography. Swaziland, in southern Africa between Mozambique and South Africa, is a landlocked country of 6,074 square miles (17,360 square kilometers). The terrain is mostly mountainous with moderately sloping plains. The legislative capital is Lobamba, one of the traditional royal seats. The administrative capital is the nearby city of Mbabane. Manzini is the business hub. Demography. The population in 2000 is about 980,000. A small European population (about 3 percent) sometimes is called "White Swazi." Linguistic Affiliation. The official languages are siSwati and English. SiSwati, a Southern Bantu language, is a member of the Nguni subgroup. Symbolism. The primary national symbol is the monarchy. King Sobhuza II (died 1982) oversaw the transition from colony to protectorate to independent country. The symbolic relationship between the king and his people is evident at the incwala , the most sacred ceremony, which may not be held when there is no king. The full ritual, which takes several weeks, symbolizes the acceptance of traditional rulers, the unity of the state, the agricultural cycle, fertility, and potency. History and Ethnic Relations Emergence of the Nation. The Nguni clans, which originated in East Africa in the fifteenth century, moved into southern Mozambique and then into present-day Swaziland; the term abakwaNgwane ("Ngwane's people") is still used as an alternative to emaSwati . Sobhuza I ruled during a period of chaos, resulting from the expansion of the Zulu state under Shaka. Under Sobhuza's leadership, the Nguni and Sotho peoples as well as remnant San groups were integrated into the Swazi nation. "Swazi" eventually was applied to all the peoples who gave allegiance to the Ngwenyama. National Identity. In the late 1830s, initial contact occurred among the Swazi, the Boers, and the British. A substantial portion of Swazi territory was ceded to the Transvaal Boers, the first of many concessions to European interests. The Pretoria Convention for the Settlement of the Transvaal in 1881 recognized the independence of Swaziland and defined its boundaries. The Ngwenyama was not a signatory, and the Swazi claim that their territory extends in all directions from the present state. More than a million ethnic Swazi reside in South Africa. Britain claimed authority over Swaziland in 1903, and independence was achieved in 1968. Ethnic Relations. Relations among the Swazi peoples have generally been peaceful. Relations with Europeans historically were strained as a result of land concessions and tension caused by the administrative domination of Great Britain. Swaziland Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space The predominant home style is the Nguni "bee-hive" hut, in which a rounded frame made of poles is covered with thatch bound with plaited ropes. Sotho huts, which have pointed, detachable roofs on walls of mud and wattle, are found throughout the country; these huts have window frames and full doorways. Both types can be found within a single homestead, which may also include European architectural styles. Traditional homestead organization follows the "central cattle pattern." In the center of the homestead is an unroofed, fenced cattle pen, the sibaya , from which women are barred. Residential huts are grouped around the western side. The "great hut," indlunkulu is used as the family shrine, dedicated to the senior patrilineal ancestors. Other huts are occupied by individual wives. Food and Economy Food in Daily Life. The traditional food supply fluctuated seasonally. Between winter and the new crops of summer, shortages were common. Maize and millet were the main staples. Dairy products, especially soured milk, were reserved for children. Cattle were slaughtered mainly for ritual purposes, and meat was in short supply. Leafy vegetables, roots, and fruits completed the traditional diet. The introduction of supermarkets means that meat and other products are available throughout the year. The Swazi typically observed a fish taboo, along with a taboo on egg consumption for females and a dairy taboo for wives. There were also clan-specific food taboos on particular birds and wild animals. Indigenous Tribes of South Africa: Traditions, Customs, And Heritage The Indigenous tribes of South Africa have rich traditions, customs, and heritage, reflecting their diverse cultural practices and beliefs. South Africa is home to various indigenous tribes including the Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, and San people, each with unique customs, traditions, and heritage that are deeply rooted in their history and way of life. These tribes have preserved their cultural practices through storytelling, dance, music, art, and spiritual rituals, contributing to the rich tapestry of South Africa’s cultural heritage. Understanding and respecting these traditions is essential for preserving the cultural diversity and identity of South Africa’s indigenous tribes. Everywhere you go in South Africa, you will find the incredible influence of these indigenous tribes, shaping the country’s cultural landscape and reinforcing the significance of their traditions and customs. The Rich Diversity Of Indigenous Tribes Experience the rich tapestry of South Africa’s indigenous tribes, each steeped in vibrant traditions, customs, and a unique cultural heritage that has been preserved for generations. Journey through the diverse landscapes of the region to uncover the fascinating stories and practices of these ancient communities. The indigenous tribes of South Africa have a rich history and diverse cultural heritage. The country is home to various tribes, each with distinctive customs and traditions. These tribes are spread across different regions of South Africa. They vary in both population size and linguistic diversity. Some tribes have large populations while others are smaller in number. Each tribe also has its unique language and dialect, adding to the country’s cultural tapestry. Traditional Beliefs And Spiritual Practices The indigenous tribes of South Africa uphold traditional beliefs and spiritual practices, deeply rooted in their customs and heritage. These traditions are passed down through generations, shaping their cultural identity and connection to the land. Their spiritual rituals and ceremonies are integral to their way of life, reflecting a profound respect for nature and ancestral wisdom. Indigenous Tribes of South Africa: Traditional Beliefs and Spiritual Practices Ancestral worship includes honoring ancestors for guidance and protection. Connection to nature is central, viewing it as a living entity. Rituals and ceremonies mark important life events and seasons. Traditional healers play key roles in spiritual and physical well-being. Traditional Art And Crafts Traditional art and crafts play a significant role in showcasing the unique artistic expressions of indigenous tribes in South Africa. These tribes meticulously create stunning artwork using natural materials, which not only reflects their deep connection with nature but also has symbolic meanings. The use of natural materials such as wood, clay, beads, and feathers not only adds authenticity to their creations but also signifies their respect and reverence towards the environment. Indigenous tribes in South Africa often incorporate symbolism in their artwork to communicate powerful messages and preserve their cultural heritage. Each piece of art holds a deeper meaning, narrating stories of ancestors, spirituality, and traditional beliefs. These symbolic representations provide a glimpse into their rich history, customs, and traditions. From intricate wood carvings and beautifully beaded jewelry to vibrant paintings and pottery, the traditional art and crafts of indigenous tribes in South Africa captivate and mesmerize onlookers, showcasing their creativity, talent, and deep-rooted cultural values. Oral Tradition And Storytelling Oral tradition and storytelling are integral to the indigenous tribes of South Africa. The importance of oral history lies in preserving cultural heritage and passing down knowledge through generations. Myths, legends, and folktales are woven into the fabric of their storytelling, conveying morals and values. Additionally, rituals play a crucial role in ensuring the continuation of these traditions, creating a sense of communal identity and pride. Land And Natural Resources Indigenous tribes of South Africa have a deep connection to the land, which is integral to their traditions, customs, and heritage. They have a profound respect for their traditional land rights and prioritize conservation efforts to protect their natural resources. However, they face numerous challenges and threats to their territories, including land encroachment and unsustainable resource exploitation. Despite these obstacles, indigenous communities are steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding their land and natural resources for future generations. Cultural Tourism And Preservation Cultural tourism is crucial in promoting sustainable tourism, preserving the rich traditions, customs, and heritage of indigenous tribes in South Africa. By embracing cultural tourism, indigenous communities can preserve their unique way of life, ensuring that their traditions are not lost to modernization. Cultural exchange and understanding are integral in fostering mutual respect and appreciation. Through cultural tourism, visitors can engage with indigenous tribes, promoting a deeper understanding of their customs and heritage. By participating in activities such as traditional dances, storytelling, and handicrafts, tourists can immerse themselves in the authentic experiences offered by indigenous tribes. This exchange of knowledge and appreciation can help break stereotypes and misconceptions, fostering greater cultural tolerance and respect. The Importance Of Indigenous Rights Indigenous rights play a crucial role in preserving the rich traditions, customs, and heritage of South Africa’s Indigenous tribes. By protecting their rights, we ensure the continuity and appreciation of their valuable cultural heritage. The Importance of Indigenous Rights Recognition and protection of indigenous rights is crucial for their well-being. Addressing historical injustices ensures a fair treatment for indigenous communities. Advocacy and empowerment are vital for indigenous tribes to thrive and preserve their culture. Frequently Asked Questions For Indigenous Tribes Of South Africa: Traditions, Customs, And Heritage What Are The Indigenous Tribes Of South Africa? The indigenous tribes of South Africa include the Zulu, Xhosa, Basotho, and many others. Each tribe has its own unique customs, traditions, and languages, contributing to the rich cultural heritage of the country. What Are The Traditional Customs Of South African Tribes? Traditional customs of South African tribes often include rites of passage, ceremonies, and practices that are passed down through generations. These customs play a significant role in preserving the cultural identity and heritage of the indigenous tribes. How Do South African Tribes Preserve Their Heritage? South African tribes preserve their heritage through oral storytelling, traditional music and dance, and the passing down of cultural practices from one generation to the next. These methods help to ensure that their rich traditions and customs endure over time. Conclusion The Indigenous tribes of South Africa embody a rich tapestry of traditions, customs, and heritage that have been passed down through generations. Through their vibrant rituals, art forms, and oral storytelling, these tribes have managed to preserve their unique identity and ancestral knowledge. Exploring their ways of life and appreciation for nature is not only culturally enlightening but also allows a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. yourself in the wonders of South Africa’s indigenous tribes and embrace the beauty of their diverse heritage. The 11 languages of South Africa The 11 languages of South Africa South Africa has 11 official languages and a multilingual population fluent in at least two. IsiZulu and isiXhosa are the largest languages, while English is spoken at home by only one in 10 people – most of them not white. South Africa’s constitution recognises 11 official languages: Sepedi (also known as Sesotho sa Leboa ), Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu. For centuries South Africa’s official languages were European – Dutch, English, Afrikaans. African languages, spoken by at least 80% of the people, were ignored. In 1996 South Africa’s new constitution gave official protection to all of the country’s major languages. South Africa has about 34 historically established languages. Thirty are living languages, and four extinct Khoesan languages. Overview of South Africa’s languages IsiZulu is South Africa’s biggest language, spoken by almost a quarter (23%) of the population. Our other official languages are isiXhosa (spoken by 16%), Afrikaans (13.5%), English (10%), Sesotho sa Leboa (9%), Setswana and Sesotho (both 8%), Xitsonga (4.5%), siSwati and Tshivenda (both 2.5%), and isiNdebele (2%). English is an urban language of public life, widely used in the media, business and government. Out of the 4.9-million South Africans who speak English as a first language, a third (33%) are white, a quarter (24%) are black, 22% are Indian and 19% are coloured South Africans. English is widely used as a second language and common language of communication, mainly in the cities. Afrikaans is a version of Dutch that evolved out of a South Holland dialect brought here in the 1600s. Over the centuries it has picked up many influences from African languages, as well as from European colonial languages such as English, French and German. More than half (50.2%) of Afrikaans speakers are coloured, 40% are white, 9% black and just 1% Indian. Click to enlarge South Africa’s nine African official languages all fall into the Southern Bantu-Makua subfamily, part of the broad and branching Niger-Congo family of languages. The languages arrived here during the great expansion of Bantu-speaking people from West Africa eastwards and southwards into the rest of the continent. The expansion began in around 3000 BCE and was largely complete by 1000 CE. Like all languages in the Niger-Congo family they are tonal languages, in which either a high or low tone gives a word a different meaning. The nine African languages can be broadly divided in two: Nguni-Tsonga languages: isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Xitsonga Sotho-Makua-Venda languages: Sesotho, Sesotho sa Leboa, Setswana, Tshivenda Within the first group Xitsonga alone falls into the Tswa-Ronga subfamily, while isiZulu, isiXhosa, isNdebele and siSwati are Nguni languages. Similarly, Sesotho, Sesotho sa Leboa and Setswana are closely related Sotho languages, and Tshivenda something of a standalone in the Sotho-Makua-Venda subfamily. Multilingual South Africa South Africans are more than bilingual. A rough estimate based on Census 2001 first-language data and a 2002 study of second-languages speakers is that the average South African – man, woman and child – uses 2.84 languages. Obviously, many people are limited to one, and many others able to speak three, four or more languages. Click to enlarge English- and Afrikaans-speaking people (mostly coloured, Indian and white South Africans) tend not to have much ability in African languages, but are fairly fluent in each other’s language. Multilingualism is common among black South Africans. For this reason, South African censuses ask people which two languages they speak. The question in the 2011 Census was: Which two languages does (member of household) speak most often in this household? Thirteen options were given: South Africa’s 11 official languages, plus Sign Language, and “Other”. If a person did not speak a second language, that too was recorded. The contrast between first language and second language is shown in the maps at right. While the geographical pattern of dominant first languages neatly conforms to the facts of history and urbanisation, the picture of second languages is more complicated, more of a mess. The second map reveals a couple of things. The first is how few South Africans speak just one language. The second is that while English is the dominant first language only in the cities – Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban – it is widely used as a second language across the country. English is spread by the media and used as a common language of communication. But many South Africans are compelled to learn English, and often Afrikaans as well, simply to get a job and to work. These are often poorer people denied an adequate education. Elsewhere in the world the ability to speak many languages is a sign of sophistication. In South Africa, multilingualism – a complex undertaking, especially in languages from very different families – is a common achievement of the poor. Code-switching South Africa Language is fluid, especially in South Africa. Our languages are and have been for centuries in a constant swirl , mixed by work, migration, education, urbanisation, the places we live, friendship and marriage. Because of this, South Africans are a code-switching people. “Code switching” simply means using more than one language in a single conversation. Every adult South African does this at some time, even if they aren’t aware of it. Here’s an example overheard at a football match. IsiZulu is in regular type, Afrikaans in bold and English in italics: “I-Chiefs isidle nge-referee’s ngabe ihambe sleg. Maar why benga stopi this system ye-injury time?” A rough translation: “Chiefs [the football club] have won because the referee favoured them. Otherwise, they would have lost. But why is this system of injury time not stopped?” Influenced by the other languages spoken around them, all of South Africa’s languages change and grow all the time. Who speaks what? South Africa’s most recent census was in 2011. The following table gives a breakdown of first-language speakers, as recorded by the census. South Africa’s 11 official languages LanguageSubfamily1st language share1st language users2nd language usersAll users AfrikaansLow Franconian13.5%6.9 million10.3 million17.2 million EnglishWest Germanic9.6%4.9 million11.0 million15.9 million isiNdebeleNguni2.1%1.1 million1.4 million2.5 million isiXhosaNguni16%8.1 million11.0 million19.1 million isiZuluNguni22.7%11.6 million15.7 million27.3 million SesothoSotho-Tswana7.6%3.8 million7.9 million11.8 million Sesotho sa Leboa (Sepedi)Sotho-Tswana9.1%4.6 million9.1 million13.8 million SetswanaSotho-Tswana8%4.1 million7.7 million11.8 million siSwatiNguni2.5%1.3 million2.4 million3.7 million TshivendaSotho-Makua-Venda2.4%1.2 million1.7 million2.9 million XitsongaTswa-Ronga4.5%2.3 million3.4-million5.7 million Source: Constitution Source: Glottolog Source: Census 2011 Source: Census 2011 Source: Webb 2002Estimate The languages of the provinces The languages you hear in South Africa depend on where you are in the country. In the Eastern Cape isiXhosa is spoken by 80% of the population. IsiZulu is the largest language in both KwaZulu-Natal, where 78% speak it, and Gauteng, where it makes up 20% of languages. Sesotho is the language of the Free State, spoken by 64% people there. And so on … Watch: The main languages of each province are: Eastern Cape – isiXhosa (78.8%), Afrikaans (10.6%) Free State – Sesotho (64.2%), Afrikaans (12.7%) Gauteng – isiZulu (19.8%), English (13.3%), Afrikaans (12.4%), Sesotho (11.6%) KwaZulu-Natal – isiZulu (77.8%), English (13.2%) Limpopo – Sesotho sa Leboa (52.9%), Xitsonga (17%), Tshivenda (16.7%) Mpumalanga – siSwati (27.7%), isiZulu (24.1%), Xitsonga (10.4%), isiNdebele (10.1%) Northern Cape – Afrikaans (53.8%), Setswana (33.1%) North West – Setswana (63.4%), Afrikaans (9%) Western Cape – Afrikaans (49.7%), isiXhosa (24.7%), English (20.3%) The languages Unless otherwise indicated, all figures below are from Census 2011 and refer only to first language – the language spoken at home. Afrikaans Also known as: isiBhuru (isiNdebele), isiBhulu (isiXhosa), isiBhunu (isiZulu), siBhunu (siSwati), Seburu (Sesotho sa Leboa), Xibunu (Xitsonga) First-language users: 6,855,082 (13.5% of South Africans) Second-language users: 10,300,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 17,155,082 (estimate) Afrikaans evolved out of a 17th-century Dutch dialect introduced to South Africa in 1652 when the Dutch first colonised the Cape of Good Hope. Today it is the majority language of the Northern Cape. Afrikaans became an official language in South Africa with the Official Languages of the Union Act of 1925, which retroactively dated the language’s official status to 1910. The 6,855,082 South Africans who speak Afrikaans as a first language make up 13.5% of the country’s total population. More than half (50.2%) of these Afrikaans speakers are coloured, 39.5% white, 8.8% black, 0.9% Indian or Asian, and 0.6% other. More than three-quarters (75.8%) of coloured South Africans speak Afrikaans, as do almost two-thirds (60.8%) of whites. It is the home language of 4.6% of Indian or Asian people, and of 1.5% of black South Africans. Afrikaans and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population41,000,9384,615,4011,286,9304,586,838280,45451,770,560 Afrikaans speakers602,1663,442,16458,7002,710,46141,5916,855,082 Share of population1.5%75.8%4.6%60.8%15.2%13.5% Most Afrikaans speakers (41%) live in the Western Cape, and 21% in Gauteng. Ten percent of all Afrikaans speakers live in the Eastern Cape, 8.8% in the Northern Cape, and 5% in the Free State. Within the provinces, Afrikaans is the majority language in the Northern Cape (53.8%) and the Western Cape (49.7%). It makes up 12.7% of languages spoken in the Free State, 12.4% of Gauteng’s languages, 10.6% of languages in the Eastern Cape, 9% in North West, 7.2% in Mpumalanga, 2.6% in Limpopo and 1.6% in KwaZulu-Natal. Overview of South Africa’s languages IsiZulu is South Africa’s biggest language, spoken by almost a quarter (23%) of the population. Our other official languages are isiXhosa (spoken by 16%), Afrikaans (13.5%), English (10%), Sesotho sa Leboa (9%), Setswana and Sesotho (both 8%), Xitsonga (4.5%), siSwati and Tshivenda (both 2.5%), and isiNdebele (2%). English is an urban language of public life, widely used in the media, business and government. Out of the 4.9-million South Africans who speak English as a first language, a third (33%) are white, a quarter (24%) are black, 22% are Indian and 19% are coloured South Africans. English is widely used as a second language and common language of communication, mainly in the cities. Afrikaans is a version of Dutch that evolved out of a South Holland dialect brought here in the 1600s. Over the centuries it has picked up many influences from African languages, as well as from European colonial languages such as English, French and German. More than half (50.2%) of Afrikaans speakers are coloured, 40% are white, 9% black and just 1% Indian. Click to enlarge South Africa’s nine African official languages all fall into the Southern Bantu-Makua subfamily, part of the broad and branching Niger-Congo family of languages. The languages arrived here during the great expansion of Bantu-speaking people from West Africa eastwards and southwards into the rest of the continent. The expansion began in around 3000 BCE and was largely complete by 1000 CE. Like all languages in the Niger-Congo family they are tonal languages, in which either a high or low tone gives a word a different meaning. The nine African languages can be broadly divided in two: Nguni-Tsonga languages: isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, siSwati, Xitsonga Sotho-Makua-Venda languages: Sesotho, Sesotho sa Leboa, Setswana, Tshivenda Within the first group Xitsonga alone falls into the Tswa-Ronga subfamily, while isiZulu, isiXhosa, isNdebele and siSwati are Nguni languages. Similarly, Sesotho, Sesotho sa Leboa and Setswana are closely related Sotho languages, and Tshivenda something of a standalone in the Sotho-Makua-Venda subfamily. Multilingual South Africa South Africans are more than bilingual. A rough estimate based on Census 2001 first-language data and a 2002 study of second-languages speakers is that the average South African – man, woman and child – uses 2.84 languages. Obviously, many people are limited to one, and many others able to speak three, four or more languages. Click to enlarge English- and Afrikaans-speaking people (mostly coloured, Indian and white South Africans) tend not to have much ability in African languages, but are fairly fluent in each other’s language. Multilingualism is common among black South Africans. For this reason, South African censuses ask people which two languages they speak. The question in the 2011 Census was: Which two languages does (member of household) speak most often in this household? Thirteen options were given: South Africa’s 11 official languages, plus Sign Language, and “Other”. If a person did not speak a second language, that too was recorded. The contrast between first language and second language is shown in the maps at right. While the geographical pattern of dominant first languages neatly conforms to the facts of history and urbanisation, the picture of second languages is more complicated, more of a mess. The second map reveals a couple of things. The first is how few South Africans speak just one language. The second is that while English is the dominant first language only in the cities – Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban – it is widely used as a second language across the country. English is spread by the media and used as a common language of communication. But many South Africans are compelled to learn English, and often Afrikaans as well, simply to get a job and to work. These are often poorer people denied an adequate education. Elsewhere in the world the ability to speak many languages is a sign of sophistication. In South Africa, multilingualism – a complex undertaking, especially in languages from very different families – is a common achievement of the poor. Code-switching South Africa Language is fluid, especially in South Africa. Our languages are and have been for centuries in a constant swirl , mixed by work, migration, education, urbanisation, the places we live, friendship and marriage. Because of this, South Africans are a code-switching people. “Code switching” simply means using more than one language in a single conversation. Every adult South African does this at some time, even if they aren’t aware of it. Here’s an example overheard at a football match. IsiZulu is in regular type, Afrikaans in bold and English in italics: “I-Chiefs isidle nge-referee’s ngabe ihambe sleg. Maar why benga stopi this system ye-injury time?” A rough translation: “Chiefs [the football club] have won because the referee favoured them. Otherwise, they would have lost. But why is this system of injury time not stopped?” Influenced by the other languages spoken around them, all of South Africa’s languages change and grow all the time. Who speaks what? Watch: South Africa’s most recent census was in 2011. The following table gives a breakdown of first-language speakers, as recorded by the census. South Africa’s 11 official languages LanguageSubfamily1st language share1st language users2nd language usersAll users AfrikaansLow Franconian13.5%6.9 million10.3 million17.2 million EnglishWest Germanic9.6%4.9 million11.0 million15.9 million isiNdebeleNguni2.1%1.1 million1.4 million2.5 million isiXhosaNguni16%8.1 million11.0 million19.1 million isiZuluNguni22.7%11.6 million15.7 million27.3 million SesothoSotho-Tswana7.6%3.8 million7.9 million11.8 million Sesotho sa Leboa (Sepedi)Sotho-Tswana9.1%4.6 million9.1 million13.8 million SetswanaSotho-Tswana8%4.1 million7.7 million11.8 million siSwatiNguni2.5%1.3 million2.4 million3.7 million TshivendaSotho-Makua-Venda2.4%1.2 million1.7 million2.9 million XitsongaTswa-Ronga4.5%2.3 million3.4-million5.7 million Source: Constitution Source: Glottolog Source: Census 2011 Source: Census 2011 Source: Webb 2002Estimate The languages of the provinces The languages you hear in South Africa depend on where you are in the country. In the Eastern Cape isiXhosa is spoken by 80% of the population. IsiZulu is the largest language in both KwaZulu-Natal, where 78% speak it, and Gauteng, where it makes up 20% of languages. Sesotho is the language of the Free State, spoken by 64% people there. And so on … Watch: The main languages of each province are: Eastern Cape – isiXhosa (78.8%), Afrikaans (10.6%) Free State – Sesotho (64.2%), Afrikaans (12.7%) Gauteng – isiZulu (19.8%), English (13.3%), Afrikaans (12.4%), Sesotho (11.6%) KwaZulu-Natal – isiZulu (77.8%), English (13.2%) Limpopo – Sesotho sa Leboa (52.9%), Xitsonga (17%), Tshivenda (16.7%) Mpumalanga – siSwati (27.7%), isiZulu (24.1%), Xitsonga (10.4%), isiNdebele (10.1%) Northern Cape – Afrikaans (53.8%), Setswana (33.1%) North West – Setswana (63.4%), Afrikaans (9%) Western Cape – Afrikaans (49.7%), isiXhosa (24.7%), English (20.3%) The languages Unless otherwise indicated, all figures below are from Census 2011 and refer only to first language – the language spoken at home. Afrikaans Also known as: isiBhuru (isiNdebele), isiBhulu (isiXhosa), isiBhunu (isiZulu), siBhunu (siSwati), Seburu (Sesotho sa Leboa), Xibunu (Xitsonga) First-language users: 6,855,082 (13.5% of South Africans) Second-language users: 10,300,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 17,155,082 (estimate) Afrikaans evolved out of a 17th-century Dutch dialect introduced to South Africa in 1652 when the Dutch first colonised the Cape of Good Hope. Today it is the majority language of the Northern Cape. Afrikaans became an official language in South Africa with the Official Languages of the Union Act of 1925, which retroactively dated the language’s official status to 1910. The 6,855,082 South Africans who speak Afrikaans as a first language make up 13.5% of the country’s total population. More than half (50.2%) of these Afrikaans speakers are coloured, 39.5% white, 8.8% black, 0.9% Indian or Asian, and 0.6% other. More than three-quarters (75.8%) of coloured South Africans speak Afrikaans, as do almost two-thirds (60.8%) of whites. It is the home language of 4.6% of Indian or Asian people, and of 1.5% of black South Africans. Afrikaans and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population41,000,9384,615,4011,286,9304,586,838280,45451,770,560 Afrikaans speakers602,1663,442,16458,7002,710,46141,5916,855,082 Share of population1.5%75.8%4.6%60.8%15.2%13.5% Most Afrikaans speakers (41%) live in the Western Cape, and 21% in Gauteng. Ten percent of all Afrikaans speakers live in the Eastern Cape, 8.8% in the Northern Cape, and 5% in the Free State. Within the provinces, Afrikaans is the majority language in the Northern Cape (53.8%) and the Western Cape (49.7%). It makes up 12.7% of languages spoken in the Free State, 12.4% of Gauteng’s languages, 10.6% of languages in the Eastern Cape, 9% in North West, 7.2% in Mpumalanga, 2.6% in Limpopo and 1.6% in KwaZulu-Natal. English Also known as: Engels (Afrikaans), isiNgisi (isiNdebele and isiZulu), isiNgesi (isiXhosa), Senyesemane (Sesotho), Seisemane (Sesotho sa Leboa), siNgisi (siSwati), Xinghezi (Xitsonga) First-language users: 4,892,623 (9.6% of South Africans) Second-language users: 11,000,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 15,892,623 (estimate) English is a prominent language in South African public life, widely used in government, business and the media. As a first language it is mainly confined to the cities. In 1910 English and Dutch were declared the official languages of the new Union of South Africa. English has retained this official status ever since. The 4,892,623 South Africans who speak English as a first language make up 9.6% of the country’s total population. Among first-language English speakers, 32.8% are white, 23.9% black, 22.4% Indian and 19.3% coloured. The majority (86.1%) of Indian South Africans speak English as their home language, as do over a third (35.9%) of whites. It is the first language of 20.8% of coloured people, and of 2.9% of black South Africans. English and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 English speakers1,167,913945,8471,094,3171,603,57580,9714,892,623 Share of population2.9%20.8%86.1%35.9%29.5%9.6% The largest number of English speakers are in Gauteng – 1.6-million people, or a third (32.8%) of all English-speaking South Africans. Over a quarter (27.3%) live in KwaZulu-Natal, 23.5% in the Western Cape, and 7.4% in the Eastern Cape. English is a minority language within all nine provinces. It is the second-largest language in both the Western Cape (after Afrikaans) and Gauteng (after isiZulu). In the Western Cape it is spoken by 20.2% of the population, and in Gauteng by 13.3%. English is minimally spoken in the other provinces. Read more: The online dictionary of South African English isiNdebele Also known as: Ndebele, Southern Ndebele, Ndzundza, isiKhethu First-language users: 1,090,233 (2.1% of South Africans) Second-language users: 1,400,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 2,490,233 (estimate) IsiNdebele is the least spoken of South Africa’s 11 official languages, and confined mainly to Mpumalanga and Gauteng. It is an Nguni language, like isiZulu, isiXhosa and siSwati. Also called Southern Ndebele, it is not to be confused with Northern Ndebele, more commonly known as Matabele, which is closer to isiZulu and an official language of Zimbabwe. The 1,090,223 South Africans who speak isiNdebele as a first language make up just 2.1% of the country’s total population. Among first-language isiNdebele speakers, 97% are black, 0.9% Indian or Asian, 0.8% coloured, 0.8% white and 0.5% other. IsiNdebele is spoken by 2.6% of black South Africans – fewer than the 2.9% who speak English at home. It is barely spoken by other population groups, being the home language of 0.2% of both the coloured and white population, and 0.8% of Indian or Asian people. It is also spoken by 2.1% of people who describe themselves as “other”. IsiNdebele