In South African usage, what name is commonly given to a baby shower?

In South African usage, a baby shower is commonly called a stork party.

The name draws on the long-standing European and North American image of a stork delivering a newborn. A stork party generally serves the same broad purpose as a baby shower: friends and relatives gather before a birth to celebrate the parents and give useful presents.

Baby-shower customs are not identical across South Africa. Families may adapt the event according to language, religion, community, and personal preference, so “stork party” describes a common English usage rather than a single nationally fixed ceremony.

The expression should also be distinguished from a post-birth gathering. A traditional shower or stork party is normally held before the baby arrives, while some families arrange separate celebrations after birth.