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"You can't be a real country unless you have real sportsmen and an airline - it
also helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons,
but at the very least you need lots of beer". Unknown
 South
Africa:
Frequent questions
This was the year of the
World Cup, hosted here in South Africa. Don't know where South Africa is?
Don't know how to get here? Scared of being eaten by lions? Want to know what
the beer is like? Our answers to frequently asked questions about South Africa
that will set your mind at ease … and may surprise you.
South Africa? Where's that?
We're on the southern tip of
Africa
(that lozenge-shaped continent east of
America,
south of Europe and west of China), where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
We have nine provinces: Gauteng, the smallest and most densely populated,
adjoins Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga in the north; the Northern Cape, the
largest province with the smallest population, is in the west; the Free State is
in the middle of the country; and the coastal provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, the
Eastern Cape and the Western Cape lie to the south.
Well, what's the place like?
Believe it or not, we have cities. With roads. And skyscrapers. And electric
lights. And traffic jams.
South Africa is
the powerhouse of Africa, the most advanced, broad-based economy on the
continent, with infrastructure to match any first-world country.
You can drive on
wide, tarred highways all 2 000 kilometres from Musina at the very top of the
country to
Cape Town at the bottom. Or join over 7-million
international travellers who disembark at our airports every year.
Two-thirds of
Africa's electricity is generated here. Forty percent of the phones are here.
Twenty percent of the world's gold and 77% of its platinum is mined here. And
almost everyone who visits is astonished at how far a dollar, euro or pound will
stretch ...
And the people?
South Africa
is a nation of over 46-million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages
and beliefs. Africans are in the majority at 37.2-million, some 79.4% of the
population. The white population is estimated at 4.4-million (9.3%), the
coloured population at 4.1-million (8.8%) and the Indian or Asian population at
1.1-million (2.5%).
And we're good
company. "We can say that the people of South Africa were always friendly, very
boisterous and constantly celebrating during our visit to the country," Fifa's
inspection team said in their country report. "[They] would stop and show their
joy and support of the country's commitment whenever our group passed by."
Do South Africans speak English?
Yes, indeed. Everywhere you go, you can expect to find people who speak or
understand English. English is the language of the cities, of commerce and
banking, of government, of road signs and official documents. Road signs and
official forms are in English. The President makes his speeches in English. At
any hotel, the receptionists, waiters and porters will speak English.
Another major
language is Afrikaans, a derivative of Dutch, which northern Europeans will find
surprisingly easy to follow.
Major Cities?
Johannesburg
- The economic hub of Africa, Johannesburg is a bustling, sprawling city of
contrasts, spread across the small but densely populated province of Gauteng.
Two Johannesburg stadiums will be used for the event.
Pretoria
- A pretty, quiet city north of
Johannesburg
in Gauteng, Pretoria is the capital of South Africa, with a long, involved and
fascinating history.
Cape Town
- South Africa's oldest and loveliest city lies in
Table Bay
on the Atlantic Ocean, in the south of the Western Cape province. Beautiful
buildings, the nearby winelands, long white beaches and a rich cultural life
make Cape Town South
Africa's most favoured tourist destination.
Durban
- If Johannesburg has a business culture and
Cape Town
a culture culture, Durban has a beach culture. The warm
Indian Ocean and the city's tropical climate make it one of
the nicest places to be in the South African winter.
Port Elizabeth
- The Friendly City lies in Nelson Mandela Bay on the windswept Wild Coast of
the Eastern Cape province.
Bloemfontein
- The former capital of a Boer republic and now capital of the Free State,
Bloemfontein - the name means "flower fountain" - is a pretty city with
thousands of rose bushes and some poignant memorials.
Rustenburg
- Its tranquil Jacaranda-lined streets belie the fact that the Rustenburg area
in North West province is one of the world's most heavily mined regions, with a
wealth of platinum underground.
Nelspruit
- The capital of Mpumalanga province lies in the fertile valley of the
Crocodile River,
about 330km east of Johannesburg.
Polokwane
- The capital of Limpopo province is ideally situated near the border of the
wildlife-rich Kruger National Park.
What time zone is
South Africa in?
During June and July, when the 2010 tournament will be held, our time is the
same as that in most European countries - including Germany - and an hour ahead
of the
UK.
