Greeting

In South Africa, you’ll come across many different ways of greeting people because the country is home to many races, nationalities, ethnic groups, and tribes. When meeting foreign guests or business partners, South Africans usually greet with a handshake.

The handshake should be fairly firm and confident. It’s important to make eye contact and smile. It’s common to shake hands with everyone present when meeting a group.

Depending on someone’s cultural background (national, ethnic, or tribal), the handshake might last longer or be a bit softer.

Not all women choose to shake hands—some prefer a polite nod instead. In these situations, men should wait for the woman to offer her hand first.

Just saying “Hello” and shaking hands usually isn’t enough. Especially if you already know the person, it’s expected to make small talk—ask how they’re doing, how their family is, or how their health is.

This short conversation is an important part of the greeting and a valued tradition, so it’s worth taking the time for it instead of rushing through.

Introduction

In business and formal settings, greetings in South Africa used to be quite official. It's often using polite language, professional titles, or ranks if the person has one. These days, things are becoming a bit more relaxed, but when starting a business relationship with a South African partner, it’s still important to stay respectful.

Your South African colleague might introduce themselves formally at first, including their title, which sets a more official tone. However, after a short time, they may suggest switching to first names and dropping titles and last names.

In these cases, pay attention to how your colleague behaves. They might be waiting for you to take the lead in making the communication less formal. If so, it’s up to you to decide whether to make that move.

It’s a good idea to check in advance how your South African partners’ names or surnames are pronounced. Some African languages include sounds that can be tricky for non-native speakers. That said, it’s common in South Africa—and in other African countries—for people to use European first names, which usually makes things easier to pronounce.

Exchange of Business Cards

Exchanging business cards is a regular practice at almost any event. Most South African businesspeople carry plenty of cards with them, so it’s a good idea to make sure you also bring enough of your own in advance.

The card should have English text on at least one side. The other side can be in your native language or a local language like Zulu (Zulu speakers make up around 40% of South Africa’s Black population). This can be especially useful if you know your partner’s background.

Besides your name, surname, position, and company name, it’s standard to include detailed contact information—especially your mobile and/or landline number.

There’s no special ritual around handing over business cards in South Africa. If your conversation partner doesn’t give you their card after receiving yours, don’t take it as rude or distrustful—it might just mean they don’t have any cards with them.

Small Talk: Overview

People in South Africa enjoy conversation, especially in informal settings. They’re usually open to discussing a wide range of topics.

The manner and communication style of your South African partners can vary depending on their national or ethnic background.

A good story or a well-timed joke will likely be appreciated by your South African colleague. It can also help strengthen your business relationship.

Humor is generally well-received in South African culture. Jokes on almost any topic—especially those with subtle meaning or irony—are often welcomed. Still, it’s a good idea to first listen to how your South African partners use humor before jumping in yourself.

An important aspect of conversation in South African culture is silence. A silent pause during a discussion is a sign that people are thinking about what was just said and showing respect to the speaker. Don’t be impatient if you feel the pause is lasting too long.

Silence is respected in both business and social interactions in South Africa. There's even a local saying: “The one who listens, understands.” It’s not necessary to respond to every single comment, which can be challenging for people from other cultures.

Preferred Topics

Sports are one of the most popular conversation topics—especially rugby, cricket, and football—particularly when local teams are performing well on the world stage.

South Africa’s natural beauty and places in the country.

Local cuisine and wines.

Travel in general, and famous sights or landmarks in different countries.

Popular movies and cinema in general.

Family and personal life—what family members do, for example. These kinds of conversations usually require some mutual exchange. If a colleague shares something about their family, it’s important to also share a bit about your own.

Taboo Topics

In South Africa, people often talk about politics. However, it’s best not to join these discussions—at least not until you have a good understanding of the general situation in the country and your partner’s personal views.

Avoid making critical comments about how life is organized in South Africa or about issues that concern South African society.

Stay away from discussions about racial matters, even if your partners bring up the topic. Do not make any remarks that could be interpreted, even subtly, as racist.

Personal Space

It’s good to remember that South Africa is home to a wide mix of races, nationalities, ethnic groups, and tribes (it’s not called the Rainbow Nation for nothing). Because of that, people’s sense of personal space can vary. Generally, though, South Africans are comfortable with less personal space than in many other cultures.

When talking, people often stand quite close to each other, especially in groups — sometimes less than a meter apart. Stepping back to increase the distance might come across as unfriendly.

In South Africa, people actively use gestures and body language. Physical touch is not unusual, although it is not as expressive as in Latin American cultures.

Communication Specifics

When starting a project with a South African partner, it’s important to know that they’ll likely want to build a personal relationship with you and other team members. The first meeting will probably focus more on getting to know each other than on the project itself. Your partner will want to learn more about you as a person.

At the beginning of your collaboration, your South African colleague might seem a bit reserved. But as the relationship grows and trust develops, their communication style will likely become more open and expressive.

South African society is considered high-context. This means that not everything is said out loud — a lot of meaning comes from the situation itself or is understood through shared cultural context.

Sometimes nonverbal cues carry more meaning than the actual words being spoken. If something seems unclear or could be interpreted in different ways, it’s a good idea to ask your South African colleague for clarification.

Being tactful is often more important than being direct. To avoid hurting someone’s feelings or damaging the relationship, South Africans may choose to speak more vaguely or indirectly.

Showing respect is very important, especially when speaking with people in senior positions or those who are older.

Even though hierarchy, status, and protocol matter in South African business culture, people generally prefer not to be overly formal. They’re usually open, friendly, and happy to have a conversation.