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South African Elections

Aurelia

Entry posted by Aurelia

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It looks like Jacob Zuma will become the next South African president. Even though everybody knew he would win the elections, this still saddens me a little. I moved to South Africa with my family in 1992, just before the end of Apartheid. I was very fortunate to be there when the country experienced its first democratic elections in 1994, which culminated in Nelson Mandela being elected president. He was a brilliant speaker and a unifying force in a country that could very well have sunk in a bloody civil war. Fortunately this didn't happen and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up as a compromise.

 

But since Mandela has left power, and the initial euphoria is over, things seem to be going downhill. It's true the country is going through a transitional period and the results of decades of social injustice and racial prejudice cannot be changed overnight. However, the "quality" of South African leaders is definitely dropping. Ok, it's difficult to live up to an iconic figure like Mandela, but still. Thabo Mbeki, Mandela's successor was a fence-sitter, not to mention his embarrassing statements to the effect that he didn't believe that the HIV-virus caused Aids and therefore didn't support any type of governmental action to subsidise and distribute retro-viral drugs to HIV-positive patients. And this in a country with of one of the highest infection rates in the world. And now Zuma: a man who's been involved in countless corruption charges (conveniently dropped just before the elections) and who was also accused of rape a few years ago. Where will all this lead to?

 

I'm afraid to answer this question. Even though I don't think South Africa will go the same way as Zimbabwe, I think things could get a lot worse before they get better. It's good at least to see that the political opposition is getting stronger and hopefully in the not-too-distant future, the ANC will not monopolise South African politics so much.

 

But enough about politics. I love South Africa and regard it as my second home. And as I still am in a mood for tributes (see previous blog entry), I would like to share two videos with you. The first contains a song by Soweto String Quartet, a group of amazing musicians known for their fusion of African and classical elements. I attended a live performance when I was a student in Cape Town. It was a brilliant concert and nearly brought the theatre hall down. :)

 

 

And the second is a rendition of Weeping (lyrics available here), a powerful protest-song about the alienating effects of Apartheid - performed in London last year to celebrate Mandela's 90th birthday. I must say I like the version by Soweto String Quartet (with vocals by Vusi Mahlasela) much better. It gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. Anyone interested in listening to it, leave a comment or send me a PM and I'll send you a link where you can download it (don't want to violate copyrights here, hehe).

 

 

Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (= "God Bless Africa" in Xhosa) :D

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Aurelia

I see a lot of people coming by (I think I just saw a little head bobbing up and down through the window) - some even come as far as the atrium for a quick look - but few actually take the time to sit down and chat. Hmmm, perhaps the African music is putting you off? If so, don't worry, I can play something else. I have a very eclectic musical collection... :clapping:

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Kosmo

You caught me...

Did racism end or just the positions were changed like in Rhodesia? Western media would never dare to criticize saint Mandela (another communist saint, they had many), but for me the hero was de Klerk that gave up the power to terrorists (even if the terrorists had a point).

The trend is visible since some time and it will be a surprise for me to go the other way (democracy and human rights are after all inventions of white colonialist imperialists) but South Africa it's a large, rich, sophisticated and diverse country that could make a surprise.

 

Do you like Ces

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Aurelia

Ha! So it was you I saw outside! Great to have you here Kosmo.

 

Answering your question, I can't really say that racism has ended in South Africa. You still bump into racist people, but I'm not sure if the proportion of racists there is higher than in other parts of the world. I must say though that a lot of white South Africans feel very disgruntled ever since the ANC began to implement their "black empowerment" policy (aka affirmative action) in order to "redress" the enormous social gap between whites and blacks. Unfortunately, what has actually happened is that only a tiny fraction of the back population has benefited from this - and they are usually the ones who are close to those in power. And sadly, the new "black middle class" tend to be as prejudiced against their poor cousins as some whites during Apartheid. As a result, since 1994, South Africa has experienced a huge brain drain - many educated white South Africans who feel that they are not being given a fair chance (academically or professionally) are emigrating mostly to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK. I personally know quite a few who have left. My brother is working there only because he has opened his own business otherwise I'm not sure he would have stayed.

 

I agree with you. I admire both De Klerk and Mandela for striking a compromise. It was political expediency of course, but you have to admire their vision and common sense - the opposite normally happens in Africa when power-hungry politicians will do the craziest things without any consideration for the consequences, even if this means ruining their own countries. Just look at Mugabe, Mobutu, Idi Amin, Jonas Savimbi, Charles Taylor, the list is endless. I don't think Mandela is a saint but I like him because he chose to put the past behind him (not easy after 27 years in jail) in an attempt to bring some unity to the country.

