This is South Africa!

South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa and the coastline is almost 3000 kilometers. It lives 44.8 million peoples in South Africa. The country is divided in 9 provinces, and the province Gauteng has the largest city Johannesburg with more than 11 million inhabitants. South Africa has 3 capitals. Pretoria is located in the northern part of the country, and is the executive (administrative) capital. Bloemfontein is a quite small city and is the judical capital of the nation. Cape Town is the provincial capital and the National Parliament is also located in that city.

South Africa is one of the best organized countries in Africa, with prety good technology and economy. However, a quarter of the population lives on less than 1.25$ a day. In South Africa they have 11 official languages. The name of the president is Jacob Zuma. He was born in 1942, and today he is leader of the party African National Congress (ANC).

There are many ethnic groups in South Africa, and 79.5 % are  blacks, 9 % are whites, 9.0 % are coloured and 2.5 % are Asian. The reason of why there are so many whites is because of the colonization. South Africa is today independent from United Kingdom.

In the western regions there are Mediterranean climate. In the east, there are both wet and dry periods. Over all, in South Africa there are hot summers with thunderstorms from November to March. The cooler, dry and sunny winter season is from June to September. The dry season lasts from April to October. The average high temperature through the whole year is 22 degrees. In average they have more than 3000 sunshine hours every year.

Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
September	December	March	June
October	January	April	July
November	February	May	August

A fantastic day in Cape Town!

Dear readers!
I hope you are not freezing in the north, because here in Cape Town in South Africa it is more than 20 degrees. Today my family and I have been in Cape Town. Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa and is the second most populous city in the country. In Cape Town it lives 3.1 million people and the city is the last stop before the Antartic. It is many tourists here, and someone says that it is Africa's most popular destination.

Cape Town

We have seen the Table Mountain which is a mountain who is tall and very flat. It was a fantastic attraction, and we used the cableway to get to the top of the mountain. From the cable car we could see another famous place, Robben Island, which you can see in the background of the picture

The cableway with the Robben Island in the background

Cape Town was the largest city in South Aafrica until they found gold and diamonds near Johannesburg. Cape Town was originally a city for ships from The Netherlands on their journeys to East-Africa and Asia. We were also shopping at "Victoria and Alfred Waterfront". It is situated between the Table Mountain and the Robben Island. There were a lot of stores, and we were shopping for many hours.

Waterfront panorama

I think Cape Town is the world's greatest city, and I really want to come back and visit this city again!

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 IN SOUTH AFRICA

FIFA decided that the FIFA World Cup 2010 was going to be carried out on the African continent. 4 countries were fighting to arrange the World Cup, but on 15 May 2004 it was decided that South Africa was the winning country. It was going to be the first FIFA World Cup in Africa.

The official mascot

During the preparations, it was a week-long strike because many workers were underpaid. For 31 days it was played 64 matches at 10 different stadiums in 9 cities. The biggest stadium is Soccer City with a capacity of 84,490 persons.

The statium Soccer City

The host nation South Africa was eliminated in the first round. 145 goals were scored during the tournament, and the best player was the Uruguayan player Diego Forlán who also was one of 4 top scorers. Spain became champions when they beat the Netherlands in the final. Third place went to Germany who beat Uruguay in the bronze final.

The National Team of Spain are celebrating

The vuvuzelas are plastic horns wich porocuce a loud tone. They are most used at football matches in South Africa. Many spectators were blowing on vuvuzelas every match and a lot of foreigners were annoyed.

Spectators with vuvuzelas at a match

"Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" was written by Shakira and was the official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It was released 31 May 2010. The music video became a great hit, and became the third most viewed movie at YouTube ever.

Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)

Football is a very popular sport in South Africa. The country's top league is the "Premier Soccer League". Football was first played by British soldiers as a result of te colonization. Aron Mokoena is a South African football player who plays for the English football team Portsmouth in Premier League.

I LOVE SOUTH AFRICA!

Hello blog readers!

Here in Cape Town I’ve had so much fun! We have relaxed on the beach, we ate wonderful food on a newly opened restaurant and went shopping.

This morning we went straight down to the beach so we could take advantage of the whole day. It’s so nice to get down there to swim and just relax with a good book while listening to the waves. The beach is called Cape Town beach and it have to be the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen! The sand is silky, without any big stones, warm water and some cute, colorful houses along the beach promenade.

After being on the beach for a while we went back to our hotel room to get dressed because tonight we were going out to eat at a newly opened restaurant.
There were African dancers and singers who danced all night, there wasn't a moment we were not entertained. They served us beautiful food! For starters we got Akara (fried bean cakes), for entrée we got chicken in a strong tomato and peanut sauce and for dessert we got coconut cake, which suited me perfectly because I really love coconuts, It’s so good! I’m sure we are going back to this restaurant later on our vacation, I have never tasted so good food before.

