Calender - South Africa · national flower is the largest of the proteas, which make up an important part of the Cape Floral Region, a major global biodiversity hotspot and a Unesco

A better South Africa, a better Africa, a better world

Calender


The Department of International Relations and Cooperation, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria, South Africa


DIRCOVISIONThe Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO) vision is championing an African continent, which is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united and which aspires to a world that is just and equitable.

MISSIONDIRCO’s mission is to formulate, coordinate, implement and manage South Africa’s foreign policy and international relations programmes, promote South Africa’s national interest and values and the African Renaissance (and create a better world for all).

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES• Through bilateral and multilateral

interactions, protect and promote South African national interests and values

• Conduct and coordinate South Africa’s international relations and promote its foreign policy objectives

• Monitor international developments and advise government on foreign policy and related domestic matters

• Protect South Africa’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

• Contribute to the formulation of international law and enhance respect for the provisions thereof

• Promote multilateralism to secure a rules-based international system

• Maintain a modern, effective and excellence-driven department

• Provide consular services to South African nationals abroad

• Provide a world-class and uniquely South African State Protocol service.

VALUESDIRCO adheres to the following values:• Patriotism • Loyalty • Dedication • Ubuntu • Batho Pele• Constitutional Values (Chapter 10).

Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo

Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane





“We, the people of South Africa,Recognise the injustices of our past;Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; andBelieve that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.

“We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to:• Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic

values, social justice and fundamental human rights;• Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is

based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;• Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person;

and• Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as

asovereign state in the family of nations.

“May God protect our people.Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa.Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi katekisa Afrika.”

Preamble

ConstitutionThe adoption of the South African Constitution on 8 May 1996 was one of the turning points in the history of the struggle for democracy in South Africa. The Constitution is admired and respected around the world for its pioneering approach to human rights and is the symbol of a remarkable negotiated transition.


Kliptown Open Air Museum,Soweto, Gauteng


The Constitutional Court of South Africa, the highest court in the country, was established in 1994 by South Africa’s first democratic Constitution


National flag One of the most recognisable flags in the world, the South African flag, was first hoisted on 10 May 1994 – the day Nelson Mandela became President and two weeks after the country’s first democratic elections on 27 April 1994.

Flying the flag

Specific instructions with regard to the use of the national flag can be found in the Government Gazette 22356, Notice 510 of 8 June 2001.

When the flag is displayed vertically against a wall, the red band should be to the left of the viewer with the hoist or the cord seam at the top. When it is displayed horizontally, the hoist should be to the left of the viewer and the red band at the top.

When the flag is displayed next to or behind the speaker at a meeting, it must be placed to the speaker’s right. When it is placed elsewhere in the meeting place, it should be to the right of the audience.

Red on top

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The national flag must at all times be treated with dignity and respect. The flag must not:

• touch the floor or the ground• be used as a tablecloth or be draped in front of a platform• be used to cover a statue, plaque, cornerstone etc. at unveiling or similar

ceremonies• be used to start or finish any competition, race or similar event.

Respect for the National flag

Cord seam

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South Africa’s national anthem is the only neo-modal national anthem in the world, by virtue of being the only one that starts in one key and finishes in another. The lyrics employ the five most populous of South Africa’s 11 official languages: isiXhosa (first stanza, first two lines), isiZulu (first stanza, last two lines), seSotho (second stanza), Afrikaans (third stanza) and English (final stanza).

Nkosi Sekelel’ iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Methodist school teacher. It was originally sung as a church hymn but later became an act of political defiance against the apartheid government. Die Stem van Suid-Afrika/The Call of South Africa was written by CJ Langenhoven in 1918. “Die Stem” was the co-national anthem with God Save the King/Queen from 1936 to 1957, when it became the sole national anthem until 1994. The South African Government under Nelson Mandela adopted both songs as national anthems from 1994 until they were merged in 1997 to form the current anthem.

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrikaMaluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,Yizwa imithandazo yethu,Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho,O se boloke, O se boloke setjhabasa heso,Setjhaba sa South Africa –South Africa.

National anthem

Uit die blou van onse hemel,Uit die diepte van ons see,Oor ons ewige gebergtes,Waar die kranse antwoord gee,

Sounds the call to come together,And united we shall stand,Let us live and strive for freedom,In South Africa our land.


Union Buildings, Pretoria


South Africa’s coat of arms, or state emblem, is the highest visual symbol of the State. Its central image is a secretary bird with uplifted wings, a sun rising above it. Below the bird is the protea, an indigenous South African flower, representing the aesthetic harmony of all cultures and the country flowering as a nation.

The ears of wheat are emblems of the fertility of the land, while the tusks of the African elephant symbolise wisdom, steadfastness and strength.