and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 IsiNdebele speakers1,057,7818,2259,8158,6115,7911,090,223 Share of population2.6%0.2%0.8%0.2%2.1%2.1% Most isiNdebele speakers (37%) live in Mpumalanga, followed by Gauteng (34.9%), KwaZulu-Natal (10.2%), Limpopo (9.6%) and North West (4%). IsiNdebele is a minority language in all the provinces. It is spoken by 10.1% of the population of Mpumalanga and 3.2% of Gautengers. isiXhosa Also known as: Xhosa First-language users: 8,154,258 Second-language users: 11,000,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 19,154,258 (estimate) The dominant language of the Eastern Cape, isiXhosa is also the second-largest language in South Africa after isiZulu. It is an Nguni language, like isiNdebele, isiZulu and siSwati, but also shows some influence from the Khoekhoe languages. The 8,154,258 South Africans who speak isiXhosa as a first language make up 16% of the country’s total population. Among first-language isiXhosa speakers, 99.4% are black, 0.3% coloured, 0.2% white and 0.1% Indian or Asian. Among the population groups, isiXhosa is spoken by 20.1% of black South Africans, the second-largest share after isiZulu. It is the home language of 0.6% of coloured people, 0.4% of Indians, 0.3% of whites and 1.9% of people who describe themselves as “other”. IsiXhosa and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 IsiXhosa speakers8,104,75225,3405,34213,6415,1828,154,258 Share of population20.1%0.6%0.4%0.3%1.9%16% Close to two-thirds (62.4%) of first-language isiXhosa speakers live in the Eastern Cape, and 17.2% in the Western Cape. About a tenth (9.8%) of all isiXhosa speakers live in Gauteng. Within the provinces, isiXhosa is the majority language in the Eastern Cape, where its 5,092,152 first-language users make up 78.8% of the population. In the Western Cape a quarter (24.7%) of the population speaks isiXhosa. IsiXhosa is spoken by 7.5% of people in the Free State, 6.6% in Gauteng, 5.5% in North West, and 5.3% in the Northern Cape. isiZulu Also known as: Zulu First-language users: 11,587,374 (22.7% of the population) Second-language users: 15,700,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 27,300,000 (estimate) IsiZulu is the most widely spoken language in South Africa, the first language of close to a quarter of the population. It is the dominant language of KwaZulu-Natal. Like isiNdebele, isiXhosa and siSwati, isiZulu is an Nguni language. The 11,587,374 South Africans who speak isiZulu as their home language make up 22.7% of the country’s total population. A full 99.4% of first-language isiZulu speakers are black, 0.2% coloured, 0.1% white and 0.1% Indian or Asian. IsiZulu is spoken by 28.5% of black South Africans, more than any other language. It is the home language of 1.3% of Indian or Asian people, 0.5% of coloureds, 0.4% of whites and 4.1% of people who describe themselves as “other”. IsiZulu and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 IsiZulu speakers11,519,23423,79716,69916,45811,18611,587,374 Share of population28.5%0.5%1.3%0.4%4.1%22.7% Over two-thirds (68.2%) of isiZulu-speaking South Africans live in KwaZulu-Natal, and more than a fifth (20.6% in Gauteng). Some 8.3% of all isiZulu speakers live in Mpumalanga, which borders KwaZulu-Natal to the northwest. The rest are thinly spread across the other provinces. Within the provinces, isiZulu is spoken by over three-quarters (77.8%) of the population of KwaZulu-Natal, and nearly a quarter (24.1%) of the people of Mpumalanga. Almost a fifth (19.8%) of Gautengers speak isiZulu. It is a small minority language in the rest of the provinces. Sesotho Also known as: Southern Sotho First-language users: 3,798,915 (7.6% of the population) Second-language users: 7,900,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 11,698,915 (estimate) Sesotho is the language of the Free State, and the first language of 3,798,915 South Africans, or 7.6% of the total population. It is one of the three Sotho languages, with Sesotho sa Leboa and Setswana. A full 98.7% of first-language Sesotho speakers are black, 0.6% coloured, 0.5% white and 0.1% Indian or Asian. Sesotho is spoken by just under a tenth (9.4%) of black South Africans. It is the home language of 0.5% of coloured people, of 0.4% of both white and Indian/Asian people, and of 1.7% of the people who describe themselves as “other”. Sesotho and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll South Africa’s population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 Sesotho speakers3,798,91523,2305,26917,4914,6573,849,563 Share of population9.4%0.5%0.4%0.4%1.7%7.6% Most (44.6%) Sesotho speakers live in the Free State. The inner curve of this bean-shaped province fits around the northwest border of Lesotho, a country where Sesotho and English are the official languages. Over a third (36.2%) of all Sesotho-speaking South Africans live in Gauteng. Some 5.2% live in North West. Within the provinces, Sesotho is spoken by close to two-thirds (64.2%) of the population of the Free State, over a tenth (11.6%) of Gauteng, and by 5.8% of people living in North West. Sesotho sa Leboa (Sepedi) Also known as: Northern Sotho First-language users: 4,618,576 (9.1% of the population) Second-language users: 9,100,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 13,518,576 (estimate) Sesotho sa Leboa or Sepedi? The 1993 interim Constitution named the language Sesotho sa Leboa. It was then changed to Sepedi in the final Constitution of 1996 . Debate on the right name continues . Most language experts, as well as speakers of the language , consider Sesotho sa Leboa to be the correct name, and Sepedi to be a dialect. In a study of the language policy of six South African universities, five used Sesotho sa Leboa and one Sepedi. But both the Department of Basic Education and Statistics South Africa use Sepedi as the language’s name. Sesotho sa Leboa is South Africa’s third-largest African language (after isiZulu and isiXhosa), and mainly spoken in Limpopo. Like Sesotho and Setswana, it is a Sotho language. Sesotho sa Leboa is the first language of 4,618,576 people, or 9.1% of the total population. A full 99.7% of first-language Sesotho sa Leboa speakers are black, 0.1% coloured, 0.1% white and 0.1% Indian or Asian. Sesotho sa Leboa is spoken by 11.4% of black South Africans. It is the home language of just 0.2% of Indians, 0.1% of coloureds, 0.1% of whites and 0.6% of people who describe themselves as “other”. Sesotho sa Leboa and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 Sesotho sa Leboa speakers4,602,4595,6422,9435,9171,6164,618,576 Share of population11.4%0.1%0.2%0.1%0.6%9.1% Nearly two-thirds of (61.2%) of all Sesotho sa Leboa speakers live in Limpopo, over a quarter (27.8%) in Gauteng and 8.1% in Mpumalanga. The rest of the language’s speakers are scattered around the country. Within the provinces, Sesotho sa Leboa is spoken by more than half (52.9%) the people of Limpopo, 10.6% of those in Gauteng, and 9.3% of Mpumalanga’s population. Setswana Also known as: Tswana, Sechuana, Chuana First-language users: 4,067,248 (8% of the population) Second-language users: 7,700,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 11,767,248 (estimate) The language of North West and its neighbouring country of Botswana, Setswana is the Tswanaic language in the Sotho-Tswana subfamily, which it shares with Sesotho and Sesotho sa Leboa. Its 3,996,951 speakers make up 8% of South Africa’s population. Some 98.3% of Setswana speakers are black, 1% coloured, 0.1% Indian or Asian and 0.1% white. Setswana is spoken by 9.9% of black South Africans, making it the third-largest language in the population group. It is the first language of 0.9% of coloured people, 0.4% of both Indians and whites, and 2.4% of people who describe themselves as “other”. Setswana and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 Setswana speakers3,996,95140,3514,91718,3586,6714,067,248 Share of population9.9%0.9%0.4%0.4%2.4%8.0% Over a half (52.9%) of Setswana speakers live in North West, a quarter (26.9%) in Gauteng, and close on a tenth (9.2%) in the Northern Cape. Both North West and the Northern Cape lie on the border of Botswana, where 79% of the population speak Setswana. Within the provinces, Setswana is spoken by nearly two-thirds (63.4%) of the population of North West, a third (33.1%) of the Northern Cape’s people, by 9.1% of Gauteng’s population and 5.2% of the Free State’s. siSwati Also known as: Swati, Swazi First-language users: 1,297,046 (2.5% of the population) Second-language users: 2,400,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 3,697,046 (estimate) SiSwati is mostly spoken in Mpumalanga, which along its curved eastern border almost encircles the country of Swaziland. SiSwati is an Nguni language, like isiNdebele, isiXhosa and isiZulu. The 1,297,046 people who speak siSwati are just 2.5% of South Africa’s population, making it the country’s third-smallest language. Among first-language siSwati speakers, 99.3% are black, 0.3% coloured, 0.2% white and 0.1% Indian or Asian. In the population as a whole, siSwati is spoken by 3.2% of black South Africans, by around 0.1% of the other population groups, and by 0.5% of people who describe themselves as “other”. SiSwati and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 SiSwati speakers1,288,1564,0561,2172,2991,320234,655 Share of population3.2%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.5%2.5% Most siSwati speakers live in Mpumalanga – 85.3% of its total users and the highest provincial concentration of any language. Another tenth (10.5%) live in Gauteng, and the rest are scattered mainly over the northern parts of the country. Within the provinces, sisSwati is spoken by 27.7% of the total population of Mpumalanga, and just 1.1% of Gautengers. Tshivenda Also known as: Venda, Chivenda First-language users: 1,209,388 (2.4% of the population) Second-language users: 1,700,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 2,909,388 (estimate) Tshivenda is something of a standalone among South Africa’s major African languages, falling into the broader Sotho-Makua-Venda subfamily but not part of the Sotho group. It is mostly spoken in the far northeast of Limpopo. The 1,209,388 South Africans who speak Tshivenda are just 2.4% of the country’s population, making it the second-smallest language after isiNdebele. A full 99.4% of first-language Tshivenda speakers are black, 0.2% coloured, 0.2% white and 0.1% Indian or Asian. Tshivenda is spoken by 3% of black South Africans, by just 0.1% of the other population groups, and by 0.5% of people who describe themselves as “other”. Tshivenda and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 Tshivenda speakers1,201,5882,8478102,8891,2541,297,046 Share of population3.0%0.1%0.1%0.1%0.5%2.4 Three quarters (73.8%) of Tshivenda speakers live in Limpopo, giving the language the second-highest provincial concentration after siSwati. A further 22.5% of Tshivenda speakers live in Gauteng. Within the provinces, Tshivenda is spoken by 16.7% of the population of Limpopo, and 2.3% of the population of Gauteng. Xitsonga Also known as: Tsonga, Shangaan, Shangana, Vatsonga First-language users: 2,277,148 (4.5% of the population) Second-language users: 3,400,000 (2002 estimate) All users: 5,677,148 (estimate) Xitsonga is a minority language concentrated along South Africa’s northeast border with the country of Mozambique, where it is also spoken. Within the broader Nguni-Tsonga language subfamily which it shares with isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu and siSwati, it alone falls into the Tswa-Ronga group, while the other languages are Nguni. The 2,277,148 South Africans who speak Xitsonga as their home language make up 4.5% of the country’s total population. A full 99.1% of first-language Xitsonga speakers are black, 0.2% white, 0.1% coloured and 0.1% Indian or Asian. Xitsonga is spoken by 5.6% of black South Africans, 0.2% of Indians, 0.1% of whites, 0.05% of coloureds and 3.9% of people who describe themselves as “other”. Xitsonga and South Africa’s population groups BlackColouredIndian or AsianWhiteOtherAll Total population40,413,4084,541,3581,271,1584,461,409274,11150,961,443 Xitsonga speakers2,257,7712,2682,5063,98710,6161,209,388 Share of population5.6%0.05%0.2%0.09%3.9%4.5% Nearly two-fifths (39.8%) of Xitsonga-speaking South Africans live in Limpopo, over a third (35%) in Gauteng, 18.3% in Mpumalanga and 5.6% in North West. Within the provinces, Xitsonga is spoken by 17% of the population of Limpopo, 10.4% of Mpumalanga and 6.6% of the people in Gauteng. Sources and notes Glottolog – Comprehensive reference information for the world’s languages, especially the lesser known languages. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 Statistics South Africa Census 2011 Adrian Frith: Census 2011 Ethnologue: Languages of South Africa , 20th edition data (2017) Pharos South African Multilingual Dictionary (2014) ISBN 9781868901975 Language in South Africa: The role of language in national transformation, reconstruction and development (2002)

GENOCIDE IN SOUTH AFRICA South African farm attacks From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia South African farm attacks (Afrikaans : plaasaanvalle) are violent crimes, including murder, assault and robbery, that take place on farms in South Africa . The attacks target both white and black farmers. The term has no formal legal definition, but such attacks have been the subject of discussion by media and public figures in South Africa and abroad. Unsubstantiated claims that such attacks on farmers disproportionately target whites are a key element of the white genocide conspiracy theory and have become a common talking point among white nationalists worldwide. However, there are no reliable figures that suggest that white farmers are being targeted in particular or that they are at a disproportionate risk of being killed. The Government of South Africa and other analysts say that farm attacks are part of a broader crime problem in South Africa and do not have a racial motivation Terminology and definition South African statutory law does not define a "farm attack" as a specific crime. Rather, the term is used to refer to a number of different crimes committed against persons specifically on commercial farms or smallholdings . According to the South African Police Service (SAPS) National Operational Co-ordinating Committee: Attacks on farms and smallholdings refer to acts aimed on the persons of residents, workers and visitors to farms and smallholdings, whether with the intent to murder, rape, rob or inflict bodily harm. In addition, all actions aimed at disrupting farming activities as a commercial concern, whether for motives related to ideology, labour disputes, land issues, revenge, grievances or intimidation, This definition excludes "social fabric crimes", that is those crimes committed by members of the farming community on one another, such as domestic or workplace violence, and focuses on outsiders entering the farms to commit specific criminal acts. Dina Pule , the safety and security Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Mpumalanga Province , has disagreed with this definition and has said that "farm attacks" included only those cases "where farm residents were murdered and not cases of robberies or attempted murders". Human Rights Watch has criticised the use of the term "farm attacks", which they regard as "suggesting a terrorist or military purpose", which they do not believe is the primary motivation for most farm attacks. Findings The phenomenon, and the extent to which it is politicised, has been the focus of a number of investigations. The 2003 Report Of The Special Committee Of Inquiry Into Farm Attacks by the SAPS found that most incidents were driven by a desire for material gain and that "very few cases have political overtones." There is insufficient data to reliably estimate a murder rate for South African farmers.South African government data indicated between 58 and 74 murders on farms annually in the period 2015–2017; out of an annual murder count of 20,000 total murders in South Africa; these figures are broadly consistent with figures collected by the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU), a farmers' union.Due to the problems associated with counting the number of South African farmers and farm murders, it is unclear whether farmers are at greater risk of being murdered than other South Africans. Data released by the South African government in 2018 showed that the number of farm attacks had increased between 2012 and 2018, but that the number of murders on farms had decreased year by year during the period. During the same year farming organisation AgriSA reported on police statistics which suggested that the murder rate on farms had declined to the lowest level in 20 years, to a third of the level recorded in 1998. AfriForum has questioned the accuracy of police statistics. Motives Further information: Crime in South Africa According to the South African government, the chief motive for attacks is robbery.A Committee of Inquiry into Farm Attacks was appointed in 2001 by the National Commissioner of Police. The purpose of the committee was to "inquire into the ongoing spate of attacks on farms, which include violent criminal acts such as murder, robbery, rape, to determine the motives and factors behind these attacks and to make recommendations on their findings". Monetary theft occurred in most of the attacks firearms were stolen in 23.0%, and 16.0% of farm attacks involved vehicular theft The committee noted that "there is a common misconception that in a large proportion of farm attacks little is stolen"and "various items are stolen by far in the majority of cases and, in those cases where nothing is taken, there is almost always a logical explanation, such as that the attackers had to leave quickly because help arrived." The Natives' Land Act , adopted in 1913, restricted black South Africans' ownership of land and the right to legally rent land to around 10% of South Africa. The modern discontent among black South Africans has caused populists to call for a confiscation of white-owned farms in the north.The EFF political party, founded by Julius Malema, demands redistribution of the land and wealth, alongside pressure for land expropriation without compensation.As of March 2011, 31 million hectares or 25% of the 122 million hectares surface area of South Africa were in the hands of the State. The remaining 91 million hectares or 75% of the surface area was privately owned.Proponents of the theory that farm attacks disproportionately target whites point to racial hostility as a result of this situation as a motive for the attacks. Johan Burger, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), has said that attacks were typically motivated not by race but by greed. The South African Police Service (SAPS) declared in 1998 that there had been no evidence at the time of systematic organised attacks, although the matter was being looked into by special investigators resulting in the Report Of The Special Committee Of Inquiry Into Farm Attacks (2003). Statistics Recorded farm attacks (4,308) and farm murders (806) from 2010 to the end of August 2023 The SAPS stopped releasing homicide statistics on farm murders in 2007 instead merging them with all homicide figures, this has increased the difficulty of accessing reliable statistics on the phenomenon with most studies since relying on data from the Transvaal Agricultural Union of South Africa (TAUSA) instead. Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies has stated that statistics provided by the TAUSA significantly under reports the number of violent attacks on farmers as they are not informed of incidents on smallholdings. Attacks on smallholdings account for up to 40% of violent incidents classified as 'farm attacks.' This, Burger argues, indicates that statistics on farm attacks since 2007 likely under report the phenomenon. In 2003 the Freedom Front political party stated that farmers were "being murdered at a rate of 274 per 100,000" whilst the national murder rate was 61 per 100,000 people. The Freedom Front also alleged that Afrikaners specifically were being singled out for attacks. According to media reports, as of December 2011, approximately 3,158–3,811 South African farmers have been killed in these attacks.Self-reported data from the TAUSA state that 1,544 people were killed in farm attacks from 1990 to 2012. In 2012, Reuters reported that the number of farmers of European descent had decreased by one third since 1997, and that news headlines about farm killings provided incentive for them to sell their properties. A 2012 report by the South African Institute of Race Relations estimated that farmers were between 2 and 3 times more likely to become victims of homicides than other members of society. In January 2019, AfriForum stated that the number of murders on farms had decreased between 2017 and 2018, which it attributed to improved self-defence by farmers. AfriForum reported a doubling in the number of attacks in the Western Cape for the first half of the 2019, to 16 attacks over the period, relative to the same period in 2018, although this change took place against a backdrop of an increased crime rate in the Western Cape. According to South African police statistics, there were 21,325 murder victims in 2019 of which 49 were white farmers. During the South Africa's hard lockdown early in the COVID-19 pandemic , crime, including rural crime, decreased. The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) political party claimed that they increased once the lockdown restrictions were lifted.[49] Agriculture organisations the TAUSA, and Free State Agriculture stated that attacks and murders had increased over the full year in 2020. Criticism of response Gideon Meiring, chairperson of the TAUSA's safety and security committee, criticised the South African Police Service for failing to prevent farm attacks, stating that the police "are not part of the solution but part of the bloody problem". Meiring has assisted farming communities in setting up private armed patrols in their area. Kallie Kriel of AfriForum accused politicians, including Agriculture Minister Lulu Xingwana and her deputy Dirk du Toit , of inciting hatred against farmers, saying "Those who inflame hate and aggression towards farmers have to be regarded as accomplices to the murders of farmers." In particular, Kriel condemned claims that violence against farm workers by farmers was endemic. Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies has said that the government's dismantling of the commando system had created a vacuum which the current rural safety plan was not addressing adequately. Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said that the military commando personnel were "unwilling to serve a black government and were hostile to democracy in South Africa", adding that "former commando members were politically indoctrinated and supplied with weapons and training to spy on blacks in their areas, making this military structure wholly unsuited to the new South Africa." While Human Rights Watch has described a general trend of escalation in "farm attacks" since 1994, and noted a lack of government response to them, its 2001 study found that the failures of the government response disproportionately affected black farm residents. "In practice, however, the plan has significantly increased insecurity for black residents of and visitors to commercial farming areas, as they have become the targets of sometimes indiscriminate "anti-crime" initiatives ... In addition, the rural protection plan has largely failed to respond to crime committed against black farm residents, in particular crime committed by white farm owners." Prevention While the police are supposed to regularly visit commercial farms to ensure security, they say they cannot provide effective protection due to the wide areas that need to be covered and a lack of funding. 'Farmwatch' groups have been formed with the intention of filling this protection gap. These groups use radio to coordinate mutual assistance between farmers, local Commando volunteers , and private security companies . The particular mix of groups that operate has varied by area, with wealthier farmers being more likely to employ private security firms. The police and these groups are linked together as part of the Rural Protection Plan, created in 1997 by President Nelson Mandela .[40] Some white farmers have undertaken self-defence training, with some farmers trained by an Israeli special forces veteran. In 2003 the government began disbanding commando units, saying they had been "part of the apartheid state's security apparatus".[56] A 2013 study from the University of the Free State concluded that this disbanding compromised rural security, as police have prioritised South Africa's urban crime problems. Protest action The Witkruis Monument outside Polokwane , a series of crosses erected in memory of murdered South African farmers[58] A spike in violent attacks on farmers in February 2017 led to one of the country's largest prayer meetings being held on 22–23 April 2017 in Bloemfontein , attracting over 1,000,000 participants. Following the murder of Klapmuts farmer Joubert Conradie in October 2017, a protest convoy was organised on 30 October 2017. Known as #BlackMonday the convoy ran from Stellenbosch to Cape Town and attracted an estimated 10,000 protesters.The protest convoy was criticised by the South African Police Service for disrupting traffic. The protest convoy was also criticised by the ANC and the EFF for the display by some protesters of the old South African flag and alleged that the protesters were only concerned about the death of white farmers and did not include black members of the farming community. These photos were later confirmed to have been used out of context and inappropriately linked to the protests by Nickolaus Bauer, a reporter from eNCA . The eNCA released an official apology regarding the untruthful reporting. The Nelson Mandela Foundation also criticised the event for being polarising, describing the protesters' "expressions of 'us' and 'them'" as "worrisome". In October 2020, protesters stormed Senekal Magistrates Court, where two suspects were being held for the murder of farm manager Brendin Horner . A police vehicle was also overturned and set on fire. One man was arrested for setting the vehicle ablaze. There is a wall of remembrance outside the town of Bothaville dedicated to farmers who lost their lives during farm attacks. Reactions Following a spate of attacks in the Western Cape in late 2018, the Western Cape branch of the African National Congress (ANC) issued a condemnation of all farm attacks and called on the police to increase efforts to catch perpetrators and prevent attacks. The FF+ has continuously campaigned against farm attacks in South Africa. International reactions The Suidlanders , a survivalist Afrikaner group preparing for a race war predicted by Boer "prophet" Siener van Rensburg has taken credit for publicising the issue internationally after undertaking a tour of the United States in 2017. Australia After an Australian journalist was given a guided tour of South Africa by Afriforum, stories about attacks on white farmers appeared in News Corp Australia newspapers claiming that white South Africans were "trapped like frogs in boiling water" and that the South African government was "notoriously corrupt" and "potentially complicit" in the attacks and stating that the farmers were being "persecuted" because of their race. In March 2018, Australia 's Minister for Home Affairs , Peter Dutton , proposed fast-tracking white South African farmers as refugees , stating that "they need help from a civilised country", amid pressure by the South African Australian community for a special immigration intake for their family members. Far-right marchers from the Australian Liberty Alliance in Perth carried signs exhorting the Australian government to "let the right ones [white South Africans] in",and MPs Andrew Hastie and Ian Goodenough headlined a rally in Perth, which was also attended by far-right extremist Neil Erikson ,while senator Fraser Anning and MP Andrew Laming appeared at a Brisbane rally that was also attended by members of the far-right group, the Proud Boys . Dutton's proposal reportedly got support from some of his party's backbenchers and Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm ; however, Leyonhjelm later clarified that he thought that South African farmers could be admitted under existing family reunification and skilled visa programmes, and that he did not believe that they qualified as refugees. The Australian High Commissioner was subjected to a démarche by the South African Department of International Relations & Co-operation , which expressed offence at Dutton's statements, and demanded a retraction, stating that "there is no reason for any government in the world to suspect that a section of South Africans is under danger from their own democratically elected government". Afrikaner groups including AfriForum and the Suidlanders, who took credit for Dutton's offer, rejected the idea of Afrikaners becoming refugees. Australia's ruling Coalition MPs subsequently stated that white farmers were entitled to apply for humanitarian visas, without necessarily meeting the definition of "refugees", describing the situation as difficult and unique but without calling for a special category of visa to be created. The Australian government effectively retracted Dutton's offer by responding to the démarche with a letter that "satisfied" the South African foreign ministry,[ with the South African government officially welcoming the letter and stating again that "...no one is being persecuted in South Africa, inclu Australian government was looking at "several" individual cases that may qualify for humanitarian visas, stating that his critics were "dead to me". In April 2018, it emerged that Dutton's department had previously blocked asylum applications by a white farmer, and another white South African woman on the basis that "the vast majority of crimes against whites are not racially motivated", and on the basis that there was no evidence of racial persecution, with the decisions upheld by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal . AfriForum toured Australia in October 2018 to "raise awareness" of farm attacks, appearing on Sky News Australia program Outsiders , where a member was interviewed by Ross Cameron and Rowan Dean, and they met Andrew Hastie and delivered a presentation before the Parliament of Western Australia . United States In August 2018, Fox News host Tucker Carlson commented that the South African government had disproportionately targeted white farmers during its ongoing land reform efforts due to anti-white racism. He also criticised political "elites", who are purportedly concerned about racism, but "paying no attention" to the "racist government of South Africa". However, BBC News , CBS News , Associated Press , PolitiFact , The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal described Carlson's segment as false or misleading.[7] [8] [9] [15] [16] [105] [106] President Ramaphosa had proposed a constitutional amendment that would allow some land to be expropriated without compensation; however, that amendment had not yet been voted upon as of August 2018. Following Carlson's segment, President Donald Trump instructed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers closely, tweeting: "South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers". Trump's tweet was denounced as "misinformed" by the South African government, which stated that it would address the matter through diplomatic channels.