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Quiz about South Africa The Rainbow Nation

South Africa: The Rainbow Nation Quiz

Welcome to a magical trip through the Rainbow Nation of South Africa. Hope you enjoy the ride.

A multiple-choice quiz by CRK81. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
CRK81

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
353,636

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
13 / 20

Plays
673

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. In 1967, the South African mint began to produce a gold coin which became wildly popular. Which South African statesman (whose image appears on the coins) was it named after? Hint

Paul Kruger

Oliver Tambo

Nelson Mandela

Hendrik Verwoerd

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Question 2 of 20

2. What is the name of the elegant touring train that runs between Pretoria and Cape Town? Hint

Falls to Ocean

Cape Town Express

The Blue Train

South African Rail

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Question 3 of 20

3. Which of these soldiers was NOT awarded the Victoria Cross for their service during the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879? Hint

Julius Malema

Christian Schiess

John Williams

Robert Jones

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Question 4 of 20

4. Which of the following well-known South African fast food chains has outlets in the United States? Hint

Mugg & Bean

Nando's

Col'Cacchios

FishAways

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Question 5 of 20

5. What is the name of one of the oldest and best known hotels in Cape Town? Hint

Lord Nelson

Mount Nelson

Cape Nelson

Admiral Nelson

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Question 6 of 20

6. Which former South African President was known as "Die Groot Krokodil" (The Big Crocodile)? Hint

Pieter Willem ('PW') Botha

Nelson Mandela

Simon Crocker

Frederik Willem ('FW') De Klerk

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Question 7 of 20

7. Which leader of the South African Communist Party was assassinated by Janusz Walus on 10 April 1993? Hint

Chris Hani

Joe Slovo

Steve Biko

Ronnie Kasrils

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Question 8 of 20

8. Who became the reigning King of the Zulus in 1968 although his coronation only took place in 1971? Hint

King Shaka VI

King Goodwill Zwelithini

King Dingaan III

King Zuma I (aka Kay-Jay-Zee)

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Question 9 of 20

9. What is commonly accepted as the founding date of the African National Congress? Hint

10 January 1912

8 January 1912

10 October 1994

8 October 1994

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Question 10 of 20

10. The Protea is the national flower of South Africa. Which other plant does it resemble? Hint

Daisy

Artichoke

Rose

Brussels sprout

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Question 11 of 20

11. Which South African cricketer was famously photographed in mid-air sailing towards the stumps, ball in hand, to run out Inzamam-Ul-Haq of Pakistan on 8 March 1992? Hint

Mark Boucher

Graham Pollock

Jonty Rhodes

Garry Kirsten

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Question 12 of 20

12. Which of the following was NOT a popular children's television program in South Africa? Hint

Liewe Heksie

Oscar en Knersus

Wielie Walie

Die Sonskyn Kinders

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Question 13 of 20

13. What is the name of the village where Nelson Mandela was raised? Hint

Kokstad

Qunu

Umthata

Bisho

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Question 14 of 20

14. Name the leader of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging ('AWB') who was murdered on his farm 'Villana' outside Ventersdorp. Hint

Steyn van Ronge

Eug�ne Terre'Blanche

Pik Botha

Robbie Leibbrandt

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Question 15 of 20

15. What was the name of the South African Airways Boeing 747 that crashed off the coast of Mauritius on 28 November 1987? Hint

The Waterkloof

The Hindenberg

The Helderberg

The Langeberg

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Question 16 of 20

16. In what year was the annual Durban July horse race first held? Hint

1978

1899

1897

1947

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Question 17 of 20

17. To which English-born South African politician is the memorial located on Devil's Peak in Cape Town dedicated? Hint

Helen Suzman

Barney Barnato

Cecil John Rhodes

Jan Smuts

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Question 18 of 20

18. Which of the following South African politicians has NOT won a Nobel Peace Prize? Hint

Nelson Mandela

Winnie Mandela

Albert Lutuli

Frederik Willem ('FW') de Klerk

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Question 19 of 20

19. Which South African General and Politician was the only person to sign the peace treaties ending both the First and the Second World War? Hint

Koos de la Rey

Paul Kruger

Jan Smuts

Louis Botha

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Question 20 of 20

20. Which South African author was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003? Hint

Andre Brink

Nadine Gordimer

J.M. Coetzee

Ben Travato

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1967, the South African mint began to produce a gold coin which became wildly popular. Which South African statesman (whose image appears on the coins) was it named after?

Answer: Paul Kruger

By 1980, the "krugerrand" was so popular that it accounted for 90% of the global gold coin market.

2. What is the name of the elegant touring train that runs between Pretoria and Cape Town?

Answer: The Blue Train

The approximately 1600 kilometer (994 mile) journey between Pretoria and Cape Town is considered to be one of the most luxurious in the world.

3. Which of these soldiers was NOT awarded the Victoria Cross for their service during the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879?

