South Africa Geography Lesson

The South Africa Durban mission covers three countries:
1.  South Africa
2.  Lesotho
3. Swaziland

In South Africa we cover three provinces (similar to countries back home):
1. Zulu Land
2. Kazulu Natal
3. Free State

Let me explain those places...
1. Lesotho (le-sew-two) the people are the Basutis.  They speak sutu and Engligh there.  It's the only country in the world that is inside another country.  It's ruled by a king.  Very mountainous and very old in winter.

2.  Swaziland- It's a small country on the north east of South Africa.  Ruled by a corrupt king.  Known for their Reed Dances.  The people there are the Seswaties.  They speak seswati and Engligh.

3.  Free State- The people here are Xhosas, Sutus, Afrikans and Swana's. Languages that are spoke are all of the above races plus English.  Climate is cold and hot..extremes.  Just depends on the climate. Located in basically the middle of South Africa.

4.  Kwazulu Natal (ka-zulu-natel).  The people are Zulu and Afrikans.  They speak Zulu, Afrikans and English.  Its climate is nice.  Warm, tropical, but not very humid, just right.  Located east of Freestate.

5.  Zulu Land- The people are Zulu, Afrikans and English.  They speak those three languages.  Climate is hot and humid.  Summer year around.  Located on the east coast.

Now let me explain what the area's are like.  There are two types of areas in this mission:
1.  town
2.  townships

Towns are taken by Zone leaders generally. Are basically small cities.  You generally find Afrikans and wealthy people.  99% of the missionaries stay in towns not townships.  Every town as one or more township.

Townships are equivelent to our "ghetto's".  Townships were made during the apartate times (like our segregated times).  Government (whites), kicked the blacks out of their homes in town and stuck them in the  townships.  They look like planned hoovervilles...lots of government housing, shacks with an occational nice home (usually belonging to a pastor).  They have few paved roads.  They are filled will everyone except Afrikans.  They are normally the biggest branches. 

Now let me tell you about the races.

1.  Zulu- very traditional. Strong belief in ancestors.  Strong people, but generally lacking in the smarts. Black.

2.  BaSutus- more westernized.  Tend to be prideful.  Affected alot by the apartate times.  Very intelligent people. Black.

3.  Xhosas- the brothes of the Zulus.  Very similar to the Zulus just a little less traditional and more westernized. Black

4.  Swana- the swana are the more traditional brother to the Basutus. Black

5.  Afrikans- conformed of Dutch people.  Generally have money.  Very pridefull.  Most refuse to speak English with a whiteperson. White

So we deal with four groups of Languages:

1.  English- everyone can speak it, just depends on if they want to.
2.  Zulu, Xhosas & Seswati- all can understand eachother just with a slight pronunciation differences.
3.  Afrikans- reformed Dutch.  Language of the apartite.  Considered the racist language.
4.  Sutu, Swana, and Pedi- All understand eachother just with a slight pronunciation differences.

Here is some of RSA's history:

They had a government of white people until Nelson Mandella.  The times of the white government are referred to as the "Apartite" times.  During the apartite times blacks had few rights.  They also enforced the learning of Afrikans as the primary language.  Blacks were kicked out of towns by military forces to townships.  People still have bad feelings about whites. 

They have had a black government since 1991.  A race called coloreds (found everywhere) was formed cause of Afrikans military raping the black women as they kicked them out of towns. 

RSA uses the metric system.

Driving is backwards form America.

The currency is called the Rand (zar).  The rand ranges from 6.5 to 7.8 to the American dollar.

South Africa is the most developed country in Africa.

Hope this helps everyone understand a bit more about the Durban South African Mission!

Love to you all!!!
Elder Shipp