Today we celebrate our freedom in South Africa. The freedom we achieved officialy in 1994. On 27 April 1994. Oh, what a day that was. The day of our freedom. Our 4th of July. Our Bastille Day. Free! Free at last! And to celebrate that day I am reposting and old blog of mine. A reflection of my experience of that beautiful day. My little contribution to our history. My memories of the birth of my country. It was an honour. And it was something to behold. And what a day it was. Oh, what a day it was.
Four long years. That’s how long we had to wait before we got our first election in 1994. Okay, we had to wait forever during the struggle against Apartheid, but we had four long years of negotiations from when Nelson Mandela was released until we got our date - 27 April 1994. But now the date was set. And I just had to be part of that. So I registered myself as a volunteer to work on election day. And what a day it turned out to be.
I could feel that their was something special in the air. Something that I will never see again or experience again. I got up ready to be part of history. I rushed to put on some decent clothes and unmatched socks (that was my image back then!) I am a voting officer - please step back from that voting booth and put your X when I can see them. The power! I even had a special badge to say what I was - Voting Officer. My first badge. Plastic - but still a badge.
First I had to go for a session with the two guys in charge. Yes, two guys. The Apartheid National Party didn’t trust the ANC and the ANC didn’t trust the NP. So we had one from each side co-managing each voting station. I was stationed at Stellenbosch central - the town hall. The biggest turnout of our town for the day was going to be there. And we had a bureaucrat from the Nats leading their side and a cool guy from the ANC leading from the other side. (Okay - you don’t get extra points for knowing who I voted for). And these two guys was going to tell us what we can do and what we can’t do - and the role of each person.
But what a sight when I turned the corner that leads to the town hall. People waiting in lines for as far as the eye can see. There was still a few hours before we opened the doors and the people was already waiting to vote. The hair on my neck stood up. History. You could smell it. You could taste it. And now you can see it.
What struck me was how quiet people were. No partying. No shouting and hardly any laughing. Just a silence as people stood in the queue waiting for the doors to open so that they could go and vote. People just staring at that door. A little wave when people recognized each other. But it was deadly silent most of the time. I expected people to celebrate. Come on - we are in Africa. We make a noise and party when the kid drools for the first time. Only later did I realize why. People still couldn’t believe that it was happening. And they did not want to do anything until they saw those doors open. After so many years of hardship they still could not believe that the Apartheid regime won’t try and pull a fast one. I managed a few smiles and got a few back-slaps - and off I went to get this baby started.
Oh man. That guy from the Nats was the pits. Telling us the obvious things and being as wet and square as Spongebob Squarepants. Really, it was like pulling teeth. We just wanted to get on with it. At least the guy from the ANC got us all worked up and rallied us by reminding us what this day was all about. And that we had a big responsibility in helping people today. Today we make history. And then the representatives from all the political parties came in. The serious ones had their suits on - the Nats and the Democratic Party. The ANC had their more relaxed African shirts on. And the rest just came with whatever they could find in the closet. And they were a bunch of oddballs!
We had the Right Party (slightly leftie politics), the Green Party (the vegans), the Minority Party (basically one guy), the Merit Party (old head-boys), the Federal Party (wanted their own land), the KISS party (Keep It Straight and Simple), the Soccer Party (almost got my vote) and a bunch with names no one could pronounce. Hey, we figured that if everyone could vote then everyone should be able to register as a party as well. Maybe not one of our better ideas. But they were all there - ready to join in the fun. Except for the KISS Party who took things way to seriously - especially with a name like that. No hugs and no kisses.
My first job was to help the people outside. Especially the older people. I was allowed to move them up the line and help them vote. It was a nice one - I got to mingle with the crowd outside. There was no trouble - except for a few political parties who broke the “no canvassing within 500 meters” rule. They just drove past and honked and waved flags. Not really canvassing - just having fun on the day.
And people had fun by now. Almost everyone got their identity books in the months leading up to the election. And I mean everyone. I’ll never forget one of the first guys who came outside after he voted. He was what we called a bergie- a homeless guy. I guess he was way up in the lines because he slept outside the town-hall. He came out beaming with his two front teeth missing. And as he got to the top of the steps he looked at the crowd, threw his arms in the air and shouted “my vote is my secret - I voted DP (Democratic Party)” (For those who know Afrikaans - he was a Capie and shouted “My stem is my geheim. Ek vote die DP”). The crowd packed up laughing. It summed up the day perfectly - everyone having their say and starting to having fun.
There is a story why his words were particularly funny at the time. We had a long running campaign about people voting for whoever they wanted to vote for - and that their vote would be in secret. The slogan was - Your Vote, Your Secret. It was everywhere because people thought that with the fingerprints and everything that the Apartheid government will come and get them - that they will know who voted for who and get them if they voted ANC. The ads obviously worked. And he remembered this, just not all the detail.
The queue never got any shorter during the day. People just kept on coming - 1,000+ people standing in line at any time during the day and all waiting to vote. Waiting patiently. It was hot, even though it was autumn. I was handing out water when I saw him. An old, old man standing in the queue - almost right at the back. He must have been close to a hundred. He was frail and leaning against his walking stick. You could see he came from a tough background - a farmworker most likely. I went up to him and took him by his hand and told him I’ll take him to the voting booth. He smiled and off we went - walking slowly.
We talked a bit while we took our slow walk to the voting hall. Not politics of course - I wasn’t allowed to talk politics because I was an “independent” voting officer. It became apparent that he couldn’t read or write. But he wanted to vote - that was his right. And it was likely not only his first time of voting, but his last one. I promised I would help him - that was my job. I took him to the booth and asked him to look at the pictures and tell me who he wanted to vote for - any faces or parties he recognized? He looked carefully and then shook his head. No, his man wasn’t there. He said it as if he knew who his “man” was. I asked him if he could tell me who his man was as I might be able to tell him what party his man belonged to. He looked at me and said, “I want to vote for Jannie Smuts”. I felt like hugging the guy. Smuts died in 1950. And Smuts was a racist who tried everything to stop this old man from getting his right to vote.