After eating up the lovely meal, we took the taxi into the shopping streets. I really loves to go shopping and it's extra fun when it’s in other stores than I’m used to. But I wasn't in shopping mood today because there were a lot of people in the streets who just sat there in hope of getting some money so they could buy some food. I felt so sorry for them that I didn't want to spend much money on things I did not need. Instead I gave away all the cash I had to various children and adults that needed the money more than I did. No I'm sure that when I get home I will be a sponsor, I want to help those in need!

Written by Marte Moe

A TRIP I WON'T FORGET

Hi! I am so sorry for not writing to you guys earlier, but if you have been in my shoes right now, you wouldn’t either! It’s so amazing here, like the most unique place I ever seen.

And guess what we did to day? We were on a safari trip! Actually, through my 15 years of living, I have never seen anything but the animals Norway can offer. And I can promise you I was in total shock the whole trip. Before I went, I couldn’t imagine that there was so many different kinds of animals running around on either 1,2,3,4 foots or more. I actually couldn’t keep the counting of all the animals that I´ve never seen before.

I know I must make you jealous (or just crazy…) by talking so much about this trip, but right now, my fingers wrights faster than I can think. I already regret that I didn't book a longer safari! We got some recommendations from our kind guide about longer safari trips in Kenya, so if you want more info (like I hope you will) don’t be afraid to contact me! Maybe one day I will travel back too.

But I better get in the shower before my friends get furious.  We are going out for dinner, or acutely, to some very polite native people who invited us for a real African meal – I am so excited!

The safari trip was amazing!! Just had to say it one last time, hi-hi J Promise to write tomorrow, love Maja

HISTORY

South Africa was a British and Dutch colony for several years. As a reaction of an English domination of the two countries, the Boers of the Afrikaners established new colonies. The Boers found diamonds, and the British people invaded them to get to the values they had found in South Africa.

Those who controlled South Africa at that time, wanted control over the economic and social system, apartheid became the solution. After apartheid got the power, a lot of new rules where made. Unfortunately, they gave the white people free access to exploite and terrorise africans, asians and colored people.

In South Africa, the population was classified into to groups, colored, and the withe people. Where the to races got separated from each other. The withe people had all the power, although they were half as many people as the black majority. In apartheids mine, the withe people where worth more than the colored ones. It resulted in that the white people dictated how the colored people had to die, work and live.

In 1990, the withe regime gave in and let the Africans have control if their own country. At the same time, Nelson Mandela, a man who had devoted his life to get South Africa to become a free country, came out of prison. Only three years later, it was introduced free elections for all kinds of groups. In 1994 Nelson Mandela became the first black elected South African president ever, in what was the first democratic election in South Africa.

Written by Maja Lutterloh

SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AND DANCE

Music:

It's impossible to imagine Africa without music and music culture. The music are very important for the african people, it follows them in almost every aspects of their life, from birth to burial. South African traditional music various, thay have forms of multi-tuning and solo singing. Many African languages are tone languages, and it's the tone in the voice that determines the meaning, and this is expressed in African rhythms and melodies. 

The most common instruments used in South African music are for example, drums, trumpet, bell, flute, lute and rattle.

An example of multi-tuning music:

Dance:

Dance is an artistic expression that characterizes both everyday and party in South Africa, which together with the song are used whether it is joy or sorrow, small or large events. Typical African dancing is associated with social or religious events. It may be in connection with a wedding or funeral, moving into a new house or opening a restaurant, but also to mark the seasond: sowing, harvesting, wet and dry times. And not least, the dance is an important part of the circumcision ceremony where girls and boys become ladies and men.

An example of typical dance in South Africa:

Both music and dance is a very important part of african life, it helps them in both good and bad times. 

written by Marte Moe

HIV AND AIDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

In most cases HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) leads to AIDS (Acquired Immune Defiency Syndrom), wich is a disease that weakens the immune system. HIV is transmitted through blood and body fluids. Most people become infected when they have unprotected sex with someone who carries the HIV virus. Soon HIV/AIDS will probably be the disease which has killed the most people in our history. HIV and AIDS is a prominent health concern in South Africa, because South Africa is belived to have more people with HIV and AIDS than any other country. In 2009 there were 5.6 million people just in South Africa with HIV or AIDS and there were 310.000 who died from AIDS. 

After seeing some of the results from 2009 you may see that the lines are continuing to grow upwards after 2005 as well. 

