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South Africa Potpourri
South Africans make tea from dried elephant dung to induce labor in pregnant women. Scientists have discovered that it contains Pitocin, a chemical manufactured for the same purpose.
South African English contains several unexpected idioms. For example, when South Africans say they will do something "just now," it means they will do it later. "Now now" means right away.
The flight between New York and Johannesburg is one of the longest nonstop commercial flights in the world. The trip covers 8,000 mi/13,000 km in a mere 14.25 hours.
South Africans tend to affectionately abbreviate the names of their cities. As such, Durban is known locally as Durbs, Port Elizabeth as P.E., Pietermaritzburg as 'maritzburg and Jeffrey's Bay as J Bay. Johannesburg, which has long been known as Jo'burg or Joeys, has recently acquired the more African-style moniker of Jozi.
Governmental separation of powers has more than philosophical standing in South Africa. There are actually three distinct capitals: Cape Town is the legislative capital, Pretoria is the administrative capital, and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital.
The independent and mountainous nation of Lesotho is completely within the borders of South Africa.