[15] Political officers of the American embassy in South Africa investigated the claims, consulting farmers, police, and academics for further information. In a cable sent to the State Department, they concluded that there was "no evidence that murders on farms specifically target white people or are politically motivated" and that "[s]ome journalists and lobby groups have simplified complex land disputes to serve their own ends". AfriForum took credit for Carlson and Trump's statements, stating that it believed that its campaign to influence American politics had succeeded. In 2018, Afriforum leaders also embarked on a tour of the US to "raise awareness" about farm attacks in South Africa and land expropriation. White genocide conspiracy theory Further information: White genocide conspiracy theory The claim of a white genocide in South Africa has been promoted by right-wing groups in South Africa and the United States and is a frequent talking point among white nationalists. There are no reliable figures that suggest that white farmers are at greater risk of being killed than the average South African. Some Black South Africans have sought to seize privately owned land which they have made claims to; however, South African police have stopped such attempts at appropriating land. Fact checkers have widely identified the notion of a white genocide in South Africa as a falsehood or myth. The government of South Africa and other analysts maintain that farm attacks are part of a broader crime problem in South Africa , and do not have a racial motivation. The Afrikaner rights group AfriForum claim that some attacks are racially motivated. Racist vitriol is an element in some of the murders of white farmers. According to genocide studies and prevention professor Gregory Stanton , "early warnings of genocide are still deep in South African society, though genocide has not begun". GENOCIDE OF SOUTH AFRICA How did genocide become a crime and why is South Africa accusing Israel of committing it? THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — In the aftermath of World War II and the murder by Nazi Germany of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust , the world united around a now-familiar pledge: Never again. A key part of that lofty aspiration was the drafting of a convention that codified and committed nations to prevent and punish a new crime, sometimes called the crime of crimes: genocide. The convention was drawn up in 1948, the year of Israel’s creation as a Jewish state. Now that country is being accused at the United Nations’ highest court of committing the very crime so deeply woven into its national identity. The reason the genocide convention exists “is related directly to what the (Nazi) Third Reich attempted to do in eliminating a people, the Jewish people, not only of Germany, but of Eastern Europe, of Russia,” said Mary Ellen O’Connell, a professor of law and international peace studies at Notre Dame University’s Kroc Institute. Now, in response to Israel’s devastating military offensive in Gaza that was triggered by murders and atrocities perpetrated by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, South Africa has gone to the International Court of Justice and accused Israel of genocide. Israel rejects the claim and accuses Pretoria of providing political cover for Hamas . South Africa also asked the 17-judge panel to make nine urgent orders known as provisional measures. They are aimed at protecting civilians in Gaza while the court considers the legal arguments of both sides. First and foremost is for the court to order Israel to “immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza .” On Friday , the court’s American president, U.S. judge Joan E. Donoghue, will read out its decision at a public hearing. Here is more information about the crime of genocide and other cases in the past. What is genocide? The 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, defines the crime as acts “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such.” It lists the acts as killing; causing serious bodily or mental harm; deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the group’s physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births; and forcibly transferring children. The text is repeated in the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court, as one of the crimes under its jurisdiction, along with war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. The ICC prosecutes individuals and is separate to the International Court of Justice, which rules in disputes between nations. WATCH: Experts give 2 perspectives on accusations Israel is committing genocide in Gaza In its written filings and at a public hearing earlier this month, South Africa alleged genocidal acts by Israel forces including killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing serious mental and bodily harm, and deliberately inflicting conditions meant to “bring about their physical destruction as a group.” Israel has vehemently taken issue with South Africa’s claims, arguing that it is acting in self-defense against what it calls the genocidal threat to its existence posed by Hamas. How do you prove genocide? As well as establishing one or more of the underlying crimes listed in the convention, the key element of genocide is intent — the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. It’s tough to prove. “The most important thing is that whatever happens is done with the specific intent to destroy a group, so there’s no plausible alternative reason why those crimes have been committed,” said Marieke de Hoon, an associate professor of international law at the University of Amsterdam. READ MORE: Nelson Mandela’s support for Palestinians endures with South Africa’s genocide case against Israel Said O’Connell: “Can you show that the widespread killing of these people was intended by the government? Or … was the government waging a war and during that war large numbers of this particular group died, but that was not the intent of the government?” At public hearings earlier this month and in its detailed written submission to the ICJ, South Africa cited comments by Israeli officials that it claimed demonstrate intent. Malcolm Shaw, an international law expert on Israel’s legal team, called the comments South Africa highlighted “random quotes not in conformity with government policy.” Has the ICJ ever ruled before on genocide? In 2007, the court ruled that Serbia “violated the obligation to prevent genocide” in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, when Bosnian Serb forces rounded up and murdered some 8,000 mostly Muslim men and boys in the Bosnian region. Two other genocide cases are currently on the court’s docket. Ukraine filed a case shortly after Russia’s invasion nearly two years ago that accuses Moscow of launching the military operation based on trumped-up claims of genocide and that Russia was planning acts of genocide in Ukraine. In that case, the court ordered Russia to halt its invasion, an order that Russia flouted. Another case involves Gambia , on behalf of Muslim nations, accusing Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority . Gambia filed the case on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Both Gambia and South Africa have filed ICJ cases in conflicts they are not directly involved in. That’s because the genocide convention includes a clause that allows individual states — even uninvolved ones — to call on the United Nations to take action to prevent or suppress acts of genocide. Have other international courts prosecuted genocide? Two now defunct U.N. tribunals — for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda — both dealt with genocide, among other crimes. The Yugoslav court convicted defendants including former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and his military chief Gen. Ratko Mladic on genocide charges for their involvement in the Srebrenica massacre. The Rwanda tribunal , headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, was the first international court to hand down a genocide conviction when it found Jean Paul Akayesu guilty of genocide and other crimes and sentenced him to life imprisonment in 1998. He was convicted for his role in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, when militants from the Hutu majority slaughtered some 800,000 people, mostly minority Tutsis. The tribunal convicted 62 defendants for their roles in the genocide. WATCH: Military experts discuss Israel’s use of unguided bombs and harm to civilians in Gaza The International Criminal Court has charged ousted Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir with genocide in the Darfur region . He has not been handed to the court to stand trial. Al-Bashir’s government responded to a 2003 insurgency with a campaign of aerial bombings and unleashed militias known as Janjaweed, who are accused of mass killings and rapes. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. A hybrid domestic and international court in Cambodia convicted three men members of the Khmer Rouge whose brutal 1970s rule caused the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people. Two of them were found guilty of genocide. South African Farm Murders Pass 3,000; ‘Kill The Boer, Kill The Farmer’ Incites Genocide http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=5938 on 21.06.2010 um 18:45 Since the end of apartheid in 1994 there have been over 3,000 white South African farmers murdered in what some are calling genocide. “Kill the boer, kill the farmer” is a popular slogan/song which was made popular by ANC member of Parliament Peter Mokaba who died in 2002. At his funeral the slogan was chanted, in the days that followed six farms were attacked leaving death behind. A 57 year old farmer named Pieter Cillier was gunned down in front of his children bringing the South African farm murders back into the proverbial light; although you won’t hear much about it on the evening news or in the newspapers. Is this a matter of selective reporting? Some of the tactics being employed against white South African farmers are due to the revolutionary speeches of a man named Julius Malema. He is the president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and feels that the ANC isn’t doing enough to deliver on promises of the country’s liberation struggles. Malema just last week used the slogan “kill the boer, kill the farmer” while speaking to a group of students at Johannesburg University. Malema recently made a trip to Zimbabwe to discuss and share “youth empowerment and revolutionary tactics.” Sound familiar? Imagine the outcry if whites in South Africa were targeting black farmers for annihilation. There would be 24/7 coverage of each and every killing. Imagine if whites in any country chanted a slogan or sang a song which advocated the killing of anyone or anything. With all of the hand ringing here about hate speech and violent acts, maybe we should take a hard look at the white South African farm murders to get a good idea of exactly what real hate speech and violence is. Unfortunately the politically correct media (world and national) refuse to adequately cover what’s going on in South Africa. “Kill the boer, kill the farmer” started as a rallying cry, it’s now precipitating genocide as an apathetic world community watches. Farm Murder, Anti-Apartheid Song Stoke Racial Tensions in South Africa http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Farm-Murder-Anti-Apartheid-Song-Stoke-Racial-Tensions-in-South-Africa-91714504.html on 21.06.2010 um 18:44 In South Africa, racial tensions have been heightened in some sectors of society following the murder of white supremacist leader Eugene Terre'Blanche. Two black farm workers have been charged with his murder, but Terre'Blanche's supporters blame the killing on what they say is hate speech by the youth leader of the ruling African National Congress. The killing of the leader of the Afrikaner Resistance Movement (AWB), Eugene Terre'Blanche, drew thousands of sympathizers from across South Africa to his funeral in this conservative farm community in Northwest Province, west of Johannesburg. Two black farm workers were charged with murder amidst a tense faceoff between whites and blacks outside the town courthouse. Most white South Africans reject Terre'Blanche's extreme right-wing views. But his death brought a show of support for white farmers, who say 3,000 of their group have been killed since the end of apartheid 16 years ago. Academic studies say most farm murders are criminally motivated. But Terre'Blanche's supporters like Kurt Helfer say they are meant to drive white farmers from their land, and they accuse the black-led government of doing nothing to stop them. "We will have to stand together as one nation, especially all the whites, as it looks like all of our lives are in danger. So we will definitely have to do something," said Helfer. Some blame Terre'Blanche's murder on the youth leader of the ruling African National Congress, Julius Malema, who recently revived an anti-apartheid song with the refrain, "Shoot the Boer," or white farmer. ANC senior leaders have told Malema to drop the song. Emotions were also high in the nearby township, Tshing, where black farm workers were airing their grievances before trade-union leaders. The workers complain that some white farmers pay them a fraction of the minimum wage, make them work seven days a week, beat them or do not pay them at all. And they say the government and unions do nothing about it. Local resident Pule Plaatjie says relations between the races have improved since the end of apartheid, but Terre'Blanche's group has remained racist. "The relationship between blacks and whites it has been changed. There [are] many differences. But really here in Ventersdorp, people, like those who are in the AWB, they do not want to change," noted Plaatjie. A young leader from the Communist Party, Themba Mbatha, says relations between blacks and whites are better in some ways. "To a certain degree we have mended our relations," said Mbatha. "It is easier now to relate with some of the white people. But at same time it is worse because what happened is that apartheid only died institutionally, in terms of being implemented by government." Kerwin Lebone of Johannesburg's Institute of Race Relations says centuries of racial conflict could not fade away in the mere 16 years since the end of apartheid. "Nothing can be worse than what was in the past in [before] 1994. They are certainly better. And a lot of things are improving. It is just that it is our society that has come from such a history of racial hatred that each and every little incident will always be highlighted and blown out of proportion," explained Lebone. The frictions go beyond rural communities. In the cities, well-off whites and blacks bunker behind walls fearing criminals in a society with one of the widest gaps between rich and poor in the world. More than half of young blacks are unemployed. Yet, young Afrikaners say they cannot find jobs because equal opportunity policies favor the hiring of blacks. Lebone says much of the tension is due to poverty and rising anger over the lack of improvement in living conditions for most South Africans. But he says most South Africans do not want conflict. "There will never be another race war in South Africa," added Lebone. "I think people have learned from the past and we respect each other enough [too much] to go back to the horror of the past." He concludes that despite the legacy of racial hatred in the country, most South Africans want to live together in peace. Farm Murder, Anti-Apartheid Song Stoke Racial Tensions in South Africa http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Farm-Murder-Anti-Apartheid-Song-Stoke-Racial-Tensions-in-South-Africa-91714504.html on 21.06.2010 um 18:43 In South Africa, racial tensions have been heightened in some sectors of society following the murder of white supremacist leader Eugene Terre'Blanche. Two black farm workers have been charged with his murder, but Terre'Blanche's supporters blame the killing on what they say is hate speech by the youth leader of the ruling African National Congress. The killing of the leader of the Afrikaner Resistance Movement (AWB), Eugene Terre'Blanche, drew thousands of sympathizers from across South Africa to his funeral in this conservative farm community in Northwest Province, west of Johannesburg. Two black farm workers were charged with murder amidst a tense faceoff between whites and blacks outside the town courthouse. Most white South Africans reject Terre'Blanche's extreme right-wing views. But his death brought a show of support for white farmers, who say 3,000 of their group have been killed since the end of apartheid 16 years ago. Academic studies say most farm murders are criminally motivated. But Terre'Blanche's supporters like Kurt Helfer say they are meant to drive white farmers from their land, and they accuse the black-led government of doing nothing to stop them. "We will have to stand together as one nation, especially all the whites, as it looks like all of our lives are in danger. So we will definitely have to do something," said Helfer. Some blame Terre'Blanche's murder on the youth leader of the ruling African National Congress, Julius Malema, who recently revived an anti-apartheid song with the refrain, "Shoot the Boer," or white farmer. ANC senior leaders have told Malema to drop the song. Emotions were also high in the nearby township, Tshing, where black farm workers were airing their grievances before trade-union leaders. The workers complain that some white farmers pay them a fraction of the minimum wage, make them work seven days a week, beat them or do not pay them at all. And they say the government and unions do nothing about it. Local resident Pule Plaatjie says relations between the races have improved since the end of apartheid, but Terre'Blanche's group has remained racist. "The relationship between blacks and whites it has been changed. There [are] many differences. But really here in Ventersdorp, people, like those who are in the AWB, they do not want to change," noted Plaatjie. A young leader from the Communist Party, Themba Mbatha, says relations between blacks and whites are better in some ways. "To a certain degree we have mended our relations," said Mbatha. "It is easier now to relate with some of the white people. But at same time it is worse because what happened is that apartheid only died institutionally, in terms of being implemented by government." Kerwin Lebone of Johannesburg's Institute of Race Relations says centuries of racial conflict could not fade away in the mere 16 years since the end of apartheid. "Nothing can be worse than what was in the past in [before] 1994. They are certainly better. And a lot of things are improving. It is just that it is our society that has come from such a history of racial hatred that each and every little incident will always be highlighted and blown out of proportion," explained Lebone. The frictions go beyond rural communities. In the cities, well-off whites and blacks bunker behind walls fearing criminals in a society with one of the widest gaps between rich and poor in the world. More than half of young blacks are unemployed. Yet, young Afrikaners say they cannot find jobs because equal opportunity policies favor the hiring of blacks. Lebone says much of the tension is due to poverty and rising anger over the lack of improvement in living conditions for most South Africans. But he says most South Africans do not want conflict. "There will never be another race war in South Africa," added Lebone. "I think people have learned from the past and we respect each other enough [too much] to go back to the horror of the past." He concludes that despite the legacy of racial hatred in the country, most South Africans want to live together in peace. Farm murder: Two in court http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Farm-murder-Two-in-court-20100331 on 21.06.2010 um 18:39 Johannesburg - Two men have appeared in the Modimolle Magistrate's Court for the attack on and killing of a farmer early this month, Limpopo police said. Albert van Deventer, 63, was accosted by three men who shot him in the head while he was busy in the garden on March 13 at Langewater, said Ronel Otto in a statement. Steven Sibeko, 28, and Frans Monyamane, 32, were arrested on Monday in Mamelodi and appeared in court on Tuesday. They are facing charges of armed robbery and murder. They were remanded in custody and would be back in court on April 8. Otto said the provincial Hawks had managed to arrest 14 people for different farm attacks and killings in the province since December 2009. All the cases were still pending. Deputy Provincial Commissioner Dibero Molatjana, in charge of the Hawks in the province, congratulated the policemen for the arrests. "These members worked long and tiring hours, often sacrificing time with their families to track down the suspects," she said S.Africa: 2 White Women shot dead in 2 Hjackings - One was a former Journalist http://www.africancrisis.co.za on 21.06.2010 um 18:32 This is hideous - they just shoot the women in their cars. The terrorism and callousness of our criminals no know bounds. Jan] By Sharika Regchand & Jeff Wicks Two women were killed in a double hijacking attempt on Sunday night. Former journalist Elaine Anderson was shot dead in what police believe was a botched hijacking in Pietermaritzburg. Anderson, who was in her late 50s, was on her way home from a church service in Woodlands when she was killed. Police spokesperson Henry Budhram said it appeared that two men had confronted her while she was driving. One of the gunmen shot Anderson through the passenger window. She lost control of her car and it crashed into a barrier. The two men then went on to find their next victim. They spotted Patricia Patrick and tried to hijack her, shooting her in the head. Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said that after she was shot, Patrick also lost control of her vehicle and drove over an embankment. "Paramedics tried to stabilise the critically injured woman. She was placed on a ventilator and taken to the Netcare St Anne's hospital. She died soon afterwards." Anderson worked at The Witness for 15 years, first as a photographer then as a reporter. She was known by her colleagues for being kind, considerate and caring. No details were available for Patrick. The suspects are still at large. S.Africa: 2 White Women shot dead in 2 Hjackings - One was a former Journalist http://www.africancrisis.co.za on 21.06.2010 um 18:32 This is hideous - they just shoot the women in their cars. The terrorism and callousness of our criminals no know bounds. Jan] By Sharika Regchand & Jeff Wicks Two women were killed in a double hijacking attempt on Sunday night. Former journalist Elaine Anderson was shot dead in what police believe was a botched hijacking in Pietermaritzburg. Anderson, who was in her late 50s, was on her way home from a church service in Woodlands when she was killed. Police spokesperson Henry Budhram said it appeared that two men had confronted her while she was driving. One of the gunmen shot Anderson through the passenger window. She lost control of her car and it crashed into a barrier. The two men then went on to find their next victim. They spotted Patricia Patrick and tried to hijack her, shooting her in the head. Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said that after she was shot, Patrick also lost control of her vehicle and drove over an embankment. "Paramedics tried to stabilise the critically injured woman. She was placed on a ventilator and taken to the Netcare St Anne's hospital. She died soon afterwards." Anderson worked at The Witness for 15 years, first as a photographer then as a reporter. She was known by her colleagues for being kind, considerate and caring. No details were available for Patrick. The suspects are still at large. BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE

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Afrikaners Afrikaners (Afrikaans: [afriˈkɑːnərs] ) are a Southern African ethnic group descended from predominantly Dutch settlers first arriving at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 . Until 1994, they dominated South Africa 's politics as well as the country's commercial agricultural sector. Afrikaans , a language primarily descended from Dutch , is the mother tongue of Afrikaners and most Cape Coloureds . According to the South African National Census of 2022 , 10.6% of South Africans claimed to speak Afrikaans as a first language at home, making it the third most widely spoken home language in the country. The arrival of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama at Calicut , India, in 1498 opened a gateway of free access to Asia from Western Europe around the Cape of Good Hope . This access necessitated the founding and safeguarding of trade stations along the African and Asian coasts. The Portuguese landed in Mossel Bay in 1498, explored Table Bay two years later, and by 1510 had started raiding inland. Shortly afterwards, the Dutch Republic sent merchant vessels to India and, in 1602, founded the Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie; VOC).the volume of traffic rounding the Cape increased, the VOC recognised its natural harbour as an ideal watering point for the long voyage around Africa to East Asia and established a victualling station there in 1652. VOC officials did not favour the permanent settlement of Europeans in their trading empire, although during the 140 years of Dutch rule many VOC servants retired or were discharged and remained as private citizens. Furthermore, the exigencies of supplying local garrisons and passing fleets compelled the administration to confer free status on employees and oblige them to become independent farmers. Encouraged by the success of this experiment, the company extended free passage from 1685 to 1707 for Dutch families wishing to settle at the Cape. In 1688, it sponsored the settlement of 200 French Huguenot refugees forced into exile by the Edict of Fontainebleau . The terms under which the Huguenots agreed to immigrate were the same as those offered to other VOC subjects, including free passage and the requisite farm equipment on credit. Prior attempts at cultivating vineyards or exploiting olive groves for fruit had been unsuccessful, and it was hoped that Huguenot colonists accustomed to Mediterranean agriculture could succeed where the Dutch had failed. They were augmented by VOC soldiers returning from Asia, predominantly Germans channeled into Amsterdam by the company's extensive recruitment network and thence overseas. Despite their diverse nationalities, the colonists used a common language and adopted similar attitudes towards politics. The attributes they shared served as a basis for the evolution of Afrikaner identity and consciousness. In the twentieth century, Afrikaner nationalism took the form of political parties and closed societies, such as the Broederbond . In 1914, the National Party was founded to promote Afrikaner interests. It gained power by winning South Africa's 1948 general elections . The party was noted for implementing a harsh policy of racial segregation (apartheid ) and declaring South Africa a republic in 1961. Following decades of domestic unrest and international sanctions that resulted in bilateral and multi-party negotiations to end apartheid , South Africa held its first multiracial elections under a universal franchise in 1994. As a result of this election the National Party was oustedrom power, and was eventually dissolved in 2005 Nomenclature The term "Afrikaner" currently denotes the politically, culturally, and socially dominant and majority group[22] [need quotation to verify ] among white South Africans , or the Afrikaans -speaking population of Dutch origin. Their original progenitors, especially in paternal lines, also included smaller numbers of Flemish , French Huguenot , German , Danish , Norwegian , Swiss , and Swedish immigrants. Historically, the terms "burgher " and "Boer " have both been used to describe white Afrikaans-speakers as a group; neither is particularly objectionable, but "Afrikaner" has been considered a more appropriate term. By the late nineteenth century, the term was in common usage in both the Boer republics and the Cape Colony . At one time, burghers denoted Cape Dutch : those settlers who were influential in the administration, able to participate in urban affairs, and did so regularly. Boers often refer to settled ethnic European farmers or nomadic cattleherders. During the Batavian Republic of 1795–1806, burgher ('citizen') was popularised among Dutch communities both at home and abroad as a popular revolutionary form of address. In South Africa, it remained in use as late as the Second Boer War of 1899–1902. The first recorded instance of a colonist identifying as an Afrikaner occurred in March 1707, during a disturbance in Stellenbosch [2 When the magistrate , Johannes Starrenburg, ordered an unruly crowd to desist, a young white man named Hendrik Biebouw retorted, "Ik wil niet loopen, ik ben een Afrikaander – al slaat de landdrost mij dood, of al zetten hij mij in de tronk, ik zal, nog wil niet zwijgen!" ("I will not leave, I am an African – even if the magistrate were to beat me to death or put me in jail, I shall not be, nor will I stay, silent!"). Biebouw was flogged for his insolence and later banished to Batavia [ (present-day Jakarta, Indonesia). The word Afrikaner is thought to have first been used to classify Cape Coloureds , or other groups of mixed-race ancestry. Biebouw had numerous "half-caste" (mixed race) siblings and may have identified with Coloureds socially. The growing use of the term appeared to express the rise of a new identity for white South Africans, suggesting for the first time a group identification with the Cape Colony rather than with an ancestral homeland in Europe. Afrikaner culture and people are also commonly referred to as the Afrikaans or Afrikaans people. Population 1691 estimates Increase of European families in the Cape by year YearNumber 1657–1675 46 1675-1700 154 1700–1725 263 1725–1750 272 1750–1775 400 1775–1795 391 Historical population YearPop.±% p.a. 1657137— 17546,000+3.97% 180626,720+2.91% 19361,120,770+2.92% 19601,600,000+1.49% 19852,581,080+1.93% 19962,558,956−0.08 20012,576,184+0.13% Note: For the years 1985–2011, the census statistics show the number of Afrikaans-speaking whites. Considering that there could be a significant number of English-speaking Afrikaners (especially after 2001), the numbers could be higher. VOC initially had no intention of establishing a permanent European settlement at the Cape of Good Hope ; until 1657, it devoted as little attention as possible to the development or administration of the Dutch Cape Colony . From the VOC's perspective, there was little financial incentive to regard the region as anything more than the site of a strategic manufacturing centre. Furthermore, the Cape was unpopular among VOC employees, who regarded it as a barren and insignificant outpost with little opportunity for advancement. A small number of longtime VOC employees who had been instrumental in the colony's founding and its first five years of existence, however, expressed interest in applying for grants of land with the objective of retiring at the Cape as farmers. In time, they came to form a class of former VOC employees, vrijlieden, also known as vrijburgers (free citizens, who stayed in Dutch territories overseas after serving their contracts. The vrijburgers were to be of Dutch birth (although exceptions were made for some Germans), married, "of good character", and had to undertake to spend at least twenty years in Southern Africa. In March 1657, when the first vrijburgers started receiving their farms, the white population of the Cape was only about 134. Although the soil and climate in Cape Town were suitable for farming, willing immigrants remained in short supply, including a number of orphans, refugees, and foreigners. From 1688 onward, the Cape attracted some French Huguenots , most of them refugees from the protracted conflict between Protestants and Catholics in France. South Africa's white population in 1691 has been described as the Afrikaner "parent stock", as no significant effort was made to secure more colonist families after the dawn of the 18th century, and a majority of Afrikaners are descended from progenitors who arrived prior to 1700 in general and the late 1600s in particular. Although some two-thirds of this figure were Dutch-speaking Hollanders, there were at least 150 Huguenots and a nearly equal number of Low German speakers. Also represented in smaller numbers were Swedes , Danes , and Belgians . 1754 estimates In 1754, Cape Governor Ryk Tulbagh conducted a census of his non-indigenous subjects. White vrijburgers - now outnumbered by slaves brought from West Africa , Mozambique , Madagascar and the Dutch East Indies - only totaled about 6,000. 1806 estimates Following the defeat and collapse of the Dutch Republic during Joseph Souham 's Flanders Campaign , William V, Prince of Orange , escaped to the United Kingdom and appealed to the British to occupy his colonial possessions until he was restored. Holland's administration was never effectively reestablished; upon a new outbreak of hostilities with France, expeditionary forces led by Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet , finally permanently imposed British rule when they defeated Cape governor Jan Willem Janssens in 1806. At the onset of Cape Town 's annexation to the British Empire , the original Afrikaners numbered 26,720 – or 36% of the colony's population 1960 Census The South African census of 1960 was the final census undertaken in the Union of South Africa . The ethno-linguistic status of some 15,994,181 South African citizens was projected by various sources through sampling language, religion, and race. At least 1.6 million South Africans were white Afrikaans speakers, or 10% of the total population. They also constituted 9.3% of the population in neighbouring South West Africa . 1985 Census According to the 1985 South African census, there were 2,581,080 white Afrikaans speakers then residing in the country, or about 9.4% of the total population. 1996 Census The South African National Census of 1996 was the first census conducted in post-apartheid South Africa. It was calculated on Census Day and reported a population of 2,558,956 white Afrikaans speakers. The census noted that Afrikaners represented the eighth largest ethnic group in the country, or 6.3% of the total population. Even after the end of apartheid, the ethnic group only fell by 25,000 people. 2001 Census The South African National Census of 2001 was the second census conducted in post-apartheid South Africa. It was calculated on October 9 and reported a population of 2,576,184 white Afrikaans speakers. The census noted that Afrikaners represented the eighth largest ethnic group in the country, or 5.7% of the total population. Distribution Main article: Distribution of white South Africans Distribution of Afrikaans versus English as home language of white South Africans. 