2. What languages do South Africans speak? Is South
Africa a democracy? Are there big cities with
modern amenities? Are the roads tarred? How far
will my money go? … You've got three minutes to
spare?
Here's the lowdown on why South Africa's going to
surprise you. Welcome to the southern tip of Africa.
Here, two great oceans meet, warm weather lasts
most of the year, and big game roams just beyond
the city lights.

3. This is where humanity began: our ancestors' traces
are still evident in fossilised footprints
80 000 years old, and in the world's oldest rock
paintings.
Today, South Africa is the powerhouse of
Africa, the most advanced, broad-based economy
on the continent, with infrastructure to match any
first-world country.
South Africa is in the southernmost part of Africa. It
has 9 provinces, eleven official languages, a country
with in it, a King and is one of the most
diverse countries in the world.
Some countries have deserts; some have
subtropical forests, right? South Africa has: deserts,
wetlands, beaches, grasslands, bush, subtropical
forests, mountains and escarpments.

4. The majority of South Africans are
Christian, the largest church
being the indigenous Zion
Christian Church, followed by the
Dutch Reformed and Catholic
churches. Many churches
combine Christian and traditional
African beliefs.
SA has three capital
cities: Pretoria is the
Executive Capital,
Cape Town the
Legislative Capital
and Bloemfontein
the judicial Capital.
South Africa is a nation of 51.77-
million people of diverse origins,
cultures, languages and beliefs.
Around 79% are black (or
African), 8.9% "coloured" – the
local label for people of mixed
African, Asian and white
descent – 8.9% white, and 2.5%
Indian or Asian.

5. Although we have 11 official languages
the most commonly spoken is isiZulu. Some
common phrases are Sawubona which
mean “I see you” and “Unjani” which is
“how are you”
What's the weather like? Summery, but
sometimes sweltering. In Johannesburg,
the country's commercial capital, the
weather is mild all year round, but can get
cold at night in winter. Durban, the biggest
port, is hot and humid, a beach paradise.
And in Cape Town, where travellers flock
to admire one of the world's most
spectacular settings, the weather is usually
warm, though temperamental.

6.  South Africa has a very unique culture
and society.
 We are a very sports orientated society
with our soccer team Bafana Bafana,
our cricket team the Proteas and of
course of beloved rugby team the
Springboks.
 We also have unique cuisine such as
biltong, boerewors, pap, meilie meal,
bobotie and bunny chow.
 These can all be found at any Sunday
braai or barbeque which is also a big
Sunday tradition where meat is cooked
over an open fire.

7. Fun Facts

8. South Africa is home to the highest commercial bungi
jump in the world at 710 feet.
We have the biggest national reserves including The
Kruger Park which hold the endangered rhino species
as well as the big five which include lion, rhino,
buffalo, elephant and leopard. Unfortunately we
cannot say that we ride these guys to school or see
them on a daily basis.

9. Johannesburg-
the city of gold
Joburg, Jozi or Egoli the "City of Gold" is South Africa's most
populated city, and the cosmopolitan business centre of
the country. It is the hub of South Africa's most densely
populated province, Gauteng. The city was formally
established in 1886 with the discovery of gold and the
Witwatersrand reef. After the discovery, the population of
the city exploded, and Johannesburg became the largest
city in South Africa.
Joburg is home to 10 million people and is situated 1,700
metres above sea level. It claims to be the lightning
capital of the world and with good reason there is nothing
like a joburg storm to wake you up at night!

10. Johannesburg includes Soweto,
which was a separate city from the
late 1970s until the 1990s. Originally
an acronym for "South-Western
Townships", Soweto originated as a
collection of settlements on the
outskirts of Johannesburg populated
mostly by native African workers in
the gold mining industry. Soweto is
now home to more than 1 million
people and ranges from shacks to
wealthy suburbs. Also in Soweto is
Soccer City where the 2010 world
cup was hosted as well as the
largest hospital in the southern
hemisphere the Chris Hani
Baragwanath Hospital and the only
street in the world where two Nobel
Peace prize winners have lived.

