What if South Africa was a civ...

[Matrix]

I've visited that country for two weeks about two months ago (read about that here) and have grown quite attached to it. Now South Africa is not a country historical and important enough to become a civ in this game, plus we already have the Zulus. But what if...?

Thinking about who could be the leader isn't that hard IMO, namely Jan Smuts and Nelson Mandela.
Unique unit: Boer guerrilla?
Unique building: an improved granary? ("Boereplaas")

Most interestingly: the city list. Capital would be Cape Town, obviously. But then there are three factors to take into account:
1. A fair regional (tribal) distribution. (What about Bisho? Umtata? Ulundi?)
2. The current population. (What about Johannesburg? Katorus?)
3. The historical importance/date of settling. (What about Stellenbosch? Worchester?)
Finally: is Soweto a city on itself?

Tough stuff. Here is what I would propose:
Cape Town
Johannesburg
Durban
Pretoria
Ulundi
Port Elizabeth
Umtata
Pietermauritzberg
Bloemfontein
Stellenbosch
East London
Bisho
Standerton
Mbabato
Worchester
Pietersburg
Richards Bay
Botshabelo
Colesberg

Edit: Perhaps with Jan Smuts, Boer guerrilla and boereplaas I'm a little too Boer-orientated. But that's why I'm asking you for feedback. Plus that I'm about to start a Pitboss game on the Earth map, and although I'll be the Zulus, I'd like to rename it to South Africa and use South African city names.

 

[largedarryl]

I think to represent the south african culture, nelson mendela could be added as a GP.

I don't think south africa has had enough influence to be considered a civ (in game terms).

 

[Virulent]

I can't see Firaxis using a living person such as Nelson Mandela as a leader. It would probably end up being a legal headache.

 

[Comrade Aart]

"Stamp die ruit uit" (I love that picture.)

It is indeed hard to choose city names, because of the factors that you name.
Do people who are Afrikaans want to be related to the native population and the English? (Same question goes for the other groups as well with the other parties respectively)

This is (I think) the major reason why South-Africa isn't a CIV, but why the region is more than worthwhile scenario-material.

 

[DrewBledsoe]

What if South Africa was a civ.........they'd lose to Bangladesh

 

[Matrix]

"Stamp die ruit uit" (I love that picture.)

Ah, cool. Someone actually took the effort to read the log, or at least look at the pictures.

Anyway, reading your replies it's clear that South Africa in fact isn't a civilization in the meaning of the word, but more a collection of civilizations. Well, a rainbow nation. But it would be possible, or at least more practical to have the Boer as civilization. By no means that important to be included in Beyond the Sword or anything, but...possible.

Leader: Paul Kruger
Unique unit: Boer guerrilla
Unique building: still can't think of anything better than boereplaas
Cities: still tough.
Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Pietermauritzberg, Stellenbosch, Welkom, Pietersburg, Middelburg, Colesberg, Nelspruit, Klerksdorp, Uitenhage, Verwoerdburg ...