1. Pinotage - a cross between the grapes Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (a.k.a. Hermitage), was invented in South Africa in 1925. See www.pinotage.co.za for more info.

2. Allan Cormack, a South African physicist, co-invented the CAT scan.  Cormack developed the math that translates multiple x-rays into a graphic image.  Along with Godfrey Hounsfield, he won the Nobel Prize for it in 1979.  Now we can see your brain! 

3. The constant buzzing you heard in the background of World Cup soccer games on TV was from plastic horns called vuvuzelas. Or your hangover. The vuvuzela is the most entertaining and annoying sports toy ever conceived.  

4. South Africa has the highest reported rate of rape in the world.  Murder, carjacking, armed robbery and muggings are also prevalent.  OK, so some of these facts aren't so fun.  (U.S. Department of State) 

5. 23% of the economic output of the entire African continent is produced by South Africa--$277 billion in 2009. (from International Monetary Fund statistics)

6. Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron is South African, and witnessed her mother kill her father in self-defense when she was 15. Mom was not charged, by the way.

7. Fredinand Chauvier, who immigrated to South Africa in 1951, invented the Kreepy Krauly in 1974, the automatic vacuum cleaner for swimming pools.

8. 3 out of 5 of the fastest land animals live in South Africa: the cheetah (63 m.p.h.), the wildebeest, and the lion. No, we don't know what the other two are and we don't care! (www.larktours.com)

9. South Africa's soccer team didn't actually qualify for the World Cup this year-- the host nation's team gets in automatically. That would explain why they got spanked!

10. South African company De Beers invented the "tradition" of the diamond engagement ring to sell diamonds during a slump in sales in 1919.  Yes, you still have to buy her one if you want her to marry you, cheapskate.  (http://www.slate.com/id/2167870)