I saw two different Irish guys nearly walk into someone yesterday, and both times they mumbled 'sorry.'

I had to try very hard to say 'excuse me' in the USA. I had never heard it before, and it irritated the hell out of me that people thought I had low self-esteem because I said 'sorry' if I nearly bumped into something, etc.

QUOTE: In South Africa, the word “sorry” replaces “excuse me” in all contexts, and the latter is seen as a very formal word. When, for example, asking to pass by someone who is blocking your way, South Africans say sorry. They don’t necessarily mean to be apologetic, but it definitely comes across that way. So, when a South African apologizes and you’re not sure why, chances are he’s not sorry.

In South Africa, the word “sorry” replaces “excuse me” in all contexts, and the latter is seen as a very formal word. When, for example, asking to pass by someone who is blocking your way, South Africans say sorry. They don’t necessarily mean to be apologetic, but it definitely comes across that way. So, when a South African apologizes and you’re not sure why, chances are he’s not sorry.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/move-to/south-africans-abroad/sorry-im-south-african/