| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 450,000 (2022) [1] ~0.8% of the total population | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Johannesburg, Cape Town, Edenvale, Rosettenville, Pretoria and other large urban areas | |
| Languages | |
| Portuguese, South African English, Afrikaans | |
| Religion | |
| Roman Catholic, small Protestant, Muslim and Jewish minorities | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Portuguese · Portuguese Africans · White South Africans · Italian South Africans · Greek South Africans · Mediterraneans |
Portuguese South Africans (Portuguese : luso-sul-africanos) are South Africans of Portuguese ancestry. The exact figure of how many people in South Africa are Portuguese or of Portuguese descent are not accurately known as many people who arrived during the pre-1994 era quickly assimilated into English and Afrikaner speaking South African communities. There was likely also an undercount of immigrants, especially from Madeira.
The Portuguese explored the coasts of South Africa in the late 15th century, and nominally claimed them as their own with the erecting of padrões (large stone cross inscribed with the coat of arms of Portugal placed there as part of a land claim). Bartolomeu Dias did so in 1486, and Vasco da Gama recorded a sighting of the Cape of Good Hope in 1497, en route to India.
The early 20th century witnessed a trickle of emigrants from Madeira whose numbers greatly increased in the decades following World War II. Madeiran immigrants, who are traditionally associated with horticulture and commerce, form the largest group within South Africa's Portuguese community.
The largest single event of Portuguese settlement occurred when the former Portuguese colonies became independent in 1975. Most of them went to Portugal and Brazil, but a significant number of black and white refugees from Angola and Mozambique made their way to South Africa. Their arrival made South Africa the home of the largest Portuguese African population, increasing it from about 49,000, [2] to 300,000. [3]
Rosettenville in Johannesburg was a significant hub for white Portuguese immigrants between the 1940s and 1980s, they were mostly from mainland Portugal. It is estimated that in this period, 50 000 Portuguese-speakers moved into the area. After Angola and Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1976 and 1975, many Portuguese Mozambicans and White Angolans settled in the area. [4] The area became known as 'Little Portugal', with residents celebrating their shared heritage in a number of ways including food and festivals. 10 June, Portugal Day was also celebrated there. [4] By 1981, Portuguese was being taught in sixteen public schools in South Africa and there were 42 Portuguese social clubs operating in the country. [3]
Woodstock in Cape Town became the first suburb in the city where a distinct Portuguese, ethnic community developed. [5] The Portuguese population in the city increased from 228 immigrants in 1936 to 1649 immigrants by 1970. [5] A total of 675 of these immigrants, coming from Madeira, settled in Woodstock between 1940-1980 and the area earned the nickname "Little Madeira." [5] Portuguese fishermen settled in the suburb in the 1930s and became known as the "pioneers" of the Portuguese diaspora in the Cape. They chose to settled in Woodstock for its location close to the harbour and for its relative affordability. [5]
The Portuguese South African community is highly active within the South African community, both politically and economically. Notable members include Maria Ramos who was the former director general of South Africa's National Treasury and later Group CEO of ABSA, one of South Africa's largest financial services companies. Other Portuguese involvement within the business community includes companies like Mercantile Bank. The community is also actively involved in investment activities with other Southern African countries like Angola and Mozambique.
Socially, the Portuguese community have held an annual festival called Lusito Land (the second largest festival in South Africa).
Most Portuguese, like other South Africans, are Christians. Most of them are Roman Catholics, although there is a Protestant minority.
The most popular sport with Portuguese South Africans is football. There are many football clubs in South Africa that are of Portuguese origin. One example was the professional football club Vasco Da Gama which dissolved in 2016. Football is a favourite pastime for Portuguese youth in South Africa, and many of them tend to join amateur and professional football clubs in the country.
Due to Portuguese exploration and navigation many points of interest on the South African coast have Portuguese names.
Vasco da Gama, 1st Count of Vidigueira, was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea.
