cross cultural report on south africa

11/7/2011

Managing Cross Cultural Issue (MCCI) | ABHIK TUSHAR DAS (EMBA10), NITIRAJ RAJPUT (PGP10), VIRAL NORIYA (PGP10)

SCHOOL OF

PETROLEUM

MANAGEMENT

South Africa: A Cross Cultural Approach

School of Petroleum Management, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. Managing Cross Cultural Issues

AA A b h i k ( E M B A 1 0 ) , N i t i r a j ( P G P 1 0 ) , V i r a l ( P G P 1 0 )

Contents:

1. Population of the country; its influence in terms of PPP (Purchasing Power Parity)

and GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

2. Political turmoil history and tribal culture: Nelson Mandela and other national

leaders formed the policy of the nation and white and black population, opposition

to apartheid and racial discrimination

3. Resource rich country: Endowed with natural resources and also strategic location

from rags to riches, opportunities in sea trade serves as link to the history of Cape

Town

4. Kimberley the capital of the Northern Cape: Diamond mining, trading, roots of

DeBeers

5. Colour of flag reasons significance, agricultural produce long sea coast promote air

ways and international investment and tourist spot.

6. Start of Satyagrah from Gandhiji’s movement after the infamous train journey to

Pretoria; now the administrative capital

7. Sports: Rugby, cricket and football, hosting of FIFA World Cup as well as Cricket

World Cup

8. Music and dance forms, diversity, homogeneity and heterogeneity among the

culture

9. Dress and nature of people, gender issues patriarchal or matriarchal society

10. Crime rate, law and order, civil society status

11. Business sentiment, etiquette and environment: promotional activities to attract

foreign businesses

12. Indian business houses foray into African businesses with Airtel, Reliance and

Vodafone’s bid to acquire MTN

13. Cultural similarities and disparities between India and South Africa

14. Conclusion



A Brief Country History:

The Republic of South Africa (also referred to as South Africa, SA or RSA) is a country in

southern part of the African continent. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine

provinces, with 2,798 kilometres of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans. To the north of the

country lie the neighbouring territories of Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe; to the east are

Mozambique and Swaziland; while Lesotho is an enclave surrounded by South African territory

South Africa contains some of the oldest archaeological and human fossil sites in the world;

suggesting that various HOMININ (Human ancestral species) existed in South Africa from about

three million years ago. Today, South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the

world, which guarantees both civil and socio-economic rights and the political environment is

conducive to political debate, dialogue and contestation. South Africa’s 1994 transition from

apartheid to constitutional democracy remains one of the most important and impressive political

transitions of our time. It is a powerful demonstration of the proposition that a peaceful,

negotiated path from conflict and injustice to cooperation and reconciliation is possible; despite the

complex history of oppression, institutionalized violence, and diverse social fabric that has defined

South Africa. In 1487, the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias became the first European known

to have reached southern Africa, in 1652, a century and a half after the discovery of the Cape Sea

Route; Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope, at

what would become Cape Town for transporting slaves from Indonesia, Madagascar, and India as



labour for the colonists in Cape Town. The discovery of diamonds and later gold triggered the 19th-

century conflict known as the Anglo-Boer War, as the Boers (Dutch, Flemish, German, and French

settlers) and the British fought for the control of the South African mineral wealth resulting in Cape

Town becoming a British colony in 1806 after Great Britain took over the Cape of Good Hope area

in 1795, to prevent it from falling under control of the French First Republic, which had invaded the

Dutch Republic. In the Boer republics from as early as the Pretoria Convention (chapter XXVI) and

subsequent South African governments, the legislature passed legally institutionalised segregation,

later known as apartheid by established three racial classes: white, coloured (people of Asian or

mixed racial ancestry), and black, with rights and restrictions for each. In 1931 the union was

effectively granted independence from the United Kingdom but the Nationalist Government

classified all peoples into three races, developed rights and limitations for each, such as pass laws

and residential restrictions. The White minority enjoyed the highest standard of living, the Black

majority remained disadvantaged by almost every standard, including income, education, housing,

and life expectancy. On 31 May 1961, following whites-only referendum, the country became a

republic and left the Commonwealth. The Mahlabatini Declaration of Faith enshrined the principles

of peaceful transition of power and equality for all flowing which in 1990 the National Party

government took the first step towards dismantling discrimination when it lifted the ban on the

African National Congress and other political organisations by releasing Nelson Mandela from

prison after twenty-seven years' serving a sentence for sabotage. The government repealed

apartheid legislation, destroyed its nuclear arsenal, acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

and rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations. South Africa held its first universal elections in 1994,

which the ANC won by an overwhelming majority.