So matches that kick off at
9pm here should be comfortable viewing for
Europeans, but people watching in
California will
have to skive off work at
12 noon,
and pity the Socceroo supporters in
Sydney,
all huddled around their TV sets at five in the morning.
What's the
weather like?
The World Cup will be held in the southern hemisphere winter, but it's warm here
in Africa.
Johannesburg will
be dry, with sunny days and fairly chilly nights. Rustenburg, Pretoria and
Nelspruit will be warmer, but
Bloemfontein
will be cold. Polokwane in the north will be dry and hot, warmer than most
European summers.
Durban will be
pleasant and warm, with some humidity - and the deliciously balmy Indian Ocean
to swim in. And while
Cape Town is magnificent in good weather - and it
can have good weather in winter - in June the city is generally cold, wet and
windy, and its ocean virtually frozen.
How will I get to
South Africa?
By air - unless you have a boat or rugged overland vehicle. South Africa has 10
international airports, in
Johannesburg,
Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Polokwane, East London, Bisho, George,
Phalaborwa and
Alexander
Bay. Operated by
the Airports Company of SA, these together handle over 200 000 aircraft landings
and 23-million passengers annually.
All of the
world's major airlines fly here, departing from most international airports. The
national airline, South African Airways, serves more than 700 destinations
throughout the world, carrying more than 6.5-million passengers every year.
How do I travel between the cities?
By plane, train, automobile … or bus. The host cities are all linked by air and
train routes, and
South Africa
has a number of first-rate tour bus companies to carry you in comfort. South
Africa's road infrastructure is excellent, so it's a viable option to rent a
car, a four-wheel drive or even a motorcycle.
How will I get around?
Okay, South African public transport is not up to the standard of
New York or
London, but as most of us don't own cars we make a plan. If you're adventurous
you could take a minibus taxi, by far the most popular form of public transport.
At the moment the national fleet is a bit of a wreck, but by 2010 a massive
recapitalisation plan, currently underway, is likely to have replaced the old
vehicles with larger and safer small buses.
Most of the host
cities have Metrorail train and Metro bus systems, and there are numerous meter
cab companies. Otherwise, you can rent a car or use your hotel's courtesy
transport.
Where can I stay?
"The hotel sector in South Africa is first-rate," the Fifa inspection team said
in its country report. "There are enough hotel rooms to accommodate everyone
taking part in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, including media representatives and fans
from around the world, both in the main towns … and in the other towns suggested
as 2010 Fifa World Cup venues."
If you don't have
the wherewithal for even the reasonable rates of South Africa's hotels, other
options are the many bed & breakfast establishments in and around all the host
cities, and over 150 backpacker lodges.
Will I be able to phone home?
That, and more. With a network that is 99% digital and includes the latest in
fixed-line, wireless and satellite communication,
South Africa has
the most developed telecommunications network in Africa. The country's three
cellular operators provide telephony to over 20-million subscribers - nearly
half the population.
Is it safe to walk around?
Like anywhere, only if you don't go wandering about deserted streets at the dead
of night. Yes, there is crime in
South Africa.
But, like the people who happily live here, you really don't need to do much
more than take all the usual sensible precautions. Know where you're going
before you set off, particularly at night, watch your possessions, and lock your
doors at night.
"As long as
people attending the 2010 Fifa World Cup ... keep within certain boundaries,
they should not encounter any trouble," the Fifa inspection team said in their
country report.
"The Inspection
Group received an excellent, comprehensive work schedule from one of the high
commanders of the national police, covering stadiums, media centres and main
hotels, that will doubtless satisfy every requirement for the event."
Can I drink the water?
South Africa
has a first-world infrastructure, but its water is far better than that of most
developed countries. High-quality tap (faucet) water is available almost
everywhere, treated to be free of harmful micro organisms and both palatable and
safe to drink straight from the tap. Johannesburg's water, for one, is as good
as anything you'll get in a bottle.
What if I get
sick, or have an accident?
"On the whole, the health system has excellent facilities and perhaps one of the
best private health systems in the world, drawing on modern technology and
highly qualified specialists and medical staff," the Fifa inspection team said
in its report.
What's the beer like?
Cold and delicious. South Africans generally drink bottled beer, although most
pubs offer a range of draughts. The major producer is South African Breweries,
now a huge multinational doing business across the world. Lager is probably the
favourite, followed by pilsener. In and around the stadiums, though, you'll only
be able to drink beer produced by Budweiser, an official Fifa sponsor.
