Skip to main content
Illustrated map of southern Africa showing the Blue Train route between Cape Town and Johannesburg
Photo: Luxury Train Club
GeographyHard

South Africa: The Expert Challenge

Mandela walked free on 11 February 1990 after 27 years behind bars. The rand takes its name from the Witwatersrand, where gold was struck in 1886. De Klerk shared the 1993 Nobel with Mandela. Test your South Africa.

20

Questions

4

Minutes

Tip: Use keys 1-4 to answer quickly

The 20 quiz questions

Question 1 : In what year was Nelson Mandela released from prison?

Possible answers:

  • 1989
  • 1990
  • 1991
  • 1992

Explanation: Nelson Mandela was released on February 11, 1990 after 27 years of imprisonment. His release marked the beginning of the transition to democracy in South Africa.

Question 2 : What is the name of South Africa's currency?

Possible answers:

  • Dirham
  • Rand
  • Peso
  • Dollar

Explanation: The South African rand is named after the Witwatersrand mountain range, where gold was discovered in 1886. It replaced the South African pound in 1961.

Question 3 : Who was the last white president of South Africa under apartheid?

Possible answers:

  • John Vorster
  • F.W. de Klerk
  • Hendrik Verwoerd
  • P.W. Botha

Explanation: F.W. de Klerk was president from 1989 to 1994 and played a crucial role in ending apartheid. He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela in 1993.

Question 4 : In which city is the Constitutional Court of South Africa located?

Possible answers:

  • Pretoria
  • Bloemfontein
  • Cape Town
  • Johannesburg

Explanation: The Constitutional Court sits in Johannesburg, in the Braamfontein area. The building, inaugurated in 2004, was built on the site of the former Old Fort prison.

Question 5 : What is the name of the system of racial laws established in 1948?

Possible answers:

  • Bantoustan System
  • Racial Laws
  • Segregation Act
  • Apartheid

Explanation: Apartheid, an Afrikaans word meaning 'separation', was a legalized system of racial segregation. It was gradually dismantled between 1990 and 1994.

Question 6 : What is the highest mountain in South Africa?

Possible answers:

  • Mafadi
  • Table Mountain
  • Champagne Castle
  • Cathkin Peak

Explanation: Mafadi reaches 3,450 meters in the Drakensberg mountains, on the border with Lesotho. Its name means 'mother' in Zulu.

Question 7 : In what year was the Union of South Africa formed?

Possible answers:

  • 1908
  • 1909
  • 1910
  • 1911

Explanation: The Union of South Africa was created on May 31, 1910, uniting the four British colonies: Cape, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal.

Question 8 : Which South African president resigned in 2018 following corruption scandals?

Possible answers:

  • Cyril Ramaphosa
  • Jacob Zuma
  • Thabo Mbeki
  • Kgalema Motlanthe

Explanation: Jacob Zuma resigned in February 2018 after nine years in power, under pressure from the ANC and following numerous corruption allegations, particularly the Gupta brothers affair.

Question 9 : Which river forms part of the border between South Africa and Namibia?

Possible answers:

  • Orange
  • Tugela
  • Limpopo
  • Vaal

Explanation: The Orange River, 2,200 km long, is the longest river in South Africa. It originates in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho.

Question 10 : What is the approximate area of South Africa?

Possible answers:

  • 1 200 000 km²
  • 1 500 000 km²
  • 1 100 000 km²
  • 950 000 km²

Explanation: At 1,221,037 km², South Africa is the 25th largest country in the world. Its area is approximately twice that of France.

Question 11 : In which city is Africa's largest hospital located?

Possible answers:

  • Cape Town
  • Durban
  • Johannesburg
  • Pretoria

Explanation: Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, near Johannesburg, is the largest hospital in the world with over 3,200 beds and serves a population of more than 3 million people.

Question 12 : Which ethnic group represents the majority of South Africa's population?

Possible answers:

  • Métis (Coloureds)
  • Indiens
  • Blancs
  • Africains noirs

Explanation: Black Africans represent about 81% of South Africa's population according to the 2011 census. The main groups are Zulus, Xhosas and Sothos.

Question 13 : What is the name of the former South African president nicknamed 'Madiba'?

Possible answers:

  • Steve Biko
  • Nelson Mandela
  • Oliver Tambo
  • Thabo Mbeki

Explanation: Madiba was Nelson Mandela's clan name in Xhosa. This affectionate nickname became synonymous with respect and admiration for the former president.

Question 14 : In what year did South Africa host the FIFA World Cup?

Possible answers:

  • 2008
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2011

Explanation: The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the first held on the African continent. It took place from June 11 to July 11, 2010 in nine South African cities.

Question 15 : Which language is spoken by the most South Africans as a mother tongue?

Possible answers:

  • Xhosa
  • Anglais
  • Zoulou
  • Afrikaans

Explanation: Zulu is spoken by about 22.7% of the population as a mother tongue, mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. It is the most spoken of the 11 official languages.

Question 16 : In which province is the famous Wine Route located?

Possible answers:

  • Mpumalanga
  • KwaZulu-Natal
  • Gauteng
  • Cap-Occidental

Explanation: The Western Cape wine route, particularly around Stellenbosch and Paarl, is one of the oldest wine regions in the New World, with vineyards planted since 1659.

Question 17 : What is the name of the famous Johannesburg neighborhood where Nelson Mandela lived?

Possible answers:

  • Katlehong
  • Tembisa
  • Soweto
  • Alexandra

Explanation: Soweto (South Western Townships) is the largest township in South Africa with over one million inhabitants. Mandela's house on Vilakazi Street has become a museum.

Question 18 : Which mining company was founded by Cecil Rhodes in South Africa?

Possible answers:

  • De Beers
  • Gold Fields
  • Anglo American
  • Harmony Gold

Explanation: De Beers, founded in 1888, long dominated the global diamond market. The company is named after the de Beer brothers' farm where the first diamonds were discovered.

Question 19 : In what year did South Africa leave the British Commonwealth?

Possible answers:

  • 1960
  • 1961
  • 1962
  • 1963

Explanation: South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961 to become a republic, mainly due to international criticism against apartheid. It returned in 1994.

Question 20 : Which political party governed South Africa from 1948 to 1994?

Possible answers:

  • Parti national
  • Parti travailliste
  • Parti uni
  • Parti progressiste

Explanation: The National Party governed and maintained apartheid for 46 years. It was mainly supported by the Afrikaner population and part of the white English-speaking population.

This quiz has been played 1 times