Population of the country; its influence in terms of PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) and GDP (Gross

Domestic Product):

South Africa is increasingly gaining prominence on the international stage where it is becoming a

more active participant in events such as the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund

and the World Bank, the G-20, G-24, and strategic alliances with emerging economies and alliances

such as BRIC and IBSA. Robust economic growth in the post-apartheid period has enabled a

measurable decline in income poverty. However, inequality has increased and as measured by the

Gini coefficient, inequality rose from 0.64 to 0.67 in the period 1995 to 2008 complemented with

the unemployment rate of over 25 percent, a disappointingly low life expectancy of 51 years,

having the largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world (over 5.5 million). The global

economic downturn forced South Africa’s first recession in 17 years but a turnaround supported by

a revival in the automobile industry as well as increased demand for chemical products in the

economy has prompted a 3 percent annual growth rate driven primarily by renewed global demand

for commodities and spending related to the World Cup 2010.



Population facts:

Province Capital Largest city Area (km²) Population

Eastern Cape Bhisho Port Elizabeth 168,966 6,829,958 Free State Bloemfontein Bloemfontein 129,825 2,759,644 Gauteng Johannesburg Johannesburg 18,178 11,328,203 KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg Durban 94,361 10,819,130 Limpopo Polokwane Polokwane 125,754 5,554,657 Mpumalanga Nelspruit Nelspruit 76,495 3,657,181 North West Mafikeng Rustenburg 104,882 3,253,390 Northern Cape Kimberley Kimberley 372,889 1,096,731 Western Cape Cape Town Cape Town 129,462 5,287,863

Ethnic groups:

a. 79.5% Black

b. 9.0% White

c. 9.0% Coloured

d. 2.5% Asian

Facts:

a. Total area 1,221,037 km2 (ranks 25th in world)

b. Population 50,586,757 (ranks 24th in world)

c. Total GDP $505.214 billion (ranks 26th in world) – in Purchasing Power Parity

d. Per capita GDP $10,243 (ranks 71st in world) – in Purchasing Power Parity

e. HDI Index: Ranks 123rd in the world (India ranks 134th)

f. Currency: Rand



Languages:

South Africa has eleven official languages: Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi,

Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu.

Religion:

Christians accounted for 79.7% of the population, members of other Christian churches accounted for

another 36% of the population, Muslims accounted for 1.5% of the population, Hindus about 1.3%, and

Judaism 0.2%. 15.1% had no religious affiliation, 2.3% were other and 1.4% was unspecified.

Food:

South African cuisine is heavily meat-based where beef was considered the absolutely most important and

high status meat, with some of the best vineyards to complement the meal. Black South Africans enjoy not

only beef, but mutton, goat, chicken and other meats as a centrepiece of a meal. On weekends, many Black

South African families, like white South Africans, have a "braai," and the meal usually consists of "pap and

vleis," which is maize porridge and grilled meat. Eating meat even has a ritual significance in both traditional

and modern Black South African culture. For weddings, initiations, the arrival of family members after a long

trip and other special occasions, families will buy a live animal and slaughter it at home, and then prepare a

large meal for the community or neighbourhood. Participants often say that spilling the blood of the animal

on the ground pleases deceased ancestors who invisibly gather around the carcass. On holiday weekends,

entrepreneurs will set up pens of live animals along the main roads of Black townships -- mostly sheep and

goats -- for families to purchase, slaughter, cook and eat. Beef being the most prized meat, for weddings,

affluent Black families often purchase a live steer for slaughter at home. Vegetarianism is generally met with

puzzlement among Black South Africans, although most meals are served with vegetables such as pumpkin,

beans and cabbage. Foreign visitors to South Africa should be aware that South Africans are so carnivorous

that inviting South Africans to dinner and serving a vegetarian meal may be interpreted as an insult even by

sophisticated urban people.



Climate:

The climatic zones vary, from the extreme desert of the southern Namib in the farthest northwest to the

lush subtropical climate in the east along the Mozambique border and the Indian Ocean. From the east, the

land quickly rises over a mountainous escarpment towards the interior plateau known as the Highveld. Even

though South Africa is classified as semi-arid, there is considerable variation in climate as well as topography

with an annual rainfall of 760 mm (29.9 in), Winters are cold, although snow is rare with temperatures as

low as −15 °C and summers have hottest temperatures of 50 °C maximum.

Political turmoil history and tribal culture: Nelson Mandela and other national leaders formed the

policy of the nation and white and black population, opposition to apartheid and racial

discrimination:

Identity pass for blacks:

With the enactment of apartheid laws in 1948, racial discrimination was institutionalized. Race laws

touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between non-whites and

whites, and the sanctioning of ``white-only'' jobs. In 1950, the Population Registration Act required

that all South Africans be racially classified into one of three categories: white, black (African), or

coloured (of mixed decent). The coloured category included major subgroups of Indians and Asians.

Classification into these categories was based on appearance, social acceptance, and descent. For

example, a white person was defined as ``in appearance obviously a white person or generally

accepted as a white person.'' A person could not be considered white if one of his or her parents

were non-white. The determination that a person was ``obviously white'' would take into account

``his habits, education, and speech and deportment and demeanour.'' A black person would be of

or accepted as a member of an African tribe or race, and a coloured person is one that is not black



or white. The Department of Home Affairs was responsible for the classification of the citizenry.