But we sorted that out - I called all the parties together and got them to argue it out. The old man voted in the end. For the National Party - the party who denied him his right to vote for all those Apartheid years. And the party who defeated Smuts in the general election back in 1948. I don’t know how Smuts would have felt about that one.
The rest of the day went off smoothly. I helped people to vote and spoke to people in the queue. It was all fun and games by now. Friendly bantering and sharing of good times. It felt as if this was the most natural thing we could do - voting. Of course it should be, but this was a special day.
I eventually went to vote myself. I stood in that booth for a few minutes - like almost every other voter that day. This was my turn and our time. I knew who I was going to vote for. With Biko dead for so many years already the Africanist still had a leadership vacuum. Even with Hani assassinated I knew that there was only one man and one party for me. I made my cross next to the ANC and had a lump in my throat. I was shaking slightly. Done. It is done. A vote at last. Take us where you want Madiba.
That night I turned into an accountant. Okay, not that exciting. I turned into a Counting Officer. Off we went to get locked up in a huge hall and start counting those votes. And we counted and we counted. And the parties looked on to make sure that we didn’t miss anything. No idea why the Kiss Party and the other small ones hung around - we couldn’t exclude their votes even if we wanted to. No one voted for them. Come on - the Right Party got less than 1,000 votes across the whole of South Africa. And then they started moaning and bitching - the smaller parties - and we had to count all over again. And it went on and on. Till early in the morning. All they gave us was crap coffee and even worse hamburgers. But it was worth it. Because eventually it was all done. Votes counted and our work done. Our first election was officialy over - done and dusted.
I have been busy at the elections for almost 24 hours by now. First helping the voters and then counting their votes. I was knackered. I just wanted to sleep. But as I hit the bed it hit me. I was part of history. I was part of the greatest day in our country’s life. Each person that voted that day did it with passion - for the right and the wrong reasons. But each of us - all of us - had our day to vote at last. And each one of those votes was done for a reason. People did it because this was the most important election of their lives. There will never be another. I was there when we became a nation. No. I was passing the bricks as we build that nation on 27 April 1994. Smuts would not have been proud.
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41 responses so far ↓
SanityFound // April 27, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I was too young on that day, the day we got our freedom back but I was sitting avidly in front of the tv, sitting on my hands and smiling the biggest smiles. Loved your recount of it, took me right there and brought a tear to the eye!
For me freedom day has taken a different turn, the joy of the past is still ever present, the fact that the Apartheid years have ended - That said I am an angry African that wants freedom from crime like the man next to me and the one next to you… freedom to be me and safe.
Ah it is a journey, brick by brick this nation will rebuild its foundation on a rainbow nation.
Thanks again for your post, it was wonderful!
kelli // April 27, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I cannot begin imagine how that must feel, however I smile and feel the happiness with you.
Something I would be interested in hearing your opinion on is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that took place in SA. I recently watched a movie called Red Dust and the story line was around this.
cheers
Kelli
kelli // April 27, 2008 at 5:42 pm
oh I should add that is regarding the Amnesty that was offered to perpetrators
angryafrican // April 27, 2008 at 8:26 pm
@SanityFound - And I can see from your blog that you are one of the key bricks that we need. Keep on building and keep on blogging.
@Kelli - Thank you. It was an unbelievable experience. And still fresh in my mind. The TRC… So needed because of our past. But so difficult. I will blog about this soon. But let me think about it a bit first.
Jen // April 28, 2008 at 12:44 am
I lived in London and every day I passed the South African embassy on my way to work. I would sign the petition at least once a week to “Free Nelson Mandela” . I would listen to the ska song with that title and whilst doing both, I never really believed it would happen. And yet it did. There can be great shifts and we must always believe that good will win.
Thanks for this account. I now pass it to as many places I can.
Riversprite // April 28, 2008 at 3:43 am
It was indeed a glorious day.
For a while I think we felt a kind of optimism that we had never known before.
And for a while we felt what it was like to be proud of our country, not ashamed of it.
Sadly, those feelings are fading fast. We have gone back to being ashamed.
We were proud that we had beaten the demon of apartheid, and even managed to do so peacefully. Now we’re being raped by the demons of hypocrisy and corruption, just like every other African banana repulic.
“I was there when we became a nation”
But you’re not here anymore……….
angryafrican // April 28, 2008 at 6:16 am
@Jen - No thank you. It was people who made the difference in South Africa. All people. People like yourself who didn’t just walk past. But who stopped and signed and sang. You are one of the bricks that laid the foundation of our beautiful (but flawed) country.
@Riversprite - yes, we beat the demon. And today we are losing some of the shine. But we are flawed like all others. We have no greater right than anyone else. We hoped for more wisdom. But we are just flawed humans. But not a banana republic. Too many African countries are not like that - Zambia, Senegal, Mozambique etc. For every bad one there is a good one. Just like in the rest of the world. Don’t give up hope - work for the dreams we had and have. Oh, read about me to note why I am not in South Africa. It has nothing to do with South Africa and where it finds itself today.
Abdul-Rahim // April 28, 2008 at 6:17 am
Do you think that democracy has made lasting changes for the economic status of the vast swathes of impoverished people who inhabit South Africa? Has the ANC not been used by a tool of the ruling class, White and Black, to subdue the working class while providing an illusion of freedom?
Michelle // April 28, 2008 at 6:31 am
I actually have tears streaming down my cheeks… I remember the day so well. Awesome Moment in History! Thanks for the memories
Saffer // April 28, 2008 at 8:59 am
I remember that day vividly. I was 19, and I was going to vote for the first time. Being white it was a right never denied to me, but it still felt like it would be a life changing event.
