By Ben Waterworth
DO greet other people in South Africa by raising your right hand with your palm towards a person. This is a symbol of friendship in South Africa and used to signify ‘no weapons’ in the country once upon a time
DON’T ever use terms such as ‘negro’ or ‘black’ when in South Africa as these terms are generally banned on the entire continent of South Africa. The negative connotations of these words date back to the days when people were taken from their homes and transported to the United States for use of slavery so these words should never be used.
DO make sure your handshakes are strong and firm when greeting another person, as a strong firm handshake is a positive sign of friendliness and goodwill. A weak handshake can prove to be quite the opposite, so make sure you maintain a tight, firm grip when shaking the hand of somebody else.
DON’T take photos or film video of government buildings or military areas as this is seen as negative action in South Africa. You should also avoid doing the same in poor areas where there are lots of dirty building and clusters as this is seen as bad behaviour and produces low self esteem.
DO wear what you would wear at home and don’t feel you need to dress in a certain way. In the urban areas of South Africa people tend to dress the way most people dress in the Western world so always remember this when in the major cities of South Africa.
DON’T leave food on your plate when you have finished eating as this can be seen as highly offensive when in certain areas of the country. Try and eat a little bit slower and finish off all your food, especially if you are in somebody’s private residence. You should also always tip around 10-20% of your total meal cost if you are out at a restaurant or in some other area where they serve food.