Non-compliance with the race laws were dealt with harshly. All blacks were required to carry ``pass

books'' containing fingerprints, photo and information on access to non-black areas.

In post-apartheid South Africa, unemployment has been extremely high as the country has

struggled with many changes. While many blacks have risen to middle or upper classes, the overall

unemployment rate of blacks worsened and poverty among whites, previously rare, increased.

Idea of homogeneity is paramount for South Africa because it remembers lost accounts of identity,

shaped by a common heritage of suffering. The African National Congress (ANC) is the new

dominance in post-apartheid South Africa and its ideological aim is to find a way to represent its

entire people, both black and white equally, while correcting the racial inequalities of the past.

Having set the stage for creating a discourse of sameness through its “building a rainbow nation”

campaign, it must now find the means to generate this Culture while simultaneously providing

spaces for differences in culture (not just race, but ethnicity, religion etc). “The Rainbow Nation”

campaign therefore celebrates the numerous cultures, ethnicities and religions of the peoples of

South Africa.

Tribal Dance:



Resource rich country: Endowed with natural resources and also strategic location from rags to

riches, opportunities in sea trade serves as link to the history of Cape Town:

In terms of biological diversity, South Africa ranks third in the world. The country has 68 vegetation

types classified into 7 biomes, from semi desert areas to and alpine forests. Two internationally

recognised biodiversity "hot-spots" are located in South Africa: the Cape Floristic Kingdom and the

Succulent Karoo. South African coast has over 10,000 species of plants and animals.

Originally, the whole economy was built on mining; approximately 55 different minerals are

produced from more than 700 mines, with gold, platinum, coal and diamonds dominating exports

and revenue earnings. There are also important deposits of iron and copper, while the Midlands

and KwaZulu-Natal have vast plantations of timber that are the basis for a multi-billion dollar

industry.

Only about 13 percent of South African soil is suitable for cultivation, of which 22 percent can be

classified as high-potential land with some 1.3 million hectares are under irrigation. Still, the

country is not only self-sufficient in almost all major agricultural products, but in a normal year it is

also a net food exporter, thanks to well-developed commercial farming. Exports include raw sugar,

fresh grapes, citrus, nectarines, wine, avocados, plums, maize, black tea, groundnuts, meat,

pineapples, tobacco, wool and cotton. Maize is the largest locally produced field crop and most

important source of carbohydrates for human and animal consumption.

The most immediate challenge to utilising South Africa’s natural resources and consequently to the

country’s economy as a whole is the lack of energy. The main local source of energy is coal. Other

local sources include biomass (such as wood and dung), natural gas, hydropower, nuclear power,

solar power and wind power. South Africa has very little oil reserves and most of its crude oil is

imported.

It is believed that water will increasingly become the limiting natural resource. South Africa is

looking towards other southern African countries for its water, but the risks of international

dependency on such a priority resource are high. South Africa was once a global leader in gold

mining and gold constituted well over fifty percent of South African exports, but the country has

been overtaken by China as the world's number one gold producer. Today, it is a misnomer to call

Johannesburg the city of gold: there is no more gold mining in the city other than the reprocessing

of mine dumps.

In the 1870s and 1880s Kimberley, encompassing the mines that produced 95% of the world's

diamonds, was home to great wealth and fierce rivalries, most notably that between Rhodes and

Barnato, English immigrants who consolidated early 31-foot-square prospects into ever larger

holdings and mining companies. In 1888, Rhodes prevailed and merged the holdings of both men

into De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd., a company that is still synonymous with diamonds. Today

South Africa is third in production in terms of value and is likely to stay that way for the foreseeable

future.



Colour of flag reasons significance, long sea coast promote air ways and tourist spot:

The national flag was designed by a former South African State Herald, Mr Fred Brownell, and was

first used on 27 April 1994. The design and colours are a synopsis of principal elements of the

country's flag history. Individual colours, or colour combinations represent different meanings for

different people and therefore no universal symbolism should be attached to any of the colours.

The only symbolism in the flag is the V or Y shape, which can be interpreted as the convergence of

diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity.

Coastline:

South Africa occupies the southern tip of Africa, its coastline stretching more than 2,500 km (1,553

mi) from the desert border with Namibia on the Atlantic (western) coast southwards around the tip

of Africa and then north to the border with Mozambique on the Indian Ocean . South Africa's

landscape is dominated by a high plateau in the interior, surrounded by a narrow strip of coastal

lowlands comprising the signature open grasslands and hill country of the south coast, with deep

cut ravines peppered with groves of aloe, and deep tidal estuaries cloaked on either bank with rich

and unsullied riparian forest.