I voted in a small church in our neighborhood, I arrived and saw a queue of what must have been 500 or more people, I was amazed, I thought it would have been in and out.
Standing in line I saw some amazing things, the 90 year old lady who threw her hands in the air and cried in delight after voting… The whites/blacks/coloureds all in line talking to one another, enjoying the experience together.
An awesome day!
angryafrican // April 28, 2008 at 9:08 pm
@Abdul-Rahim - Lighten up dude. This is about celebrating the fact that we are better off today than at any stage under Apartheid. Perfect? No. But then no country can claim that. I think we are a damn lot closer than most.
@Michelle - My pleasure! I get all teary eyed myself when I remember that day. It was unbelievable.
@Saffer - It was wasn’t it!
cooper // April 28, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I enjoyed reading this.
I was 9 years old at the time, and barely aware of the world, though I remember my parents telling me about Apartheid, and the election.
Thank you for sharing this.
Odette // April 30, 2008 at 5:54 am
This brought back good memories. I was 22 and about to vote for the first time…the first time I was allowed to vote! I remember it was a cool, overcast day and it drizzled that morning. I decided to go on my own because I wanted to soak up the atmosphere and observe everyone without having to make conversation if I didn’t want to.
The queue snaked out of the grounds, around the corner and down the road for about a kilometre. I’ve never been so happy to take my place at the end of a long queue! The mood was jubilant and excited. No one cared how long they had to stand there.
The moment arrived when I finally got to make make my mark on the ballot. I felt as if it was a dream. I took a moment to think of the many who were not able to stand where I was standing and who had given their lives for our freedeom. When I left the hall I was beaming, just like everyone else who walked out with me.
Even with our many problems and challenges, and the wrong turns we’ve made, I am proud to be South African and even more proud that I had the opportunity to cast my vote in the first democratic elections in the new South Africa. No one can take that experience away from me.
angryafrican // April 30, 2008 at 8:23 pm
@Cooper - Hey, thanks for reading. And thanks for making me feel old…
@Odette - No one can ever take those memories away hey? Yeah, we have a few (!) challenges. But it is still a pretty awesome place isn’t it?
Nathi..inkosana // May 6, 2008 at 7:30 am
Are we realy better off than we were back then ..?We’re not perfect …its pretty easy for you to say sitting in your nice office out there, in Boston city ! Wow .. Rainbow nation hey ..
Well, I choose not to celebrate Freedom day, because we’re not at all free .. With every drop of blood of another victim of crime …How can we say Apartheid was worse .. We’re living in the modern day Affirmheid ..
We’re losing thousands of skilled south africans every year to countries like Aus, New Zealand canada .. beucase primarily the ANC governemnt cannot look after its people ..
HIV Aids IS going to destroy our workforce and neither the people nor the goverment has shown the inclination to adequatly solving it ..
We’re in the midst of a Food , POWER, Fuel , Water , Crime crisis .. and before you say these are global phenomenon … Il then have to question how wise this governments exsessive spending for an EXSPENSIVE unprofitable Soccer World cup, will help us in the short, and medium term ..
As we speak people are losing their jobs , because ofthe muchtougher economic times ..
Uncertainty is at the door , with Zuma and his Ilk ready to take us down and back 100 more years
A pretty lekker place to live ..?
Please exsplain to me how this is possible .. ?
No public transport system
Cant take my child to go play in the park with their friends
The city centre looks a dump
Got to instal an alarm system,high gate and electric walls, guard dogs, burglar guards and pay for Security Patrol
Electricity is non existant
Cost of living is skyrocketing
Drop in education standards
wasted taxpayers money ( 2010, govt corruption ..)
..a whole mess of things I could go on about
what exactly is africa got to be positive about , except HIV /AIDS.. All the zambians, mozambiqens, Senegalese and others are all packed around our borders waiting t come in ..
And speaking of which , why has your useless UN shuffeled their feet towards solving the Zimbabwe crisis right at our door, where another “great freedom fighter icon’ has Africanised Rhodesia beyond all recgnition …(to a shyt hole realy)
Yes sir, celebrate your freedom day .. But like many, you probly choose to leave your mind and thoughts back to ‘that gloriuos day when the great apartheid monster was slain ‘
I say whatever …
As long As Africa is and continues to make it self a charity case I will not endorse illogical self masterbation of this so called great freedom
angryafrican // May 6, 2008 at 11:06 am
@Nathi..inkosana - Let me see:
No public transport system - so you think it was better for those living in the townships under Apartheid?
Cant take my child to go play in the park with their friends - You think it was better for those in the townships when the riot police and “wit kopdoeke” killed kids during Apartheid?
The city centre looks a dump - You think the townships had city centres under Apartheid?
Got to instal an alarm system, high gate and electric walls, guard dogs, burglar guards and pay for Security Patrol - And you think it was safer under Apartheid in the townships?
Electricity is non existant - You think people had electricity in the townships under Apartheid?
Cost of living is skyrocketing - You think that the head tax etc made it easier for people to live on the cheap under Apartheid?
Drop in education standards - You think it was better to give people in townships a bad or no education under Apartheid?
wasted taxpayers money - You think the Apartheid regime wasting money on white only hospitals, fraud (remember the Department of Administration under Apartheid?), etc were any better?
Yes, thinigs are not perfect. But don’t think for a minute it was better under Apartheid for all South Africans. Yes, for those who benefited from a system that exploited and oppressed the majority of South Africans it might have been better. But not for the majority.
Oh, lastly, go read about who I am before you bitch about why I left South Africa.
Keven Bennett // May 6, 2008 at 11:30 am
I hate to say it, but Nathi..inkosana sounds like a true blue Republican.
An EXACT knockoff, I might add.
I could take his commentary word for word EXACTLY and substitute American racial terms, issues and economics and this individual would be one of those boneheads that were the activists in the very same Republican party I mentioned to you during 1973 to 1995.
