South Africa has different ethnic groups and therefore there is no single South African culture. Apartheid, a social policy that involved economic, political, and social discrimination against non-Whites in South Africa, defined four main cultural groups: Asians, Whites, Coloureds, and Blacks.
The Asians that settled in South Africa preserved their religious beliefs, which include Muslim, Hindu, and Christian. They speak English as well as Indian languages, such as Guharati, Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil. Moreover, small Korean, Japanese, and Chinese populations exist. During the past several decades, the number of Chinese in the country dramatically increased due to the flow of immigrants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China.
The Whites have various lifestyles similar to those in Australasia, North America, and Europe. They love to cook braai, an African word for roasted meat; this is often considered the national dish. Moreover, their religious beliefs are strong, with memberships in the Dutch Reformed, Roman Catholic, and Anglican churches.
The Coloureds consist of mixed-raced people. Their cultures, religious beliefs, and languages are similar to the Whites. Some of the notable members of this community include the jazz musicians Abdullah Ibrahim and Jonathan Butler, as well as Springboks rugby union players Bryan Habana, Breyton Paulse, and Chester Williams.
The Blacks are the majority of South African people. They prefer to live simple lives; however, they are increasingly westernised and urbanised. They can speak Afrikaans and English aside from their native languages, such as Nguni, Sotho, Venda, Tsonga, and other indigenous languages. Most blacks are Christians, with memberships in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, as well as in the Zion Christian Church. However, others still follow traditional practices, while some still consult a sangoma, an African shaman.