Top 10 Attractions in South Africa:

1. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK: Experience the bushveld and romance of 'real' Africa

2. CAPE TOWN: Table Mountain, the Waterfront, Cape Point, Robben Island, Beaches, the

Winelands

3. DURBAN: An invigorating blend of India

4. BEACHES: Beautiful, long, lonely beaches on the West Coast or the sultry North Coast to the

most hip and hot in Cape Town

5. GARDEN ROUTE: Gorgeous beaches, rocky headlands, leafy forests and dramatic river cut

gorges, world class golf resorts

6. WINELANDS: A World Heritage Cultural Landscape, the classic Winelands of Paarl

7. EASTERN CAPE: Golden beaches, the Garden Route, Port Elizabeth, East London

8. THE KALAHARI & NAMAQUALAND: Bright carpets of wild flowers in Namaqualand, the black

maned lion of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

9. CULTURAL VILLAGES & TOWNSHIPS: Fascinating and colourful cultural villages

10. DRAKENSBERG: Dramatic mountain range is an awesome scenic destination with

beautiful rock art

Start of SATYAGRAH from Gandhiji’s movement after the infamous train journey to Pretoria; now

the administrative capital:

While travelling by train to Pretoria, Gandhiji experienced his first taste of racial discrimination.

Inspite of carrying first class ticket, he was indiscriminately thrown out of the train by the

authorities on the instigation of a white man. Instead of fleeing from the scene, Gandhiji stayed

back for 21 years to fight for rights of the Indians in South Africa. By May 1894, he had organized

the Natal Indian Congress. In 1896, he returned to India and enlisted support from some prominent

Indian leaders. He then returned to South Africa with 800 free Indians. Gandhiji exercised `self-



restraint'. His philosophy of SATYAGRAHA by winning the detractors with the peaceful restraint had

begun which ultimately culminated into India achieving Independence from British after a

prolonged freedom struggle. The places he touched are like a museum without walls, from the

thatch-roofed house he shared in Orchards to the home in TROYEVILLE (he lived here with his wife,

Kasturba and their three sons, Manilal, Ramdas and Devdas), from LINKSFIELD RIDGE (between

1909 and 1914, Gandhi stayed on and off with Kallenbach in The Tents) to TOLSTOY FARM (founded

in 1910 and disbanded in 1913 proved to be an ideal laboratory for Gandhi's educational

experiments; Gandhi's objective in this context was to inculcate the ideals of social service and

citizenship through all the activities of children from the earlier formative years) and of course,

around the law courts and Newtown in the inner city, the original “COOLIE LOCATION”. GANDHI

SQUARE; known as Government Square during Gandhi’s time, today it is a major bus terminus and

a prime example of urban regeneration houses statue of Gandhi as a young lawyer on the square,

and information panels about his connection with the area as he appeared here both as counsel

and accused.

Although the movement started by Gandhiji culminated into the union being effectively granted

independence from the United Kingdom in 1931, but the conditions of racial apartheid continued

for ages and was finally disbanded before the turn of the century in 1990. The attributes of a

peaceful freedom struggle can be bestowed on Gandhijis preaching of non-violent ways of protest.

Sports: Rugby, cricket and football, hosting of FIFA World Cup as well as Cricket World Cup:



Football: The right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup brings South Africa a unique opportunity that

extends well beyond football. One of the biggest impacts will come from the phenomenal

marketing and communication opportunity it will offer the country and the continent. As world

attention focuses on the first African Word Cup, this is an opportunity for Africans to tell their own

stories and to showcase South Africa and the continent in informing the world that they have much

to offer, that their people are ready to receive the world, ready to host those who come to the

World Cup and that when they come they would receive a wonderfully unforgettable African

experience. The FIFA World Cup was held between 11 June and 11 July (31 days) after Africa was

chosen as the host for the 2010 World Cup as part of a short-lived policy to rotate the event among

football confederations. The bids from African continent were from Egypt, Morocco, South Africa

and a joint bid from Libya and Tunisia, though South Africa had narrowly failed to win the right to

host the 2006 event. The economy got a boost as five new stadiums were built for the tournament,

and five of the existing venues were upgraded, construction costs were expected to be just over

US$1 billion. It also improved its public transport infrastructure within the host cities, including

Johannesburg's Gautrain and other metro systems, and major road networks. The 2010 World Cup

contributed approximately US$5.5 billion to the SA economy and created 415 000 new jobs.

Cricket:

In 1970, the ICC voted to suspend South Africa from international cricket indefinitely because of its

government's policy of apartheid, an overtly racist policy, which led them to play only against the

white nations (England, Australia, New Zealand), and field only white players. This decision

excluded players such as Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards and Mike Procter from partaking in

international Test Cricket. The ICC reinstated South Africa as a Test nation in 1991 after the

deconstruction of apartheid, and the team played its first sanctioned match since 1970 (and its first

ever One-Day International) against India in Calcutta on 10 November 1991.

Dazzle, official mascot of 2003 World Cup:



Rugby:

The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup and the first major sporting event to

take place in South Africa following the end of apartheid. It was hosted and won by South Africa,

and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country. The International

Rugby Football Board (IRFB, now the International Rugby Board) had only readmitted South Africa

to international rugby in 1992, following negotiations to end apartheid. When the Springboks won

the Rugby World Cup on home turf in 1995, Nelson Mandela donned the No 6 shirt of the team's

captain Francois Pienaar, a white Afrikaner, and the two embraced in a spontaneous gesture of

racial reconciliation that melted hearts around the country. A single moment, and 400 years of

colonial strife and bitterness suddenly seemed so petty.