Wonder who HIS ‘Timothy McVeigh’ is…
Keven Bennett // May 6, 2008 at 11:55 am
Actually, Nasty, er nathi, er, whatever you call yourself, I’m handing your chestnuts back to you, slightly modified, to make clear what exactly you mean, and in American terms!
——————————BEGIN
Are we realy better off than we were back then ..?We’re not perfect …its pretty easy for you to say sitting in your nice office out there, in Boston city ! Wow .. Rainbow nation hey ..
Well, I choose not to celebrate Martin Luther Kind day, because we’re not at all free .. With every drop of blood of another white victim of crime …How can we say Pre Civil Rights America was worse .. We’re living in the modern day Affirmive Action where Blacks just keep taking and lazing around on welfare…
We’re losing thousands of white skilled American jobs every year to those overprivilaged Blacks beucase primarily the Democrats cannot look after their people ..
HIV Aids IS going to destroy our workforce and neither the people nor the goverment has shown the inclination to adequatly solving it …
—————–NOTE
(note I did not modify this to point out that his only concern for Blacks is that they are a ‘workforce’ and will be ‘destroyed’, of course, leaving whites to do those dang ‘lower class’ jobs!)
—————–NOTE
We’re in the midst of a Food , POWER, Fuel , Water , Crime crisis .. and before you say these are global phenomenon … Il then have to question how wise this governments exsessive spending for an EXSPENSIVE unprofitable New Orleans Levee Modernization Project, will help us in the short, and medium term ..
As we speak white people are losing their jobs , because ofthe much tougher economic times ..
Uncertainty is at the door , with Clinton and his Ilk ready to take us down and back 100 more years
A pretty good place to live ..?
Please exsplain to me how this is possible .. ?
No public transport system
Cant take my child to go play in the park with their friends
The city centre looks a dump
Got to instal an alarm system,high gate and electric walls, guard dogs, burglar guards and pay for Security Patrol
Electricity is non existant
Cost of living is skyrocketing
Drop in education standards
wasted white taxpayers money ( 2010, Democrat corruption ..)
..a whole mess of things I could go on about
what exactly is American Blacks and their pandering Democratic surrender monkeys got to be positive about , except HIV /AIDS.. All the nonwhite immegrants and Al Queda are all packed around our borders waiting t come in ..
And speaking of which , why has your useless UN tries to take over our country, where another Reverand Wright has threatens to change America beyond all recgnition …(to a shit hole realy)
Yes sir, celebrate your Martin Luther King day… But like many whites, you probly choose to leave your mind and thoughts back to ‘that gloriuos day when the great march on Selma took place’
I say whatever …
As long As America is and continues to make itself a charity case for overprivaleged minorities I will not endorse illogical self masterbation of this so called great freedom
——————————–END
angryafrican // May 7, 2008 at 6:42 am
@Keven - Haha. Good one mate!
Nahti...inkosnana // May 7, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Hahahaha!! Nice one indeed Kev , I take my hat off to you
Alright let me explain a bit more …
I’m glad that South Africa is now constitutionally open to all people.to live, work, play in peace together
Fantastic. That’s pretty much what our constitution means and says.
On paper that is.
Angry African, I have read your bio, and I have a pretty good understanding of whom you are.
But I have a much better understanding of my current everyday situation right here, right now. And my whole point is that South Africa & Africa will not progress if we do not take REAL effective common sense decisions that WILL benefit the people of this country…
I will not sugar coat it. As the media / politicians / ANC will try to sugar coat US (South Africa) as this wonderful country, which has ‘challenges’ but is better than the Evil old days
I’m just saying.this governmnet SHOULD do MUCH better thani t already has.
Just to explain to your readers a few fundamental differences between RSA & the USA
1. Blacks are the majority here.10-1
Mostly educated in a sub par education system, the framework of which was shaped by the Apartheid govt.but, which has since gotten steadily more and more diluted and inadequate)
2. The majority is mainly poorer, less educated, less skilled and than
Having said that …I would like to add, South Africa IS in the continent known as AFRICA …The most abundantly resourced, most backwardly governed prime real estate on the planet.
Take Zimbabwe for instance … Any logically thinking and progressively serious government would have seriously /harshly condemned what is occurring right next door to us.and the even MORE EVIL regime of Robert Mugabe.
(100 000 % inflation, Land Grabs, Torture, killing and arrest of opposition party members, rigged elections, terror squads, corrupt police, vast food and water shortages, Dictatorship rule, 100 000s starving, maimed or killed…
The blacks pre 1994 had it Good compared to that, but you wont hear or see one Toyi toyi or protest condemning this wicked demon of a President Robert Mugabe
After all, we didn’t have 2 million plus south Africans immigrate en masse to our neighboring countries during the height of apartheid rule …By the way there are 3 million legal and illegal Zimbabweans living in south Africa …and many more jumping through our porous borders …Fleeing to escape this evil cockroach Robert Mugabe…
Anyway. Back to the point.
South Africa is governed by the ANC, who thanks to the blind loyalty of the masses, have an overwhelming 70 % majority in parliament.
The other 5 or so opposition parties share the remaining 30 %
Now if the ANC was doing a fantastic job. I wouldn’t be here. But they are not.
Bear in mind that many of our elected candidates in cabinet do not even have a university degree or some have very patchy education credentials … Our President Elect Jacob Zuma (Google / Wiki him) only has a grade 4 education @ best.
Now I say again, this man is the PRESIDENT ELECT … He’ll be running this country next year.bare in mind George Bush @least has a College Education.
But Zuma, if the masses have their way, is going to be president. Does this African country not deserve leadership that at least has some credibility.and integrity?
This man has been charged with Rape and has an ongoing Corruption case, which is high enough on the national security level.
To protect the interests of Mr. Jacob Zuma, the ruling ANC is currently in the process of disbanding the Scorpions Special Investigations Unit …an FBI of this country…why?
