Basic Etiquette

Receiving something with both hands joined and held out like a cup is considered polite. It might not be considered courteous by some South African ethnic groups to make motions with the left hand. Compared to black and mixed-race South Africans, who are more likely to adhere to "African time," white and Asian South Africans place a higher priority on punctuality.

South Africans frequently say "just now" or "now-now." Doing something "now-now" means doing it right away, whereas doing something "just now" means doing it soon but not right away. When you yawn, you should cover your mouth politely. Spitting in public is impolite. Always treat those who are older than you with greater respect. In South Africa, tips typically account for 10% of total expenses and are not typically added to the total. The tip will be included if you and the vendor have previously agreed upon a price (like for a cab fare). Tipping in spare change is permissible for any other exchanges.