Media

Media language Most used language is English, followed by Afrikaans, but all the 11 official languages are represented.

Information channels
South Africa is a major media player. There is an established state-owned and private broadcasting scene, and a thriving satellite and cable TV industry. South African company MultiChoice, which operates the DStv platform, markets its pay TV services in dozens of African countries. The state broadcaster, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), runs TV and radio networks operating in multiple languages. But in recent years it has endured financial difficulties, accusations of political censorship, and a scandal surrounding a former executive. The lively press scene is dominated by a handful of major publishing groups. Reporters Without Borders says coverage of certain subjects involving the ruling ANC and government finances is off limits, or provokes a hostile reaction from the authorities. There were nearly 31 million internet users by the end of 2017 – comprising more than half of the population (InternetWorldStats). Internet use is driven by the use of mobile devices. Access is unrestricted, says Freedom House.

The press

The Star – Johannesburg-based daily, city’s oldest newspaper
The Sowetan – Johannesburg-based tabloid.
Beeld – largest Afrikaans daily
Mail & Guardian – weekly, operates Mail & Guardian online
Business Day – daily
Financial Mail – business weekly
Sunday Times/The Times – oldest Sunday newspaper; publishes subscription-only daily
News24 – online news

Television

SABC – state broadcaster, operates three national TV networks, two pay-TV channels.
e.tv – free-to-air, commercial; also operates news network eNCA
M-Net – pay-TV, pan-African audience

Radio

SABC – state broadcaster with regional and national services in multiple languages, including: English-language SAfm; music station 5 FM; Afrikaans station Radio Sonder Grense; Zulu station Ukhozi FM; Sesotho station Lesedi FM.
Channel Africa – SABC’s pan-African external radio
YFM – popular Johannesburg commercial R&B, soul and hip-hop station
702 Talk Radio – Johannesburg commercial news and talk station

News agency

African News Agency – news and content syndication service

Internet Data

Internet users
74.7% penetration, 45.34 million

Share of web traffic by device
82.02% mobile phones, 19.95% computers (laptops and desktops), 1% tablet devices, others 0.03%

Median speed of mobile Internet connection
49.71 Mbps

Median speed of fixed Internet connection
45.62 Mbps

Mobile connection as a percentage of total population
195.4%

Percentage of mobile connections that are broadband (3G-5G)
97%

Most popular web search engines
Google (94.48%), Bing (4.77%), Yahoo! (0.28%), Petal Search (0.27%), DuckDuckGo (0.11%), other (0.08%).

Most used social media
Facebook (67.61%), Pinterest (11.43%), Instagram (9.2%), Twitter (5.71%), YouTube (3.31%), LinkedIn (1.7%), Reddit (0.72%), other (0.33%).

Social statistics

Life expectancy
61 yrs (2022)

Current health expenditure
8.27% of GDP (2021)

Current education expenditure
96.7% of total expenditure in public institutions

Cultural Curiosities
Every ethnic group has its own little cultural norms, some, for example, consider it impolite to make gestures with the left hand or to receive things with one hand only. Some cultures, completely different in their customs, in Zulu, for example, it is important to announce your arrival shouting your name before even entering the house, but you must be seated by the host, whereas in the Sotho culture it is mannerly to immediately sit yourself when entering a foreign environment. 

Corruption perceptions Index
South Africa scored 43 out of 100, ranked 72 out 180 countries worldwide.

CO2 emissions
6.7 metric tons per capita.

Graduates (tertiary education)
Educational attainment is still low in South Africa. In 2018, over half (59%) of 25–64 year-olds in South Africa had attained an upper secondary education as the highest level achieved, well above the G20 average of 32% and the OECD average of 38%, while 26% had not attained upper secondary education. However, attainment has been increasing, particularly since the implementation of the South African School Act in 1996 making education compulsory for children aged 7 to 15. Between 2008 and 2018, the share of young adults (25-34 year olds) without upper secondary education fell from 27% to 18%, with 77% of young adults having an upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary qualification in 2018. (2019)

World Happiness Index
South Africa ranked 91 out of 146 countries, with a score of 5.194.