87.5–100% Afrikaans 75–87.5% Afrikaans 62.5–75% Afrikaans 50–62.5% Afrikaans 50–62.5% English 62.5–75% English 75–87.5% English 87.5–100% English Afrikaners make up approximately 58% of South Africa's white population, based on language used in the home. English speakers account for closer to 37%. As in Canada or the United States , most modern European immigrants elect to learn English and are likelier to identify with those descended from British colonials of the nineteenth century. Aside from coastal pockets in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal they remain heavily outnumbered by those of Afrikaans origin Histor Early Dutch settlement Main article: Free Burghers in the Dutch Cape Colony Painting of the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck The earliest Afrikaner communities in South Africa were formed at the Cape of Good Hope, mainly through the introduction of Dutch colonists, French Huguenot refugees, and erstwhile servants of the VOC. During the early colonial period, Afrikaners were generally known as "Christians", "colonists", "emigrants", or ingezeetenen ("inhabitants"). Their concept of being rooted in Africa—as opposed to the company's expatriate officialdom—did not find widespread expression until the late eighteenth century. It is to the ambitions of Prince Henry the Navigator that historians attribute the discovery of the Cape as a settling ground for Europeans. In 1424, Henry and Fernando de Castro besieged the Canary Islands , under the impression that they might be of use to further Portuguese expeditions around Africa's coast. Although this attempt was unsuccessful, Portugal's continued interest in the continent made possible the later voyages of Bartholomew Dias in 1487 and Vasco da Gama ten years later. Dias made known to the world a "Cape of Storms", rechristened "Good Hope" by John II . As it was desirable to take formal possession of this territory, the Portuguese erected a stone cross in Algoa Bay . Gama and his successors, however, did not take kindly to the notion, especially following a skirmish with the Khoikhoi in 1497, when one of his admirals was wounded. After the British East India Company was founded in 1599, London merchants began to take advantage of the route to India by the Cape. James Lancaster , who had visited Robben Island some years earlier, anchored in Table Bay in 1601. By 1614, the British had planted a penal colony on the site, and in 1621 two Englishmen claimed Table Bay on behalf of King James I , but this action was not ratified. They eventually settled on Saint Helena as an alternative port of refuge. Due to the value of the spice trade between Europe and their outposts in the East Indies , Dutch ships began to call sporadically at the Cape in search of provisions after 1598. In 1601, a Captain Paul van Corniden came ashore at St. Sebastion's Bay near Overberg .[11] He discovered a small inlet which he named Vleesch Bay ('Meat Bay'), after the cattle trade, and another Visch Bay ('Fish Bay') after the abundance of fish. Not long afterwards, Admiral Joris van Spilbergen reported catching penguins and sheep on Robben Island. In 1648, Dutch sailors Leendert Jansz and Nicholas Proot had been shipwrecked in Table Bay and marooned for five months until picked up by a returning ship. During this period they established friendly relations with the locals, who sold them sheep, cattle, and vegetables. Both men presented a report advocating the Table valley as a fort and garden for the VOC fleets. We say, therefore, that the Honourable Company, by the formation of a fort or redoubt, and also of a garden of such size as may be practicable or necessary at the above-mentioned Cabo de Boa Esperanza, upon a suitable spot in Table Valley, stationing there according to your pleasure sixty to seventy as well soldiers as sailors, and a few persons acquainted with gardening and horticulture, could raise, as well for the ships and people bound to India as for those returning thence, many kinds of fruit, as will hereafter be more particularly demonstrated. — Excerpt from Jansz and Proot's report. Under recommendation from Jan van Riebeeck , the Heeren XVII authorised the establishment of a fort at the Cape, and this the more hurriedly to preempt any further imperial maneuvers by Britain, France or Portugal. Van Riebeeck, his family and seventy to eighty VOC personnel arrived there on 6 April 1652 after a journey of three and a half months. Their immediate task was the establishment of some gardens, "taking for this purpose all the best and richest ground"; following this they were instructed to conduct a survey to determine the best pastureland for the grazing of cattle. By 15 May, they had nearly completed construction on the Castle of Good Hope , which was to be an easily defensible victualing station serving Dutch ships plying the Indian Ocean . Dutch sailors appreciated the mild climate at the Cape, which allowed them to recuperate from their protracted periods of service in the tropical humidity of Southeast Asia. VOC fleets bearing cargo from the Orient anchored in the Cape for a month, usually from March or April, when they were resupplied with water and provisions prior to completing their return voyage to the Netherlands. In extent the new refreshment post was to be kept as confined as possible to reduce administrative expense. Residents would associate amiably with the natives for the sake of livestock , but otherwise keep to themselves and their task of becoming self-sufficient. As the VOC's primary goal was merchant enterprise, particulaly its shipping network traversing the Atlantic and Indian Oceans between the Netherlands and various ports in Asia, most of its territories consisted of coastal forts, factories, and isolated trading posts dependent entirely on indigenous host states. The exercise of Dutch sovereignty, as well the large scale settlement of Dutch colonists, was therefore extremely limited at these sites. ring the VOC's history only two primary exceptions to the rule emerged: the Dutch East Indies and the Cape of Good Hope, through the formation of the vrijburgers. The VOC operated under a strict corporate hierarchy which allowed it to formally assign classifications to those whom it determined fell within its legal purview. Most Europeans within the VOC's registration and identification system were denoted either as employees or vrijburgers. The legal classifications imposed upon every individual in the Company possessions determined their position in society and conferred restraints upon their actions. VOC ordinances made a clear distinction between the "bonded" period of service, and the period of "freedom" that began once an employment contractended. In order to ensure former employees could be distinguished from workers still in the service of the company, it was decided to provide them a "letter of freedom", a licence known as a vrijbrief. European employees were repatriated to the Netherlands upon the termination of their contract, unless they successfully applied for a vrijbrief, in which they were charged a small fee and registered as a vrijburger in a VOC record known collectively as the vrijboeken ('free(dom) books'). Fairly strict conditions were levied on those who aspired to become vrijburgers at the Cape of Good Hope. They had to be married Dutch citizens who were regarded as being "of good character"by the VOC and committed to at least twenty years' residence in South Africa. Reflecting the multi-national nature of the workforce of the early modern trading companies, some foreigners, particularly Germans, were open to consideration as well. If their application for vrijburger status was successful, the Company granted them plots of farmland of thirteen and a half morgen (equal to 2,000 to 10,100 square metres or 1⁄2 to 2+1⁄2 acres), which were tax exempt for twelve years. They were also loaned tools and seeds. The extent of their farming activities, however, remained heavily regulated: for example, the vrijburgers were ordered to focus on the cultivation of grain. Each year their harvest was to be sold exclusively to the VOC at fixed prices. They were forbidden from growing tobacco, producing vegetables for any purpose other than personal consumption, or purchasing cattle from the native Khoikhoi at rates which differed from those set by the VOC. With time, these restrictions and other attempts by the VOC to control the settlers resulted in successive generations of vrijburgers and their discendants becoming increasingly localised in their loyalties and national identity, and hostile towards the colonial government. Around March 1657, Rijcklof van Goens , a senior VOC officer appointed as commissioner to the fledgling Dutch Cape Colony , ordered Jan van Riebeeck to help more employees succeed as vrijburgers so the company could save on their wages. Although an overwhelming majority of the vrijburgers were farmers, some also stated their intention to seek employment as farm managers, fishermen, wagon-makers, tailors, or hunters. A ship's carpenter was granted a tract of forest, from which he was permitted to sell timber, and one miller from Holland opened his own water-operated corn mill, the first of its kind in Southern Africa. The colony initially did not do well, and many of the discouraged vrijburgers returned to VOC service or sought passage back to the Netherlands to pursue other opportunities. Vegetable gardens were frequently destroyed by storms, and cattle lost in raids by the Khoikhoi, who were known to the Dutch as Hottentots. There was also an unskilled labour shortage, which the VOC later resolved by bringing slaves from Angola, Madagascar, and the East Indies. In 1662, van Riebeeck was succeeded by Zacharias Wagenaer as governor of the Cape. Wagenaer was somewhat aloof towards the vrijburgers, whom he dismissed as "sodden, lazy, clumsy louts...since they do not pay proper attention to the [slaves] lent to them, or to their work in the fields, nor to their animals, for that reason seem wedded to the low level and cannot rid themselves of their debts". When Wagenaer arrived, he observed that many of the unmarried vrijburgers were beginning to cohabit with their slaves, with the result that 75% of children born to Cape slaves at the time had a Dutch father. Wagenaer's response was to sponsor the immigration of Dutch women to the colony as potential wives for the settlers. Upon the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Dutch War , Wagenaer was perturbed by the British capture of New Amsterdam and attacks on other Dutch outposts in the Americas and on the west African coast. He increased the Cape garrison by about 300 troops and replaced the original earthen fortifications of the Castle of Good Hope with new ones of stone. In 1672, there were 300 VOC offiials, employees, soldiers and sailors at the Cape, compared to only about 64 vrijburgers, 39 of whom were married, with 65 children. By 1687, the number had increased to about 254 vrijburgers, of whom 77 were married, with 231 children. Simon van der Stel , who was appointed governor of the Cape in 1679, reversed the VOC's earlier policy of keeping the colony limited to the confines of the Cape peninsula itself and encouraged Dutch settlement further abroad, resulting in the founding of Stellenbosch . Van der Stel persuaded 30 vrijburgers to settle in Stellenbosch and a few years afterwards the town received its own municipal administration and school. The VOC was persuaded to seek more prospective European immigrants for the Cape after local officials noted that the cost of maintaining gardens to provision passing ships could be eliminated by outsourcing to a greater number of vrijburgers. Furthermore, the size of the Cape garrison could be reduced if there were many colonists capable of being called up for militia service as needed. Following the passage of the Edict of Fontainebleau , the Netherlands served as a major destination for French Huguenot refugees fleeing persecution at home. In April 168, the VOC agreed to sponsor the resettlement of over 100 Huguenots at the Cape.[ Smaller numbers of Huguenots gradually arrived over the next decade, and by 1702 the community numbered close to 200. Between 1689 and 1707 they were augmented by additional numbers of Dutch settlers sponsored by the VOC with grants of land and free passage to Africa. Additionally, there were calls the VOC administration to sponsor the immigration of more German settlers to the Cape, as long as they were Protestant. VOC pamphlets began circulating in German cities exhorting the urban poor to seek their fortune in southern Africa. Despite the increasing diversity of the colonial population, there was a degree of cultural assimilation due to intermarriage, and the almost universal adoption of the Dutch language. The use of other European languages was discouraged by a VOC edict declaring that Dutch should be the exclusive language of administrative record and education. In 1752, French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille visited the Cape and observed that nearly all the third-generation descendants of the original Huguenot and German settlers spoke Dutch as a first language. Impact of the British occupation of the Cape Trekboers making camp, an 1804 painting by Samuel Daniell . Long before the British annexed the Cape Colony, there were already large Dutch-speaking European settlements in the Cape Peninsula and beyond; by the time British rule became permanent in 1806, these had a population of over 26,000. There were, however, two distinct subgroups in the vrijburger population settled under the VOC. The first were itinerant farmers who began to progressively settle further and further inland, seeking better pastures for their livestock and freedom from the VOC's regulations. This community of settlers collectively identified themselves as Boers to describe their agricultural way of life. Their farms were enormous by European standards, as the land was free and relatively underpopulated; they merely had to register them with the VOC, a process that was little more than a formality and became more irrelevant the further the Boers moved inland. A few Boers adopted a semi-nomadic lifestyle permanently and became known as trekboers . The Boers were deeply suspicious of the centralised government and increasing complexities of administration at the Cape; they constantly migrated further from the reaches of the colonial officialdom whenever it attempted to regulate their activities. By the mid-eighteenth century the Boers had penetrated almost a thousand kilometres into South Africa's interior beyond the Cape of Good Hope, at which point they encountered the Xhosa people , who were migrating southwards from the opposite direction. Competition between the two communities over resources on the frontier sparked the Xhosa Wars . Harsh Boer attitudes towards black Africans were permanently shaped by their contact with the Xhosa, which bred insecurity and fear on the frontier. The second subgroup of the vrijburger population became known as the Cape Dutch and remained concentrated in the southwestern Cape and especially the areas closer to Cape Town. They were likelier to be urban dwellers, more educated, and typically maintained greater cultural ties to the Netherlands than the Boers. The Cape Dutch formed the backbone of the colony's market economy and included the small entrepreneurial class. These colonists had vested economic interests in the Cape peninsula and were not inclined to venture inland because of the great difficulties in maintaining contact with a viable market. This was in sharp contrast with the Boers on the frontier, who lived on the margins of the market economy. For this reason the Cape Dutch could not easily participate in migrations to escape the colonial system, and the Boer strategy of social and economic withdrawal was not viable for them. Their response to grievances with the Cape government was to demand political reform and greater representation, a practice that became commonplace under Dutch and subsequently British rule. In 1779, for example, hundreds of Cape burghers smuggled a petition to Amsterdam demanding an end to VOC corruption and contradictory laws. Unlike the Boers, the contact most Cape Dutch had with black Africans were predominantly peaceful, and their racial attitudes were more paternal than outright hostile. Meanwhile, the VOC underwent a period of commercial decline beginning in the late eighteenth century which ultimately resulted in its bankruptcy. The company had suffered immense losses to its trade profits as a result of the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War and was heavily in debt with European creditors. In 1794, the Dutch government intervened and assumed formal administration of the Cape Colony. However, events at the Cape were overtaken by turmoil in the Netherlands, which was occupied by Napoleon during the Flanders Campaign . This opened the Cape to French naval fleets. To protect her own prosperous maritime shipping routes, Great Britain occupied the fledgling colony by force until 1803. From 1806 to 1814 the Cape was again governed as a British military dependency, whose sole importance to the Royal Navy was its strategic relation to Indian maritime traffic. The British formally assumed permanent administrative control around 1815, as a result of the Treaty of Paris . Relations between some of the colonists and the new British administration quickly soured. The British brought more liberal attitudes towards slavery and treatment of the indigenous peoples to the Cape, which were utterly alien to the colonists. Furthermore, they insisted that the Cape Colony finance its own affairs by taxes levied on the white population, an unpopular measure which bred resentment. By 1812, new attorneys-general and judges had been imported from England and many of the preexisting VOC-era institutions abolished, namely the Dutch magistrate system and the only vestige of representative government at the Cape, the burgher senate. The new judiciary then established circuit courts, which brought colonial authority directly to the frontier. These circuit courts were permitted to try colonists for allegations of abuse of slaves or indentured servants. Most of those tried for these offences were frontier Boers; the charges were usually brought by British missionaries and the courts themselves staffed by unsympathetic and liberal Cape Dutch. The Boers, who perceived most of the charges levelled against them to be flimsy or exaggerated, often refused to answer their court summons. In 1815, a Cape police unit was dispatched to arrest a Boer for failure to appear in court on charges of cruelty towards indentured Khoisan servants; the colonist fired on the troopers when they entered his property and was killed. The controversy which surrounded the incident led to the abortive Slachter's Nek Rebellion , in which a number of Boers took up arms against the British. British officials retaliated by hanging five Boers for insurrection. In 1828, the Cape governor declared that all native inhabitants but slaves were to have the rights of citizens, in respect of security and property ownership, on parity with whites. This had the effect of further alienating the Boers. Boer resentment of successive British administrators continued to grow throughout the late 1820s and early 1830s, especially with the official imposition of the English language. This replaced Dutch with English as the language used in the Cape's judicial system, putting the Boers at a disadvantage, as most spoke little or no English at all. Bridling at what they considered an unwarranted intrusion into their way of life, some in the Boer community began to consider selling their farms and venturing deep into South Africa's unmapped interior to preempt further disputes and live completely independent from British rule. From their perspective, the Slachter's Nek Rebellion had demonstrated the futility of an armed uprising against the new order the British had entrenched at the Cape; one result was that the Boers who might have otherwise been inclined to take up arms began preparing for a mass emigration from the colony instead. The Great Trek Main article: Great Trek Between 1834 and 1840 about 15 000 Afrikaners left the Cape Colony permanently. They called themselves 'emigrants' and their mass-trek an 'emigration', but in the late 19th century this mass-movement became known as the Great Trek and the emigrants Voortrekkers . The Voortrekkers departed the colony in a series of parties, taking with them all their livestock and portable property, as well as slaves, and their dependents. They had the skills to maintain their own wagons and firearms, but remained dependent on equally mobile traders for vital commodities such as gunpowder and sugar. Nevertheless, one of their goals was to sever their ties with the Cape's commercial network by gaining access to foreign traders and ports in east Africa, well beyond the British sphere of influence. The various motives for the Great Trek are laid out in the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief's 1837 manifesto. On the one hand, there was an ongoing conflict between the Boers and the Xhosa inhabitants on the frontier, as well as growing resentment between the farmers and the restrictions imposed upon them by British colonial authorities. Land prices had also increased considerably during the 1820s and 1830s, which meant that the younger generation could not afford their own pieces of land, a problem that would only grow. Another reason was concerns about labour loss and financial retribution with the passing of Ordinance 50 in 1828, which outlawed slavery. The Great Trek split the Afrikaner community along social and geographical lines, driving a wedge between the Voortrekkers and those who remained in the Cape Colony. Only about a fifth of the colony's Dutch-speaking white population at the time participated in the Great Trek. The Dutch Reformed Church , to which most of the Boers belonged, condemned the migration. Despite their hostility towards the British, there were also Boers who chose to remain in the Cape of their own accord. For its part, the distinct Cape Dutch community remained loyal to the British Crown and focused its efforts on building political organisations seeking representative government; its lobbying efforts were partly responsible for the establishment of the Cape Qualified Franchise in 1853. Weenen massacre : Zulus killed hundreds of Boer colonists (1838) As important as the Trek was to the formation of Boer ethnic identity, so were the running conflicts with various indigenous groups along the way. One conflict central to the construction of Boer identity occurred with the Zulu in the area of present-day KwaZulu-Natal . The Boers who entered Natal discovered that the land they wanted came under the authority of the Zulu King Dingane kaSenzangakhona , who ruled that part of what subsequently became KwaZulu-Natal. The British had a small port colony (the future Durban) there but were unable to seize the whole area from the war-ready Zulus and only kept to the Port of Natal. The Boers found the land safe from the British and sent an unarmed Boer land treaty delegation under Piet Retief on February 6, 1838, to negotiate with the Zulu King. The negotiations went well, and a contract between Retief and Dingane was signed. However, Dingane's forces surprised and killed the members of the delegation; a large-scale massacre of the Boers followed: see Weenen massacre . Zulu izibutho ('regiments') attacked Boer encampments in the Drakensberg foothills at what was later called Blaauwkrans and Weenen , killing women and children along with men. (By contrast, in earlier conflicts the trekkers had experienced along the eastern Cape frontier, the Xhosa had refrained from harming women and children.) A commando of 470 men arrived to help the settlers. On 16 December 1838, the Voortrekkers under the command of Andries Pretorius confronted about 10,000 Zulus at the prepared positions. The Boers had three injuries without any fatalities. Due to the blood of 3,000 slain Zulus that stained the Ncome River , the conflict afterwards became known as the Battle of Blood River . In present-day South Africa, 16 December remains a celebrated public holiday, initially called "Dingane's Day". After 1952, the holiday was officially recognised and named the Day of the Covenant, changed to Day of the Vow in 1980 (Mackenzie 1999:69)[clarification needed ] and, after the abolition of apartheid, to Day of Reconciliation in 1994. The Boers saw their victory at the Battle of Blood River as evidence that they had found divine favour for their exodus from British rule. Boer republics Main article: Boer Republics Boer guerrillas during the Second Boer War After defeating the Zulu and the recovery of the treaty between Dingane and Retief, the Voortrekkers proclaimed the Natalia Republic . In 1843, Britain annexed Natal and many Boers trekked inwards again. Due to the return of British rule, Boers fled to the frontiers to the north-west of the Drakensberg mountains, and onto the highveld of the Transvaal and Transoranje. These areas were mostly unoccupied due to conflicts in the course of the genocidal Mfecane wars of the Zulus on the local Basuthu population who used it as summer grazing for their cattle. Some Boers ventured beyond the present-day borders of South Africa, north as far as present-day Zambia and Angola. Others reached the Portuguese colony of Delagoa Bay , later called Lourenço Marques and subsequently Maputo – the capital of Mozambique. Lizzie van Zyl , visited by Emily Hobhouse in a British concentration camp A significant number of Afrikaners also went as Dorsland Trekkers to Angola , where a large group settled on the Huíla Plateau , in Humpata , and smaller communities on the Central Highlands . They constituted a closed community which rejected integration as well as innovation, became impoverished in the course of several decades, and returned to South West Africa and South Africa in waves. Afrikaner diaspora in Africa and the world. unavailable < 10,000 10,000+ 1,000,000+ The Boers created sovereign states in what is now South Africa: de Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (the South African Republic ) and the Orange Free State were the most prominent and lasted the longest. The discovery of goldfields awakened British interest in the Boer republics, and the two Boer Wars resulted: The First Boer War (1880–1881) and the Second Boer War (1899–1902). The Boers won the first war and retained their independence. The second ended with British victory and annexation of the Boer areas into the British colonies. The British employed scorched earth tactics and held many Boers in concentration camps as a means to separate commandos from their source of shelter, food and supply. The strategy had its intended effect, but an estimated 27,000 Boers (mainly women and children under sixteen) died in these camps from hunger and disease . Post Boer War diaspora See also: South African Argentines In the 1890s, some Boers trekked into Mashonaland , where they were concentrated at the town of Enkeldoorn, now Chivhu . After the second Boer War, more Boers left South Africa. Starting in 1902 to 1908 a large group of around 650 Afrikaners emigrated to the Patagonia region of Argentina , under the leadership Louis Baumann and the Italian Camillo Ricchiardi (most notably to the towns of Comodoro Rivadavia and Sarmiento ), choosing to settle there due to its similarity to the Karoo region of South Africa. Another group emigrated to British-ruled Kenya, from where most returned to South Africa during the 1930s as a result of warfare there amongst indigenous people. A third group, under the leadership of General Ben Viljoen , emigrated to Chihuahua in northern Mexico and to the states of Arizona , California, New Mexico and Texas in the south-western US. Others migrated to other parts of Africa, including German East Africa (present day Tanzania, mostly near Arusha). Brazil is the country in Latin America with the largest community of White Afrikaners and White Boers, they mostly live in Southeastern Brazil , the most populous area of the country. In 2020, they numbered 2,895 people. A relatively large group of Boers settled in Kenya. The first wave of migrants consisted of individual families, followed by larger multiple-family treks. Some had arrived by 1904, as documented by the caption of a newspaper photograph noting a tent town for "some of the early settlers from South Africa" on what became the campus of the University of Nairobi . Probably the first to arrive was W.J. van Breda (1903), followed by John de Waal and Frans Arnoldi at Nakuru (1906). Jannie De Beer's family resided at Athi River , while Ignatius Gouws resided at Solai. The second wave of migrants is exemplified by Jan Janse van Rensburg's trek. Janse van Rensburg left the Transvaal on an exploratory trip to British East Africa in 1906 from Lourenço Marques (then Portuguese ), Mozambique. Van Rensburg was inspired by an earlier Boer migrant, Abraham Joubert, who had moved to Nairobi from Arusha in 1906, along with others. When Joubert visited the Transvaal that year, van Rensburg met with him. Sources disagree about whether van Rensburg received guarantees for land from the Governor of the East Africa Protectorate , Sir James Hayes Sadler . On his return to the Transvaal, van Rensburg recruited about 280 Afrikaners (comprising either 47 or 60 families) to accompany him to British East Africa. On 9 July 1908 his party sailed in the chartered ship SS Windhuk from Lourenço Marques to Mombasa, from where they boarded a train for Nairobi. The party travelled by five trains to Nakuru. In 1911, the last of the large trek groups departed for Kenya, when some 60 families from the Orange Free State boarded the SS Skramstad in Durban under leadership of C.J. Cloete. But migration dwindled, partly due to the British secretary of state's (then Lord Crewe) cash requirements for immigrants. When the British granted self-government to the former Boer republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State in 1906 and 1907, respectively, the pressure for emigration decreased. A trickle of individual trekker families continued to migrate into the 1950s. A combination of factors spurred on Boer migration. Some, like van Rensburg and Cloete, had collaborated with the British, or had surrendered during the Boer War. These joiners and hensoppers ("hands-uppers") subsequently experienced hostility from other Afrikaners. Many migrants were extremely poor and had subsisted on others' property.[83] Collaborators tended to move to British East Africa, while those who had fought to the end (called bittereinders , "bitter-enders") initially preferred German South West Africa .[77] One of the best known Boer settlements in the British East Africa Protectorate became established at Eldoret , in the south west of what became known as Kenya in 1920. By 1934, some 700 Boers lived here, near the Ugandan border. Afrikaners in Voortrekker attire in 1938. South West Africa Main articles: South West Africa and White Namibians With the onset of the First World War in 1914, the Allies asked the Union of South Africa to attack the German territory of South West Africa, resulting in the South West Africa Campaign (1914–1915). Armed forces under the leadership of General Louis Botha defeated the German forces, who were unable to put up much resistance to the overwhelming South African forces. Boer women and children in British concentration camps Many Boers, who had little love or respect for Britain, objected to the use of the "children from the concentration camps to attack the anti-British Germans, resulting in the Maritz Rebellion of 1914, which was quickly quelled by the government forces. Some Boers subsequently moved to South West Africa, which was administered by South Africa until its independence in 1990, after which the country adopted the name Namibia. Genealogy Scholars have traditionally considered Afrikaners to be a homogeneous population of Dutch ancestry, subject to a significant founder effect . This simplistic viewpoint has been challenged by recent studies suggesting multiple uncertainties regarding the genetic composition of white South Africans at large and Afrikaners in particular. Afrikaners are descended, to varying degrees, from Dutch, German and French Huguenot immigrants, along with minor percentages of other Europeans and indigenous African peoples. The first mixed race marriage which took place in Cape Town in 1664 was that of Krotoa , a Khoi woman, and Peder Havgaard, a Danish surgeon. Krotoa and Peder's descendants are the Pelzer, Kruger, Steenkamp and other Afrikaner families. Although the Cape Colony was administered and initially settled by VOC, a number of foreigners also boarded ships in the Netherlands to settle there. Their numbers can be reconstructed from censuses of the Cape rather than passenger lists, taking into account VOC employees who later returned to Europe. Some Europeans also arrived from elsewhere in Holland's sphere, especially German soldiers being discharged from colonial service. As a result, by 1691 over a quarter of the white population of South Africa was not ethnically Dutch. The number of permanent settlers of both sexes and all ages, according to figures available at the onset of British rule, numbered 26,720, of whom 50% were Dutch, 27% German, 17% French and 5.5% other. This demographic breakdown of the community just prior to the end of the Dutch administration has been used in many subsequent studies to represent the ethnic makeup of modern Afrikaners, a practise criticised by some academics such as Dr. Johannes Heese. Boer children, c. 1901 Based on Heese's genealogical research of the period from 1657 to 1867, his study Die Herkoms van die Afrikaners ("The Origins of the Afrikaners") estimated an average ethnic admixture for Afrikaners of 35.5% Dutch, 34.4% German, 13.9% French, 7.2% non-European, 2.6% English, 2.8% other European and 3.6% unknown. Heese reached this conclusion by recording all the wedding dates and number of children of each immigrant. He then divided the period between 1657 and 1867 into six thirty-year blocs, and working under the assumption that earlier colonists contributed more to the gene pool, multiplied each child's bloodline by 32, 16, 8, 4, 2 and 1 according to respective period. Heese argued that previous studies wrongly classified some German progenitors as Dutch, although for the purposes of his own study he also reclassified a number of Scandinavian (especially Danish) progenitors as German. Drawing heavily on Christoffel Coetzee de Villiers ' Geslacht Register der Oude Kaapsche Familien, British historian George McCall Theal estimated an admixture of 67% Dutch, with a nearly equal contribution of roughly 17% from the Huguenots and Germans. Theal argued that most studies suggesting a higher percentage of German ancestry among Afrikaners wrongly counted as "German" all those who came from German-speaking Swiss cantons or the Baltics and ignored the VOC's policy of recruiting settlers among the Dutch diaspora living in the border regions of several German states. The degree of intermixing among Afrikaners may be attributed to the unbalanced sex ratio which existed under Dutch governance. Only a handful of VOC employees who sailed from the Netherlands were allowed to bring their families with them, and the Dutch never employed European women in a full-time capacity. Between 1657 and 1806 no more than 454 women arrived at the Cape, as compared to the 1,590 male colonists. One of the most fundamental demographic consequences was that white South African women, much like their counterparts in colonial North America , began to marry much younger and consequently bear more children than Western Europeans. Another was the high occurrence of inter-family marriages from the matrilineal aspect.These were reinforced by the familial interdependence of the Cape's credit and mortgage obligations. Afrikaner families thus became larger in size, more interconnected, and clannish than those of any other colonial establishment in the world. Some of the more common Afrikaner surnames include Botha , Pretorius and van der Merwe . As in other cases where large population groups have been propagated by a relatively small pool of progenitors, Afrikaners have also experienced an increase in the frequency of some otherwise rare deleterious ailments, including variegate porphyria [85] and familial hypercholesterolaemia . Non-European ancestry Admixture analysis of 77 Afrikaners. According to a genetic study in February 2019, almost all Afrikaners have admixture from non-Europeans. The total amount of non-European ancestry - on average - is 4.8%, of which 2.1% are of African ancestry and 2.7% Asian/Native American ancestry.