And the food?
Yummy, exotic and varied. As we said, South Africa's people have diverse
origins, cultures, languages and beliefs, and their food is a correspondingly
rich smorgasbord.
For the more
daring, we offer culinary challenges from crocodile sirloins to fried
caterpillars to sheep heads - delicious. For the less brave, there are
indigenous delicacies such as biltong (dried, salted meat), bobotie (a
much-improved version of shepherd's pie) and boerewors (hand-made farm sausages,
grilled on an open flame).
On a single city
street you'll find Italian restaurants, two or three varieties of Chinese
cookery, Japanese, Moroccan, French, Portuguese and Indian food. Not far away
are Congolese restaurants, Greek, even Brazilian and Korean establishments, and,
everywhere, fusion, displaying the fantasies of creative chefs.
Other than watch football, what else is there to do?
So, so much, but where to begin? Try here:
And the night-life?
Pubs, wine bars, township taverns known as shebeens, nightclubs, a variety of
restaurants, mainstream theatre, avant-garde theatre, dinner theatre, movies …
there are plenty of places to celebrate or cry into your beer after the match.
Are there lions in the streets?
Um, no. But if you want to see lions - and leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalos
and more - visit one of the many wildlife lodges and game parks across the
country, which include the huge and magnificent
Kruger National
Park.
" Wake up Guys, its time for a sundowner"
Is
South Africa a democracy?
South Africa
is a vigorous multi-party democracy with an independent judiciary and a free and
diverse press. One of the world's youngest - and most progressive -
constitutions protects both citizens and visitors. You won't be locked up for
shouting out your opinions, however contrary. (But be careful about smoking
cigarettes in crowded restaurants!)
What currency does
South Africa use?
South Africa's
unit of currency is the rand, which is divided into 100 cents. Coins come in
denominations of 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5, and notes in denominations of
R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200. With a favourable exchange rate for many
international currencies, you'll find South
Africa a very inexpensive destination.
Are there modern
banks?
South Africa
has a world-class, sophisticated financial sector, abreast of all the latest
technological trends. From the moment you step off the plane you'll start seeing
banks, bureaux de change and automatic tellers (ATMs) all over. All major credit
cards can be used, foreign banks are well represented, and you can bank by ATM
or internet.
What is a vuvuzela?
Some would say it's South Africa's national musical instrument. It's a big
plastic trumpet, brightly coloured, and is blown with gusto by all fans at every
football match in the country. The sound it makes is something between the
bellows of a constipated elephant and the buzzing of a giant swarm of baritone
bees, but we like it.
Why did Fifa
award the World Cup to
South Africa?
Fifa decided that the 2010 tournament would be hosted by an African country,
with five countries - South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya - in the
running. In 2004 the organisation's inspection committee announced that South
Africa had the potential to organise an "excellent" World Cup - compared to
Egypt and Morocco's potential to organise "very good" World Cups, Tunisia's
potential to organise a "good" World Cup, and the probability that Libya would
"face great difficulties in organising a World Cup to the standards required".
Are South
Africans nice people?
Visitors to the country always remark on how warm, friendly and welcoming South
Africans are. We've had a difficult past, so we don't waste time making new
friends. And we're expert at having fun.
Can I use my
hairdryer?
Electricity is generally 220/230 volts, 15 amps, and is supplied through either
15-amp three-prong or 5-amp two-prong plugs, in both cases with round pins. If
you're bringing anything electrical, bring an adapter – or you could buy one
here. Generally, the 110V video chargers work safely on the 220V supply.
Television is on the
PAL
system.
Is it true that
there are robots on the street corners?
Yes, there are. In
South Africa,
traffic lights are known as robots, although no-one knows why. A pick-up
truck is a bakkie, sneakers are takkies, a barbeque is a braai,
an insect is a gogga and an alcoholic drink is a dop.
If it all gets a bit much, where's the best place to go to
avoid the whole show?
There are many remote places to escape to in South Africa's varied landscape,
from the massive Drakensberg range of mountains, which run like a spine down the
length the country, to the weird rock formations of the Cedarburg mountains in
the west, the
Northern Cape's
haunting Richtersveld area, and the vast plains of the Karoo desert. Or you
could just find a secluded beach on the country's 2 500 kilometres of coastline
and bask in the African sun.
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