Steemit Engagement Challenge (SEC)| S12W6- "My country; My Home"

^{My country and my home, designed with Canva}

South Africa!

A small country to be found in the most southern part of the continent of Africa which is known by millions all over the world, sometimes for the good, and other times for the not-so-good.

What so many don’t know is that South Africa shares land borders with six other countries. It is five times bigger than Japan and it is the only country with three capital cities in the world.

It is home to the “Big Five” animals, the tallest waterfall in the world, the Tugela Waterfall, the world’s oldest crater, more than 3,000 shipwrecks and the smallest mammal in the world, the least dwarf shrew.

South Africa is what I call “home.”

The timeline of my beloved country, South Africa

1486: Bartholomeu Dias a seafarer, discovers the Cape of Good Hope
1652: Jan van Riebeeck establishes the first Dutch settlement at the Cape (Cape Town)
1795: The first British occupation of the Cape
1806: The second British occupation of the Cape
1836: The beginning of the “Groot Trek” (migration) of the Afrikaner “boere” to the interior of South Africa
1867: Daimonds are discovered
1880: The First Anglo-Boer war
1886: The discovery of gold in Kimberley and Witwatersrand (South Africa)
1899: The Second Anglo-Boer War
1910: South Africa becomes a Union under England and adopts the first constitution
1961: South Africa becomes an independent republic, the Republic of South Africa 1986: Scrapping of the first so-called "apartheid laws," such as the passport law.
1992: National referendum (March 17),
1994: First democratic election (April 27) and Nelson Mandela becomes the first black head of state of the Republic of South Africa
1996: The final constitution is signed (December 10)
2019: 25 Years of Freedom celebrations took place
2023: 29 years of a democratic country
Source:

Is South Africa a unique country?

YES! For sure!

I've already mentioned some facts in the introduction of this post, but there are so many other things that make South Africa unique.

The first thing that comes to mind is the PEOPLE.

South Africa is such a diverse country.
No matter your color, race, language, or heritage, you will find it all under the South African skies.

Let me share the start of our constitution with you.

We, the people of South Africa,
Recognise the injustices of our past;
Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;
Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and
Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.
We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to – Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;
Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;
Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and
Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.

This is what makes the people of South Africa, the “Rainbow Nation,” unique. All over the world, we are also known for being a friendly and welcoming nation.

The second unique quality is the BEAUTY of the country.

Beauty which stretches from the East Coast of Kwazulu-Natal’s sugarcane plantations, over majestic mountains, untamed bushveld, flat grasslands, deep rivers, along sandy beaches, green forests, and even a bit of desert skies all the way to the whitewashed homes of fishermen on the West Coast.

South Africa has been blessed by so much natural beauty.

I have so much more to share that it is difficult to share choose one more unique quality.

Okay, ADVENTURES.

There is just so much to do in South Africa. With mild temperatures all year round and the sun shining most of the time, South Africa offers a big variety of adventures for the whole family.

If you are looking deep sea fishing, diving with sharks in Houtbay, a hike up Table Mountain, whale watching from Hermanus all the way to Plettenburg Bay, cave watching in the Cango Caves, bungee jumping from Bloukrans Bridge (the highest bungee jumping in the world),or game drives looking for the Big Five (leopards lions, elephants, rhinoceros, and African buffalo), South Africa offers this on a golden plate.

^{Bungee jumping from Bloukrans Bridge}

Would I leave my country to settle in another if an opportunity shows up?

Language	Translation
Afrikaans	nee, my home language
English	no, my second language
Sepedi	aowa
Sesotho	che
Setswana	nyaa
siSwati	cha
Tshivenda	hai
Xitsonga	E-e
isiNdebele	hatshi
isiXhosa	hayi
isiZulu	cha
Sign language	Your pointer and middle finger closing on your thumb

I have just answered this question in all 12 official languages of South Africa with a big “NO!”

I have traveled to many countries in the world, some for business and others for pleasure, yet every time those wheels of the airplane touch down, I sigh in relief at being back HOME.

I know what I have, I know what I get, and I know that I am satisfied. South Africa is where I was born and where my roots are planted deeply.
I also know that the grass is not always greener on the other side. There are problems in all the countries around the globe.

No opportunity will be big enough for me to leave my beloved country, South Africa, especially now that I am getting on with the years.

^{Hout Bay with parts of Table Mountain}

The areas of South Africa where I would love to see improvements

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is one of the world's and South Africa's most famous leaders. Mandela was found guilty of sabotage and treason in the so-called Rivonia trial in June 1964, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Mandela was initially detained on Robben Island, where he had to cut stones in a limestone mine. Mandela was released from prison on February 11 after 27 years of fighting for freedom and became the first black president of a democratic South Africa in 1994.

He started his fight for the rights of humans all around the world. Sadly, our government has failed to improve human rights for its own nation. If I could see improvement on only three of these rights, I would be more than happy.

^{Free education for all}

Health: The right to free and good health care, food, water, and social security

Freedom: The right to freedom of expression, religion, belief, and opinion

Education: The right to free basic education for all, young and old

There is a rising sense of disappointment and annoyance among South Africans that democracy has failed and fallen short of its promises to 62 million South Africans. It is my wish for South Africa that our government will wake up and see the essential for tackling problem issues and start building a more wealthy and just society.

I end my post with a warm greeting from Ballito, South Africa!

➜ All images are my own

I invite: @irawandedy @sailawana @mehwish-almas @basil20

CC: @sduttaskitchenn @shabbir86 @saintkelvin17 @aviral123

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