South Africa has a mostly temperate climate . Because of being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides , where its found in the climatically milder southern hemisphere and due to the average elevation growing towards the north ( towards the equator ) and further inland . South Africa has a generally temperate climate , due in part to being surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on three sides , by its location in the climatically milder southern hemisphere and due to the average elevation rising steadily towards the north ( towards the equator ) and further inland .