Serbs in South Africa

Ethnic group in South Africa

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Ethnic group

Serbian South African
Srbi u Južnoj Africi
Срби у Јужној АфрициTotal population

25,000 (2012) [1]
Regions with significant populations
mainly Johannesburg
Languages
English, Afrikaans and Serbian
Religion
Serbian Orthodox Church
Related ethnic groups
White South African
Part of a series on

Serbs

Native

* Serbia
* Vojvodina
* Kosovo
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Montenegro
* Croatia
* North Macedonia
* Romania
* Hungary
* Albania
* Bulgaria
* Slovenia

Diaspora

Europe

* Austria
* Belarus
* Czechia
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Italy
* Luxembourg
* Norway
* Portugal
* Russia
* Slovakia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

Overseas

* Argentina
* Australia
* Canada
* New Zealand
* South Africa
* United States
* Venezuela

Culture

* Symbols

* Religion
* Slava
* Christmas traditions

* Cultural Heritage sites
* Architecture

* Art
* Literature
* Epic poetry

* Music
* Cinema

* Costume
* Dances
* Cuisine
* Kinship

* Sport

History

* Name
* Origins
* History of Serbs
* History of Serbia
* Serbian rulers

Language

* Serbian

* Shtokavian
* Torlakian

* Šumadija–Vojvodina
* Eastern Herzegovinian
* Prizren-Timok
* Smederevo–Vršac
* Zeta–Raška

* Church Slavonic
* Old
* Slavonic-Serbian
* Serbo-Croatian
* South Slavic

Religion

* Serbian Orthodox
* Catholic Church
* Islamic Community

Related nations

* South Slavs

* Bosniaks

* Croats

* Macedonians

* Montenegrins

* v
* t
* e

Serbian South African is a South African citizen of Serbian descent or Serbia-born person who resides in South Africa.

## History

[edit]

The Kingdom of Yugoslavia did not give too much attention to the community of Yugoslavs in the Union of South Africa.[2] The state did not send teachers, priests or financially assistance to local associations, such as was the case with communities in North and South America.[2] In 1941, According to the first Yugoslav general consul in Cape Town Stojan Gavrilović, the local community was in chaotic situation.[2] In 1942 the Royal Yugoslav Army sent agents on a mission to Cape Town to recruit local male civilians of Yugoslav descent to help with the war effort.

In 1952 Serbian community that left Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia after World War II founded a local Saint Sava church and school municipality in Johannesburg.[3] In 1978. local Serbian Orthodox Church dedicated to Thomas the Apostle was built.[3] Today local schools teach students Serbian language with support and under the program defined by Ministry of Education of Serbia.[4]

In 1962 Serbian modernist author Miloš Crnjanski first published his work Lament over Belgrade in Johannesburg.[5]

During the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Serbian South Africans and other supporters staged demonstrations against the NATO bombing campaigns that devastated Serbia in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria.[6]

In 2012 the case of extradition of Željko Ražnatović killer Dobrosav Gavrić from South Africa to Serbia attracted media attention in both countries and South African journalist and editor in chief of City Press claimed that state become a haven for Serbian criminals.[7]

On 2013 Presentation of Jesus at the Temple local church in Johannesburg marked the anniversary of Serbian Revolution where 22 folklore groups took part in presentation of Serbian folklore.[8]

Serb Club "Zavičaj", Church and School Municipality Saint Sava, Serb Cultural and Artistic Society "Africa" and Association "Serbian Unity" are active in South Africa.[9]

## Notable people

[edit]

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* Jovan Rebula, golfer
* Jovica Rujević, badminton player and member of the South Africa national badminton team
* Dejan Bogunović, footballer
* Veselin Jelušić, football manager
* Milutin Sredojević, football manager
* Kosta Papić, football coach

## See also

[edit]

* South Africa-Serbia relations
* Serb diaspora
* Immigration to South Africa
* Serbs in Botswana
* Serbian Canadians
* Serbs in the United Kingdom
* Serbian Americans
* Serbs in the Netherlands
* Serbs in Germany

## References

[edit]

* South Africa portal
* Serbia portal

1. ^ "Политика Online - Дијаспора може да промени Србију". Politika.rs. 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
2. ^ a b c "Yugoslav Colony in South Africa 1941–1945". Arhivyu.gov.rs. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
3. ^ a b "Kako žive Srbi u Južnoj Africi - Otac Pantelejmon". Glassrbije.org. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
4. ^ "Српска школа у Јужној Африци". Politika.rs. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
5. ^ "Bibliografija Miloša Crnjanskog". Mcrnjanski.rs. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
6. ^ Political Violence against Americans, 1999. DIANE Publishing, 2000. Bureau of Diplomatic Security's Office of Intelligence and Threat Analysis
7. ^ "Južnoafrička novinarka: Postali smo utočište za srpske mafijaše". Blic.rs. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
8. ^ "Сретење у Јужној Африци". Dijaspora.gov.rs. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
9. ^ "DIASPORA CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS-South Africa". Mfa.gov.rs. Retrieved 2014-12-31.

## External links

[edit]

* Serbian Orthodox Church Saint Thomas, Johannesburg

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See also|

* Demographics of South Africa

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