South African variant can refer to several variants of SARS-CoV-2:
SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant (B.1.351), first detected in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa in October 2020 SARS-CoV-2 lineage C.1.2, first identified in May 2021 in South Africa SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), first reported to the WHO from South Africa in November 2021, though later found in older samples from Botswana. Became the dominant SARS-CoV-2 lineage ever since. BA.2.86 (B.1.1.529.2.86), first reported to the WHO from Israel in July 2023, though most likely originated from South Africa. Became the dominant COVID lineage that winter, after the JN.1 sublineage emerged. BA.2.87.1 (B.1.1.529.2.87.1), first reported from South Africa in early 2024 BA.3.2 (B.1.1.529.3.2), first identified in South Africa in November 2024
See also Variants of SARS-CoV-2