Because the Scorpions are the ones filing the Corruption case against Mr. Zuma. Hence I hope you see the conflict of interest here.
Our scorpions have a 90% success rate in criminal convictions and fighting criminals.
South Africa has the highest rate of serious violent crime in the world. PERIOD!
Rape, Murder, Violent assault, Theft, House breaking … all these crimes. We’re very high up according to world stats … and things are not getting better
So if the ANC wants to get rid of the scorpions, this country will be losing a very vital institution in the war against crime. If the ANC government were serious about curbing this scourge, they would leave them as they are and in fact strengthen them.
The Masses are fed propaganda that the cases against Zuma are a sinister conspiracy.as opposed to letting the law take its course …
There is a clear conflict of interest and a real sense of shunning responsibility.
Thousands of people are voting with their feet. . Skilled Blacks and whites are leaving this country to take up job positions overseas and in most case taking permanent residency…
Like I tried to highlight. Boston is NO comparison to Johannesburg, whose crime is very high comparatively.
It might have been bad in the old apartheid days, but at least you weren’t losing your life at every street corner
The townships are a mess. But it’s the people of the place that make it what it is. If blacks want to tolerate living like second-class citizens, then they can. But I would urge them to take pride in themselves and be responsible. There’s nothing more worse than a whining Black man. Look at what the Indians did when they came here.
They were slaves and cane sugar farm workers, but today.per capita are the most educated, wealthy and prosperous population group in South Africa. And they are a minority
That’s a lesson to Black people.but yet. I wonder if they’ll still ever learn it.
Freedom day, June 16 and all those historical days we commemorate and remember are all great.
Mandela and co started us on the road to something better. But South Africa is pot holed by incompetents and arrogant short sightedness f the ruling party.
I just say South Africa deserves better. And I will not let any sort of brainwashing come in to compromise my wish for my country and my children’s future.
angryafrican // May 7, 2008 at 12:28 pm
@Nahti…inkosnana - I do agree with many of your sentiments. Especially the on where you say that we should expect more of our government. I expect more from the ANC. I expect them to deal with the key challenges better than what they have done. They do many things well (number of houses they build, running water and sanitation in townships, primary healthcare, managing the economy etc). Not perfect - just well. But they can do better on crime, unemployment and HIV/Aids especially. And now on electricity supply.
And you will hear no sympathy for Zuma from me. Read my piece on Zuma I wrote a while back - just type Zuma in the search option. I really can’t stand the man.
So we agree on many issues. But we disagree on one fundamental issue - it being an African or black thing. Please do not generalize and say that black/Africans in townships want to be secondary citizens. Or that Africa is all bad. It is not. For every Zimbabwe we have a Senegal. They all have challenges, but the majority are decent government fighting extreme poverty.
Black or white - none of them have a characteristic that makes them better or more competent to govern. Hitler was white. Should I make that a general thing? We have peopl living in poverty and people giving up hope from everywhere. But the colour of their skin doesn’t make them any less or more likely to better than the other one.
Other than that - I agree with your sentiments that things should be better. I am a supporter of the ANC. And I expect more from them. This was not what we expected or fought during the Apartheid years. It is much better than at any stage during Apartheid. But that is setting the bar too low. I want them to be better than what we expect.
Nahti...inkosnana // May 7, 2008 at 12:38 pm
why dont you go over to the DA then .. The ANC has more than enough support as it is ..
but Im suprised I actualy have come to a consensouse with you afterall …
cool
angryafrican // May 7, 2008 at 12:47 pm
@Nahti…inkosnana - Hahaha! Nice try. If Zuma is out the way I would still be supporting the ANC. If he is in the way then I guess Patricia will get my vote. The DA? Too many old Nats and a huge leadership vacuum. I know a few people there and not impressed with those at the top. And I am not convinced that they can talk about poverty - they don’t know enough. Not saying the ANC do, but they know more about it and have done more about it than the DA.
Keven Bennett // May 7, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Nahti****:
Hate to say it, but I am a little more knowledgeable than you think.
I’m going to just handle this one:
“The blacks pre 1994 had it Good compared to that”
Good with a capital G, huh? Guess Steven Biko was expendable…
Trying to argue with a racist SA individual (if you aren’t white, you need a psych eval, too) about SA is pointless, but, mind you, the fact that I can run a word for word substitution of issues you discuss to subjects a Republican who is a hardcore bigot says much for where you stand.
But, I might point out, that appearantly, the Truth and Reconciliation project shows that even given the horrifying crimes committed against Blacks in that country are forgiven to a point where even I have difficulty stomaching.
But, just to make sure that you understand that your welfare has been cradled by those you hate, had the outcome been a little different, then SA might just be as bad as you claim, you would not be on this earth, and Magube would be a dim secondary star orbiting whatever tyrant would be currently ruling SA.
You SHOULD be thankful that it didn’t turn out that way!
Keven Bennett // May 7, 2008 at 1:35 pm
“There’s nothing more worse than a whining Black man.”
Yes there is. A whining white man who complains about not having what he used to under Apartheid while still sitting on a very reasonably large pot ‘o gold.
Nahti, I suggest you grit your teeth and bear it.
BTW, as for what has happened historically, don’t think for a moment that the US DOESN’T have a very, very dark history in regards to race.
A very strong case could be made for a true Holocaust of WWII proportions was visited on our own Black Americans.
The only difference is the sepeartion in time. 140 years vs 14.
Seen your type b4, been there, done that. You being SA is meaningless. So what?
Nahti...inkosnana // May 7, 2008 at 1:40 pm
well personaly , maybe I dont want someone who knows abut poverty , I may want someone who knows how to make industry prosper, create jobs and create an environment that can improve this countrys lot ..