[94] Among the 77 Afrikaners investigated, 6.5% had more than 10% non-European admixture, 27.3% had between 5 and 10%, 59.7% had between 1 and 5%, and 6.5% below 1%. It appears that some 3.4% of the non-European admixture can be traced to enslaved peoples who were brought to the Cape from other regions during colonial times. Only 1.38% of the admixture is attributed to the local Khoisan people.[94] Black Afrikaners Approximately 100 black families who identify as Afrikaners live in the settlement of Onverwacht , established in 1886 near the mining town of Cullinan . Members of the community descend from the freed slaves who had been with the Voortrekkers who settled in the area. Modern history Apartheid era Main article: South Africa under apartheid In South Africa, an Afrikaner minority party, the National Party , came to power in 1948 and enacted a series of segregationist laws favouring White people known as apartheid, meaning "separateness". These laws allowed for the systematic persecution of opposition leaders and attempted to enforce general white supremacy by classifying all South African inhabitants into racial groups. Non-White political participation was outlawed, Black citizenship revoked, and the entire public sphere, including education, residential areas, medical care, and common areas such as public transport, beaches, and amenities, were segregated. Apartheid was officially abolished in 1991 after decades of widespread unrest by opponents who were seeking equal rights, led by supporters of the United Democratic Front , Pan-African Congress , South African Communist Party , and African National Congress , and a long international embargo against South Africa. The effective end to apartheid, however, is widely regarded as the 1994 general election, the first fully-democratic multi-racial election . The African National Congress won and Mandela was elected as president. Post-apartheid era de Klerk and Mandela shake hands in January 1992 In 2006 some 350,000 Afrikaners were classified as poor, with some research claiming that up to 150,000 were struggling to survive. In the early 2000s, Genocide Watch theorised that farm attacks constituted early warning signs of genocide against Afrikaners. It criticised the South African government for its inaction on the issue.As of the 1996 census, 68,606 out of the 749,637 people in the agriculture and hunting sector were white. The Sunday Times has advanced that since 1994, close to 3,000 farmers have been murdered in farm attacks .[106] Geography Afrikaners originated in the Dutch Cape Colony (after 1806, the British Cape Colony), and thus their present-day numbers are concentrated in South Africa . Afrikaners also have a significant presence in Namibia due to the country's long political administration and de facto incorporation into South Africa between 1915 and 1990. An Afrikaner diaspora has developed since the end of the South African white minority government in 1994. Emigrants have settled predominantly in English-speaking countries, with their largest concentrations in Australia and New Zealand . South Africa The South African National Census of 2011 shows the greatest geographic concentration of Afrikaners is in the City of Tshwane , with over 453,000 white Afrikaans-speakers there overall. Afrikaners are particularly prevalent in Pretoria and Centurion . At the time of the census, over 331,000 residents of Pretoria spoke Afrikaans as their first language and the city was majority (52%) white. In nearby Centurion (formerly Verwoerdburg), also majority white (59%), 115,000 residents spoke Afrikaans as their first language. The importance of this region to post-apartheid Afrikaner society can be seen in the building of campuses for two new Afrikaans-medium institutions of higher education there, Sol-Tech in 2020 (Pretoria) and Akademia in 2021 (Centurion). The importance of the City of Tshwane can also be gleaned from the numbers of high schools in the area. In 2022, 20 Afrikaans-medium secondary schools and another 6 dual- or parallel-medium (Afrikaans and English) secondary schools existed in Pretoria and Centurion graduating 4,515 students. Significant concentrations of Afrikaners also exist in the East Rand /City of Ekurhuleni , Cape Town (especially the northern suburbs around Bellville and Strand in the Helderberg ), the West Rand , Port Elizabeth , Bloemfontein and the Vaal Triangle . Namibia Afrikaner children in Namibia playing tug of war The chief site of Afrikaner settlement in Namibia is the country's capital city, Windhoek . Afrikaners are concentrated in the sections of the city east of the Western Bypass road, areas historically reserved for whites prior to the end of legal residential apartheid in 1977.In the 2011 Namibian Census, 29,717 residents spoke Afrikaans in the constituencies of Windhoek East and Windhoek West combined, both located for the most part east of the Western Bypass. This is a fair estimate of the size of the Afrikaner resident population in the city at that time. Smaller concentrations of Afrikaners exist in the coastal Namibian cities of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay , the latter an exclave of South Africa until 1994. Botswana Botswana has a small group of Afrikaners historically concentrated in the Ghanzi area, as well more recent arrivals as in the Kgalagadi District along the country's southwest border with South Africa. Afrikaners have lived in the Ghanzi area since 1898 when the British South Africa Company offered land to settlers who moved to the region. According to the 2001 Botswana Census, 6,750 residents of the country spoke Afrikaans at home making up 0.4% of the total population. As some unknown number of those counted were Coloured, the number of Afrikaners in Botswana is some degree less than the stated census figure. Afrikaner diaspora See also: Brain drain in South Africa White South Africans began emigrating in significant numbers in the mid-1970s in the wake of the Soweto uprising and again in the mid-1980s after the 1985 declaration of the state of emergency and the intensification of the South African Border War . These early waves were overwhelmingly Anglo in character, however. Not until the early 1990s, during the transition period out of apartheid and white minority rule, did Afrikaners begin leaving the country. Statistics South Africa estimated a net 304,112 white residents left the country over the years 1986–2000 with another 341,000 over the period 2001–2016. This emigration is the source of a notable Afrikaner diaspora today. Australia and New Zealand Outside South Africa and Namibia, the largest population of Afrikaners resides in Australia and New Zealand. According to the 2021 Australian census , 49,375 residents spoke Afrikaans at home. While not all of those are Afrikaners, they are likely the overwhelming majority. In 2018, 36,966 residents of New Zealand spoke Afrikaans. The largest geographic concentration of Afrikaners outside Africa is likely Auckland, New Zealand. In 2018, 1.1% of all Auckland region residents spoke Afrikaans, or roughly 16,980 people. The North Shore is a site of notable Afrikaner settlement, especially Browns Bay and the surrounding suburbs. East Auckland is a secondary site, especially Howick . A second major overseas concentration is Greater Perth , Australia. In 2021, 0.6% of the population of Western Australia 's capital and its environs, or 11,870 persons, spoke Afrikaans. The city's northwest suburbs, particularly the City of Wanneroo and City of Joondalup , have the highest concentrations of Afrikaans-speakers.The South African, and especially Afrikaans-speaking, community is so large there that South Africans have nicknamed the city "Perthfontein" and "Bloemfontein by the sea". North America Over the period 2009–13, the American Community Survey recorded 23,010 Afrikaans-speakers age 5 and over in the United States. The Atlanta metropolitan area had the highest concentration with 1,900 speakers. According to the 2021 Canadian Census, 14,665 residents of Canada spoke Afrikaans. The largest concentration was in the Vancouver metropolitan area at 1,860 persons. The United Kingdom While the United Kingdom is the leading destination for white South African emigrants, very few Afrikaners move to the country. In England and Wales in 2021, over 217,000 residents were born in South Africa but only 7,489 spoke Afrikaans as their main language. Netherlands The Netherlands, due to persistent skilled labor shortages in the 2020s, is increasingly recruiting Afrikaners. Their distance to the Dutch labor market is significantly lessened due to the partial mutual intelligibility of Afrikaans and Dutch as well as the rapid pace at which Afrikaners can typically learn Dutch. Other Afrikaner farmer in Georgia , Caucasus region, 2011 Since the early 1990s, the country of Georgia has attracted a small number of Afrikaner farmers to help revive its agricultural sector.[134] As of 2018 Russia has begun attempts of attracting Afrikaner farmers to deal with declining population. Culture Religion Main article: Afrikaner Calvinism At the time of settlement, Dutch traders and others came out of a majority- Protestant area, where the Reformation had resulted in high rates of literacy in the Netherlands. Boers in South Africa were part of the Calvinist tradition in the northern Europe Protestant countries. The original South African Boer republics were founded on the principles of the Dutch Reformed Church. Missionaries established new congregations on the frontier and churches were the center of communities. In 1985, 92% of Afrikaners identified as members of the Reformed churches that developed from this background. Pentecostal churches have also attracted new members. Language Main article: Afrikaans Alaric speaking Afrikaans. Rossouw speaking Afrikaans. The Afrikaans language changed over time from the Dutch spoken by the first white settlers at the Cape . From the late 17th century, the form of Dutch spoken at the Cape developed differences, mostly in morphology but also in pronunciation and accent and, to a lesser extent, in syntax and vocabulary, from that of the Netherlands, although the languages are still similar enough to be mutually intelligible . Settlers who arrived speaking German and French soon shifted to using Dutch and later Afrikaans. The process of language change was influenced by the languages spoken by slaves, Khoikhoi, and people of mixed descent, as well as by Cape Malay , Zulu, British and Portuguese. While the Dutch of the Netherlands remained the official language, the new dialect, often known as Cape Dutch, African Dutch, kitchen Dutch, or taal (meaning "language" in Afrikaans) developed into a separate language by the 19th century, with much work done by the Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners and writers such as Cornelis Jacobus Langenhoven . In a 1925 act of Parliament, Afrikaans was given equal status with Dutch as one of the two official languages (English being the second) of the Union of South Africa . There was much objection to the attempt to legislate the creation of Afrikaans as a new language. Marthinus Steyn , a prominent jurist and politician, and others were vocal in their opposition. Today, Afrikaans is recognised as one of the eleven official languages of South Africa , and is the third most common first language in South Africa. In June 2013, the Department of Basic Education included Afrikaans as an African language to be compulsory for all pupils. Afrikaans is offered at many universities outside of South Africa including in the Netherlands , Belgium , Germany , Poland , Russia and the United States .[136] Literature See also: South African literature Afrikaners have a long literary tradition, and have produced a number of notable novelists and poets, including Eugene Marais , Uys Krige , Elisabeth Eybers , Breyten Breytenbach , André Brink , C. J. Langenhoven and Etienne Leroux . Nobel Prize winner J. M. Coetzee is of Afrikaner descent, although he spoke English at home as a child in Cape Town. He has translated some works from Afrikaans and Dutch into English, but writes only in English. Arts See also: South African protest music See also: Music of South Africa Music is a popular art form among Afrikaners. While the traditional Boeremusiek ("Boer music") and Volkspele ('folk dancing', lit. 'people games') enjoyed popularity in the past, most Afrikaners today favour a variety of international genres and light popular Afrikaans music. American country and western music has enjoyed great popularity and has a strong following among many South Africans. Some also enjoy a social dance event called a sokkie . The South African rock band Seether has a hidden track on their album Karma and Effect titled Kom Saam Met My ("Come With Me"), sung in Afrikaans. There is also an underground rock music movement and bands like the controversial Fokofpolisiekar ('Fuck-off-police-car') have a large following. The television Channel MK (channel) also supports local Afrikaans music and mainly screens videos from the Afrikaans Rock genre. Afrikaner classical musicians include the pianists Wessel van Wyk, Ben Schoeman, and Petronel Malan , and the music departments of the various universities (Pretoria , Stellenbosch , Potchefstroom , Free State ) that started as Afrikaans universities still are renowned. In the 20th century, Mimi Coertse was an internationally renowned opera singer. She is also known as African Lieder interpreter by Stephanus Le Roux Marais . The world-renowned UNISA music exams include a section of South African contemporary music, which acknowledges Afrikaner composers. The contemporary musical Ons vir jou ('Us for you'), dealing with the Second Boer War, featured a book by Deon Opperman and a score by Sean Else and Johan Vorster of the band Eden . Afrikaner film musicals flourished in the 1950s and 1960s, and have returned in the 21st century with two popular films, Liefling and Pretville, featuring singers such as Bobby van Jaarsveld , Steve Hofmeyr , and Kevin Leo. Cuisine Afrikaner cuisine has contributed three unique terms to the South African lexicon, namely boerekos ('farmer/Boer food'), potjiekos ('small pot food') and braaivleis ('grilled meat'; frequently just braai, 'grilled'), although the latter (meaning "grilled meat") has actually expanded to a common South African habit. A typical recipe for boerekos consists of meat (usually roasted in a pan or oven), vegetables such as green beans, roots or peas, and starch such as potatoes or rice , with sauce made in the pot in which the meat is cooked. The dish can also use pumpkins or sweet potatoes , and some of the ingredients may be further processed into pampoenkoekies ('pumpkin biscuits', pumpkin baked in a kind of puff) or plaasboontjies ("Farm beans") consisting of green beans cooked and crushed with potatoes and onions. Afrikaners eat most types of meat such as mutton, beef, chicken, pork and various game species, but the meat of draft animals such as horses and donkeys is rarely eaten and is not part of traditional cuisine. East Indian influence emerges in dishes such as bobotie and curry, and the use of turmeric and other spices in cooking. Afrikaner households often eat combinations such as pap-and-sausage, meat curry and rice, and even fish and chips (although the latter are bought rather than self-prepared). Other traditional Afrikaner dishes include biltong , droëwors , koeksisters , melktert , and a variety of traditionally homemade but increasingly storebought pastries. Sport Rugby , cricket , golf and shot-put are the most popular sports among Afrikaners. Rugby in particular is considered one of the central pillars of the Afrikaner community. The national rugby team, the Springboks , did not compete in the first two rugby world cups in 1987 and 1991 because of anti-apartheid sporting boycotts of South Africa, but later on the Springboks won the 1995 , 2007 , 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups. Boeresport ('farmer/Boer sport') also played a big role in the Afrikaner history. It consisted of a variety of sports like tug of war , three-legged races, jukskei , skilpadloop ('tortoise walk') and other games. Numismatics The world's first ounce-denominated gold coin, the Krugerrand , was struck at the South African Mint on 3 July 1967. The name Krugerrand was derived from Kruger (after president Paul Kruger ) and the rand monetary unit of South Africa. In April 2007, the South African Mint coined a collectors R1 gold coin commemorating the Afrikaner people as part of its cultural series, depicting the Great Trek across the Drakensberg mountains. Institutions Cultural The Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuurvereniging ("Afrikaans Language and Culture Association"), referred to by its initials, ATKV, promotes Afrikaans language and culture. Voortrekkers is a youth movement for Afrikaners in South Africa and Namibia with a membership of over 10,000 active members to promote cultural values, maintaining norms and standards as Christians, and being accountable members of public society. Political The vast majority of Afrikaners supported the Democratic Alliance (DA), the official opposition party, in the 2014 general election . The DA is a liberal party and a full member of Liberal International . Smaller numbers are involved in nationalist or separatist political organisations. The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) is an Afrikaner ethnic political party which lobbies for minority rights to be extended to Afrikaners. The FF+ is also leading the Volkstaat initiative and is closely associated with the small town of Orania . Then-Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Cabinet of President Jacob Zuma from 2009 to 2014. Very few Afrikaners vote for the ruling ANC . Some prominent Afrikaner ANC politicians include Derek Hanekom , Marthinus van Schalkwyk , Andries Nel , Gert Oosthuizen and Carl Niehaus . In an online poll of the Beeld newspaper during November 2012, in which nearly 11,000 Afrikaners participated, 42% described themselves as conservative and 36% as liberal. In the 2019 general elections , the FF+'s support surged in former strongholds of the DA.Senior FF+ member Philip van Staden said that his party had grown significantly in the election due to the DA leader Mmusi Maimane 's positions on race and ethnic identity resulting in the estrangement of many Afrikaans-speaking white voters. The party has since gone on to win previous DA wards with concentrated Afrikaner populations. Notable people Main article: List of Afrikaners See also South Africa portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to Afrikaners . Wikiquote has quotations related to Afrikaners . Afrikaners in Zimbabwe Afrikaner Calvinism Afrikaner nationalism Afrikaner-Jews Afrikaans-speaking population of South Africa Boer Cape Dutch Huguenots in South Africa Afrikaner Argentines BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE

< Back The Rhinoceros is the most endangered species of the Big Five due to rhino poaching and illegal trade in rhino horns. There are two species of rhino in Africa: the White Rhino and the Black Rhino and five subspecies. The names of the rhino don't have anything to do with color as both species are grey. The name of the 'white' rhino is a corruption of the Dutch word 'wijd' (wide), which refers to the wide mouth or square lip of the white rhino. A rhino can weigh up to 5000 pounds and its horns can grow up to 5 feet long. Rhinos have poor eyesight but excellent hearing and sense of smell. Previous Next BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE

< Back An African lion is the largest predator on land. Preys of the lion include zebra, impala, giraffes, and other herbivores like wildebeest. A group of lions is called a pride and males are easily distinguished from females because of their large manes. The darker the lion's manes, the older he is. A male lion is sometimes referred to as the king, but in reality, lions don't have a permanent social hierarchy. The dominant male in a lion pride can change at any time. The females hold the territory and stay with the pride in which they were born. They also do most of the hunting and take care of the cubs. Lions use their roar as a form of communication and can be heard up to 5 miles away. Previous Next BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE

Protecting the Wildlife in South Africa Protecting the Big 5 in South Africa The Big Five refer to African lions, leopards, rhinoceros and Cape buffalo. Although they are very dangerous animals they are not invincible and the African lion, leopard and elephant are all classed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The black rhino is ‘critically endangered’ and the White rhino is ‘Near Threatened’. These animals are still hunted and this project aims to work with local and national authorities as well as the local community to preserve and protect the Big Five. Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species and their habitat. The goal is to ensure that nature will survive the many generations to come so that they may enjoy & recognize the importance of wildlife & wilderness for humans & other species alike. Conservation is a collaborative effort between communities, landowners, policy makers, educators, scientists & so on. This requires a highly skilled research team on the ground daily. South Africa is home to iconic wildlife including the largest land mammals – the African elephant and rhinos. In recent years, these species have been under increased pressure due to reduced habitat and demand for ivory and rhino horn. Rising poaching levels threaten the future of these animals. Why does it matter? Wildlife are crucial to nature’s delicate web of life. Yet their biggest threats are due to human impacts on the environment. These include habitat loss and overexploitation through illegal trade, both local and international. Demand from Asia, for wildlife parts and products, continues to drive this black market trade. This challenge is exacerbated by the involvement of organised crime networks. Wildlife is also essential for tourism in South Africa. It creates opportunities and benefits for local communities living around protected areas as well as the broader economy. Stop Rhino Poaching Established in 2010 as a response to the sudden and steep escalation in rhino poaching across South Africa, StopRhinoPoaching.com has, over the last decade, emerged as an NGO that is widely respected and valued by the men and women at the frontline. Actively involved and with a national footprint for strategic funding of security initiatives and ranger support, StopRhinoPoaching.com is connected and in tune to the sentiment on the ground. We support significant rhino populations in selected reserves (national, provincial and private) as well as regional security and investigations activities within established security hubs where arrests are likely to be affected. Helping rhino reserves to enhance their efficiency and optimise their security capabilities – both proactively and reactively – ensures that rhino lives are saved. Support the Rhino Cause We’re all about keeping rhinos alive, which is why we’d like to extend our sincere appreciation for your interest in supporting the rhino cause. Rangers and reserve managers carry on their shoulders the responsibility of saving a species. They are the ones at the sharp end, who stand between a rhino and a poacher, and it’s their efforts that determine the fate of the rhinos on the reserves they protect. Rhino lives depend on them, and we depend on you. The Threat You will have heard that there is no ‘silver bullet’ to end rhino poaching and that it’s an incredibly complex battle. Never have truer words been spoken. Since the start of the poaching epidemic in 2008 South Africa has lost thousands of rhinos – a figure that, despite so much effort, remains far too high. Coupled with the increasing poaching figure comes the question – why after all this are we still losing more rhino than ever? Sadly, few people realise the challenges facing those on the frontlines. At this stage the poachers have the upper hand – they know when, they know how, and if need be they’ll just come back another day or hit a softer target. It literally is a case of one-by-one until there are none. Poachers are resourceful and use every possible element to their advantage. Reserve size, terrain, vegetation, weather (extreme heat, cold, thunderstorms,) road networks and access control are some of the elements that go into their planning. A small team, usually two or three men but it varies, carrying a weapon, some large calibre ammunition, a backpack, an axe and knives, a few old cell phones and the desire to make money can wreck deadly havoc in a reserve. Equipped with basic staples of water, bread and perhaps a few cans of tinned fish, poachers infiltrate for up to a few days surviving on their bush skills and the bare minimum. If they manage to avoid being detected by rangers – like tracks found or gun shots heard – they could manage to kill a few rhinos per trip. In smaller reserves where the risk of detection is high, poachers orchestrate shallow hit and run attacks and will often be back over the fence before rangers even get to the scene. Anti-poaching teams bear the full brunt of the poaching scourge, with rangers in targeted areas coming into contact with poachers on a daily or weekly basis. While rangers are governed by strict rules of engagement, poachers are armed (with weapons for their own personal defence – or the hunting rifle) and will not hesitate to shoot on sight. The community upliftment from poaching profits in some areas is evident, with poachers openly call themselves ‘professional hunters’ and poacher bosses becoming the untouchable “Robin Hoods” by creating “jobs” in their communities. In other areas through a westernised way of life, fast money and self-enrichment of big houses, fast cars, women and alcohol have attracted unsavoury elements into once peaceful, proudly traditional, poor but functioning communities. Contrary to popular belief, not all poachers are driven by poverty. Criminals involved in cash-in-transit heists, vehicle hijacking, ATM bombing, gunrunners, murder and other aggressive crimes have also become involved – significantly increasing the mortal threat to rangers and rhinos alike. There is no shortage of new recruits and poachers are quickly replaced. Excellent co-ordination by poaching bosses and co-operative alliances between various poaching groups empower them to be more effective at poaching, enabled by deeply entrenched corruption at every level. This includes betrayal at the heart of our reserves – insider involvement that enables the poaching groups. Be it a guard at a gate that gives access to poachers, a ranger on the poacher payroll or a member of the kitchen staff that hides a weapon under a bed, the lure of “easy money” – and lots of it – can quickly sway a moral compass. Money made from illicit gain will always outweigh that of a legitimate wage, and the corroding of our institutions from internal corruption is very difficult to pinpoint let alone prove. The multi-pronged, multi-disciplinary, multi-agency law enforcement strategy combined with an all-of-government and whole-of-society approach required to finding lasting solutions to an ever-evolving problem like rhino poaching is so complex that even now – so many years down the line – we have made some (but too little) progress. Ongoing, well-coordinated intelligence-led arrests aimed at poaching bosses and their local Vietnamese/Chinese buyers would go a long way to bringing the numbers down. Coupled with an expedited court process and strong sentences, our authorities could be sending out a strong message. Sadly, our failing systems, lack of political will and leadership, apathy and indifference, inter-agency politics, slow court processes and deeply embedded corruption are playing right into the hands of the poachers. It is here that our South African Police Services (SAPS) have yet to commit sufficient enforcement capacity. While the existing SAPS members working on cases – all unsung heroes – do their utmost to bring poachers to book, there are just far too few police members to deal with the existing case load let alone get on top of new cases. Daily challenges include lack of information sharing, trust issues and a high case load compounded by ongoing and relentless poaching activities – often with very little evidence left at the crime scene, which can be days to months old and at the mercy of the environment. Although there has always been great emphasis on Mozambique and the situation in the Kruger National Park, the damage being caused by entrenched local South African organised crime gangs is of grave concern. All these factors that make up the complex web of challenges that need to be tackled. While our focus is on the future of the rhino, the bigger question will ultimately be – what will it take to secure a future for our wildlife? SRP.com will continue to channel funding towards specific projects, putting as much as we can into areas containing larger rhino populations that are managed by DEDICATED and RESPONSIBLE conservation minded rhino owners/custodians. There are many groups doing their best in areas where they can make a difference. Some days are soul destroying, the sheer vastness and cruelty of what we are up against is overwhelming, but no matter how bad it gets we have to keep on trying. No matter what, all of you, please don’t give up. LION ELEPHANT LEOPARD RHINO Cheetah Experience Start your day off with the roar of a big cat, and end your day surrounded by likeminded people that share your love and passion for animals. Cheetah Experience is a registered non-profit endangered species breeding centre, originally based in Bloemfontein but in March 2021 we moved the facility to Bela Bela, Limpopo. We are home to a number of endangered and threatened species, including cheetahs, leopards, male non-breeding lions, servals, caracals, African wildcats, wolves, meerkats and a Siberian tiger. Our project takes in rescued animals from the local area, so we also have various animals from time to time, including some goats and chickens. Our Mission is to raise awareness of the vulnerability of South African species and other endangered species through educational experiences, as well as ethically breeding cheetahs in captivity and releasing them into a protected wild. Cheetah Breeding Project At Cheetah Experience, our animals come first, and everything we do is for our animals. Our current focus is to ensure that our Cheetah Breeding project aids in the conservation of the cheetah, by using the DNA samples taken from our cheetahs to maintain genetic diversity. We work along-side other ethical and responsible projects to help secure the cheetah's future survival. From a study in 2016, the global population of the cheetah is estimated at ∼7,100 individuals, and confined to 9% of their historical distributional range. Our vision is to release some animals into a protected yet self-sustaining natural habitat where they are still monitored by researchers and medical experts but live free. Understanding their needs, behaviour, and instincts plays a key role in saving animals from extinction. Tours & Volunteer Opportunities We offer visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come on an educational tour and learn about our animals, see them up close, take some amazing photos, and learn how you can join us in the fight to protect these precious species. We offer a wide range of Volunteer and Internship Programmes, which have seen over 1,000 hard-working, dedicated people from 33 countries come and be a special part of the Cheetah Experience Global Volunteer Family, and contribute to conservation in South Africa. Want to spend your Summer making a difference to wildlife conservation in South Africa? Then join us in one of our Volunteer or Internship Programmes at Cheetah Experience in Bela Bela! Being part of our Volunteer and Internship Programmes gives you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get hands-on experience taking care of our cheetahs and other endangered and threatened species, something we’re sure you’ll cherish for the rest of your life! You'll be working with a number of endangered and threatened species on a daily basis, including cheetahs, leopards, male non-breeding lions, servals, caracals, Bat Eared Foxes, African wildcats, wolves, meerkats and a Siberian tiger. Our project takes in rescued animals from the local area, so we also have various animals from time to time, including a goat and antelope. Since our Volunteer and Internship Programme