11. Johannesburg is laced with over 10 million trees, and
therefore is also known as the largest man made forest
in the world.
Johannesburg is one of the 40 largest metropolitan
areas of the world and the biggest city without a major
river running through it or a coastline.
Johannesburg has been rebuilt four times in the span of
one century. First, it was a tented camp, then a town of
tin shanties, then of four-storey Edwardian brick buildings
and finally, a city of modern skyscrapers.

12. Johannesburg‟s traffic is legendary all over the world. Even
though the city is dotted with a dozen highways, it can get
quite difficult for commuters to travel from one place to
another even if the destination is only a block away! The
average commuting time in Johannesburg from one place to
another is 45 minutes.
Around 1569 hectares of land is covered by nature reserves in
the city of Johannesburg There are 12 river systems that run
through the city of Johannesburg. Forty percent of all the
world's human ancestor fossils have been discovered in and
around Johannesburg. Johannesburg is dotted with 150
heritage sites, half of which are national monuments.

13. Brescia House School
Brescia- Serviam
Brescia House School is situated in Bryanston in Northern
Johannesburg and 850 girls attend Brescia. Brescia House School
is proud of its 100% matric pass rate .
The school was started by the Sisters of the Ursuline Order at the
request of the Bishop who felt a need for a Catholic girls‟ school in
the area. The school has gone from strength to strength in the
past 40 years and has built an excellent reputation among private
schools.
The school boasts some of the finest facilities in the area, and
these are constantly being upgraded to keep ahead of
educational trends.

14. Pupils of any denomination are welcomed and are
encouraged to explore all aspects of religion and
personal spirituality. “Serviam”, which means “I shall
serve”, is the motto of the school and a spirit of service to
the community is encouraged in the pupils.

15. We also make sure to bring Serviam in to Johannesburg
and run many outreach projects throughout the year.
Such as the grade 11‟s and twelve‟s upgrading under
privileged schools, constant collections for charities,
WISH which is an extra mural aimed at involving the girls
in charity work and helping the Ursuline sister in Botswana
give clean water and food to under privileged people.

16. Dances/Balls
Matric (Grade 12) Dance:
- Organised by Grade 11‟s
- Only the Grade 11‟s and 12‟s can come
- Grade 10‟s waitress and there is a tradition that
each Grade 10 must dance with one of the
matric‟s dates.
Grade 10 – Sweet Sixteen Dance:
- Organised by Grade 10 girls and moms.
- For the Grade 10 girls and their dates only.

17. Sport
- Netball
- Hockey
- Athletics
- Soccer
- Swimming
- Equestrian
- Squash
- Tennis

18. Culturals
- Drama
- Public Speaking
- Chess
- WISH
- Debating
- Photography club
- Leggo club
- Beading
- Poetry Club
- Comic book club

19. Traditions
1. All matric girls each get a Grade 8 buddy to help
and look after.
2. All Grade 9 girls get a Grade 7 buddy to help look
after.
3. At the end of the matrics year, we have a foam
fight, where all the matrics cut up their uniform and
arrive at the school on some extreme form of
transport – like for example a firetruck, also we
have final assembly where the sister girls in the
younger grades write a speech to say good bye to
their sister.

20. 4. The swimming girls before inter high have a pasta party,
where they overload on carbs and get all ready for inter-
high.
5. The drama girls have cast breakfast as well as a cast party
after a cast breakfast.
6. After the second term, it is the matrics last day wearing our
winter uniform, the cut up their hats and do the hat parade
in final assembly.
7. Silly week – the last week of the matrics school life, the
girls dress up and pull pranks in this week.

21. Subjects
 Afrikaans
 Zulu
 French
 English
 Maths Core
 Maths LIT
 Life Science
 Physical Science
 Geography
 Accounting
 Business Studies
 Consumer Studies
 History
 Art
 Music
 IT
 Life Orientation
 Religious Education
 Physical Education

22. Uniforms
- Hats and Blazers for formal occasions
- Green checked dress in summer with white socks
- Mint green undershirt with bottle green „frock‟ over
with brown tights or socks in winter.
- We wear brown shoes all year round.
Summer uniform