I want a Working solution, not a political
The Anc is already waaay too chummy chummy with ZANU-PF .. Cosatu .. SACP ..
these are organisations that are undesirable for a South africa that creates employment oppurtinitites
The Anc also has loafers and careerists sitting in its midsts who are in no way ‘qualified’ to execute the delicate job they are electd to do ..
From what I have seen , the DA seems to be more carefull in employing @elast people who are atleast capable to do the job , as opposed to resulting to Populist mass indulging messages with little thought ..
But I also voted for the ID in the last elections ..and from what I understand, both parties @elast have a working relationship …now and in future
Zuma is going no where my friend, and so will south africa … he’ nothig but a mouth peice being drilled on what to say ..
and thats not good enough ..
Invest in the ID my friend, atelast see what the opposition can do for you …
Nathi...inkosana // May 7, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Kev .. I was saying …
Blacks had it Good.. as in relatively better than what is going on in Zimabwe right now …
which has been in power under a Black government and leader .. Mind you masquarading as a democracy of sorts , under the ONE PARTY rule of Mugarbage
We’re talking mass hunger ..aid being imported .. rigged elections ..I could go on .. but the simple fact that Mugarbae has turned a relatively prosperous coutnry when he took over to a floating turd of the world .. is nothing to overlook ..
we didnt have 100 000’s of thousands dying en masse
the people reltively had access to food, water ..can we say that about Mugabes Zimbabwe ?
Mugabe’s job was realtively easy, compared to say Senegal as AA says
in that He and his goverment had to continue where Ian Smith had left off ..
what happend .. well the rest is history ..
I personaly belive Apartheid was bad, but not as bad as its made out to be ..
I know its a contreversial view … but our current goverment ( ANC ) more espcilay over the last few years , has been using the Aparthied legacy excuse for every possible failure it has ..
Im not exspecting a cmplete 180 change in 14 years , not at all , but in many a place , there just is no progress whatso ever , infact its gettin
worse
Which is one point , AA and I semi agree on ..
Added t this is tht this govt will d everything possible to undermine real efforts to help alievate SA’s challenges
We have many skilled white workforce … but the Govt doent want to fill those posts becuase it only wants a majority of Black aplicants ..
which is fine and good , if
1. They came in vast supply
2. were adequatly trained
this is even more detrimental when you look at the various specific fields in indusrty that simply do not (right now) have those required numbers of said candidates .. ( Engineering, Medicine , Science )
Im sure youl agree , you dont just pick anybody in these job, you must ensure you have the best
There are great black candidates out there , but as from my exspiernce on campus, graduation levels in said fields among blacks is relatively low
eg : We get a higher proportion of qualified Indians(amongst the minority population groups in SA ) than Blacks
Im not whining about wishing aparthied coming back mate ..but I will tell you this ..even then it wasnt all doom and gloom …it wasnt the Holocaust or Slavery like its made out to be …
again compare it to zimbabwe today…
angryafrican // May 7, 2008 at 4:00 pm
@Nathi…inkosana - Hold on a minute. I didn’t say it was better under Apartheid. I said that I am not happy with everything that this government has done. They haven’t delivered on everything I was hoping they would deliver. But that is very different from any form of comparison to Apartheid. I see no good in Apartheid. It wasn’t that bad? Oh it was. Township life was hard. Very hard. Except for the lack of economic, social or political rights, people lived in fear of being killed by the security forces or those, like the Wit Kopdoeke, who were agents of the Apartheid regime. Yes, it was maybe better for some white South Africans. But not for the majority of South Africans. The same way it was better for certain Germans under the nazi regime. It still doesn’t make it a good society in any way. Or the same way it was better for some under communist rule in the old USSR.
Apartheid was wrong at every level. Maybe you should read Country of my skull or the TRC books to see how bad it really was. But the whites who lived in the protected areas never felt it. And now that they don’t have everything like before they complain. Let’s take on a few complaints.
1. Electricity: Yes, there are disruptions today. And a failure of the ANC government for not seeing this coming. But under Apartheid the townships didn’t have electricity. At all. Part of the reason for the current electricity failure is down to bad planning and good execution. They managed to “electrify” the townships, but forgot to increase the supply fast enough. Eventually the system can’t handle all the new entrants. So failure yes, but because they were doing something good.
2. Helathcare: The Apartheid healthcare system had no place for black South Africans. The back door if they were lucky. The new government had to change a whole system from looking after a few to all. From a system that dealt with “rich” illnesses like heart transplants to basic healthcare. You know that the ANC government has build more than 1000 clinics since they came into power to take healthcare to the people?
3. Security: The Apartheid police were set up to protect the white neighbourhood and not all of South Africa. In fact, they were instructed to see the black South Africans and townships as the enemy. The challenge for the ANC was how do you change a whole security force that was structured to murder some and protect others to a protect all mentality. I would know, my dad made more money handing our physical punushment to inmates than from his actual salary - sounds great hey? I see the failure here as the ANC pandering to white South Africans. They didn’t immediately spread the police around to protect all, but kept the number of police in the traditional white areas much higher per capita than in any other area. And this continues today.
4. Education: Again, the Apartheid system was gave a “proper” education to a small minority - just go and look at what they paid per capita to white schools compared to black schools. And the black schools were forced to take certain subjects like Afrikaans and not others like Maths and Science. And the Apartheid government didn’t have a degree or qualification requirement for black teachers. Again, a whole system that needed to change.
5. Housing: Remember that the Apartheid government had no city planning for townships. It was treated as “camps” to be controled and patroled. No housing - remember those toilets the Nats build in the middle of nowhere due to corruption in the 80s? And how many houses have the ANC build for the poor? Over a million. Not enough. But we are not a rich country.
Our per capita income is a 10th of the US so we have to spread it thin for a country with so many systemic problems and challenges. It wasn’t as if they had this great infrastructure in place left by the Apartheid government. No they didn’t. They had a great system geared for the white minority, but hardly any system for those living in townships.