The people living in South Africa are very poor, so poor that they can't afford buying the midicines they need not to develop AIDS. This often leads to death, and then many children are without parents. Imagine that your parents have died from AIDS, and you are the oldest child in the family. You have no money and no one to help you.  This is everyday life for many children in South Africa. They need our help, and they need it fast!

written by Marte Moe

CHIILIN IN SOUTH AFRICA

Here in Tanzania everything is going great. Yesterday me and my friends went on a safari. I was wreally exited; i've always wanted to see all that amazing animals, that lives in the jungle on a close up.

We were four cars driving together, and it didn't take long before we could see som animals. We met so many different kinds during the tour, everything from elephants and tigers to zebras and rhinos. It was a funny experience, and I defiantly recommend everyone that is in Tanzania and other places in South Africa to give safari a try.

Today we are just hanging out at the beach, swimming and chilling. The temperature is around 40 degrees, so we have to drink much water. We have been here for five days now, and we've got some new friends that are staying at the same hotel as us. It's great to have contacts all over the world.

                                     

                                                                         Here you see the Paradise Beach

We're all preparing for the trip that lay's in front of us. We are heading for the top of Kilimanjaro. I'm really nervous, but I hope I am able to make it. I want to see all the different nature types South Africa has to offer, and i want to experience the beautiful view from upthere. It's a challenge for me, and  I have to face my fears, heights have  never been my strength. But, i'm in it to win it!

# Siri Husby

ROBBEN ISLAND

12 kilometers outside the coast of Cape Town you find Robben Island. From the 17^{th to the}  20<sup>th century Robben Island was used to isolate people, primarily as a prison. It was also a habitat for political activits that fought for the rights of the black people and worked for a fair and democratic country when the apartheid ruled in South Africa.

The most famous prisoner is the former ACN-leader Nelson Mandela. He was on the island in 27 years. He is best known as the first black president in South Africa.</sup>

The island has not only been used as a prison. It was also a hospital for people with leprosy and mental illness between 1846-1931. Under the Second World War, it was a training and defense station. It was kept prisoners on the island during both of these periods.

                                   

Today it's no longer a prison on the Robben Island, but a museum that on a yearly  basis has a lot of visitors. It's a popular destination for tourits visiting South Africa. Many think of Robben Island as a symbol of the price South Africa paid for freedom, and for the things Nelson Mandela did for the South African population.

Written by Siri Husby

THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA

Some people would say that Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is the most well known person from South Africa. Not only because he served as President there, but also because he was the first president to be elected in fully representative democratic election. In the time before his presidency, he was an anti-apartheid activist and the leader of the African National Congress (ANC). He had, in one way, dedicated his life to end all racial segregation, especially Apartheid.

Many people associate Nelson and the Robben Island, but jet few knows why. Actually, he was a prisoner there from 1962 to 1990, which is as long as twenty-seven years. He was arrested after living on the run for seventeen months, all because of sabotage and other charges. Four years after his release, Nelson led his party into multi-racial democracy, which is what Mandela stand up for. He used all his power to fight poverty and inequality.

 Although he was brought in prison for a long time, chased and in a way abused of Apartheid – he would never aim to harm a human being. Not even someone who hurt him. Nelson once wrote in his autobiography "even as a boy, I always defeated my opponents without dishonoring them".

 Nelson did things because they needed to be done, never for the publicity. Here is a story where this is described quite well: As soon as he had comforted a 12-year-old girls family, after she "accidentally" was shot by a white farmer. He took his helicopter down to a dying girl suffering from leukemia, whose dream was to meet him. It's amazing that a politic person could do such a thing, without even letting the publicity know. I doubt that a politician in Norway could have taken as much as two seconds off from their tight schedules. Nelson also listened to everyone’s complaints and problems, witch resulted in helping a very important case, that these persons felt worthy.

Written by Maja Lutterloh.

SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG

After the apartheid regime, the people of South Africa wanted to change the former flag. They wished to change the flag because they thought it was fronting a racist view. The current flag was introduced on the 27 April 1994, and it was drawn by Frederick Brownell.

The former flag

It is said that the color that is used in today’s flag is symbolic. Red is the symbol for all the blood that has been spilled during the wars in South Africa. Blue is the symbol of the heaven and the two oceans that surrounds them. The yellow color is for the nature resources, especially the gold, and green symbolizes the South African environment. The black and white color symbolizes the black and white population.

On the picture you can see today's flag. It is two horizontal bands in red and blue, divided by a green Y. On the left side of the flag there is a black symmetrical triangle which is sketched in yellow.

Written by Siri Husby