Music and dance forms, diversity, homogeneity and heterogeneity among the culture:

Music and Dance:

The South African music includes both popular (jive) and folk forms. Pop styles are based on four

major sources, Zulu ISICATHAMIYA singing and harmonic MBAQANGA. South Africa is very diverse,

with many native African Ethnic groups as well as European and Indian peoples. The KHOI-KHOI, for

instance, developed the RAMKIE, a guitar with three or four strings, based on that of Malabar

slaves, and used it to blend KHOI and Western folk songs. The MAMOKHORONG was a single-string

violin that was used by the KHOI in their music-making and dances of the colonial centre, Cape

Town, which rapidly became a melting pot of cultural influences from all over the world. The

penetration of missionaries into the interior over the succeeding centuries also had a profound

influence on South African musical styles plus the later influence of American spirituals, spurred a

gospel movement that is still very strong in South Africa today. UMOJA'S dancers have no formal

training, they are drawn from communities, and many of them would have had their performing

experience in companies like that of Gibson KENTE. In 1897, Enoch SONTONGA, then a teacher,

composed the hymn NKOSI SIKELEL' IAFRIKA (God Bless Africa), which was later adopted by the

liberation movement and ultimately became the National Anthem of a democratic South Africa.

JAZZART, the oldest modern dance company in the country, has long been actively involved in

performing and teaching workshops and classes in disadvantaged communities. Artists like SYLVIA

GLASSER, TOSSIE VAN TONDER, CARLY DIBOKWANE, ADELE BLANK, ROBYN ORLIN, created a new

vocabulary of dance, working with their own companies, directing at FUBA (Federated Union of

Black Artists), and inspiring and nurturing local talent. South Africa's black townships were held in

thrall by what came to be called "BUBBLEGUM" - bright, light dance pop influenced by American

disco as much as by the heritage of MBAQANGA. In the two decades since rock stars such as Paul

Simon and Peter Gabriel enlivened their music with an African tinge, a stereotype has formed,

created by those crossover hits, many charity concerts and "THE LION KING": an ethnographically

rich pageant, politically relevant but somehow separate from the rest of pop.



South Africa has produced world-famous jazz musicians, notably HUGH MASEKELA, JONAS

GWANGWA, ABDULLAH IBRAHIM, MIRIAM MAKEBA, JONATHAN BUTLER, CHRIS MCGREGOR, and

SATHIMA BEA BENJAMIN. Afrikaans music covers multiple genres, such as the contemporary STEVE

HOFMEYR and the punk rock band FOKOFPOLISIEKAR. Crossover artists such as VERITY and JOHNNY

CLEGG and his bands JULUKA and SAVUKA have enjoyed various success underground, publicly, and

abroad.

Dress and nature of people, gender issues patriarchal or matriarchal society:

Dress:



South African clothing is the traditional clothing, often vibrantly coloured, worn by the indigenous

peoples of Africa. In some instances these traditional garments have been replaced by western

clothing introduced by European colonialists though distinctive shirts are worn for instance, South

Africa is known for the MADIBA shirt.

Cultural diversity patriarchal and heterogeneous society:

The South African black majority still has a substantial number of rural inhabitants who lead largely

impoverished lives. It is among these people, however, that cultural traditions survive most

strongly; as blacks have become increasingly urbanised and Westernised, aspects of traditional

culture have declined. Urban blacks usually speak English or Afrikaans in addition to their native

tongue. There are smaller but still significant groups of speakers of KHOISAN languages who are not

included in the eleven official languages, but are one of the eight other officially recognised

languages. There are small groups of speakers of endangered languages, most of which are from

the KHOI-SAN family, that receive no official status; however, some groups within South Africa

attempting to promote their use and revival.

Members of middle class, who are predominantly white but whose ranks include growing numbers

of black, coloured and Indian people have lifestyles similar in many respects to that of people found

in Western Europe, North America and Australasia. Members of the middle class often study and

work abroad for greater exposure to the markets of the world.



Gender roles diversity:

In general, all racial and ethnic groups in South Africa have long-standing beliefs concerning gender

roles, and most are based on the premise that women are less important, or less deserving of

power, than men. Most African traditional social organisations are male centred and male

dominated. Even in the 1990s, in some rural areas of South Africa, for example, wives walk a few

paces behind their husbands in keeping with traditional practices. A minority of ultra-conservative

Afrikaner's religious beliefs, too, include a strong emphasis on the theoretically biblically based

notion that women's contributions to society should normally be approved by, or be on behalf of,

men. English speaking whites tend to be the most liberal group, including on issues pertaining to

gender roles.

20th century economic and political developments presented South African women with both new

obstacles and new opportunities to wield influence. For example, labour force requirements in

cities and mining areas have often drawn men away from their homes for months at a time, and, as

a result, women have borne many traditionally male responsibilities in the village and home.

Women have had to guarantee the day-to-day survival of their families and to carry out financial

and legal transactions that otherwise would have been reserved for the patriarchal society.

Crime rate, law and order, civil society status:

Crime rate:

Crime rates in South Africa is among the highest in the world, each day an average of nearly 50

people are murdered. In addition to these 18,000 murders each year, there are another 18,000

attempted murders. There are extremely high a rate of unemployment in some areas which leads

to a large element of frustration often this sparks violence. The gap between rich and poor is still

widening and it leads to what is seen as relative deprivation where people in the very, very poor

communities, they see wealth which spurs crime. In view of increasing crime, there are junctions

signposted as carjacking black-spots, and there are areas where drivers will avoid stopping at red

lights, particularly at night, preferring the risk of a fine to the risk of hijack. Some of the violence can



be attributed to the fact that many foreign national work in South Africa where locals face

unemployment and hence attack foreigners, known as Xenophobia.

Law and Order:

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is the national police force of the Republic of South Africa

with 1116 police stations in South Africa is divided according to the provincial borders, and a

Provincial Commissioner is appointed in each province. The 9 Provincial Commissioners report

directly to the National Commissioner. The Constitution of South Africa lays down that the South

African Police Service has a responsibility to prevent, combat and investigate crime, maintain public

order, protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their property, uphold and enforce

the law, create a safe and secure environment for all people in South Africa.

Civil Society:

The South African Constitution is written in plain language. It is also written in gender neutral

language. But perhaps the most notable aspect of the South African Constitution is that it aims to

transform society and respond to our history of inequality and oppression. It is often described as

one of the most advanced and progressive Constitutions in the world. the content of the

Constitution was influenced in a large measure by both the public input as well as the deep

involvement of civil society in the negotiation process. The Constitution also attempts to protect

the continued involvement of the public and civil society in governance in various ways.

Legislatures at national and provincial level are also constitutionally required to facilitate public

involvement in their processes. This relationship is premised on civil society having a crucial role to

play in service delivery and policy-making with the State. Where civil society and government

appear to be committed to the same goals, and where government is largely made up of

longstanding political allies, a relationship of cooperation appears natural. Civil society also has an

important role to play in relation to the work of State institutions supporting constitutional

democracy, such as the South African Human Rights Commission. One of the most difficult issues

facing civil society in post-apartheid South Africa is how to maintain the delicate balance between

supports for the new Government while maintaining sufficient independence from it. Strategies like

collaboration, monitoring, assistance, and even policing of the State are appropriate for civil society

in South Africa if they are needed to achieve that goal.



Business sentiment, etiquette and environment: promotional activities to attract foreign

businesses:

Business Sentiments:

The industrial sector (which includes manufacturing, construction, agriculture, mining etc.) has

witnessed an increase of business confidence. South African currency was the worst performer

globally among Emerging Market Currencies so far this year, and all because of happening in China.

Asia has replaced Europe as South Africa’s biggest export market, and China now accounts for

almost 30 percent of the country’s exports to the continent.

South African GDP Trend:

Currency Trend (RAND vs USD):



South African manufacturing production accounts for around 15 percent of the total economy,

which is ranked as an upper-middle income economy by the World Bank. Advanced development is

significantly localised around four areas: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Pretoria–

Johannesburg, beyond these four economic centres, development is marginal and poverty is still

prevalent. The South African rand is the most actively traded emerging market currency in the

world and was the best-performing currency against the United States dollar (USD) between 2002

and 2005, according to the Bloomberg Currency Scorecard. Main industries can be classified as

mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metal

working, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertiliser, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair.

The industrial centre of Africa, South Africa's abundant supply of natural resources has helped to

generate the largest and best developed economy on the African continent. GDP per capita

(purchasing power parity) ranks the country as one of the 50 wealthiest in the world. South Africa

has immense potential as an investment destination, with a highly developed economic

infrastructure and one of the most promising and vibrant emerging market economies across the

globe.

Working practices in South Africa;

1. Schedule business appointments as far in advance as possible, preferably a month or two

before the intended visit. Always confirm the appointment by calling the day before.

2. Formal meetings and appointments usually begin and end on time. However, you may be

kept waiting a few minutes by certain groups of South Africans who more relaxed in their

time are keeping. Whichever the case, you should always aim to arrive promptly.

3. Generally, working hours in South Africa are Monday to Friday; 8-8.30 am to 5pm. South

Africans very rarely work on Saturdays and Sundays.

Business practices in South Africa;

1. On the whole, titles are not used in South African business settings. However, some honorary doctorates may wish to be addressed in this way. When addressing a female colleague, it is advised to avoid using the term ‘Miss’ in business conversations. If the female’s marital status is not known, it is best to leave those terms out as they may cause offense.

2. Greeting styles in South Africa vary depending on the ethnic heritage of the South African. For example, English-speaking South Africans tend to adopt a rather polite and formal manner of address. Black South Africans are generally less informal and more personal when greeting those they do not know. The common practice in most cases for an initial gesture of communication however, is to offer a firm handshake. For female associates, it is advised to wait for the woman to offer their hand first.