started in 2011, Cheetah Experience has seen over 1,000 hard-working, dedicated people from 33 countries. Come and be a special part of the Cheetah Experience Global Volunteer Family and contribute to conservation in South Africa. The Cheetah Experience Volunteer and Internship Programmes are unique, where we give volunteers and interns a rare insight into animal care, and let you work alongside our family of experienced and knowledgeable staff and do the same daily work as they do. Cheetah Experience offers a number of Volunteer and Internship programmes that give you the freedom and flexibility to volunteer with us for as long as you like, from our ‘Volunteer for a Day’ program all the way up to extended Internship and Research projects! We offer Internships and Work Placements year round in a wide variety of courses and fields, and encourage undergraduates and students in their final year to come to Cheetah Experience to complete their coursework. During your internship, you will be supported and mentored by our experienced staff that have a background in your area of study, work alongside the team on a daily basis and get practical experience that you can apply to your coursework. Protecting Lions in wild places The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), Peace Parks Foundation, South African National Parks (SANParks) and the National Administration of Conservation Areas in Mozambique (ANAC), with funding from the UK Government, through the International Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, have embarked on an ambitious partnership to understand and protect Africa’s most iconic species, the African Lion, within the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA). Over the last decade, human-wildlife conflict, poisoning, and poaching related to lions have increased across this transboundary conservation area. This collaboration will leverage the expertise, institutional knowledge, and professional networks within each organisation to amplify conservation impact within this critical Lion landscape. The Great Limpopo TFCA is one of the ten remaining Lion strongholds in Africa. Protecting this transboundary Lion population requires a multi-pronged and multi-stakeholder approach. The goal of this project is to understand the threats and drivers of population declines and to increase protection for Lions in the GLTFCA. A key part of the project involves monitoring Lion prides across the landscape using GPS satellite collars. Analysis of movement data will help the EWT to determine which areas are most important to Lions across the landscape. This information will enable anti-poaching rangers from SANParks, ANAC, and Peace Parks to better protect the Lion prides under their care. The GLTFCA, which includes Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa, and Limpopo National Park (LNP) in Mozambique, is one of the ten remaining Lion strongholds in Africa. These strongholds occur in formally protected areas and contain a stable or increasing population of at least 500 Lions. Recently published evidence suggests that the GL TFCA stronghold may be under serious threat. Lions are killed in retaliation for livestock losses, out of fear for human life, and for the illegal wildlife trade in Lion body parts. The data suggest this offtake is unsustainable and has resulted in a severe decline in Lion numbers in LNP. Northern KNP is also feeling the impact of these threats from both Mozambique and the western boundary of Kruger. Over the last hundred years, Lions have disappeared from 95% of their historic range. Over 200,000 Lions once roamed across Africa’s wild places. Now, only an estimated 23,000-39,000 remain. Most Lions are now primarily confined to formally protected areas. Habitat conversion, competition for food, livestock predation, and fear for human life have driven this dramatic decline. While they are often hated and feared, Lions are somewhat paradoxically, viewed by many cultures as the quintessential symbol of courage and strength. Rather than protecting them, this reverence motivates people to kill them and use their parts to capture the power of the Lion and to cure various ailments. This new endeavour aims to identify, understand, and address the complex economic, social, and cultural drivers of Lion population declines across this landscape. Through partnerships with the dedicated and passionate people and organisations involved in this project, we will ensure that the roar of the mighty Lion is heard in Africa’s wild places for generations to come. What is WWF doing? WWF has been involved in species conservation and addressing the threats to wildlife since the 1960s. More recently we work closely with rural communities who live near to major wildlife areas. Our influence in wildlife conservation policies assists in balancing environmental goals against social, political and economic needs. By empowering people who might otherwise be open to exploitation, we enable the community to benefit from – and value – wildlife, alive rather than dead. In all we do, we take a holistic approach towards ensuring that wildlife is valued by people and able to thrive within functioning well-managed landscapes. What can you do? When we take care of our wildlife, we safeguard our heritage for future generations. You can make a difference by helping us conserve South Africa’s iconic species. Stopping Elephant Ivory Demand Each year, at least 20,000 African elephants are illegally killed for their tusks. A decade-long resurgence in demand for elephant ivory, particularly in parts of Asia, has fueled this rampant poaching epidemic. The elephant ivory trade not only threatens the very survival of this iconic species and causes broader ecological consequences, but also endangers the lives and livelihoods of local people and undermines national and regional security. Promisingly, a historic opportunity emerged to stop the African elephant poaching crisis: governments inititated concerted action to address this wildlife crime. The United States implemented a near-total ban on elephant ivory trade in 2016, and the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other elephant ivory markets followed suit. Most significantly, China took the remarkable step of closing its legal domestic ivory market at the end of 2017. Other Asian countries with open elephant ivory trade are under substantial pressure to take action. WWF and its partners have successfully driven international action at the highest levels that, along with diplomatic and public pressure from all sides, contributed to the game-changing China ban. Now, we are working to ensure the ban is successful by eliminating remaining consumer demand for elephant ivory and black-market sales. A proliferation of trade and demand for illegal elephant ivory outside China could seriously undermine the effectiveness of China's ban. WWF is addressing the root of the problem by engaging directly with elephant ivory consumers and working with other governments to ensure the imminent closure of open elephant ivory markets, as well as working to understand the underlying motivations of elephant ivory buyers to develop strategies to influence them. Our goal is to create a new social norm that buying illegal elephant ivory products is socially unacceptable. There is an entirely separate and legal trade of walrus ivory, which is culturally and economically important to Indigenous communities in the Arctic. The sustainable use and sale of walrus ivory by Alaska Native peoples has not had the same negative impacts caused by the illegal trade of elephant ivory. Amplifying Efforts Through Corporate Engagement We are working with leading online retailers, social media platforms, tourism companies, and creative agencies. Strong partnerships are already in place with the travel and e-commerce sectors, with commitments to avoid promoting, handling, or selling elephant ivory. Changing Consumer Behavior Chinese consumers have typically been the driving demographic for elephant ivory sales globally since 2005. WWF supports market research including annual surveys of consumers to better understand consumer attitudes and desire for elephant ivory so that we can change social norms around elephant ivory and reduce demand. Through this research, WWF is able to identify the demographics of elephant ivory purchasers and consumers, understand their underlying motivations and develop effective strategies to influence them. One promising approach is using location-specific messages pushed out on popular social media platforms as likely consumers are moving around known elephant ivory markets in Asia in real-time. By connecting with them at potential purchase points like this, WWF is able to share messages known to demotivate elephant ivory buyers, such as flagging the deadly toll on elephants and the legal risks of trying to smuggle elephant ivory souvenirs from one country into another. At the same time, closing markets and promoting the law makes it harder to find elephant ivory and deters law-abiding citizens from engaging in illegal activity. Closing Elephant Ivory Markets China's elephant ivory ban is a historic milestone in the ongoing effort to save an iconic species. But even with China's markets closed, markets elsewhere remain open and continue to attract consumers. And as more and more Chinese travel internationally—before COVID-19 nearly 200 million Chinese tourists traveled abroad each year—incidents of elephant ivory smuggling were on the rise. This access to elephant ivory outside China could seriously undermine the effectiveness of China's 2017 elephant ivory ban unless governments address it. Closing the markets that sell elephant ivory and largely exist to serve Chinese nationals—those in Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, for example—will help slow elephant ivory trafficking. WWF is working directly with these countries to support the closing of their elephant ivory markets and leverage international policy and diplomacy channels. By tackling these markets now as part of a pan-Asian approach, WWF aims to leverage China's actions to ban the elephant ivory trade to prevent further displacement of the mainland China ivory trade to nearby countries. Countdown to the extinction of the rhino. The aim of all Counter Poaching Game Rangers Training is: Firstly, to ensure the territorial integrity of protected areas by a high standard of specialized training. Secondly, to prevent the poaching of all species especially endangered species. And lastly, to collect evidence which may assist the police when making the arrests and when perpetrators are prosecuted in a court of law. The responsiblity of the Counter Poaching Game Ranger is: To collect all evidence that may lead to the arrest of a poacher and is highly trained to deal with any situation. Evidence is collected in the form of photographs and video material, connecting the poacher to a specific crime scene or conservation area where poaching had taken place. Bushveld Training Adventures Bushveld Training Adventures, a nationally recognized academic institution in the field of nature studies, offers a comprehensive range of professional field guiding and environmentalist courses. Whether it is a career in field guiding in order to obtain the FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) and national qualifications, or a wonderful learning experience, the opportunity to make great friends, are all great reasons to enrol in a BTA guide or environmentalist course. The courses are a fantastic experience. Not only do they comprise lectures with highly qualified instructors, but also field outings where the classroom is the open bush and textbooks turn into life animals, plants, rocks, clouds and the whole universe. Each one of these challenges you with questions: Who am I, how did I get here, why am I here, what threatens my existence? Each one of them becomes a testimony to the story of the evolutionary processes of our planet. The evenings by the campfire shared with kindred spirits are the memories that embroider the fabric of our lives… and the mornings hold the promise of a new adventure.

THE VOORTREKKERS The Battle - Andries Pretorius and his men advance After the fall of Port Natal Port Natal Andries Pretorius arrived from Graaff-Reinet. On 25 November 1838 Pretorius took over leadership as Commandant-General of the Voortrekkers in Natal. He immediately re-organised the Voortrekkers and started to prepare a retaliatory attack on the Zulu. On Sunday, 9th December, Pretorius and his followers made a vow to God that in the case of victory; they would build a church to honour God and they would tell there children to observe a day of thanksgiving. (Recent research has put a question mark over the vow and its existence as 'thanksgiving' was not commemorated in the years immediately following the battle, but the church was built). The Pretorius party crossed the Ncome (Buffalo) River, and on Saturday 15 December, they reached a tributary (Thukela). Their scouts reported that a large AmaZulu force was advancing (10 000-20 000 Zulu warriors). The Zulu army was led by Dingane's generals Dambuza (Nzobo) and Ndlela kaSompisi. After the scouts had given the warning the Voortrekkers moved there wagons into a laager (circular formation) in the best strategical position possible, between a deep pool in the river and a donga (a large ditch). The Voortrekkers force consisted of 470 men. There were only two gaps in the laager and in each, a canon was placed. 16 December 1838: The Battle At dusk on the 15th December the Amazulu had already begun to circle the laager. A heavy mist surrounded the laager and only lifted in the early hours of the morning, this made visibility poor. At dawn on the 16th December 1838 the Zulu warriors equiped with assagais and shields swept towards the laager. To be able to use their assagais effectively they had to come as close as possible to the defenders. The Voortrekkers were equiped with far superior weaponry and responded to the Zulu advancement with musket and cannon fire. Eyewitnesses and writers differ slightly on the exact details of the battle, but at dawn when the first Zulu attack began, the firing was apparently so heavy that the Zulu warriors could not be seen through the smoke. The main shortcoming of the Voortrekkers weapons was the lengthy reloading times. The first Zulu attack had scarcely been repulsed when a second was launched, this time the Zulu warriors almost reached the laager... Meanwhile hundreds of warriors were hiding in the donga. Sarel Cilliers and 80 others attacked them during a short lull in the fighting. When the Zulu's, who had withdrawn about 50 yards from the laager, failed to launch a third attack, Pretorius sent some men to draw them out to seal the victory. Pretorius' cavalry met with determined resistance from the Zulu Warriors, and it was only after a third sortie that the Zulu's were put to flight, pursued by the Voortrekkers. At midday the pursuit was called off. More than 3000 corpses were counted around the laager. Only, 3 Voortrekkers (including Pretorius himself) were wounded, none were killed. The Ncome River became red with the blood of the slain. Hence the battle became known as the battle of "Blood River". After this defeat, the Zulu kingdom never really recovered. Dingane's half-brother Mpande allied with Pretorius to defeat Dingane, who was eventually killed by the Swazi as he tried to regroup further north. Europeans now increasingly began to dictate the nature of Zulu politics. Timeline of Land Dispossession and Segregation in South Africa 1800-1899 The nineteenth century was a period of several events whose socio-political and economic impact profoundly changed South Africa and the African continent. Colonial conquest and rapid land dispossession was accelerated during this period. Conversely, fierce resistance was launched by African people in response to their loss of land, livestock and political power. As voortrekkers moved away from the Cape Colony to escape British rule, they fought, seized and occupied land while dispossessing Khoi, San and African communities in the process. This opened up the interior of South Africa to further colonial conquest. The British in turn, pursued the voortrekkers by annexing more land and at times even claiming it back from the voortrekkers. In some instances, land dispossession was achieved by stealth through “treaties” which colonists claimed were signed by leaders of communities. The mineral revolution which exploded during the century further contributed to land dispossession as the white colonial government sought to force Africans off their land to become cheap labourers in the newly established mines in Kimberley and the Transvaal. 1803 February, The British returns the Cape Colony to the Batavian Republic. The new administration reinforces the colonial government’s claims to the frontier zone in the east and vows to restore the European dominated social order. Subsequently, the district of Uitenhage is established with Ludwig Alberti as the landdrost and several white farmers who had deserted the area due to attacks by the Khoi and Xhosa return. May, A peace settlement is reached between the Batavian government and Khoisan after the parties fought over issues of land and livestock raids. 1809 1 November, The Caledon Code is promulgated as an attempt to regulate the relationship between the Khoikhoi and the colonists. In terms of the Act, each Khoikhoi within the confines of the colony had to have a fixed place of residence and carry a valid passes should they move from one place to another. 1811-12 The British assisted by about 700 men of the Cape Regiment drive an estimated 20 000 Xhosa people, men, women and children over the Fish River from Zuurveld in the Fourth War of Dispossession. They then establish 27 military garrisons along the River to prevent Xhosa people from returning and station more British troops in Grahamstown and Cradock. 1813 The freehold land tenure under a perpetual quitrent system is introduced. It replaces the old system of the loan farms. 1814 Cape Governor Sir John Cradock changes the system of land tenure from leasehold to freehold for white farmers. Prior to this period, farmers paid little for the land nor made major developments as they recognized that they did not own the land. This measure was introduced to allow for a denser population of white people on the eastern border to act as buffer against black people. 1817 Lord Charles Somerset meets the Ngqika, a Xhosa chief, at the Kat River and is forced to cede land between the Fish and Keiskamma Rivers to the British. 1818 The British invade Xhosa territory by attacking Ndlambe and seize 23 000 cattle marking the outbreak of the Fifth War of Dispossession. Subsequently, those Xhosa people whose cattle had been seized rally behind Makhanda ka Nxele who leads an attack of 6000 warriors on Grahamstown. 1825 Landdrost Andries Stockentroom begins issuing temporary permits allowing white farmers to graze their livestock north of the Orange River, but they are not allowed to trade or erect buildings. This changes later in the decade as farmers stop asking for permission and simply inform the magistrate. 1828 Ordinance 49 of 1828 is passed. The Ordinance allows the government to source labourers from ‘Frontier Tribes’. All black workers were given passes for the sole propose of working and all contracts over a month long were to be registered. 1829 January, Maqoma raids Bawana a Thembu chief forcing the latter’s followers to flee across into territory seized by the colonists. Stockenstroom orders the expulsion of Maqoma from the Kat River Valley and establishes a settlement for landless Khoikhoi to create a buffer zone between the Xhosa and white settler farmers, and to consolidate territory seized by the colonists. Maqoma responds by increasing cattle raids on white farms forcing them to informally allow him to return to the territory. 1834-35 21 December, The Xhosa launch an attack on the British after Xhoxho was injured by a British patrol sparking the Sixth War of dispossession. Other long standing grievances such as loss of land, cattle also fuel the rebellion. A massive herd of 276 000 stock was seized by the Xhosa fighters and 456 farms are destroyed. The British retaliate and later murder Hintsa, and Colonel Harry Smith annexes the area between Keiskama and Kei renaming it Queen Adelaide Province. 1835 May, Benjamin D’Urban proclaims the annexation of what he called Queen Adelaide Province which was land extending to the Kei River, and announces his intention to fight the Xhosa and expel them across the river. He appoints Harry Smith to incorporate African chiefdoms into the newly proclaimed province. 1836 October, The British abandon their annexation of the Queen Adelaide Province and hand the seized land back to the Xhosa. 1837 The voortrekkers under the leadership of Hendrik Potgieter defeat the Ndebele under Mzilikazi at the Marico River and seize vast tracts of land between the Limpopo and Vaal Rivers. 1838 16 May, The voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius fight and defeat the Zulu at the banks of the Ncome River (“Battle of Blood River) and dispossess them of their land. Subsequently, they establish the Republic of Natalia. 1845 Two parties of voortrekkers arrive near areas settled by Pedi people and establish a settlement at Ohrigstad. 5 July, King Sekwati and Boer leader Hendrik Potgieter ‘sign’ a peace treaty. The treaty becomes a subject of dispute between the Boers and Pedi. The former claim the treaty gave them full ownership and title to a large area of Pedi lands, while the latter claim treaty merely allocated land on which trekkers could settle without relinquishing his people’s ownership to the land. When trekkers offer cattle as payment to acquire more land to establish a farming settlement Sekwati refuses their offer. 1846 A Land Commission is appointed to demarcate locations for Africans in Natal. The commission recommends that seven large locations be set apart for the settlement of black people.As a consequence, Theophilus Shepstone the Commissioner of Native Affairs moves an estimated 80,000 African people to 'Locations' in different parts of the country. 26 July, King Mswati signs a treaty with voortrekkers as a way of protecting his kingdom against Zulu invasion. He grantstrekkers the right to lands bounded by the Oliphants River in the North and the Crocodile and Elands River in the South. The land covered areas settled by the Pedi, Ndzundza Ndebele and several Sotho speaking groups. 1847 The British colonial administration displaces the Korana and /Xam from their lands to increase grazing pastures for sheep. This results in the raid of the settler farmer’s livestock by the Korana and other San groups whose lives had been disrupted. 1848 10 February, A Land Government Commission established during the year states that the extent of land recommended by the 1846 - 47 Commission is excessive. The commission apportions land to white settlers. 1850 Sir George Grey confiscates land from black African people leaving them to search for work in farms. 1852 The British under Sir George Cathcart attack the BaSotho under king Moshoeshoe. 1853 November, A resolution taken by the Volksraad enables District Commandants to grant land for occupation by Africans on condition of ‘good behaviour’. However, the under the resolution there was no individual title, Africans had to use the land communally, chiefs were regarded as trustees of the tribe. However, power over the land still remained the hands of the white government. 1855 18 June, Resolution 159 is adopted by the Transvaal government. It prohibits anybody who was not a burgher from owning land and also prohibits Africans from having burger rights. 1856 Voortrekkersdeclare an independent Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) and lay claim to the Transvaal and the land up to the Limpopo River. 1857 29 April, Lieutenant General Scott issues a Proclamation offering vacant crown lands which are between 300 and 3000 acres. This increases land speculation by white settlers who in turn after purchasing the land lease it to Africans at yearly rental of five shillings. 1858 The First Basotho Boer War breaks out as avoortrekkercommando attacks Thaba Bosiu. In response, the Sotho mobilise an army of 10 000 warriors who raid unprotected settler farms and defeat the voortrekkersand force them to retreat. The Tlhaping /Kora of the Tswana ethnic group raid outlaying Boer farms sparking retaliation by the voortrekkers, who in turn seize thousands of cattle, behead a Chief and carry away women and children as apprentices. 1864 April, The Natal Native Trust is created enabling the British colonial government to place under its control all the unalienated location land in Natal. This land was to be held in trust for the African population with the Executive Council of Natal acted as trustees. 1865 J.H Brand launches an attack on Thaba Bosiu but the voortrekkers are repulsed. They then besiege the Mountain and resort to a ‘scorched earth’ policy burning crops, villages and seizing livestock. King Moshoeshoe refuses to surrender and appeals for British protection. 1866 The voortrekkers go to war with the BaSotho in order to seize the fertile Caledon Valley, and defeat the BaSotho. They force them to ‘sign’ the Treaty of Thaba Bosiu under which the BaSotho lost all of their land north of the Caledon River, and a large area in the northwest. June, Thirteen beacons are erected to fix a boundary between Swaziland and the South African Republic taking some of the kingdom’s land, and despite objections by the Swazi, the beacons become a recognized boundary which was accepted by both the voortrekkers and the British. 1867 Village raids of the Venda conducted by voortrekkerarmies in the Transvaal spark a rebellion led by king Makhado. The voortrekkersare defeated and pushed out of lands which they had occupied. Makhado also destroys the settlers’ settlement at Schoemansdal. War breaks out between BaSotho and voortrekkersafter king Moshoeshoe refuses to give up land to them. 1868-9 The first Korana rebellion breaks out after /Xam speaking San groups joined forces with the Korana to halt the advance of the white settler famers who were increasingly taking over their land and grazing pastures. 1870 February, Ruiters and 25 followers are captured bringing to an end active operations against the Korana. All three captured chiefs, Kivido, Rooy and Ruiters are tried, convicted and imprisoned on Robben Island. 1876 July, The South African Republic declares war on the Pedi which ends in defeat for the Afrikaner owing to combination of Pedi ingenuity and division within the combined Afrikaner force. 1877 The British occupy the South African Republic and in terms of the Article 21 of the Pretoria Convention appoint a Commission to investigate land ownership by Africans. Amongst its members are S.J.P. Kruger, Vice-President of the Transvaal State, George Hudson, British Resident, and H.J. Schoeman Native Commissioner for Pretoria and Heidelberg. The Committee recommends that Africans can purchase or acquire land in any manner; however the transfer of that land should be registered on their behalf in the name of a Native Location Commission. The Second Korana War which lasts until the following year breaks out around the Orange River after the Korana and San launch livestock raids on settler farms. Subsequently, more Korana chiefs are arrested and imprisoned on Robben Island, and the British propose to enlist the landless communities as servants. 1878 Xhosa people who had settled in the Prieska region south of the Orange River, ally with the Kora and San to launch an attack on white farms in the southern districts of Griqualand. As the attacks spread they are joined by the Griqua and Tlhaping. Loss of land to white settlement and loss of authority by chiefs over their own people were primary causes of the rebellion. July, The colonial forces launch an attack and quell the rebellion Xhosa, Kora and San rebellion. 1879 Zulu warriors defeated the British in 1879 at the Battle of Isandlwana 22 January, The British forces are defeated by the Zulu impis at the Battle of Isandlwana. 28 November, The Pedi under the leadership of Sekhukhune are defeated by British forces leaving about 1000 Pedi warriors dead. Sekhukhune is captured and imprisoned in Pretoria. The Cape government annexes Fingoland (Mfenguland) and Griqualand west which constitutes two thirds of the territory between the Cape and Natal. 1882-3 White farmers lay a siege of Ndzundza-Ndebele for nine months who when faced with starvation are forced to surrender. Their fertile lands are seized and divided among the voortrekkers. Each war participant is given five families to use as servants who work for little or no pay on the farms. 1885 Gcalekaland and Thembuland are incorporated into the Cape Colony. 1887 After defeating the Zulu warriors at the Battle of Ulundi, the British formally annex Zululand to pre-empt simmering threat of the Zulu people fighting back to recover the loss of their territory. The kingdom is broken up into 13 chiefdoms by Garnet Wolseleyand placed under different chiefs each with a British resident. 1891 Squatting on crown lands by black people was prohibited by Volksraad Resolution No. 359. 1894 The Glen Grey Act (No. 25 of 1894) is passed. Under the Act, the alienation and transfer of land was to be approved by the governor. Subletting or subdivision of the land was prohibited and the principle of ‘one man one plot’ was to be applied, thus the rest of the people who were not allocated land were forced to go and find work out elsewhere. Although declared in the Glen grey District, itis immediately extended to the Transkeian districts of Butterworth, Idutywa, Ngqamakwe and Tsomo by Proclamation No. 352 of 1894. The Cape government incorporates Pondoland along the east coast. 