EurAuPair

WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA - THE RAINBOW NATION!

By Erin Dart, EurAupair South Africa

"South Africa is a country in which one can expect the unexpected. An inspiration for all. What made it possible was the determination of the people of South Africa to work together … to transform bitter experiences into the binding glue of a rainbow nation." UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

South Africa is located at the most southern tip of the continent of Africa, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and by the Indian Ocean on the south and east. South Africa occupies an area nearly three times that of California. Although many people may believe that, being a country in Africa, we have wildlife roaming in our back-yards, South Africa is one of the fastest developing third world countries. Having been selected as the host for the 2010 soccer world cup, South Africa is booming with development and hope for the future!

While the South Africa of today may have its eye on tomorrow, but it also has one of the most unique pasts. With the Dutch settling in the Cape in the 1600s, a long turbulent history of power struggles and land battles ensued. After numerous wars and a succession of different governments (having been ruled by the Dutch and the British), South Africa finally gained independence from Britain in 1910.

The Apartheid era began in 1948 and continued throughout the twentieth century until the early 1990s. During this time, as much of the world knows, black South Africans were severely marginalised and oppressed under various laws that the white minority government imposed upon them. During the 1980s, as a result of the apartheid government, South Africa was cut off from the rest of the World through sanctions and embargos. Apartheid came to a head in the 1980s following a huge Youth Uprising against the forced learning of Afrikaans in schools which was the catalyst for the violence that started to erupt against the government from underground anti-apartheid groups. Finally, in 1989, after much violent resistance to the regime and with a completely deflated economy, President FW De Klerk openly admitted the failure of the apartheid policies and paved the way for free and fair elections. With the release of Nelson Mandela from Prison in 1990, South Africa looked to the future with hope and the democracy was born in 1994.

With over 48 million people of diverse origins and cultures including the indigenous black peoples of South Africa, white Europeans, Indians, Indo-Malays, Chinese and many more, diversity is part and parcel of South Africa. Still, most provinces in South Africa continue to be known for the peoples or tribes who originated from there. For example, in KwaZuluNatal (also known as the Zulu Kingdom or Zululand) in the northeast, the Zulu, a very strong tribe whose traditions have survived to modern day, are known for beautiful and colourful beadwork. Every colour of bead has a different meaning and stories can be told through beadwork!

The Eastern Cape (found in the southeast of the country) was inhabited originally by the Xhosa tribe who have been named the "red people" because of the red-dyed clothing many adults wear. Xhosa traditional music places a strong emphasis on group singing and handclapping as accompaniment to dance. Drums are used occasionally and other instruments used include rattles, whistles, flutes, mouth harps, and stringed-instruments constructed with a bow and resonator.

In the Western Cape, there is the Cape Coloured population who are of mixed background, descending from different nationalities including the local Khoi-san (bushman tribe from the Northern Cape), Dutch, British and many other people that settled in the Cape. They are known for their hospitality, love of rich and tasty cape-Malay foods and the famous minstrel carnival which takes place at the beginning of every year. As one can see, variety is most certainly the spice of life in South Africa!

Not surprisingly, South Africa recognises 11 official languages. English is the language of administration and is spoken throughout the country. The other official languages are: Afrikaans, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsongo, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.

Even with all the diversity of its peoples and languages, there is still one thing that almost all South Africans can agree on – meat and plenty of it! Steakhouses are very common and ‘braais’ (barbecues) are widely popular and include ‘boerewors’ (farmer sausage) which is a local specialty, ‘mielies’ (corn on the cob), other meats and salad. Another South African favorite is a POTJIE (pronounced poy-kee or potch-ee depending on where you are from in South Africa). This is a 3 legged cast iron pot, where ingredients (similar to stews) slow cook for hours over a fire/braai until juicy and flavorsome!

Indian food like curry is also popular, especially in Durban with its large Indian population. Another local Indian Durban specialty is the 'bunny' or bunny chow, which consists of a hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled with curry. Cape Townians enjoy their curry with a ‘roti’ or Indian pancake. Cape Malay dishes have their origins in Southeast Asia. Bobotie is a popular dish (originating in Europe) which was adapted to suit the Cape Malay palate. It is made from curried lamb, fruit and bread, served with rice, and sosatie, a type of barbecued meat.

The Portuguese community has also made its mark, with spicy peri-peri chicken being a favourite. The South African Portuguese-themed restaurant chain Nando's now has restaurants throughout the world. Another favourite among most South Africans is biltong, a form of dried meat usually made from beef or game, and often consumed while watching sporting events. Biltong is extremely popular and is widely loved by people of all cultures.

In general, South Africans are warm and down to earth. They enjoy the outdoors and love to entertain friends and family and spend weekends in outdoor activities, shopping, church activities or just with family. So, why not welcome a bit of Africa into your home this year by hosting an au pair from South Africa?

FACTS

Government: Constitutional Democracy

Capital: Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative)

Largest city: Johanesburg (3,900,000)

Population: 49,320,000

Languages: 11 official languages: English (language of administration), Afrikaans, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsongo, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.

Independence: from England in 1910