Answer: Julius Malema

Approximately 150 British soldiers managed to repel between 3000 and 4000 Zulu warriors and, in so doing, managed to defend the mission station at Rorke's Drift.

4. Which of the following well-known South African fast food chains has outlets in the United States?

Answer: Nando's

Nando's was founded in Johannesburg in 1987 by Robert Brozin and Fernando Duarte.

5. What is the name of one of the oldest and best known hotels in Cape Town?

Answer: Mount Nelson

The Mount Nelson Hotel is also affectionately referred to as "The Nellie".

6. Which former South African President was known as "Die Groot Krokodil" (The Big Crocodile)?

Answer: Pieter Willem ('PW') Botha

In spite of the fact that Botha had been a staunch supporter of apartheid, the then President Thabo Mbeki, who had lost a cousin, a son and a brother during the apartheid period, attended his funeral in 2006.

7. Which leader of the South African Communist Party was assassinated by Janusz Walus on 10 April 1993?

Answer: Chris Hani

Following the assassination of Chris Hani, Nelson Mandela attempted to prevent violence from erupting with an address, still considered to be one of his finest, that included the following words:

"Tonight I am reaching out to every single South African, black and white, from the very depths of my being. A white man, full of prejudice and hate, came to our country and committed a deed so foul that our whole nation now teeters on the brink of disaster. A white woman, of Afrikaner origin, risked her life so that we may know, and bring to justice, this assassin. The cold-blooded murder of Chris Hani has sent shock waves throughout the country and the world. Now is the time for all South Africans to stand together against those who, from any quarter, wish to destroy what Chris Hani gave his life for - the freedom of all of us."

8. Who became the reigning King of the Zulus in 1968 although his coronation only took place in 1971?

Answer: King Goodwill Zwelithini

King Goodwill Zwelithini fled to St. Helena following the death of his father, King Cyprian Bhekuzulu kaSolomon, for fear of assassination and only returned for his coronation in 1971.

9. What is commonly accepted as the founding date of the African National Congress?

Answer: 8 January 1912

It was formed as the South African Native National Congress in Bloemfontein, in the Waaihoek Wesleyan Church, on 8 January 1912. It only became known as the African National Congress in 1923.

10. The Protea is the national flower of South Africa. Which other plant does it resemble?

Answer: Artichoke

The South African national cricket team is also known as 'The Proteas'.

11. Which South African cricketer was famously photographed in mid-air sailing towards the stumps, ball in hand, to run out Inzamam-Ul-Haq of Pakistan on 8 March 1992?

Answer: Jonty Rhodes

Rhodes was considered at the time to be one of the finest fielders in the World. A popular slogan on the placards of South African supporters read: "Water covers 70 percent of the Earth, Jonty covers the rest".

12. Which of the following was NOT a popular children's television program in South Africa?

Answer: Die Sonskyn Kinders

Liewe Heksie, Wielie Walie and Oscar en Knersus were all popular Afrikaans children's programs produced by the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

13. What is the name of the village where Nelson Mandela was raised?

Answer: Qunu

Qunu is situated in the Eastern Cape Province. Mandela retired to Qunu in 2012.

14. Name the leader of the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging ('AWB') who was murdered on his farm 'Villana' outside Ventersdorp.

Answer: Eug�ne Terre'Blanche

Terre'Blanche founded the AWB in Heidelberg in 1978 as a secret society, having grown "disillusioned" with party politics.

15. What was the name of the South African Airways Boeing 747 that crashed off the coast of Mauritius on 28 November 1987?

Answer: The Helderberg

The Heidelberg suffered a catastrophic fire in the cargo area. Not a single passenger survived. The accident has been the subject of many conspiracy theories, including that the flight was carrying red mercury for the South African National Defense Force's use in its atomic bomb project.

16. In what year was the annual Durban July horse race first held?

Answer: 1897

It has been held at Greyville Racecourse in Durban, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa on the 1st Saturday in July since 1897. The first winner of the race was Campanajo, who went on to win the race the following year as well.

17. To which English-born South African politician is the memorial located on Devil's Peak in Cape Town dedicated?

Answer: Cecil John Rhodes

The Rhodes Memorial was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and features statues by George Frederic Watts. The memorial forms part of the Table Mountain National Park.

18. Which of the following South African politicians has NOT won a Nobel Peace Prize?

Answer: Winnie Mandela

F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela were jointly awarded the prize in 1993. Albert Lutuli was awarded the prize for 1960, but only received it in 1961.

19. Which South African General and Politician was the only person to sign the peace treaties ending both the First and the Second World War?

Answer: Jan Smuts

Smuts served a Prime Minister of South Africa from 1919 to 1924 and again from 1939 to 1948. O.R. Tambo international Airport in Johannesburg was named Jan Smuts International Airport until 1994.

20. Which South African author was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2003?

Answer: J.M. Coetzee

Prior to being awarded the Nobel Prize, Coetzee was also awarded the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1983 and again in 1999. Coetzee was the first person to be awarded two separate Booker Prizes.

Source: Author CRK81

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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