And so on and so on. So, when the ANC blames Apartheid, remember we are talking system change here. Not just a change in government. They didn’t go out and fire all the police or the teachers or any of the old stock of Apartheid. No, they tried to rework them into the system. Of course many teachers didn’t want to go and give classes in townships. And of course budgets were cut in white schools to make sure everyone gets the same per capita funding - leading to teachers in white schools losing their jobs.
No. It isn’t perfect. I hoped for more and I hoped for better. But compared to Apartheid South Africa? Not even close.
Keven Bennett // May 7, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Nathi*:
What does Zimbabwe have to do with your bigotry? You are not even making any sense, other than the completely uninformed (from the Black point of view) “observation” that they were “better” under Apartheid. You come across without even saying so like you know better than they do. One of the biggest and most obvious arguments against your so-called “observation” is the simple fact that Blacks fought you. VERY simple.
Apartheid being ‘good’ is something I seriously doubt, and I’m not talking just scepticism, but something two degrees beyond that.
Zimbabwe is absolutely irrelevant in your argument. Apartheid has to do with the system White SA’s imposed on Black SA’s. Nothing more. The Chin is irrelevant, becausae the subject was Apartheid, NOT Zimbabwe. Stay on task!
I’ve seen enough to know what type of individual you are. You are as transparent is a piece of mylar. Believe me, you sound EXACTLY like a far-right Republican (there are good ones, too, but are not these particular ‘fruit’
trying to argue race.
I really don’t need to know much about SA to deal with your type. The fact is, however, I’m 54 and have read and heard much developement wise from that country, so I’m not totally ignorant of what went on there.
In America, we havn’t been blessed with such a horrifying system for many years, but one difference was that our “system” had a nongovernmental component.
That component was the Ku Klux Klan. They are the oldest and until very recently, largest of all modern terrorist organizations. Al Queda is a book club compared to them.
Just remember that YOU are alive because they stayed thier hand.
And stop whining. Instead, go help build your country into what it should be!
Keven Bennett // May 7, 2008 at 9:27 pm
One other last little lick at your “observation”, Nathi:
Education:
I seem to remember that one of the instances that caused the anti-Apartheid violence was the murder of some 340 childern at a school that was forced to teach Afrikaans.
Now, the adjective I would use for this ‘event’ is much closer to ‘unfettered depravity’ than it is to ‘good’.
Can you guess how much closer, eh, Nathi…
For most of us, we might be able to figure THIS one out on the first guess.
Nathi..inkosana // May 8, 2008 at 4:25 am
1. Electricity: Yes, there are disruptions today. And a failure of the ANC government for not seeing this coming. But under Apartheid the townships didn’t have electricity. At all. Part of the reason for the current electricity failure is down to bad planning and good execution. They managed to “electrify” the townships, but forgot to increase the supply fast enough. Eventually the system can’t handle all the new entrants. So failure yes, but because they were doing something good.
( ummm …Not aat all , I belive thats an absolute falacy .. there was electricity in the townships ..my firend .. obviously not as there is now, but there DEFINATLY ws electricity …This was as early back as the early 80’s when FACT the Apartheid govt started to abolish many stringent laws .. ( Intermarriage act, Group areas ..
the major achievement is the ANC electrifying the Rural areas more than anything ..that Il give them .. but the ANC was clearly advised and warned a decade ago about our impending Power crisis .. Would it not have been better to try and ensure there is a stable foundation to supply future generations and help out in their planned power exspantion promises ..? Instead , an this is a fact .. They chose to WASTE many BILLIONS on a useless Arms deal ..which was a huge cover up self enrichment scheme for the party’s bigwigs ..( Mbeki , Zuma, Sexwale, ..other benefactors FACT .. what the hell for !? How does that benefit the man on the street ..? Oh and by the way , we’re still paying for it till today ..Taxpayers money flushed down the toilet , becuase our military is devasted by HIV/AIDs, Lank underskilled and totaly a drain on tax payers Funds and badly managed .. )Today Business HAs lost many millions, the economy has suffered Billions thanks to the power crisis .. small business is under severe strain added to the mess they have to face up to everyday
2) Health care : http://www.sundayherald.co.uk/international/shinternational/display.var.2032947.0.0.php
Nathi..inkosana // May 8, 2008 at 5:07 am
hers some true perspective of whats facing the new South africa and the ineptness of the ANC goverment
FACTS my friend FACTS , not 20 year old dated populist rhetoric with no sound figures and detail ..
http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?ArticleId=1518-1786_2318068
This is whats going on in the new south africa ..
Pelase dont try to reeducate me abot what happend 20 years ago .. I appreciate the road we have come , but THIS IS THE NEW MAJOR CRISIS we ( southafricans, on the African continent are facing )
I say this proudly and loudly , as it is my constitutional right to do so ..
The simple fact is that the ANC govt is NOT adapt and capable of effectivly Governing this country ..for a brighter future ..
Read the links I have sent you .. thats not party rhetori , thats reality, thats what is going on with the man on the street .. and this information, unfortunatly is above the minds of the masses ..who only see progress and prosperity ofthis country through face value ..
1000 clinics ..fair enough .. but what of the management of these rural clinics , staff recruitment , staff payments, training,..etc ..I hope you are aware we have a massive health crisi here ..not only of AIDS, but of low staff morale ..and working conditions ..
Our Health minister has time and time again been proven to be very incompetent in her position, yet , now and in the future, she is still in line to continue with her job, or gain another TOP cabinet post..
Thats the type of inneptness we are facing ..
On the face of it , Sout hafrica looks a promising country making its way through the hard past circumstances .. but I tell you my firend, scratch a little deeper and you will see , this facade is very diffrent for the man on the street …
I will not accept it ..
angryafrican // May 8, 2008 at 6:52 am
@Nathi…inkosana - Don’t quote Fred Bridgeland please. Go read what he had to say about Savimbi. You read the biography that Fred wrote? He is an apologist for the Savimbi warlord - who by the way was supported by the Apartheid government. So we know his spin on things. Quote a more respected writer and newspaper.
