10 Amazing Facts About South Africa

South Africa is one ofAfrica’s choicest countriesthat is spearheading development in the continent. The country had been an apartheid, recently hosted the FIFA world cup in 2010 but there are other fascinating facts about South Africa that you probably have not known. Answers Africa brings you the best 10 amazing and fun facts about South Africa.

10 Fascinating South Africa Facts

10.  Nobel Peace Prize Winners on the Same Street?

South Africa is the only country where a street has produced t Nobel price winners in history. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu had houses on the street of Vilakazi located in Soweto. The Nobel Peace Prize1993 was awarded jointly to Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk ”for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa”. Archbishop Mpilo Desmond Tutu, the world renowned preacher and strident voice against apartheid, the first Black Secretary General of the South African Council of Churches. He was also the first Black Archbishop of the Anglican Church in South Africa, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

9. Most Diverse Fossils of Early Dinosaurs

The Karoo region in the Western Cape of South Africa is home to some of the best fossils of early dinosaurs. In fact, it is estimated that some 80% of the mammalian fossils found to date were found in the Karoo. In southern Africa, rocks of the Karoo Supergroup cover almost two thirds of the present land surface, including central Cape Province, almost all of Orange Free State, western Natal, much of south-east Transvaal, Zambia,Zimbabwe and Malawi.

8. Second Largest Producers of Fruits

South Africa is the second largest fruit producers in the entire world. The optimal climatic condition of the the country has made it possible to support quite a large range and species of fruits. South Africa seems to be well balanced climatically and apart from the fruit depot of the world, SA is ranked first in the world for its floral kingdom and is home to the world’s smallest succulent plants (less than 10 mm) and the largest (the baobab).

7. Coal to Oil Technology

South Africa is the first country to develop an unimaginably rare coal-to-oil technology. Due to the aftermath of the second world war, SA was struggling economically, and oil was hard to access, so due to SA’s vast coal reserves, they decided to research on how to turn coal into oil. And now, it’s one of the biggest companies in SA (Sasol).

6. Sailors Bump

There are more than 2000 shipwrecks off the South African coast, most dating back at least 500 years.

5. Land of Mines

South Africa is extremely rich in mining and minerals and considered the world’s leader with nearly 90% of all the platinum metals on earth and the top ranked gold producing country producing around 41% of all the world’s Gold!

4. Well Recognized Monarchy 

The country’s status is well regarded as a democratic republic, but the Province of KwaZulu-Natal has a monarchy system of government that is specially provided for by the Constitution. Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu is the King of the Zulu Nation, has 27 kids and 6 wives.

3. The palace of the Lost City

The Palace of the Lost City is the world’s largest themed resort hotel in the world and is located in South Africa. The palace is surrounded by a 25 hectare man-made botanical jungle with almost 2 million plants, trees and shrubs in existence. It is a must see for anyone with plans of visiting South Africa.

2. Mind Your Business While Sitting

In South Africa, it is against the law to sit closer than 2 Meters to any individual of the opposite sex, if he or she wears nothing but a swimming dress. (Who decides the reference point is who I really don’t know).

1. Major Medical Record

It should be noted that the very first world’s heart transplant was done in South Africa and that was on 3rd December, 1967 and it was performed on Louis Washkansky at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town South Africa

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