1895 British Bechuanaland passes into the hands of the Cape Colony. The Act of Annexation makes special provision that no lands reserved for the use of Africans in the territory were to be alienated. Law No. 21 of 1895 prohibits farmers from employing more than 5 African householders on one farm without government permission. However, this proves to be ineffective as Land Companies repeatedly break the law. 1898 Voortrekker commandos underJoubert isolate the Venda chiefdoms and attack them one by one resulting in their defeat. Some of the Venda people are driven across the Limpopo River and their territory is incorporated into the Transvaal. Colonial conquest and resistance, Pre 1900 Several factors seemed to pave the way to apartheid, among them a colonial conquest, land dispossession, economic impoverishment, and exclusion from citizenship of Africans. Part one examines the historical roots of apartheid, from the colonial occupation of the Cape in 1652 through the creation of the Union of South Africa and the period between the formation of the Union and the Nationalist Party coming into power - (1910-1948). Jan van Riebeeck and his expedition of Dutch Calvinist settlers landed at the Cape on 6 April 1652. van Riebeeck had received a commission from the Dutch East India Trading Company (VOC) to establish a refreshment station for passing ships. The station was to supply the ships travelling East, to obtain spices and other goods, with fresh fruit, vegetables and meat. The settlers grew the vegetables and fruit themselves, but meat was obtained through trade with the indigenous population (mainly Khoikhoi) derogatorily referred to as “natives”. From the beginning their relationship with the Khoikhoi was antagonistic and trade with them for slaughter stock soon degenerated into raiding and warfare. In 1657, the colonial authorities started a process of allotting farms to European settlers (“free burghers”) in the arable regions around Cape Town, where wine and wheat became the major products. As the port developed the need for labour increased. In response to the colonists’ growing demand for labour, the VOC imported slaves from Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, and South East Asia. Soon more Dutch settlers arrived followed by settlers from all over Europe. The colony gradually expanded along a frontier at the expense of the Khoikhoi, Xhosa, and other indigenous peoples, a process similar to the one that unfolded in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Slavery and early colonisation in South Africa In South Africa, destruction of Khoi societies produced an underclass of domestic and farm workers, but their ability to earn a decent wage was severely curtailed by the Dutch East India Company's use of slaves. Little is known of the lives of ordinary people at this time, but archival evidence reveals glimpses of slaves’ struggles against harsh conditions imposed by their white oppressors. Eventually, Great Britain pronounced the emancipation of slaves in the Cape Colony in 1833, but the draconian Master and Servant laws replaced slavery that preserved a social hierarchy in which race closely corresponded to class. Colonial conquest by the Netherlands until 1795, before it fell to the British Crown, before reverting to Dutch Rule in 1803 and again to British occupation in 1806, stimulated limited if uneven capitalist growth. Expansion from the Cape, the Trek Boers and the Great Trek The Great Trek. By the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Cape settlers were expanding their territory northeast. The Trek Boers seeking fresh grazing for their cattle, primarily, led this expansion. These cattle farmers had no fixed dwelling places and many led a semi-nomadic existence, moving ceaselessly between summer and winter pastures. As most trek farmers had large families, the system encouraged swift expansion. The Cape Government had done nothing to hinder expansion inland since it provided a source of cheap meat. As the trekkers’ expansion increased, they inevitably came into conflict with, first, the Khoikhoi and later the Xhosa people into whose land they were encroaching. This marked the beginning of the subjugation of the Tembu, Pondo, Fingo and Xhosa in the Transkei. The Xhosa in particular fought nine wars spanning a century, which gradually deprived them of their independence and subjugated them to British colonial rule. In the towns, tension was also increasing between settlers and the Dutch authorities, with the former becoming increasingly resentful at what they perceived as administrative interference. Soon the districts of Swellendam and Graaff-Reinette pronounced themselves independent Republics, though this was short-lived - in 1795 Britain annexed the Cape Colony. This development and, in particular, the emancipation of slaves in 1834, had dramatic effects on the colony, precipitating the Great Trek, an emigration North and Northeast of about 12 000 discontented Afrikaner farmers, or Boers. These people were determined to live independently of colonial rule and what they saw as unacceptable racial egalitarianism. The early decades of the century had seen another event of huge significance - the rise to power of the great Zulu King, Shaka . His wars of conquest and those of Mzilikazi - a general who broke away from Shaka on a northern path of conquest - caused a calamitous disruption of the interior known to Sotho-speakers as the difaqane (forced migration); while Zulu-speakers call it the mfecane (crushing). Shaka set out on a massive programme of expansion, killing or enslaving those who resisted in the territories he conquered. Peoples in the path of Shaka's armies moved out of his way, becoming in their turn aggressors against their neighbours. This wave of displacement spread throughout Southern Africa and beyond. It also accelerated the formation of several states, notably those of the Sotho (present-day Lesotho) and of the Swazi (now Swaziland). This denuded much of the area into which the Trekkers now moved, enabling them to settle there in the belief that they were occupying vacant territory. Of these Voortrekkers, about five thousand settled in the area that later became known as the Orange Free State (present day Free State). The rest headed for Natal (present day KwaZulu-Natal) where they appointed a delegation, under the leadership of Piet Retief to negotiate with the Zulu King, Dingaan (Shaka's successor), for land. Initially, Dingaan granted them a large area of land in the central and southern part of his territory but Retief and his party were later murdered at the kraal of Dingane. The newly elected Voortrekker leader, Andries Pretorius, prepared the group for a retaliatory attack and the Zulu were subsequently defeated at the famous Battle of Blood River , 16 December 1838, leading to the founding of the first Boer Republic in Natal. The discovery of Gold and Diamonds The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) transformed South African from an agrarian society at the edge of world trade into a globally integrated industrial economy, which spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the indigenous inhabitants as well as the conflicts between the Dutch and the British. The mineral revolution led to the quick spread of European colonization into the interior. The period saw the making of magnates and migrants, of millionaires and bankrupts, shopkeepers and entrepreneurs. It also saw the emergence of a new working class, one that was deeply divided along both colour and social lines. Racist laws enabled the white-owned mining companies to control workers, keep wages very low and gain immense profits from the diamonds and gold that black miners extracted from the earth. Most African miners became migrant labourers, spending nine to eleven months of the year in the mines while their wives and children remained in the countryside. The Anglo-Boer War Anglo-Boer War, The Mafeking Siege, Boers surrounded Mafeking, with a Long Tom. 1899-1900. © WITS ArchiveThe Anglo-Boer war. The Voortrekkers in Natal moved northeast after the British defeated them in 1842. They settled north and south of the Vaal River and founded the independent Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek or Transvaal Republic. In 1854, the Contract of Bloemfontein was signed and the Boers founded the Republic of Orange Free State. British sentiment was strongly in favour of uniting their colonies with the Boer Republics into one union and thereby gaining control of the gold mines of Transvaal. The Boers not only opposed this proposal, they resented and resisted British encroachments. On 11 February 1899, war broke out between the two Boer Republics and the two British Colonies (the Anglo-Boer War). On 13 March 1900, the British occupied Bloemfontein, then Johannesburg and Pretoria on 1 September. The Boers continued a guerrilla war, which was countered by the British devastating Boer farms and placing their women and children in concentration camps where some 28 000 died. Although attempts at peace were made as early as March 1900, nothing significant was achieved until 1902. It was only on 31 May that a truce (the Peace Treaty of Vereeniging ) was signed between the Boers and the British. The former eventually accepted the peace conditions, including the loss of their independence. As far as the British were concerned, their victory seemed to pave the way for the establishment of the Union of South Africa. Most rural and urban Black people tried to stay neutral during the war. At the same time, the nature of hostilities made it difficult to avoid getting mixed up in the war, directly or indirectly. As warfare spilled across the countryside, many Black people found themselves in harm’s way. Some were pulled into participating in military operations by the warring sides; others chose to serve in the war effort to escape extreme rural poverty or in the hope of gain or reward. In addition, some became involved in hostilities against the Boers on their own account, defending themselves against invading commandos, seizing opportunities to settle old scores over land losses or harsh treatment, and seizing opportunities to plunder. According to Gilliomee and Mbenga (2007), the Anglo-Boer War (or South African War) remains the most terrible and destructive modern armed conflict in South Africa’s history. It was an event that in many ways shaped the history of 20th Century South Africa. The end of the war marked the end of the long process of British conquest of South African societies, both Black and White. King Dingane ka Senzangakhona Synopsis King of the Zulus (1828 – 1840) First name Dingane Last name ka Senzangakhona Date of birth 1795 Date of death February 1840 Location of death Lebombo Mountains Gender male Dingane ka Senzangakhona was born in 1795 to father Chief Senzangakhona and mother Mpikase kaMlilela Ngobese who was Senzangakhona's sixth and ‘great wife'. [i] Chief Senzangakhona married sixteen women in total and had fourteen known sons, daughters however were not recorded. Very little is known or recorded about Dingane’s childhood or early career. Instead, Dingane enters the record when on the 22 of September 1828 he, with the assistance of his half-brother Mhlangana and servant Mbopha, assassinated his brother and the then Chief of the Zulu – Shaka Zulu . Shaka, the son of Chief Senzangakhona’s third wife, had seized the Zulu chieftainship in 1816, and had thereafter extended the Zulu kingdom. Soon after the murder of Shaka, Dingane had his half-brother Mhlangana murdered and thus rose to the position of Chief of the Zulu. Dingane moved the royal homestead from Nobamba in the emaKhosini valley to a new inland location which he called Mgungundlovu from which he reigned until 1840. Following the death of both Shaka and Mhlangana and Dingane’s subsequent rise to power messages were relayed to neighbouring dependencies, such as the Europeans of Port Natal, to notify them of the change and assure them that the Zulu’s newest Chief was inclined towards peace and would not harm them. [ii] Shaka’s ‘grand army’ at the time was in the north and was due to return shortly to receive the news of their leaders death. Dingane thus recognised the need to assemble his own military support. Since the majority of Zulu men of military age were up north serving in the ‘grand army’ he had little option but to utilize the menials and herdboys who eventually formed the basis of his home guard regiment which he called uHlomendlini, meaning ‘this which is armed at home’. [iii] The regiment comprised of two companies, the younger men being in the Mnyama (black) section and the older men in the Mhlophe (white) section. Dingane was thus well prepared for the eventual return of the Zulu army who received the news in stunned silence. The warriors were promised peace, a life of ease and the enjoyment of their booty. Furthermore, they were promised the right to marry. The majority of the troops accepted these conditions and bowed to Dingane. The marshal of the army, Mdlaka, however objected. Mdlaka was subsequently strangled in his hut and succeeded by Ndlela as army general. ‘Dingane orders the killing of Piet Retief's party of Voortrekkers’ by Richard Caton Woodville, Jr. Source: Suid-Afrikaanse Geskiedenis in Beeld (1989) by Anthony Preston. Bion Books: Printed in South Africa. In 1829, shortly after consolidating his power, Dingane oversaw the relocation of the Zulu capital from the hut-city of Dukuza to the traditional Zulu valley near the Mkhumbane stream. This new capital he renamed Mgungundlovu, meaning ‘the secret plot of the elephant’, which referred to his own plot to assassinate Shaka. William Wood, interpreter to Zululand missionary Reverend Francis Owen, described Mgungundlovu as it was then: “The form of Dingane’s kraal was a circle, it was strongly fenced with bushes and had two entrances. The principal one faced the king’s huts, which were placed at the furthest extremity of the kraal, behind which were his wives’ huts. These extended beyond the circle which formed the kraal, but were also strongly fenced in. On the right-hand side of the principal entrance were placed the huts of Ndlela (Dingane’s captain) and his warriors; and on the left, those of Dambuza (another of his captains) with his men. The kraal contained four cattle kraals which were also strongly fenced and four huts erected on poles which contained the arms of the troops.” [iv] It is recorded that with Dingane in power, increased prosperity actually came to Zululand. The warriors of the Zulu army, who were now able to marry and set up their own homesteads, were gifted cattle and were thus able to settle down and enjoy the fruits of their victories – ‘a country bulging with looted cattle and captured women, who were set to work to till the fields and produce military reinforcements.’ [v] During his reign, Dingane was increasingly involved in trading activities with many of the Portuguese traders from early Port Natal. When on 18 February 1829, Dr Alexander Cowie, a former surgeon from the Cape, and Benjamin Green, a Grahamstown merchant, arrived at Dingane’s Nobamba kraal, they were met by a party of about forty Portuguese traders. The Portuguese traders had reportedly been visiting Dingane in an attempt to re-open trading relations and pay their respects to the Chief of the Zulus. Dingane was known to have on many instances traded heads of cattle and hides in exchange for rifles and gunpowder. On a trading expedition to the Zulus a trader by the name of Isaacs noted Dingane’s respect for both firearms and Europeans: ‘He at once acknowledged it to be his opinion that no power he had could combat with another that used firearms; but added, he did not believe any people could conquer the Zulus excepting Europeans.’ [vi] "Dingane in Ordinary and Dancing Dresses", by Captain Allen Francis Gardiner. Source: Allen Francis Gardiner - "Stamme & Ryke", deur J.S. Bergh, in samewerking met A.P. Bergh. Don Nelson: Kaapstad. 1984. Fearing the devastation that could follow a potential military clash with Europeans, as early as 1830, Dingane sent an expedition to the Cape in an attempt to establish good relations with the British. On 21 November 1830 the group reached Grahamstown and presented four tusks to the Civil Commissioner. John Cane, Dingane’s ambassador, relayed the message that Dingane wanted to live in peace with his neighbours, that he wished to encourage trade and would protect traders, and that he desired a missionary. In January 1832, the government at the Cape finally showed an interest in the affairs of Zululand and sent a well-known explorer Doctor Andrew Smith to investigate more. Smith was well received by Dingane and entertained him with his beautifully dressed women and dancing warriors. Upon his return to the Cape, Smith was reportedly very enthusiastic about Natal and boasted about the greenness and fertility of the region. Thus, in early 1834, the farmers of the Grahamstown and Uitenage region organized a so-called ‘commission trek’ to visit Natal and consider settlement. Twenty-one men and one women, using fourteen wagons, traversed the Natal midlands led by a certain Petrus Lafras Uys. [vii] Nearing the region of Dingane’s capital, the group sent a man named Richard King to meet with Dingane in person and request land. Dingane received the request with interest but demanded that the commission members themselves visit him. There seemed to be countless different obstacles which hindered the commission members from visiting Dingane personally. Uys himself was down with a fever and subsequently sent his younger brother, Johannes Uys, to meet with Dingane. Johannes soon returned with a report that Dingane had allegedly indicated that Natal was vacant and available for European settlement. Dingane and the Voortrekkers An illustration of Dingane’s Kraal by Margaret Cary Image source It was only in 1837 however, with the arrival of the Voortrekkers into the Natal region, that these negotiations would come to fruition. In October 1837 the group of Voortrekkers led by Piet Retief reached Port Natal where they were welcomed by the British ivory traders who occupied the area. On 19 October Retief sent a letter to Dingane as a sign of peace and to inform him that he’d be coming up to Mgungundlovu to discuss the question of land. Retief and the Voortrekkers described Dingane as a: 'robust, fat man, but well proportioned and with the regular features of a well-bred Zulu. There was nothing at all forbidding in his appearance. He was always smiling and was scrupulously clean, being well scrubbed every morning by some of his women in the royal bath, a depression in the ground near his hut. He was shaved every day as well. He hated hair on his head, and one of his women kept him as bald and clean-shaven as a new-born babe, by means of an exceedingly sharp axe. After his toilet, and being well rubbed with fat, he generally spent his day sitting in an armchair attending to business, drinking beer and playing with any new gew-gaws some European visitor might have given him, such as a telescope to watch his people around the kraal, or a magnifying glass to burn holes in the arms of his servants.’ [viii] Upon his arrival, Dingane entertained Retief and his men with dances, feasts and sham fights and discussions regarding the allocation of land commenced. From this point on sources differ greatly. Dingane supposedly declared that he was prepared to grant Retief an extensive area between the Tugela and the Umzimvubu as well as the Drakensberg, on condition that Retief restored to Dingane the cattle stolen from him by Sikonyela (the Tlokwa chief). Dingane felt that this would prove to him that Sikonyela and not the Voortrekkers had in fact stolen the cattle. Some sources claim that Dingane also demanded rifles. With the wisdom of hindsight, it seems that Retief was incredibly naive in his dealings with Dingane. What is also evident is that Dingane had experienced more than enough trouble from the handful of whites at Port Natal and probably never had any intention of allowing a large amount of heavily armed farmers to settle permanently in his immediate neighbourhood. The Voortrekkers obtained the cattle from the Sikonyela as per the deal with Dingane. Retief surrendered the cattle but refused to hand over the horses and the guns he had taken from the Tlokwa. In the meantime, however, Dingane’s agents, who had accompanied Retief to supervise the return of the cattle, reported that even before the land claim had been signed, Voortrekkers were streaming down the Drakensburg passes in large numbers. These allegations allegedly fueled a mistrust between Retief and Dingane. On the 6 February Dingane requested that Retief and his men visit his royal kraal without their guns to drink beer as a farewell gesture. This request was strictly in accordance with Zulu protocol - that nobody appeared armed before the King. Retief suspected no foul play and accepted the invitation. As soon as the Voortrekker party was inside the royal kraal, Dingane gave the order and his regiments overpowered Retief and his men, and took them up to a hill to be executed. Dingane subsequently sent out his warriors to kill the rest of the Voortrekkers awaiting Retief's return from Mgungundlovu. Hundreds of Voortrekkers were consequently killed at Bloukrans and Moordspruit which set off months of bloody conflict between the Voortrekkers and Dingane's Zulus. In response, Voortrekker leaders Hendrik Potgieter and Piet Uys sent out an expedition against Dingane, but were defeated at Italeni. The conflict culminated in the battle at the Ngome River on 16 December 1838, in which the Zulus suffered a severe defeat. The Ngome River was subsequently renamed Bloedriver or Blood River, referring to the deep red colour of the river filled with Zulu blood. The incident became known as the Battle of Blood River . Led by new Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius , a Voortrekker commando went to Mgungundlovu to confront Dingane. But Dingane had burned down his whole kraal and the Zulus launched an attack on the command at the White Umfolozi River. In the meantime, the British occupied Port Natal (now Durban ). From there, they advanced on Dingane, but were defeated at the Tugela River. Dingane's warriors also attacked the settlement at Port Natal. In September 1839, another half-brother of Dingane, Mpande , defected with many followers to Natal. There, the Voortrekkers recognised his as the ‘Prince of the Emigrant Zulus'. On Christmas Eve 1839, the British garrison withdrew from Port Natal. Almost at once, the Voortrekkers hoisted the flag of the Republic of Natalia and made an alliance with Mpande's supporters to make a joint attack on Dingane. In February 1840, Mpande's forces finally decisively defeated Dingane on the Maqongqo hills. He fled north across the Phongolo River, where it is believed he met his death in the Lebombo Mountains at the hands of the Nyawo and his old enemy, the Swazi. Document 52 - LA. Jordaan, “A Critique of Mr. W. P. van Schoor’s.The Origin and Development of Segregation in South Africa” Discussion, It was during the course of a Memorial Lecture held under the auspices of a Cape Province Coloured teachers' organisation in October, 1950, to honour the memory of one of its members, that Mr. W.P. van Schoor propounded his ideas on a subject which was finally published in booklet form [....] Except for the acclamation of the author as a new historian" by the sponsors of the book, and a brief report on it in the local press, Mr. van Schoor's work passed without comment, discussion or analysis. This cannot surely be the end of a historical work which represents a radical and decisive departure from all the histories hitherto written on South Africa. For here is an author who has boldly undertaken the task of writing a short history from the point of view and in the interest of a general evolution of South African humanity to higher social and political forms. The author himself epitomises the function of historiography in the first and last sentence of his booklet: "A people desiring to emancipate itself must understand the process of its enslavement." [...] the author attempts to explain not only how the present South Africa evolved out of the past, but how the genesis of this country has created the complex and intricate problems, the solution of which falls four-square on the people of South Africa themselves. The book is therefore not merely a matter of academic interest, of historical draughtsman ship and accuracy in the presentation of our historical past. No. The author clearly sees in history the key to the understanding of the present which in turn is the indispensable guide to the future. That is why Mr. van Schoor's work is an entirely new approach to South African history. That is why it demands the attention of all those who are interested in the continued evolution of South Africa. It is indeed a reflection on the inspirers of the Memorial Lecture that, for reasons best known to them, they have remained silent on a work which they merely dismissed by an unwarrantable and meaningless eulogy. Mr. van Schoor has entered a field of study which has up to now been completely monopolised by the official historians in the service of the ruling classes and in the interests of the status quo. [....] In the appraisal of Mr. van Schoor's work I will use the author's own dictum [....] as the yardstick for the critique. Having read the book one must therefore ask oneself the following questions: Do we now understand the process of our enslavement? Do we understand the evolution of modem South Africa and the present national set-up in the light of this work? Do we have a better understanding and appreciation of the manifold problems which face the peoples of South Africa in their democratic strivings? What theoretical and political lessons can one draw from the author's analysis of the process of our enslavement? Does Mr. van Schoor indicate the course of South Africa's future evolution? [....] THE BANEFUL EFFECT OF THE AUTHOR'S ANTHROPOLOGICAL APPROACH TO OUR PROBLEMS 1.The Need for a Social Approach to History Political theory influences our political orientation, poses our practical tasks and clarifies our aims. It is the indispensable guide to political struggle. On the correctness of our theory depends the whole future of the liberatory movement. But what determines our political theory? The most painstaking historical and sociological analysis. Every political in the emancipatory movement, engaged in the interpretation of historical evidence and the assessment of the forces at work in society, must realise the cardinal importance of this work. Documentary evidence is the raw material out of which the historian reconstructs e past to explain the present. But it is impossible to understand the present if one merely regards history as a series of events. [....] it is the fundamental task of the historian to discover the laws and the forces which generate events and which lead to the rise and fall of special institutions. It is on this basis that history becomes a science, id the indispensable aid in the interpretation of the present. And it is on the basis of determining the general laws underlying the social changes that the future becomes predictable. [....] If politics is therefore the expression of fundamental class interests which have their basis in economy, then it is clear that economics is in the final reckoning the determining factor in social change. The question of race and colour, racialism and colour prejudice, while they often tend to have logic of their own, are finally merely the superstructure of basic class conflicts. The temptation every student of South African history should therefore learn to resist is the temptation to conceive of South Africa's evolution and the process of our enslavement in terms of anthropological entities. [....] in South Africa, beset as it is with multi-racial problems, it is a great inducement - incidently the easiest way -to explain the nature of our historical and political problems in terms of race, racialism and colour. For it is precisely in this country that social or class conflicts tend to coincide vim the lines of the race and colour. 2. The Author's Preoccupation with Racial Categories. The greatest weakness of Mr. van Schoor's book from which all its other weaknesses naturally flow is the author's inability to resist the temptation. The result is the other side of the coin of Herrenvolkism from which political poison can and must follow. While the official historians have hitherto attempted - and attempted with some degree of success - to paint the white whiter and the blacks blacker, Mr. van Schoor tries to paint the white black and blacks white. The result is the same. Not only does he not find any difference between the Dutch and the British policies in South Africa, not only does he regard the white workers, the white labour aristocrats and the mining magnates is a homogeneous white mass, but he proceeds on the basis of his racial approach to identify slaves with Hottentots, Hottentots with Bushman and the Bantu with the Cape coloured people. And how does he attempt to effect this? By approaching history in reverse. I am referring to his naive attempt to explain the past in the light of the present national set-up, rather than the present in the light of the past. [....] In his attempt to project preconceived political notions on to the historical past, the author forces historical facts into a political straightjacket and proceeds to write some questionable history. Let me illustrate. As a consistent democrat, the author rightly sees the political need for Non-European unity as the indispensable pre-requisite for the launching of a mass democratic movement. The only honest way of approaching such a question is to dwell on the indivisibility of Non-European oppression which has placed all the racial groups, Coloured, Indians, Malay and African in the camp of the oppressed. But the author seeks to "justify" the idea of Non-European unity by obliterating the lines of distinction between the Non-European racial groups and by transferring this idea into the historical past. Thus he writes that the institution of slavery "has had an extremely bad effect in retarding the Non-European struggle for liberation and is beginning to die out only now among the oppressed Non-European people of South Africa." It would therefore seem that the Non-European as a whole at one time existed in the state of slavery. History, however, has it that neither the Bantu, the Hottentots, the Bushman nor the Cape Coloureds were legally chattel slaves. Only a small percentage of the present black population, namely the Malays and a few Coloureds, has slave anteceÂdents. It was the policy of the Dutch not to enslave the indigenous people of South Africa. How this institution of slavery therefore hampered the struggle for liberation is difficult to understand. A number of anachronisms creep into the book in the author's attempt to explain the slow development of Non-European unity. Thus we hear that it was because of "their relatively privileged position as artisan slaves that the Malay slaves "developed an I attitude of aloofness." As if they had then as slaves to unite with the tribal Bantu groups! As if the need for Non-European unity arose not in recent years but in 1652! Then we are asked to accept the idea that the "bad heritage of subservience and inferiority to the ruling class is due to the "intermediate position of the Hottentots as household servants...together with an isolation from the black workers"! Why the Hottentots should have united with other blacks, and who were tribalists, not workers, then is difficult to understand. [....] 3, The Author's Tribal "Heroes": an Example to Democracy? The black chauvinist is as determined as the white chauvinist to create his stock of national heroes. [....] Thus at a time when the Non-Europeans cannot speak of any national heroes, Mr. van Schoor, in his attempt to give his racial approach to history a sort of moral sanction, turns the wheel of history back to fish out "national heroes" for the Non-Europeans. And from where? From the primitive Bantu and Hottentot tribes! It is difficult to understand why a consistent democrat like Mr. van Schoor should elevate a number of tribal chiefs to the position of "national heroes" and by implication deprecate the dissolution of the primitive tribal societies and the development of industrialism - the indispensable pre-requisite for a democratic society in South Africa. [....] The study of the movements of various Bantu tribes clearly reveals that each tribe was bent on territorial expansion which it tried to realise at the expense of the extermination of another. The Zulu king, Chaka, had during the early nineteenth century extended his domains by a rigorous military system and a terrible discipline. The neighbouring tribes, particularly the Xhosa, were forced to flee in the face of Chaka's expansionist policy and rule of terror. [....] Mr. van Schoor [...] eulogises the work of Chaka who had terrorised Gaika and Ndlambi. [....] One must certainly defend the tribes against the land robbery of the Dutch and the British, but to eulogise and hold up as an example the primitive chiefs is not the work of a modem democratic movement. To the black chauvinist van Riebeeck occupies the same place in South African history as the doctrine of "Original Sin" in theology. It is to this humble servant of a commercial company that all the ills of society are attributable. [....] And what is the upshot of it all? Every evil is laid at the door of the white man. [ ....] SOUTH AFRICA HAD NO FEUDAL PHASE IN ITS HISTORY. 1. The Author Leaves the Door Open for the "Feudal Theory" [...] having developed at a slow tempo under commercial capitalism from a half-way house to a commercial colony, the Africans were rudely torn away from their tribal mode of life and geared to a modem industrial machine as wage earners. The depend-ice of the mines on cheap labour made the task of expropriating the Africans from their tribal lands the unpostponable demand of the incipient capitalists. The disintegration of African tribal life was accordingly effected by taxation and wars and the subsequent need for European coinage and goods. In the course of a few decades after 1870, the Africans were violently hurled into the streams of capitalism by sword and fire. The Industrial Revolution in South Africa gave them no opportunity, no breathing space to settle down with the dissolution of tribal life as private landholders. Under the tremendous impact of capitalism, they were forced and absorbed into the economic veins of capitalism, bearing heavily the scars of tribalism. The Africans knew of no age between tribalism and the cash nexus. It must not, however, be taken to mean that industrial capitalism destroyed every vestige of the pre-1870 institutions. [....] In South Africa the industrialists have judiciously preserved the outer forms of chieftainship, tribal categories and combine and integrated these with modem industrial forms. But this preservation of the shells, ' the relics of the past are not the fundamental characteristics, the essence of the social order. They are mere incidentals, mere reminders of the past. The whole argument in Mr. van Schoor's book, as a few good passages indicate, rids to bear out the above argument. This is the author's best contribution. However, the author's characterisation of the Voortrekker republics, the African labourer and the migratory labour system, he draws certain unwarrantable conclusions which point the existence of feudalism at a certain stage in South Africa's development as well the existence of feudal elements today. One therefore gains the impression that he is living the door wide open for the theory that South Africa is feudal now seeking shelter from the intellectual storms. This makes it necessary to deal with some of his remarks on this subject. For from the theory South Africa was and is feudal, definite political conclusions must flow. On the political plane this theory wears the ballroom dress of the "agrarian" slogan, Thus according to the advocates of this theory, the fundamental political task is to rid society of the feudal stalactites and stalagmites and achieve for the people the full and legal ownership of their land, like the August 4th decrees of the French Revolution. The fundamental demand of the people, according to them, is therefore for land. [....] 