3. Initial meetings for South African companies are about establishing personal rapport and developing mutual trust, two vital elements in South African business culture. At this stage, judgments are made before any further business negotiations are conducted. In order to secure long term business success in South Africa, relationship building and networking are paramount.



4. The overall aim during business negotiations in South Africa is to reach a general consensus. South Africans prefer to see a fair, win-win situation where all sides gain something from the deal, and for this reason, confrontations and aggressive bartering over prices should be avoided.

Structure and hierarchy in South African companies;

1. Despite being a somewhat egalitarian society, business people in South Africa have a lot of respect for senior executives and colleagues who have obtained their position through diligence and perseverance.

2. In South African companies, decision-making power typically lies with the most senior person at the top of the company. However, in accordance with African culture, final decisions are often made following consultation with subordinates.

Working relationships in South Africa;

1. For the most part, South Africans prefer to do business with those they have met previously.

Consequently, formal letters of introduction from a known third party may help you to

reach key decision-makers easily and therefore speed up the business process.

2. A vital part of African culture is respect for one’s ancestors and elders. It is deemed highly

offensive to most South Africans if the proper respect for an elder is not shown, especially in

more rural areas.



South African Business Etiquette (Do’s and Don’ts);

Do’s Don’ts Include deadline dates in contracts, as the South African approach to deadlines is particularly casual and firm commitments are not often made.

Raise your voice or interrupt whilst your South African counterparts are speaking. Both actions lack the personal approach to a business relationship and therefore may be interpreted as an insult.

Maintain eye-contact at all times, especially when shaking hands with your South African business colleagues. This is an essential part of developing trust.

Surprised if your South African business colleagues ask what may seem to be personal questions about your way of life after a relatively brief period of time. Characteristically, South Africans tend to be warm and friendly people.

Dress conservatively, particularly for initial meetings with new business associates.

Show impatience towards decision making. Forcing deadlines or rushing deals may prove counterproductive since the pace of business in South Africa is reasonably slow and protracted.

Indian business houses foray into African businesses with Airtel, Reliance and Vodafone’s bid to

acquire MTN:

South Africa is India's second largest trading partner. Trade between the two countries was $10.6

billion in 2010-11. To boost the country’s trade with the Sub-Saharan African region, the

Government of India launched the “Focus: Africa” programme under the EXIM Policy 2002-07 to

promote bilateral and regional commercial relations with the COMESA Region. Tata Motors and its

rival, Indian car giant Mahindra & Mahindra have made inroads into the South African motor

industry with the recent launch of new vehicles. Tata Africa Holdings, a subsidiary of the Tata

Group, is vying for a controlling stake in South Africa's second telephone network operator worth

more than RANDS 4 billion. Total bilateral trade between India and South Africa is approaching

RAND 6.5 billion, with imports from India at RAND 3.12 billion and exports to India at RAND 3.35

billion. Indian investment in South Africa is estimated at US$100 million.

Africa’s telecom environment has become hugely active in recent years. This activity has been

largely triggered by the rapid take up of mobile services in many African countries. A rapid growth

in mobile subscribers has led to a flurry of interest in the acquisition of African mobile assets by

various operators, both from within and without Africa, as they perceive the region to be one of

last remaining big potential telecom markets. A $22.7 billion deal between India's Bharti Airtel Ltd.

and South Africa's MTN Group Ltd. alone represents about 25 percent of the total telecom M&A

activity in the first half of 2009. The idea is for BHARTI to take a 49 percent stake in MTN, and MTN

to take a 36 percent stake in BHARTI, with a full merger as the ultimate goal. Another very big name

to plunge into the region’s consolidation is Vodafone Group plc which in May 2009 achieved its

long-held ambition of acquiring a controlling stake in South Africa’s largest mobile operator,

Vodacom, previously an equal joint venture with the country’s former incumbent, Telkom. Tata

took a controlling stake in South Africa's second national operator NEOTEL (PTY) LTD in January

2009.



Cultural similarities between India and South Africa:

South African Indian culture began in 1860 when the first immigrants arrived on board the Truro as indentured

labourers to work on sugar-cane farms in present day KwaZulu-Natal. During the period of British rule, Indian

immigrants brought with them to South Africa the heritage of an ancient caste system. Each caste was a

distinct, exclusive social entity that bound a member from birth to death. The caste system was characterised

by a strict hierarchy and contact between the different castes brought unforgivable disgrace. That those on the

lower rungs of the hierarchy emigrated as indentured labourers is understandable; that any one of elevated

position should choose to do so, despite this involving social contact with those of low caste, even sharing

amenities, is remarkable and indicates how compelling the economic and other factors were. It also reflects

the cultural similarities between Untouchability and Apartheid. Indian culture in South Africa faced struggles in

the face of discrimination until 1994 with the abolition of the Apartheid.

The national dress of India, the SAREE (six yards of unstitched cloth draped to impart grace and elegance) is

to be found on South African street. Indian cuisine is hugely popular with Indian restaurants all over the

country. And the fever for cricket that grips India is very much in evidence in KWA ZULU NATAL, where the

first Indians were introduced.

