SOCIAL ETIQUETTE: SOUTH AFRICA

Basic Etiquette:
 It is polite to receive items with both hands together, held out as a cup.
 It is polite to cover your mouth when you yawn.
 Some South African ethnic groups may find it impolite to make gestures with the left
hand.

Greeting Etiquette:
 It is important to greet everyone respectfully and immediately upon seeing them. This
is especially important in rural villages of South Africa, where it is respectful to greet
everyone, you pass by.
 The most common greeting is a handshake accompanied with eye contact and a smile.
This is appropriate among most South Africans.
 People from rural villages may use two hands to shake/greet.
 When shaking hands with a person of the opposite gender, men usually wait for
women to extend their hand first.
 People may greet with a hug if they know each other well.
 It is polite to address people by their title and last name until they have signaled that it
is appropriate to move on to a first-name basis.
 South Africans usually like to take the time to exchange pleasantries and engage in
social discussion after greetings. It is appreciated to ask about someone’s health.
 Interactions may also vary depending on the location, with more traditional
approaches being used in rural areas and people adopting more cosmopolitan
approaches in urban areas.

Visiting Etiquette:
 Visits to people’s houses are usually pre-arranged in South Africa.
 Guests are expected to greet everyone respectfully and immediately upon arrival.
 It is polite to remove your shoes before entering most South African homes.
 Most South Africans will not expect you to bring a gift with you. However, it can be
polite to bring something to drink with you (e.g., juice, wine, etc.) when visiting white
South African houses.
 Respect your hosts’ privacy and do not explore their house unless invited to. Wait to
be led into a new room by someone senior.
 Try not to admire any of the objects in your South African host’s home too much. Be
aware that complimenting an item in a South African’s house repeatedly can make
them feel compelled to offer it to you as a gift.
 South Africans often accompany their guests to the gate, car or street when it is time
for them to leave.
  If you are staying overnight at your host’s house, make an effort to keep your personal
space tidy and offer to help with chores or cooking. Be aware that even if you are told
to “stay as long as you like”, it is important to not overstay your welcome.

Eating Etiquette:
 African cultures can vary in their expectations of dining etiquette – even between how
to sit at a table. For example, in Zulu culture it is polite to announce your arrival by
shouting from the gate, but you must be seated by the host. Alternatively, in Sotho
culture you should immediately seat yourself. Generally, you can expect South
Africans to be welcoming as long as you are making an attempt to understand the
particular culture you are in.
 Offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served.
 While seated, do not point your feet towards others or the food.
 White South Africans usually eat using a fork and knife (continental style). However,
black and Indian South Africans often eat with spoons or fingers.
 Some South African homes may follow a hierarchical sequence in the order of people
served: guests first, followed by the eldest male, remaining men, children and, lastly,
women. In some cases, other guests may be expected to wait until the eldest male has
begun eating before starting their meal.
 It is impolite to use your cutlery to point or gesture during a meal.
 You may be encouraged to accept second helpings to a meal. Eating multiple helpings
can be interpreted as a compliment to the host’s hospitality and cooking in Indian
South African homes.
 Leaving uneaten food on your plate can be interpreted as a negative reflection on the
food or host.
 It is polite to make a small compliment towards the end of the meal on the hosts’
cooking and/or hospitality. While a host may dismiss this comment as unnecessary, it
will be appreciated.
 Dinner is the main meal of the day, and on weekends braai (barbeque) is often
featured.
 Adults generally do not eat on the streets/standing up unless it is ice cream or from a
street-food stand.
 If eating at a restaurant, generally the person who has invited the other out to the
restaurant will pay the bill.

Gifting Etiquette:
 Approaches to gift giving and what is considered appropriate depends on the ethnic
group of the person who you are planning to give the gift.
 Gift giving is often centered around religious holidays, such as Christmas. In these
circumstances, presents are often practical and conservative.
 If you are invited to a South African's home, bring flowers, good quality chocolates,
or a bottle of good South African wine to the hostess.
 Generally, well-wrapped and nicely presented gifts are likely to make good
impressions on a South African.
 Receivers generally open gifts as soon as they are presented. However, there are no
defined customs surrounding this.