10 Reasons to be Proudly South African

We’re celebrating our heritage, and here are 10 reasons why you should be Proudly South African.

South Africa has faced seemingly insurmountable challenges and we have one of the most horrifically unique political histories of all time. We're here to celebrate the lemonade we have made from the lemons of our past. We can acknowledge how far we’ve come as one of Africa’s most successful countries, how far we have to go, and we rejoice in what makes us who we are! Here are CapeTownMag’s 10 reasons to be Proudly South African:

1. A braai
The tastiest of our 10 reasons is, of course, the South African-style barbeque. Chops, boerewors, skilpadjies (tortoise), Afrikaans-style potato salad with egg and condensed milk and even a side of Kasi pap! We’re some of the only people in the world to cook over fire because, well, it just tastes better!

2. The Please Call Me
Invented by Nkosana Makate to ensure his girlfriend would always let him know when she wanted to speak to him (even when she didn’t have airtime), the simple 'Please Call Me' we’ve all used has helped Vodacom generate billions of Rands in revenue.

3. Township Parties
It’s a Friday night and the tshisa nyama (braai vendor) is well underway. You can get a ngud (quart) of Black Label from the spaza shop on the corner for less than 20 bob or dance your night away at the famous Mzoli’s to kwaito tunes you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

4. The Big Five
Many foreigners often assume we have elephants and lions roaming in our literal backyard and although our immediate backyard may not be completely correct (unless you live in the Kruger National Park), our country is home to the most amazing wildlife and some of the last rhinos left on the planet.

5. Bunny Chow
Whether you’re from Chatsworth and your mother makes you a hot, hot Durban bunny on the regular or you’re just a frequent visitor to Indian Food Inn, we know you’ll agree when we say there’s not much else that can fill you up the way a good old hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with hearty curry can.

6. Growing Athletic Dominance
South Africans stood proud as our national athletes made their mark at the World Championships in Athletics, which took place in London this year. All eyes were on team South Africa, who put in their best performance to date. Cape Town born Wayde Van Niekerk went home with two medals; defending his title in the 400m sprints and achieving silver in the 200m. Caster Semenya turned up the heat by winning gold and breaking the national record in the women’s 800m, as well as taking bronze in the 1500m. Long jumpers Luvo Manyonga’s and Ruswahl Samaai’s performances brought in a gold and bronze medal, respectively. SA ended third overall and outclassed athletic supremacies like Britain and Ethiopia.

7. Table Mountain
Our burly backdrop is a World Wonder and it’s no doubt why. Capetonians will know what we’re talking about when we say the monumental beauty of our mountain truly never gets old. From tumbling tablecloth clouds to free cable car rides on your birthday, there is really no other mountain quite like it.

8. South African slang 
China, my boet, you must tune us one time if you know anyone else in the world who will invite you to a jol on their stoep, or share a couple of cold brews with a bru. Stiek uit (pull through) if you do! We will pay you 5 Tiger if you know anyone that talks as kwaai (cool) as us Saffers do. Eish! There is no place quite like Mzansi.   

9. Award-winning theatre: The Fall
The Fall is a combined effort of seven UCT graduates who share their experiences during the #RhodesMustFall student movement. The show was awarded The Scotsman’s Fringe First Award at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as well as The Edinburgh Stage award for outstanding performances. While presenting the award, Joyce McMillan, the Scotsman’s chief theatre critic, said, “What makes this show completely exceptional – is not just its energy, not just the live footage that we see of this very recent, and indeed, continuing revolution in South African higher education, and not just the fantastic musical and movement content, which is just completely mind-blowing, beautiful – but also the density and the seriousness of the political arguments which these young people are being forced to address at such an early age.”

10. Nelson Mandela
We know you were expecting this one, but the Father of the Nation can never go unmentioned when it is he who lead South Africa into the freedom that we enjoy today.

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Words by Cheri Morris

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