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| south
africa - money ... |
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| Currency |
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| The unit of currency
is the rand (R), which is divided into 100 cents. Notes are in R200, R100,
R50, R20 and R10. Coins are in denominations of R5, R2, R1 and 50c, 20c,
10c, 5c, 2c and 1c. |
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| Basic Costs |
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| Exchange
Rate |
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| The exchange rate tends
to be in the international tourist’s favour and you should find most
goods very affordable, and some imported and specially manufactured items
might be cheaper here than elsewhere. Generally, you will find that fine
cuisine, wine and entertainment cost a fraction of the tariff charged by
equivalent establishments elsewhere in the world. |
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| A general idea of what
things costs in South Africa is: |
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| » a beer costs about
R11 in a restaurant |
| » a
can of Coca Cola R6.50 in a restaurant |
| » a
bottle of water about R12 |
| » petrol
sells at about R4.20 per litre |
| » a
roll of 36 exposure print film will cost about R45-50 |
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| Banks |
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| Banks in South Africa
are generally open from 09h00 to 15h30 on weekdays and 08h30 to 11h00 on
Saturdays. Most banks change all travellers’ cheques in major currencies,
but commission can differ greatly. Rennies Travel is an agent for Thomas
Cook. American Express has branches in some cities, and Nedbank is associated
with American Express. First National Bank is the Visa agent. Most ATM
machines will support your card if it bears the Cirrus logo. |
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| Credit Cards |
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| Visa, American Express, Diners Club and MasterCard are honoured by most restaurants,
stores, hotels, car rental firms and other points of sale and service. Proof
of identity may be requested in some instances and it is therefore useful to
carry a passport or some form of photo identification at all times. Credit
cards are not accepted at petrol stations. |
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| Tipping |
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| It is customary to tip caddies, taxi drivers, hotel & railway porters, room
maids, stewards, waiters/waitresses, tour guides & game rangers 10-15%. Because
of poor wages, tips are often heavily relied upon by staff. Many hotels have
an “envelope system” with tips distributed evenly among staff. |
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| Tax |
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| Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14% is levied in South Africa. Overseas visitors taking
goods out of South Africa are able to reclaim the VAT, which they paid on these
goods. Reclaiming VAT is only applicable for goods that you are able to produce
at the airport and not for any services whatsoever. When purchasing your products
you should request a tax invoice. The shop’s VAT number must appear on
this invoice. As you are checking in at the airport ready to depart from South
Africa, you should approach the customs official who will compare your invoices
with the goods purchased. Once your invoices have been approved and stamped,
the VAT Reclaim Office will refund you the appropriate amount. VAT Reclaim Offices
are found at Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town Airports. |
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| Souvenirs |
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A range of traditional
South African souvenirs are widely available, from handicrafts to animal
skins. Zulu beadwork is available in many forms and makes excellent gifts.
Beads were worn as symbols of status and also used as a means of communication,
often as love letters. The colours and arrangements of the beads spell
the message (red = passion/anger; black = difficulties/night; blue = yearning;
deep blue = elopement, white/pale blue = pure love; brown = disgust/despondency;
green = peace/bliss). Elaborately beaded items including garments, pouches,
belts and pipes are widely available.
Township art is increasingly available
on the roadside in cities and towns and often takes the form of functional
items (baskets, candlesticks, hooks,
magazine racks, etc.) made from wire and waste metal. Soapstone and wooden
carved animals and weavings are also available on the roadside of tourist
routes. These are usually mass produced, so check the quality very carefully.
As
you would expect from a country rich in gold and diamonds, there is an
excellent selection of jewellery and the opportunity to watch goldsmiths
in action. Many visitors take the opportunity of the exchange rate’s
effect on the prices of clothing, golfing equipment, etc. |
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