At the centre stands a shield signifying the protection of South Africans, above which are a spear and knobkierie. These assert the defence of peace rather than a posture of war.

Within the shield are images of the Khoisan people, the first inhabitants of the land. The figures are derived from images on the Linton Stone, a world-famous example of South African rock art. The motto of the coat of arms – !ke e:/xarra//ke – is in the Khoisan language of the /Xam people, and means “diverse people unite”, or “people who are different joining together”.

Coat of arms


rock art

Rock art, Cederberg mountains, Western Cape


National orders are the highest awards that a country, through its President, bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals. The President, as the fount of honour in the country, bestows these orders and decorations, assisted by the Director-General in The Presidency, who is the Chancellor of National Orders.

The Order of Mapungubwe is awarded for excellence and exceptional achievement.

The Order of the Baobab is awarded for distinguished service in business and the economy; science, medicine and technological innovation; and community service.

The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo is awarded to heads of state and other dignitaries for promoting peace, cooperation and friendship towards South Africa.

The Order of Luthuli is awarded to South Africans who have made a meaningful contribution to the struggle for democracy, human rights, nation-building, justice and peace, and conflict resolution.

The Order of Ikhamanga is awarded for excellence in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.

The Order of Mendi for Bravery is awarded to South African citizens who have performed extraordinary acts of bravery.

Order of Mapungubwe

Order of the Baobab

Order of the Companions of OR Tambo

Order of Mendi for Bravery

Order of Luthuli

Order of Ikhamanga

National orders



NATIONAL ANIMALThe country’s national animal is the springbok, which also gives its name to the South African rugby team – fondly known as “the Boks”.

The springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) gets its common name from its characteristic jumping display. The animal stands 75 cm high and weighs about 40 kg.

Both sexes have horns, but those of the ram are thicker and rougher. The species has adapted to dry, barren areas and open grass plains, and is found in the Free State, North West and Karoo up to the west coast. They move in small herds during winter, but often crowd together in bigger herds in summer.

NATIONAL BIRDThe national bird of South Africa is the blue crane (Anthropoides paradisia), the distribution of which is almost entirely restricted to the country. Standing about a metre tall, the bird is light blue and grey, with a long neck supporting a rather bulbous head, long legs and elegant wing plumes which sweep to the ground.

Blue cranes lay their eggs in the bare veld, often close to water. They are common in the Karoo, but are also seen in the grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal and the highveld, usually in pairs or small family parties. Although usually quiet, the blue crane can emit a distinctive high-pitched and rattling croak which can be heard from some distance.

National symbols

AnimalSpringbok

BirdBlue Crane


Bird Island Nature Reserve, Western Cape


NATIONAL FLOWERThe giant or king protea (Protea cynaroides) is widely distributed in the south-western and southern areas of the Western Cape, from the Cederberg up to just east of Grahamstown. South Africa’s national flower is the largest of the proteas, which make up an important part of the Cape Floral Region, a major global biodiversity hotspot and a Unesco World Heritage Site. The proteas also give their name to South Africa’s national cricket team.

NATIONAL FISHSouth Africa’s national fish is the galjoen (Dichistius capensis). The galjoen was chosen as the country’s national fish because of its endemism – it is found along the coast from Namibia to Durban, and nowhere else in the world – fighting qualities, abundance and popularity. It keeps to mostly shallow water, is often found in rough surf, sometimes right next to the shore, and is known to anglers as a game fighter. Near rocks, the colour of the galjoen is almost completely black, while in sandy areas the colour is silver-bronze.

NATIONAL TREEThe yellowwood family is ancient, having grown in this part of Africa for over 100 million years. The real yellowwood (Podocarpus latifolius), South Africa’s national tree, is found from Table Mountain, along the southern and eastern Cape coast, in the ravines of the Drakensberg up to the Soutpansberg and the Blouberg in Limpopo.

In forests, the trees can grow up to 40 m in height with the base of the trunk sometimes up to 3 m in diameter. But trees that grow in unsheltered places such as mountain slopes are often short, bushy and gnarled. The bark of the real yellowwood is khaki-coloured to grey when it is old, deeply split and peels off in strips. The crown is relatively small in relation to its height and is often covered with grey lichen.

TreeReal yellowwood

FlowerKing protea

FishGaljoen


Parliament, Cape Town


Owing to South Africa’s cultural diversity, the country has 11 official languages. They are Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.

ProvincesSouth Africa has nine provinces, each with its own legislature, premier and executive councils. The provinces, with their own distinctive landscapes, vegetation and climate, are:• Eastern Cape• Free State• Gauteng• KwaZulu-Natal• Limpopo• Mpumalanga• Northern Cape• North West• Western Cape.