There are many aspects of cultural similarity between India and South Africa and hence many companies who

feel that as Indian Markets saturate, it is a wise decision scout for niche markets such as South Africa.



Conclusion:

When working in the global commercial environment, knowledge of the impact of cultural

differences is one of the keys to international business success. Regardless of the sector in which

you operate finance, technology, or computers and consumer electronics; global cultural

differences will directly impact on you and the profitability of your business. Improving levels of

cultural awareness can help companies build international competencies and enable individuals to

become more globally sensitive. This culture-focused study of South Africa would help students in

acquiring international business expertise through cultural interpretation of a different culture.

This country-specific report on gives a comprehensive description of South African business culture

which will help you to interact more effectively with your South African clients and colleagues. Few

other countries offer the business visitor the number of apparent contradictions that can be found

in South Africa. It is difficult to think of another country, anywhere in the world, which contains

such a diverse mixture of first world economic infrastructure and third world poverty. For a country

which is undergoing rapid and unprecedented changes, where many of the old structures (both

economic and social) have been swept away in a maelstrom of post-apartheid adjustments, what is

true in South African business today may not be true tomorrow. By far the biggest change to have

hit South Africa has, of course, been the abolition of the apartheid system and the integration of

the majority black population into the mainstream political system. Although the transition from

apartheid to the current RAINBOW NATION status appears from the outside to have been achieved

relatively smoothly, it would be nice to believe that there are no longer enormous racial tensions

within the country.

Hence to conclude, South Africa provides huge business opportunities to global business but owing

to its unique culture not many businesses are successful in African markets with wide social and

cultural disparities. Hence for a business graduate it is of umpteen importance to know about cross

cultural issues so as to effectively deal with local markets.



Bibliography:

a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa

b. http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.comp.html

c. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0000/000024/002428eo.pdf

d. http://www.iwm.at/publ-jvc/jc-11-08.pdf

e. http://www.southafricaweb.co.za/page/natural-resources-south-africa

f. http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/diamonds/africa.html

g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_cuisine

h. http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/symbols/flag.htm

i. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_South_Africa

j. http://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/aboutgandhi/biography_southafrica.htm

k. http://www.joburg.org.za/culture/built-heritage/gandhi-in-joburg/about-gandhi-in-

johannesburg

l. http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter7.pdf

m. http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/rugby.htm#ixzz1cwkridAM

n. http://www.southafrica.info/about/arts/music.htm#ixzz1cx1kn7IJ

o. http://www.sacsis.org.za/site/home/

p. http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_GX/global/services/article/58368753f8993210VgnVCM2

00000bb42f00aRCRD.htm

q. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_South_Africa

r. http://southafricaeconomywatch.blogspot.com/

s. http://www.communicaid.com/access/pdf/library/culture/doing-business-

in/Doing%20Business%20in%20South%20Africa.pdf

t. http://www.africa-business.com/features/india_africa.html

u. http://www.moviuscorp.com/files/news/lightreading-aug09.pdf

v. http://www.essaysbyekowa.com/olmecs.htm

w. http://www.tamilsa.org/cms/scripts/culture1.php

x. http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa

http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~cale/cs201/apartheid.comp.html

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0000/000024/002428eo.pdf

http://www.iwm.at/publ-jvc/jc-11-08.pdf

http://www.southafricaweb.co.za/page/natural-resources-south-africa

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/diamonds/africa.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_cuisine

http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/symbols/flag.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_South_Africa

http://www.gandhi-manibhavan.org/aboutgandhi/biography_southafrica.htm

http://www.joburg.org.za/culture/built-heritage/gandhi-in-joburg/about-gandhi-in-johannesburg

http://www.joburg.org.za/culture/built-heritage/gandhi-in-joburg/about-gandhi-in-johannesburg

http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter7.pdf

http://www.southafrica.info/about/sport/rugby.htm#ixzz1cwkridAM

http://www.southafrica.info/about/arts/music.htm#ixzz1cx1kn7IJ

http://www.sacsis.org.za/site/home/

http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_GX/global/services/article/58368753f8993210VgnVCM200000bb42f00aRCRD.htm

http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_GX/global/services/article/58368753f8993210VgnVCM200000bb42f00aRCRD.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_South_Africa

http://southafricaeconomywatch.blogspot.com/

http://www.communicaid.com/access/pdf/library/culture/doing-business-in/Doing%20Business%20in%20South%20Africa.pdf

http://www.communicaid.com/access/pdf/library/culture/doing-business-in/Doing%20Business%20in%20South%20Africa.pdf

http://www.africa-business.com/features/india_africa.html

http://www.moviuscorp.com/files/news/lightreading-aug09.pdf

http://www.essaysbyekowa.com/olmecs.htm

http://www.tamilsa.org/cms/scripts/culture1.php

http://www.worldbusinessculture.com/

cross cultural report on south africa

Travel

school of south africa

republic of south africa

southern africa

south africas

definedsouth africa

school of petroleum

southern tip of africa

south african mineral