Portuguese Mozambique or Portuguese East Africa were the common terms by which Mozambique was designated during the period in which it was a Portuguese colony. Portuguese Mozambique originally constituted a string of Portuguese possessions along the south-east African coast, and later became a unified colony, which now forms the Republic of Mozambique.
The Community of Portuguese Language Countries, also known as the Lusophone Community, is an international organization and political association of Lusophone nations across five continents, where Portuguese is an official language. The CPLP operates as a privileged, multilateral forum for the mutual cooperation of the governments, economies, non-governmental organizations, and peoples of the Lusofonia. The CPLP consists of 9 member states and 33 associate observers, located in Europe, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, totaling 38 countries and 4 organizations.
The Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defense of Portugal.
Rosettenville is a working class suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa. It lies to the south of the city centre.
Woodstock is one of the earliest suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa, between the docks of Table Bay and the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, about 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) east of the city centre of Cape Town. Woodstock is served by Woodstock and Esplanade railway stations, and has the postal code 7925 for street addresses and 7915 for post office box deliveries.
Vasco da Gama was a South African football club based in the Parow suburb of the city of Cape Town that played in the National First Division. Coming from the lower ranks, the club had its roots entrenched in the local Portuguese South African community, and adopted its name, crest and team colours from the Brazilian club Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama.
Mozambique has a historic Hindu community. Some of their ancestors came to Mozambique at least 500 years ago. Predating their economic participation in Mozambique before the arrival of Vasco da Gama, they adapted during the Portuguese colonial rule. An exodus began during the civil war between 1975 and 1990. After 1990 political and social reforms in Mozambique, the Hindu community along with the other minority religions, have once again begun to become vibrant.
Andre Petim is a South African football (soccer) goalkeeper for Premier Soccer League club Vasco Da Gama. He was born to Portuguese settlers from Madeira.
Portuguese Mozambicans are Mozambican-born descendants of Portuguese settlers.
Afro-Portuguese(Afro portugueses or Lusoafricanos), African-Portuguese(Portugueses com ascendência africana), or Black Portuguese are Portuguese people with total or partial ancestry from any of the Sub-Saharan ethnic groups of Africa.
White Africans of European ancestry refers to citizens or residents in Africa who can trace full or partial ancestry to Europe. They are distinguished from indigenous North African people who are sometimes identified as white but not European. In 1989, there were an estimated 4.6 million white people with European ancestry on the African continent.
Portuguese Australians refers to Australians of Portuguese descent or Portuguese-born people living in Australia.
Horácio da Silva Roque was a Portuguese financier and businessman, who founded the Banco Internacional do Funchal (BANIF) in 1988.
The 4th Portuguese India Armada was a Portuguese fleet that sailed from Lisbon in February, 1502. Assembled on the order of King Manuel I of Portugal and placed under the command of D. Vasco da Gama, it was the fourth of some thirteen Portuguese India Armadas, was Gama's second trip to India, and was designed as a punitive expedition targeting Calicut to avenge the numerous defeats of the 2nd Armada two years earlier.
The Ordem Militar de Cristo, the full name of which is the Military Order of Our Knights of Lord Jesus Christ, is a Portuguese honorific Order which takes its name from the extinct Order of Christ (1834), which is given for distinguished service in the performance of functions in sovereign positions or public administration, and for the judiciary and diplomacy, which is seen as being particularly distinguished.
Portugal–South Africa relations refer to the current and historical relationship between Portugal and South Africa. Nowadays the two countries have solid relations, with South Africa representing a major partner for Portugal amongst AU members.
Vasco Manoel da Gama is a South African politician with the Democratic Alliance and a member of the Johannesburg City Council. He most recently served as the Johannesburg council speaker until 31 August 2022 when a motion of no confidence was settled with 136 votes for the motion and 132 against it, resulting in Da Gama’s ouster.
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| See also | ||
Portuguese diaspora | ||
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| Africa (Luso-Africans) |  | |
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| Asia (Luso-Asians) | ||
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