 

Anyway, I do like Ces

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Viggen

I lived for 6 years in South Africa 1995 to 2001, i must say i had very mixed feelings about the country. On the one hand, the country itself is really beautiful, and i am not only talking of the cape, but especially the KwaZulu Mountains, the Griqualand and my favourite place George and the Garden Route, on the other hand, i just dont see how this bubble is going to continue the way it is going, the middle class lives the live of very wealthy europeans, i mean in europe you need to be VERY RICH to have you own big house, swimming pool, maid, garden boy etc... The two most things that irritated me is first south africans can`t build houses, thats why i never been so cold in my live then in a Gauteng winter, (i can assure you, in austria when minus 20 degrees outside, i can walk inside with my underpants) and second the constant fear of something terrible is going to happen, crime rate was back then at least so high, it was absurd, within two years, i had three times my car stolen, two break in, and my wife was held hostage in a bank robbery, (which was also the point were i called it a day and left)...

 

...but i still dream of Biltong, the Braiis and the Blue Bulls clapping the Sharks ;)

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Aurelia

We seem to have lived in South Africa more or less at the same time. I was there from 1992 right until the end of 2000 when I left to do a Masters degree in Belgium. I go back every year because my family still lives in Johannesburg.

 

Yes, crime is a HUGE problem in South Africa. I didn't mention it in my post because otherwise it would have been twice as long. I must say we have been very lucky in our family in that none of us has ever been mugged, had our cars stolen or house broken into. This, of course, does not mean that our lives have not been indirectly touched by violence - the father of one of my best friends was shot dead after a couple of crooks followed him from the bank and tried to rob him. It's very sad and another reason why so many people are leaving. However, being Brazilian, I think this violence (horrible as it is) has not shocked us as much as it normally shocks Europeans. Rio de Janeiro is not exactly the safest city on Earth. When I visit my parents, I don't normally feel afraid to leave the house on my own but I do try to be careful, especially when driving at night. But it does seem as if you had a tough time while living there. No wonder you have mixed feelings about it. I guess anyone who has lived there does...

 

And yes, houses are not properly insulated there. I used to walk around wearing 2 or 3 sweaters, and 2 pairs of socks inside the house in winter! South Africans say that winter is so short that it does not justify the expense of insulating the house or double-glazing the windows. Oh well, it's not for nothing that South Africans have a reputation for being stingy. But their braais are indeed legendary. ;)

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Viggen

....ah didnt know you are brazilian, i noticed a fairly large portuguese community in Joburg (although not sure if those were portuguese or brazilians), (in which language are you studying in Belgium? French? Dutch?)

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Aurelia
....ah didnt know you are brazilian, i noticed a fairly large portuguese community in Joburg (although not sure if those were portuguese or brazilians), (in which language are you studying in Belgium? French? Dutch?)

 

The Portuguese community is the second or third biggest "white" or European community in South Africa (the first being the Afrikaners, I would assume). Their numbers swelled enormously after the former Portuguese colonies nearby (Angola and Mozambique) declared independence in the mid-70s. There is no real Brazilian community as such - most Brazilians who end up there are expats on a temporary contract with a Brazilian or multinational company. When we moved there, the idea was initially to stay for one or two years - my father was working on a project with a South African company at the time.

 

I came to Belgium to do a Masters degree. Even though we were studying in Brussels, the whole course was organised by a British university (University of Kent) so the working language was English. And our graduation ceremony was in Canterbury Cathedral, very cool! ;)

 

EDIT: P.S. Where did you live in South Africa? In Johannesburg? My family used to live in Morningside but have recently moved to Lonehill (the names will mean nothing to you if you don't know Joburg well, of course :-)).

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Viggen

nice, Master Aurelia ;)

 

...i actually lived in Centurion (south of Pretoria) and worked at Linbro Business Park, when i looked out of the office window i could see Alexandria the poorestplace in Joburg, was very depressing, driving there every day by....

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Aurelia
nice, Master Aurelia ;)

 

...i actually lived in Centurion (south of Pretoria) and worked at Linbro Business Park, when i looked out of the office window i could see Alexandria the poorestplace in Joburg, was very depressing, driving there every day by....

 

Yes, I know Centurion but have only been there once or twice. Other than Joburg, I also lived in Cape Town. I studied at UCT - best years of my life. ;)

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