Greeting

In South Africa you can encounter many different forms of greeting, as this state has an amazing mix of people of different races, nationalities, ethnic groups and tribes. When talking to foreign partners or guests, South Africans shake hands in greeting.

The handshake should be quite firm and vigorous, accompanied by eye contact and a smile. It is customary to shake hands with everyone present during a meeting.

Be aware that depending on the cultural background of the speaker (primarily national, ethnic or tribal status) the handshake may be longer or not very strong.

Not all women choose a handshake as a form of greeting, some of them simply prefer to politely tilt their head slightly. A man in this regard needs to wait for an initiative from a woman before extending his hand to greet her.

In a greeting, simply saying "Hello" while holding out your hand for a handshake is not enough. Especially when the relationship is established, it's important to share personal comments, ask about each other's business, and ask about health and family matters during the greeting.

This rather brief small talk is an important and traditional part of the greeting, so it is important to take time for this ritual without disrupting it with any hasty actions.

Introduction

In formal and business situations, the greeting traditionally looked rather formal, in particular using forms of politeness, professional titles or titles of the partner, if there were any. Things are changing a bit toward less formal, but at the beginning of a business relationship with a South African partner, it's important not to cross the line of respectfulness.

Your South African counterpart may introduce himself quite formally by giving his title, thereby setting a rather formal tone in the relationship. However, after a while (sometimes a very short time), this colleague will suggest that you address each other by name, dispensing with titles and surnames.

In these situations, pay close attention to how your South African colleague will behave. It is quite possible that he will wait for an initiative on your part to switch to less formal communication. In that case, it will only be your decision.

See in advance what your South African partners' last names or first names might sound like. Some African languages have sounds that are difficult for foreigners to pronounce. In general, the accepted practice in South Africa as well as elsewhere on the continent is to adopt European names, which will of course make them easier to pronounce.

Exchange of Business Cards

In South African business practice, business cards are exchanged regularly at all kinds of events. This is why most South African businessmen have a sufficient supply of business cards. You should also make sure you have the right number of business cards beforehand.

The text on at least one side of the business card should be in English. The text on the other side can either be in the owner's native language or in some local language, such as Zulu (the Zulu people make up about 40% of South Africa's black population). This is especially important if you know your partner's background.

In addition to first and last name, job title and organization name, it is customary to include detailed contact information, especially mobile and/or landline phone numbers.

There is no special ritual in South African business practice when giving a business card. If your conversation partner does not offer you their business card after receiving yours, do not take this as impolite behavior or a sign of mistrust (maybe they simply do not have business cards).

Small Talk: Overview

South Africans love to socialize, especially informally. They are interested in all kinds of topics that they would be willing to discuss with you.

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

A good story or a good joke will certainly be appreciated by your South African colleague. This, by the way, will help you strengthen your business relationship.

Humor in general is well received in this society. Jokes about almost any topic, especially if they contain a subtext or element of irony, will be gladly supported. But before you start making jokes yourself, listen to your partners in South Africa.

A significant element of conversation in South African culture is the silence, which looks like a silent pause and which indicates the participants' attention to the topic of conversation and respect for the speaker. It is as if they are contemplating what they have just heard. Don't get impatient if you think the pause is too long.

Silence during a conversation is well-received in both business and social communication in South Africa. "He who listens understands," says an African proverb. You don't have to respond in any way to what the other person is saying, which is sometimes difficult in many other cultures.

Preferred Topics

Sports are the most popular topic, particularly rugby, cricket and soccer, especially if the local teams perform well on world sports grounds.

The nature of South Africa, the places in the country you visit.

Local food and wines.

Travel in general, the attractions of particular countries.

Popular movies, movies in general.

Family, family affairs, what family members do. This kind of conversation requires reciprocity. In response to a colleague's story, it's important to share information about your family.

Taboo Topics

Sports are the most popular topic, particularly rugby, cricket and soccer, especially if the local teams perform well on world sports grounds.

The nature of South Africa, the places in the country you visit.

Local food and wines.

Travel in general, the attractions of particular countries.

Popular movies, movies in general.

Family, family affairs, what family members do. This kind of conversation requires reciprocity. In response to a colleague's story, it's important to share information about your family.

Personal Space

 Always keep in mind that in the Republic of South Africa you can meet representatives of many different races, nationalities, ethnic groups and tribes (not for nothing it is called the Land of the Rainbow). Accordingly, the distance of comfortable communication in different population groups may be different. In general it can be considered that South Africans have a shorter distance than other cultures.

 During conversations, they can stand quite close to each other, especially in a group (distance can be less than 1 meter). It's not a good idea to take a step back to stand farther away from the person you're talking to, as this could be perceived as unfriendly behavior.

 In South Africa, people make extensive use of gestures and body language. Physical touching is not unusual, although it is not as expressive as in Latin American cultures.

Communication Specifics

When starting a project with a partner from South Africa, it is important to remember that they will seek to establish a personal relationship with you and the other participants. The first meeting will most likely focus on topics outside of the project itself. Your partner will want to get to know you better and get to know you as a person.

In the beginning of the collaboration, your South African counterpart may be more reticent to talk to you. However, as your relationship develops and trust develops, the way you communicate will change and become more emotional.

South African society can be described as highly contextual. This means some information is left unsaid or unspoken, because all relevant information is either learned from the situation or understood without words by all involved in communication because it is embedded in the culture.

Sometimes nonverbal signals have much more information than the actual explicit, verbal part of speech. Foreign partners should seek clarification from their South African counterpart if there is any misunderstanding or ambiguity about what is being said.

Tactfulness in communication is more important than speaking frankly and directly. So as not to hurt the other person's feelings and thus ruin the relationship, South Africans prefer to be ambiguous and even ambiguous.

It is important to be respectful and deferential in your dealings with people in positions of authority as well as with your elders.

While hierarchy, status, and protocol are important categories in South African business culture, people in general do not tend to be overly formal. They are always willing to keep the conversation going, showing their openness and friendliness.