2 What is Feudalism? [”¦] Feudalism is a state of society in which the political, economic and legal status of every individual came to be inextricably bound up with a contractual relationship based the tenure of land. [....] In the Boer pastoral communities no feudal system could emerge, because the pastoralists lived in a semi-nomadic state. For feudalism, to quote Franck-Brentano, is agriculture without movement. They held land from the Company on a system of rent, not military, clerical or labour services. The Hottentot and Bantu servants rendered labour services in return for food, not for grants of land. In point of fact, until 1828, the Hottentots could not own land or work a plot of land. Under feudalism, personal services to one's master had to be territorialized, that is, they had to be accompanied by a grant of land. The Hottentots were, in short, not medieval serfs. Politically, feudalism means the decentralisation of political power and its delegation to a number of strong feudal lords by the king. [....] The Voortrekker states were, on the other hand, centralized in the People's Council or Volksraad which made laws for all the Boers. Everyone came under the jurisdiction of the central authority. The local authorities - the Landdrost and field comets - merely carried out the instructions of the central authorities to whom they were responsible. The tendency was always in the nature of centralization, which is inimical to feudal political theory. A few liberal historians, notably De Kiewiet and Agar-Hamilton, are quick to draw comparisons between Voortrekker-Bantu relations and feudalism to show that the Boers established a stable system in which their relations with the blacks were based on reciprocity of rights and services. It is a pity that our "new historians" should fall into the same error, which is tantamount to the whitewashing of white-black relations. The liberal historians have subtly tried to see in the practice of a number of chiefs to place themselves under the protection of white farmers a resemblance to the feudal practice of "commendation". But this is precisely why it is not feudalism. "CommenÂdation" or "recommendation" was merely the means whereby the feudal system was built up in the course of centuries during which the weak and helpless placed themselves under the protection of the strong. It is not a feature of feudal society itself. The practice of "commendation" must, in a word, be discontinued to end chaos and anarchy and stabilise the feudal structure. The Voortrekkers could not carry the practice of "commendation" to a logical conclusion by integrating the Bantu into their pastoral economy. The very similarity of the Boer and the Bantu economies, based as they were on land and cattle, was hostile to such assimilation. Their interests were indeed so similar that they both constituted themselves into two armed camps. The result was territorial segregation. To be sure, Bantu children and adults were, through their chiefs, recruited as farm hands and domestic servants. But such services were not accompanied by grants of land. They were not feudalized. Some petty chiefs, on the other hand, seeking refuge from other tribal "heroes", were given temporary residence within the borders of the Transvaal Republic. But even the liberal historians have to admit that such protection as was offered them was a very insecure and hazardous one. At any time they could be expelled. Their temporary residence was therefore not part of perpetual feudal contracts, of feudal tenure and territorialisation. Feudalism offered three main obstacles to the free development of capitalist commodity production. The abrogation of these barriers constituted the historic mission of the capitalist class. Firstly, the capitalist entrepreneur was faced with the task of creating a proletariat [....] The solution of the first problem was the solution of the second: the creation of a home market for the mass-produced goods of the industrialists. [....] The third problem was political: how to absorb the scattered political power that existed under feudalism into the hands of a central authority which could legislate in the interests of the capitalist class. The creation of the centralized political state was finally achieved. In South Africa the mining magnates were faced with the same problems which were, however, complicated by the presence of a compact tribal system. They could not effectively achieve the expropriation of the Africans by an enclosure system. The indivisibility of primitive tribal communalism called for more bloody measures. Wars and taxation had to accomplish the dissolution of tribal life. The call for Confederation of the various provinces was not a mere move for white unity to crush the Africans, as Mr. van Schoor alleges it to be. It was a political move by the mining magnates to create a centralized authority which could protect and legislate in the interests of the capitalist economy. The South Africa Act, 1909, created the central state power. THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA 1. Modern South Africa is Rooted in the Industrialisation of 1870 The foundations of modem South Africa were laid neither by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 nor by the British liberal Cape in 1806. The present-day society of this country has its roots in the Industrial Revolution which began with the opening up of the diamond mines in Kimberley and the gold mines on the Witwatersrand towards the end of the third quarter of the nineteenth century. [....] If twentieth century South Africa is not the product of either early Dutch society or the old liberal Cape, then neither is it the product of the patriarchal Voortrekker pastoral society. Moreover, neither is it a synthesis of the Voortrekker north and the liberal south. It is the creation of an entirely new economic system which, by its new techniques in the process of production, radically altered the old social relationships; evolved new classes rooted in the new process of production and produced a modem political structure to give expression to this change. Up to 1870 South African history is characterised by the slow tempo of her development; after 1870, this country took a tremendous leap which brought her within the course of a few decades into line with modem industrial forms. The introduction of new techniques for the exploitation of the mines is the driving force of this social revolution. The Cape Colony, the basis of whose subsistence was agriculture, commerce and pastoralism, had no policy of residential, social and political segregation within the orbit of commercial capitalism. Neither did it have a colour bar. It finally and legally recognised the equality of all races. And although social differentiation in practice tool: the form of colour, this is because class and colour lines coincided. The Hottentots and early Cape Coloureds, in addition to the detribalised Bantu on the eastern frontier, came to be the exploited class within the framework of political and legal equality. When therefore, one compares the present national set-up with the British Cape, then it is clear that British liberalism was a force before 1870. The Industrial Revolution reversed this trend of political and economic assimilation, and gradually abrogated the time-halÂlowed liberal policy of political and legal equality. The Voortrekker pastoral society, on the other hand, was economically and socially incapable of integrating the black into its subsistence economy lest it be consumed in the process. The very similarities of their respective modes of life, based as they were on land and cattle, precluded the possibility of such a development. The Boers therefore pursued a policy of what one can call territorial segregation. This segregation was based on the complete separation, socially and economically, of the Boers and the Bantu. Thus it has not connection with the modem system of social, residential and political segregation which flows from the integration and interdependence of black and white. [....] The essential basis for South Africa's rapid industrialisation since 1870 was the presence of a large permanently settled white population in this country at the inception of mining. British Imperialism had to consider this white element when it embarked upon the intensive exploitation of the country, before as well as after the discovery of gold and diamonds. Without this population in 1870, Great Britain would have occupied this country on military lines and administered it on the same lines as the South American states or West African colonies. There would have been no such constitutional progress of the various colonies to responsible government which formed the basis for Union and complete political autonomy. There would have been no industrial progress in the form of manufacturing industries. For without the whites, South Africa would still perhaps have been a large mining camp. The presence of a large white population is intimately bound up with the rapid industrialisation of modem South Africa. Let it be understood that Britain never really had it all her own way in South Africa. She was forced to grant the whites certain political and economic rights which would never have come, or at least come very much later, had they not been here in 1870. The Boers fought hard for and forced Britain after the Anglo-Boer War to give them those privileges which they today enjoy in the form of a colour bar, industrial and social, a labour aristocracy and a full democracy. Without them it is difficult to conceive the present-day South Africa with these social institutions. In an analysis of the modem colour bar, it is necessary to pose and answer the following questions clearly: What is the colour bar? How and where did it originate? How was it consolidated? What are the conditions for its elimination? All these questions are of vital importance to the democratic movement. Yet our author fails to answer any one of these questions. [....] 2, The Foundations of the Modern Colour Bar [....] The industrial colour bar and all its concomitants - social and political segregation -are the products of capitalist commodity production which began in Kimberley and on the Witwatersrand. The dependence of modern techniques of capital on labour called for the concentration of labour in the industrial centres. The Bantu had, in short, to be swung into the new industrial system. Skilled labour had to be imported from overseas. In this process of economic integration, economic circumstances, practice, white public opinion which were finally sustained by law, made a strict separation in the two types of labour employed; skilled work at high rates of pay was from the outset the monopoly of the whites; unskilled work at low rates of pay came to be associated with black labour. In the mining industry this practice finally received the sanction of the law by the Mines and Works Act of 1911. It was subsequently extended to other industries. This is the industrial colour bar. . . Mr. van Schoor merely sees the hand of Herrenvolkism in this arrangement. "In Kimberley," he says, "Rhodes and his associates developed a 'civilised' labour policy for imported Europeans and maintained African wages at the lowest level. Out of this arose the high ratio between skilled and unskilled rates of pay, unique in the world." We do not know in what respects this high ratio between skilled and unskilled rates of pay is unique in the world. What is unique is the fact that in South Africa a large group of people is excluded from occupying skilled jobs in a modem industry. There is no parallel anywhere else. To see in this arrangement merely race and colour is meaning-less. One must take into consideration the class interests of the mining capitalists who are mainly concerned with quick profits. According to our author it seems that the industrialists were bent from the outset on raising the wage rates of the whites and correspondingly lowering the wage rates of the Africans. This then raises the question whether this arrangement was the cause or result of prejudice or whether the two interacted to cement both. Let us understand that the Africans who appeared on the industrial field had no knowledge and skill in the use of modem instruments of labour. Unskilled work naturally fell to their lot in the formative stages of mining. Moreover, at the time of the opening of the diamond mines, the vast majority of the Africans came of their own accord in search of European goods and guns. The task of destroying African tribal life was not yet under way. Under such circumstances, the Africans worked for low wages. On the other hand. South Africa had no skilled whites to operate the complex machinery. Skilled artisans had to be imported. To induce them to come high wage rates were offered. This division between white labour and black labour was therefore made more emphatic because skilled labour from Europe had to work alongside black workers who had just appeared on the scene of civilisation. Thus the wages the African workers received in the early days of mining were about ten shillings per week with rations, while the white workers received from £4 to £5 per peek in the case of overseers and from £6 to £8 in the case of mechanics and engine drivers. When African labour was scarce their wage rates rose to even thirty shillings per week. Coloured artisans were also employed in skilled occupations. It is therefore clear that this division between black and white labours is attributable to the Objective, economic circumstances of the time, and not to racialism and colour prejudice. "The white workers," writes De Kiewiet, "stood out more sharply because they were for the most part not of South African birth." With the rapid dissolution of African tribal life after 1870 starving Africans appeared on the mines, eager to work at the lowest rates. This partly and temporarily solved the labour problem and depressed African wages still more. The gulf separating black from white wages consequently widened. 3. The Economic Interpretation of Colour Prejudice ...] While Mr. van Schoor finally says that the modem colour bar system "is essentially a British product", he wrongly attributes colour prejudice to the Voortrekkers. [....] The colour prejudice we know today is not the product of the Boers but of the peculiar conditions and circumstances under which the Industrial Revolution developed in this country. The pastoral semi-nomadic Boers had a military hostility and fear of a similar economic group which they could only distinguish from themselves by religion and colour. The two groups could not be integrated into one society because their economic habits were so similar. The colour prejudice we know today flows from the integration of black and white in an industrial society in which the preferential treatment of the whites by the British has revolutionised the whole psychology of the Boers. The Anglo-Boer War was a sharp lesson to the British that without granting concessions, privileges and rights to the Boers, her rule over South Africa with its teeming millions would be unstable. [....] Objective conditions themselves first inculcated the idea of colour prejudice into the white. The particular disposition of black labour, on the one hand, and white labour, on the other hand, produced the idea that the division between skilled and unskilled labour and high and low rates of pay was a natural, permanent and immutable one. They came to regard this division as a legitimate institution imposed from above, and not the product of the peculiar circumstances from below. Shortly after the inception of a diamond mining, the whites of this country developed a strong feeling of colour in relation to the productive process. De Kiewiet says that before "the diggers were themselves reduced by the capitalist mining companies to the state of employees, they had decided that no other place was open to the native than that of low-paid and unskilled labour". This colour prejudice rapidly become more intense when two important social forces arose out of the new techniques of production: a South African born white artisan class and a black proletariat. The Industrial Revolution in South Africa not only led to the dissolution of tribal life, it also dealt a death blow to the isolation, the particularize of the Boer subsistence economy. For when the demand for agriculture and pastoral products to feed the industrial population became great, the white farmer began to exploit their farms as fully as possible to produce for a large market. The demand for agricultural produce had even led the mining companies to speculate in land and buy large areas which they began to exploit to feed the industrial population. Land prices rose rapidly; many farmers could not adjust themselves to this revolution in agriculture and sold out. The new capitalist farmers, in order to exploit every available stretch of land, were less and Mess inclined to give the ruined whites refuge on their estates. The white bywoners, who had, because of land hunger, taken refuge on the estates of the big farmers, were evicted. Black labour was preferred to white labour on the farms. And so the exodus to the industrial areas began. There they were confronted by a mass of cheap black labour with whom they could not compete in unskilled work. Neither were they trained for skilled work. The Industrial Revolution had produced the "Poor White Problem". What does Mr. van Schoor say about the "Poor White Problem"? He writes: "...the inability to compete with Non-European labour in country and town was not simply due to the lack of training; it was due to an attitude of contempt for labour which was regarded as Kaffir work." This is a misunderstanding. The white employers of labour preferred the Bantu labourers to white labour. Economics overruled consideration of race and colour prejudice. With the inability of the impoverished whites to compete with the blacks in industry, with the gradual acquisition of technical skill by the black workers and their utilisation to a small extent as semi-skilled and skilled workers, and with the preference of the mining companies for cheap black workers, there was a loud public outcry against this stage of affairs. The impoverished whites began to place the blame for their economic ruination on the shoulders of the blacks. This fed colour prejudice. Public and political opinion grew for the protection of the whites in industry. The position was aggravated by the cleavage of interests between white employer and white worker whose high wage demands the former would not meet. For the higher the wage rates demanded by the white workers became, the more limited became their opportunities to find employment and the more blacks were conscripted. To be sure, the encroachment of the blacks on skilled occupations was very slight indeed. But so sensitive were the white workers to the idea of associating white labour with skilled jobs and high wages that they began political agitation for the preservation and consolidation of the status quo. [....] Their racialism, their colour prejudice, had an economic content - their demand for a place, a protected place, in industry. Their colour prejudice was not the cause for the separation if black and white in industry but the product and consolidator of it. [....] 4. The Consolidation of the Industrial Colour Bar Such is the genesis of the modem colour bar. Since its conception almost fifty years have elapsed during which it has shown no obvious signs of collapsing. On the contrary. it has permeated every industry which has developed in South Africa. It is being maintained despite the fact that the rationalisation in production which largely elimiÂnates the need for "skilled" operatives has developed at a rapid rate in South Africa. It is being maintained despite the fact that the African workers are becoming more and more acquainted with the production methods of modem industry and are capable of doing most of the so-called skilled work, or could do so with very little training. It is being maintained despite the fact that it is the chief source of annoyance and financial loss to the Chamber of Mines. Today, political expediency which had forced upon the Chamber of Mines the colour bar, is being mercilessly pounded by the laws of economic necessity which no longer sees the justification of the indefinite continuation of a while labour aristocracy. Profits are dwindling; cuts shall have to be made somewhere. This top-heavy social institution is being strained to the utmost. The economic base is now pounding the superstructure of political expediency, race and colour prejudice. After the Great War of 1914-18, however, the colour bar has become more rigid. Not only did the extension of the statutory colour bar to other industrial field-consolidate the labour status quo, but the increase in power and co-ordination of the white trade unions and the corresponding lack of organisation, lack of rights and docility of the black workers led to increased rates of pay and better working conditions for the white workers. "Segregation is more rigorous in the factory than in the mines," writes Mr. van Schoor. Is this really so? In the factory, to be sure, there is not the same rigorous enforcement of the statutory provisions of the colour bar. Non-European factory workers are more intimate with the technical processes of production and receive rates-of pay which are superior to those of the Chamber of Mines. The author, however, says that the "ratio of white to non-white wages in secondary industry" is evidently not decreasing. But a careful study of the wage rates of the two groups shows that there has been a definite narrowing of the gap. In 1915 the ratio was 4,85; in 1919 it was 4,84, and in 1924 it was 4,5. Then there was an increase to 4,27 in 1927, but in 1929 it fell to 4,08. In 1938 the ratio was 4,36 and it fell to 3,5 in 1944, rising to 3,47 in 1945. This decrease, slight though it is, proved that the economic demands of the Non-European workers are increasing. It vaguely foreshadows the future of the Industrial Colour Bar. In the gold mining industry the colour bar is rigidly being maintained. From 1911 to 1915 European wages amounted to an average of £330 annually. In 1920 European wages averaged £501 and then declined to £372 in 1923. In 1938 it was £404, and in 1947 it was £579. As regards Non-European wages, the average cash wages for 1911 was £28 5s.; for 1923 it-was £34 1s., and in 1938 £36 6s. "In 1938 both average cash wages of Natives and average European wages were almost 21,3% above the 1911 level." The gap is being maintained. For example, the average increase of European wages in the diamond industry was 23% from 1911 to 1938, and for Non-Europeans for the same period it was 11,7%. In the coal mining industry the average increase of European wages from 1911 to 1938 was 39,4%, and for Non-Europeans 37,3%.' In July 1918, the Chamber of Mines recognised the Status Quo Agreement, which reaffirmed the colour bar system in the mining industry. [....] In an attempt to modify this agreement, the Chamber of Mines precipitated the 1922 strike. [....] In 1926 the Mines and Works Act was amended to exclude Africans and Asiatics from acquiring certificates of competency to do skilled work. For already, in 1925, the Mining Regulations Commission had spoken of the competition of the African labourer which would lead to the elimination of the European worker "from the entire range of mining operations". There can be no doubt that the Chamber of Mines views the white worker with an ambivalence of emotions. For the conditions and circumstances under which the colour bar arose have vanished. Political considerations are, however, still stronger than the need to cut down on the heavy cost structure, either by reducing European wages or by replacing the whites in skilled jobs by black labour. But so great is the strength of the organised white working class, so strong their political voice, and so docile and rightless the unorganised workers that legislative and administrative measures are still the main props for the support of the colour bar in industry. 5. The Conditions for the Elimination of the Colour Bar What then are the conditions necessary for the elimination of the colour bar? For this is the fundamental task of the political movement for democracy: to bring the wage rates of the black worker to the level of Europeans and to eliminate the artificial barriers separating "skilled from unskilled" in industry. Two factors combine to this end: in the automatic process outside human agency and in the political struggle through human agency to bring about its abrogation. Mr. van Schoor only sees the former [....] The problem of raising the standards of life of the black workers does not enter the mind of the writer. Moreover, he ignores the rapid increase in the number of proletarians settled permanently in the towns where, it is clear, they will one day organise into a mighty social force and play the decisive part in the struggle of the abolition of the colour bar. [....] -The elimination of the industrial colour bar is inextricably bound up with the increase in the number of permanent black workers. For such a development will indubitably lead to the organiÂsation of the black proletariat and their participation as a force in the industrial struggles that lie ahead. Yet Mr. van Schoor only sees the objective factor of economic necessity. Such an automatic abolition of the colour bar is the dream of opportunism and the product of political abstentionism. The Non-Europeans have up to now been putty in the hands of the employers, not only because they are voiceless and voteless, but because they are not an organised force that can struggle for higher wages and better working conditions. But Mr. van Schoor must not consider that they will remain a permanent, docile mass, incapable of any struggle. Such an attitude of mind is already the beginning of capitulation to the status quo. This striking omission of the role of the liberatory movement to wrench away the props that support the colour bar is the beginning of defeatism, of lack of faith and optimism in the democratic struggle. History is made by people under definite conditions. That history will only be made when the proletariat steps into the political arena as an organised industrial force. 6 The Economics of Black Chauvinism Mr. van Schoor's anthropological approach once more reveals its baneful influence on author's assessment of black and white wages and the productive output of the respective labour groups. [....] He argues that "the European worker in secondary industry is deadweight." [....] We are therefore given to understand that the South African capitalists are not really interested whether the white workers produce new social values. It seems that racialism and colour prejudice overrule all economic considerations. According to Mr. van Schoor, the black workers alone contribute towards the productive output. In other words, technical skill, the economic planning commissions, the skilled overseers and engineers play no part in the productive output. All production is dependent - on whom? On the semi- and unskilled black workers who are not allowed to handle modern machinery freely. Thus we finally have the formulae: Skilled workers = unproductive; unskilled work = productive; white = unproductive; black = productive. Two statements on production prove that the author is not at all serious about the above statement: "When 80% of the population is forbidden to handle machinery, technical progress must necessarily slow." So? The Non-Europeans are not very productive after all! Technical skill is, after all, necessary to industry! The whites, after all, produce new values! [....] Even in a democratic society, skilled workers will have to be paid more than workers who are less skilled. For without this technical skill production will be slow, poverty will continue to haunt democracy and elementary needs will not be satisfied. Does the writer imagine that unskilled workers and manual workers can build a democratic society? The reason for the low productivity of this country lies in the fact that the Non-Europeans are not allowed to participate fully in the process of production. The abolition of the colour bar, therefore, also means a tremendous increase in production. 7. The Proletariat as the Greatest Force in the Country. [....] Since the opening of the mines, the establishment of factories and the beginning if capitalist agriculture, the areas allotted to the Africans have continually shrunk. The result is continued proletarianisation. Africans are forced by land hunger, the need for money to buy European goods and pay their taxes to seek work in the urban areas. The reserves were never set aside to sustain the Africans. Thus, before the depression of 1929-36, the income from production of African families in the reserves was £4 0s. Id. per annum. Today the reserves are a large creche for old woman and children and a short place of rest for the migratory workers. Since Union the African population has continued to flow from areas of predomiÂnantly African population to the urban centres and European farms. They go yearly from the reserves to the towns; from the towns back to the reserves; from the reserves to European farms and back to the reserves and from farms to the towns and back to the farms. This perennial movement is a unique characteristic of the black proletariat. It is our task to understand how conditions, administrative measures and economic forces dictate this complex migratory labour system. Once again Mr. van Schoor is unable to see the migratory labour system as a process of development. He simply says: "The Kimberley diamond mines gave rise directly to the vast system of migratory labour flowing between reserves and locations..." How and why this came about he is unable to tell us. Later we hear that, having been rendered homeless, the African was prevented from becoming a settled worker in the towns by the migratory labour system. Then he writes that this labour system also "prevents the settling down of a propertied (!) peasantry." The author here confuses cause and effect. The migratory labour system, contrary to the author, is not the cause of the inability of the Africans to become either a peasantry or a settled urban proletariat, but precisely the result of it. By various administrative measures the Africans are forbidden to settle permanently in urban centres. This is the meaning of the pass laws. After the expiration of his labour contract the pass laws forced him to return to the areas specially set aside for Africans. But here he cannot stay for long because the reserves were never meant to be self-sufficient areas. Poverty and land hunger compel him to seek work in the towns or on the white farms. The result is that he oscillates between reserves and urban areas for European farmers. [....] Yet, in spite of these administrative measures which prevent the emergence of a permanent urban African proletariat, the very poverty of live in the reserve, the increasing economic demands of the Africans, and the consequent desperate need to augment their frugal incomes, are leading to more and more Africans into the ranks of permanent urban dwellers. Their labour contracts and their stay in the industrial centres are becoming larger. The extension of the urban localities themselves bears testimony to this fact. [....] Mr. van Schoor: "...if the migratory labour system were to break down, it would at once polarise into a landed (!) peasantry in the country and an organised (!) working-class in the town. . ."[....] The author does not give us the conditions under which the migratory labour system would break down. He cannot see that the labour and economic needs of the industriÂalists would finally force them to abolish the migratory labour system and allow the migratory African workers to become an integral part of urban life. This is an inescapable development in our social evolution. The wheel of history cannot be turned back either to the revival of tribalism or the settling of the Africans on the land as small producers. Such a development is repugnant not only to the historic process and the development of industry but also to the democratic movement, which can only triumph on the basis of increased industrialisation. The African worker is not a proletarian in the true sense of the word. Firstly, he is not a permanent urban dweller and therefore does not form an integral part of industrial life, socially and culturally. Secondly, he is debarred by industrial legislation from participating in all the technical processes as a skilled and efficient worker. The development of capitalism will indubitable also lead to the development of a fully-fledged proletariat. Of the great importance to the liberatory movement is a strict understanding of the forces which are driving more and more Africans irresistibly forward into the capitalist economy as proletarians. The great task of the liberatory movement is to facilitate this development by its struggle for the abrogation of all the administrative measures which prevent the Africans from becoming a settled proletariat; by calling for the abolition of the Industrial Colour Bar to raise the living standards of the African and develop his technical skill; and by demanding political and civil rights to make him a full citizen of this country. [....] CONCLUSION [....] This analysis has attempted to show that the weakness in the book flow from a wrong orientation and approach to our social and political problems, an approach which, taking racial categories as its point of departure, has the tendency, though not always, to go to the other extreme of Herrenvolkism - black racialism. It is a tendency that is all too prevalent in Colonial countries where class oppression and exploitation assume the form of and coincide with race and colour. But it is precisely the task of the democratic movement to strip this Colonial oppression of its racial garb and reveal its class content. All the differences which this critique has with this book are consequential upon the author's anthropological approach. In many respects they are indeed slight, being a matter of emphasis, of underlying principles, of seeing the wood for the trees and objectivity. And although we have reached an important stage in Mr. van Schoor's work on the road to sociological clarification on our political problems, I still consider that our main task in the field of history at present is to deal with and refute the arguments of the official historians writing South Africa's past. They still reign supreme. We are grateful to Mr. van Schoor for having taken another step in this direction. For the clarification of our past is the condition for the clarification of our present, and the clarification of our present the condition for the clarification of political theory and our future. The leadership of the enslaved masses must first understand the process of enslavement before they can lead them on the road to emancipation.

< Back giraffe , (genus Giraffa ), any of four species in the genus Giraffa of long-necked cud-chewing hoofed mammals of Africa, with long legs and a coat pattern of irregular brown patches on a light background. Giraffes are the tallest of all land animals; males (bulls) may exceed 5.5 metres (18 feet) in height, and the tallest females (cows) are about 4.5 metres. Using prehensile tongues almost half a metre long, they are able to browse foliage almost six metres from the ground. Giraffes are a common sight in grasslands and open woodlands in East Africa , where they can be seen in reserves such as Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Amboseli National Park . The genus Giraffa is made up of the northern giraffe ( G. camelopardalis ), the southern giraffe ( G. giraffa ), the Masai giraffe ( G. tippelskirchi ), and the reticulated giraffe ( G. reticulata ). Previous Next BACK TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE