Why is South Africa called South Africa?

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The Darkness Returns

Because it's on the southern tip of the continent of Africa.

JayBee

Because South Dakota, South Wales, South America, South Hampton, South Carolina, and South Side Suzie were already taken.

rose_merrick

because it is Africa. and South

MR CASH

Hello this is MR Cash

South Africa became one country in 1910- The union of South Africa
Before that you had Natal and The Cape.Both were colonies of the British empire.Then you had the Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free state(The two smallest republics in the world)The Transvaal and Orange free state were both Afrikaaner Boer republics.
The Boer republics and the Brittish colonies were involved in Two South African wars as a result of Gold found in these republics.
With the country being unified in 1910 I think that it was just easier to call it South Africa to show that we were finally unified and possibly to avoid an English/Boer name which would cause more controvisy

PhysThpyStudent

the answer is in the name. South......Africa.

MEGative

becuase it is south of the continent of africa and part of the country whereas britain is a totally seperate country part of a continent....if that makes sense :S

mischief

umm its in the South of Africa isn't it? like the tip of the South? so why not call it that?

zoeksalamander

they like to keep things simple.

-One Love-

I guess because it was easier to call it that. It sounds cool anyways.

loopy loo

because it is in africa and it is down south, only reason i can think of,

James M

Hot Girl is wrong. Zimbabwe used to be called Rhodesia. South Africa was a territory faught over by the British and Dutch, and the name South Africa was merely a reference point as no one had a clear claim over it. WHen everything was settled, the name stuck, and when it was declared a State in it's own right, the name was never changed.

jellyfish.of.jazz

Because it's south of Africa and the person who named it had no imagination!

OomPaul

You as a rooinek should know that the Republic of South Africa caem from the UNION of South Africa, Cape Colony,.Orange Freestate, Natal and Transvaal.
Are those names ineteresting enough? Not that most of them exist anymore after the ANC changed them all to ridiculous things like Mpumalanga etc

malisto

nice question, makes me think where did they get all these names such as Europe, Africa, America, Antartica, Asia.
Found out the other day that Iran, is the previous Great Persia. History is so interesting! Expeditions! Lol

Reb Da Rebel

Hey, I had nothing to do with the naming of the country. For as long as I've known (I'm pretty young), its always been South Africa. Wouldnt mind a new name though, but i'm used to this one.

blondie

Some of the earlier answers I think are missing the point - why hasn't the new South African Government renamed the country just as people in Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Bechualand etc. re-named their countries? Various names have been suggested for the new South Africa, such as Azania, etc., and although it hasn 't happened yet, it probably won't be long before before South Africa is known as something else.

Chariotmender

South Africa is a shortened version of the correct name, 'The Union of South Africa'.

In 1910 the Union of South Africa was created by the unification of four areas, by joining the two former independent Boer republics of the South African Republic (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek) and the Orange Free State (Oranje Vrystaat) with the British dominated Cape Province and Natal. Most significantly, the new Union of South Africa gained international respect with British Dominion status putting it on par with three other important British dominions and allies: Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

jovvijo

No one could think of a better name at the time, or maybe they just thought South Africa sounded catchy?

old know all

Before European colonists arrived, that end of the continent was made up of lots of small self-governing areas. The British, Dutch and Germans grabbed the whole of Southern Africa, exploited the mineral reserves and generally moved the African people about because those from further north were more suited to working in the mines. Britain then decided to grab the Dutch colonies leading to the Boer War. The Union of South Africa is the name of the state that resulted from the amalgamation of the various colonies at the end of the Boer War. The Bantu people prefer to call it Anzania.

girlygirl

Because it is South of Africa.

sexy

Is this a trick question?

Fatima

well I guess the unification thingie answers it

STEEN

Mmmm, it is quite average. Should change some time soon though, I'm guessing... 'LLWALALA EZULWINI', or maybe EWUKA, or maybe 'UKUTHULA ENZA' - keep your eye on the news, wont be long now!!!

Thanks for two points...!!!

Commander MJ

Ag well, just for two points, because it is in the SOUTH of AFRICA!

second only to trollalalala

It's got an English language name because it was heavily colonised by Britons and Europeans. The origin of virtually every other African country's name was derived from African language.

John J

cos its in south of africa

Ayiza

The colonizers called it SA.
So we just continued from there.
You are right not only is it not interesting but it is a stupid name.

We should have changed it a long time ago.
But you know who will complain when the name gets changed.

Mkay3

Im sure the person who named it wanted to make it clear to other colonisers that south Africa was his, and since the treaty of versalles was to make it clear which country it colonised.

Kevan M

Because it is in the south of Africa.

In actual fact, South Africa is made up of a number of smaller states (like France, England, Belgium, Germany) that where governed by tribal Kings until the Dutch and British got there.
Then it was the contest between them and the natives to see who could gain more land, make treaties for protection etc.
If Gold and Diamonds had not been found there I am sure the old Cape Colony would have been seperate from the Transvaal today.
For more clues to the past look at the flag of the country, now and in its History.

gerkie

biekos iet ies not ien de norden part of efrieke

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