South African Dress Code

South Africa is a conservative society and it is best to err on the side of caution in terms of dress.

Therefore, men are advised to wear a collar and tie and women to wear smart, business-like dresses or suits.

If meeting business contacts on a social basis, it is possible to dress more casually but not too casually.

Remember that the climate changes from season to season, so check before you go to make sure you have the appropriate weight of clothing for the time of year.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture. 

Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in South Africa only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.