National languages


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Robben Island Declared a world heritage site in 1999, Robben Island has a significant place in the history of South Africa and the world. This is where one of the world’s most famous prisoners, statesmen and leaders, Nelson Mandela, as well as other freedom struggle heroes were imprisoned during the apartheid years. The island lies some 9 km off-shore from Cape Town’s beaches.


PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2016

1 January New Year’s Day

21 March Human Rights Day

25 March Good Friday

28 March Family Day

27 April Freedom Day

1 May Worker’s Day

2 May Public Holiday

16 June Youth’s Day

17 June School Holiday

8 August School Holiday

9 August National Women’s Day

24 September Heritage Day

16 December Day of Reconciliation

25 December Christmas Day

26 December Day of Goodwill

SCHOOL TERMS 2016

Provinces:

Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga,

North West, Nothern Cape and Western Cape

Term 1 (11) 13 January – 18 March

Term 2 5 April – 24 June

Term 3 18 July – 30 September

Term 4 10 October – 7 (9) December

NB: Number in brackets are for educators

Public holidays/School terms


Vilikazi StreetSouth Africa is the only country in the world to have two Nobel Peace Prize winners who had houses on the same street. Vilakazi Street in Soweto was the home of both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.


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Cradle of Human KindLying north-west of Johannesburg, the Cradle of Humankind is one of eight South African world heritage sites. It is the world’s richest hominin site and home to around 40% of the world’s human ancestor fossils. In September 2015, scientists announced the groundbreaking discovery in a small cave nestled in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site of a new ancient human relative, Homo naledi.


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Sports eventsSouth Africa hosts the world’s largest individually time cycle race (the Cape Argus), the world’s largest open water swimming event (the Midmar Mile) and the world’s largest ultra-marathon (the Comrades Marathon).


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DurbanIn 2014, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, was named one of the New7Wonders Cities. It’s South Africa’s second accolade from the New7Wonders Foundation. In 2011, Table Mountain in Cape Town was inaugurated as one of the New7Wonders of Nature.


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Route 62Cape Route 62 meanders between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn, the Langkloof and Port Elizabeth, offering the shorter, scenic alternative to the N2 highway. It is the longest wine route in the Western Cape and most likely the whole world.


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CederbergThe Cederberg mountains provide the perfect environment for the unique health-enhancing Rooibos plant (Aspalathus linearis). The Cederberg is the only place on Earth where Rooibos is found. Rooibos has many health-giving properties and contains powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals.


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Bloukrans Bridge, Western CapeThe Bloukrans Bungy at Tsitsikamma is the world’s highest commercial bungy bridge. It is also the highest commercial natural bungy jump in the world. The Bloukrans Bridge is 216 metres (709 feet) above the Bloukrans River and the bungy attracts adventure-seekers from all over the globe.


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Cape Floral Kingdom The Cape Floral Region, one of South Africa’s eight world heritage sites, comprises eight protected areas stretching from the Cape Peninsula to the Eastern Cape, cutting across spectacular mountain and ocean scenery and containing some of the richest plant biodiversity in the world. The Cape Floral Region represents less than 0,5% of the area of Africa, but is home to nearly 20% of the continent’s flora and has been identified as one of the world’s 18 biodiversity hotspots.


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Kruger National Park Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, the Kruger National Park (KNP) consists of nearly two million hectares and is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. The KNP is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies and one of South Africa’s most popular tourist attractions.


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Kirstenbosch Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens was established in 1913 to promote, conserve and display the extraordinarily rich and diverse flora of southern Africa, and was the first botanical garden in the world to be devoted to a country’s indigenous flora. It is the first botanical garden in the world to be included within a natural world heritage site, the Cape Floral Region. Kirstenbosch boasts the Boomslang Walkway – recently voted the most beautiful object in South Africa.


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Lost CityThe Palace of the Lost City resort hotel in North West is the largest theme resort hotel in the world as well as the largest building project undertaken in the southern hemisphere. The hotel is surrounded by 25 hectares of botanical jungle with over 1 600 000 plants, trees and shrubs.


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FNB Stadium/Soccer City, GautengFNB Stadium is the largest stadium in Africa and fifth-largest in the world, with a seating capacity of almost 95 000. It is located in Nasrec, next to Soweto, south of Johannesburg. The stadium was known as Soccer City for the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies.


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Skating


Kimberley Skate Park, Northern CapeKumba Skate Plaza in Kimberley took the honours as the Skate Park of the Year at the Global Skateboarding Awards in Turkey in 2015. The World Skateboarding Championships is held here annually.

Documents

Calender - South Africa · national flower is the largest of the proteas, which make up an important part of the Cape Floral Region, a major global biodiversity hotspot and a Unesco