And on the “FACTS” as you would like to call them:
Electricity - Go back and have a look at what the Apartheid government did on electricity and what the ANC has done on providing electricity to the millions. It’s like saying the Burma regeime isn’t that bad because they provided food for a 100 people. A swallow does not make a summer my friend.
Stringent laws - Yes they did start abolishing some of the laws. But not the fundamental ones like land ownership, voting rights, economic right etc. Saying people can sit on the bench but not come to the park does not make it any better.
The arms deal - Yes, what a waste of money. But hey, innocent until proven guilty right? Mbeki involved? Come on. You can’t be serious. You have been drinking a bit too much DA Kool-Aid on this one. Zuma? Maybe, but it is being investigated right?
And can I remind you that South Africa is one of the only countries who are actually going after people for corruption on arms deals? Remember the Speaker of the House from the ANC Tony Yengeni? Found guilty. What are they doing in the UK about the arms deal with the Saudi’s where people were paid bribes? The UK government said that it won’t investigate because it will harm national security. Dick Cheney and Halliburton over in the US - not to mention Blackwater. So, be glad you live in a country where they actually investigate these things and not hide it away.
But Nathi*, this is what I do enjoy. The fact that we can both “fight” each other on these issues. And don’t have to agree. And strill have respect. I do respect the fact that you are willing to talk about it in public. Like you said - that’s why we have a constitution that must protect this right of yours. And I respect the fact that even though we don’t agree I am still proud to call you my fellow South African. Because I know when the chips are down we will stand next to each other and fight for our little country down South. Of course, we didn’t have these rights under Apartheid. But that is yesterday, like you said, it is what we do today that really matters.
I still have hope and belief. But I don’t expect everyone to see the world through my glasses. We all have different experiences. It’s the beauty of democracy and freedom that we can actually express it.
Nathi..inkosana // May 8, 2008 at 8:38 am
Ummm… this is going to be a back and forth thing .. LOL but I understand where your coming from , I just dont think we see things the way we each of us does ..
I may be drinking DA cool aid , but your Drowning Head deep in ANC Pepsi .. so its a pingpong battle ..
Im just saying .. a million + thousands of people leavingthis country cant be wrong …
the general decline in public confidence ,across the board cannot be wrong ..
I now what I see and read every day , I know how I live , I know whats going on in and around my neighbourhood ( Security guards carrying heavy weapons patroling the middle of suburbia)
Im the one wondering what the true future is ..for my children ..and indeed what good is being able to go to the park and sit on a bench , when its turned into a filthy sesspit of drugs and urban decay , thanks to the local councils decline in standards and accountability ..
I hope I dont have to tell you that Durban has lost 8 or so Blue Flags on its coastal beaches , all this in one fell swoop ..
Meaning our beaches are polluted with vile filth thats enough to make people very sick ..
I dont want ot encourage anyone to come here , when its bad enough for us ..imagine what its gonna be like for the 2010 tourists ..
simple things like that …
the basic standard of life for
1. The poor south african
2. The tax paying, skilled and working Middle & upper class South africans
At the end of the day , it cant be all about the Lower clasees, as PC as that maybe …
We’re the ones who are funding all this , Its OUR tax payers money .. meanwhile the lower classes get privilages like welfare, HIV grants, Free water and Electricity allowances ..
We’re the ones who are funding all that ..we must have a say in that too ..
My kids are the ones who Im raising , and I hope will be able to play safley in the park .. and attend a decent school and will have a break in life ..
I must have a say when my governemnt, will not Jail the criminals … does not do a damn thing about crime and infact , wants to Destry the scorpions
Where have you ever heard of a Serious govt , doing away with its elite crime fighting organisation ..
FBI being grounded and done away with ..?
Yengeni ..? Got an 8 year sentence .. stalled and delayed his case and subsequent jailing for 4 years, got transfered to a relatively plush prison , served only several weeks before being bout out on parole …He has since broken several parole conditions …Including Alchohol consumption, curfew violations, drunk driving ..etc
but this man is treated with kids gloves ..
What of our corrupt Police commisioner , who IS protected by The president himself..?
Infact , Im sure you’l rember the Minister of Prisons (sp) carrying him on his shoulder and singing his cheers like he was some kind of hero , whern he was welcomed into prison ..?
My friend , you need to come back into the country, sit down with some real south africans and know what is realy going on right here down on the street ..
The UN has you all Afro-Popped up and your on some Kumbaya Afro apologist tip ..
Pump Millions into africa and look the other way ..
My friend , Im inviting you to join this discussion forum ( you and all your readers here )
forum.mg.co.za
also check out
http://www.mg.co.za
http://www.news24.co.za
this will hopefully fill you in and re-configure your frame f thought , Im sure your loving it there in the first world nation where things function properly )
No/Low crime
Schools that function and teach our kids something usefull
Better job prospects
…
Generaly its lightyears ahead of where we are here in SA
Kev, I would be thank full if I were you ..
Keven Bennett // May 8, 2008 at 10:03 am
Nathi:
I am. We just got rid of a government full of people like you.
Next time you lose a discussion, try losing by discussing Apartheid, not Zimbabwe - at least you’ll have lost it fair and square.
Keven Bennett // May 8, 2008 at 10:07 am
New Zealand. Hmmmm….
He SHORE likes to pick ‘em. Yup. I can tell.
Small minority (or well ‘behaved’
population (Maori) and mostly white in some areas.
Got your type, Nathi.
Hope you live on the coast facing the Pacific…
Nathi...inkosana // May 8, 2008 at 11:29 am
yes Im NOT a communist , thata my type if you must know
read the type of comments on here
http://www.friendsofjz.co.za/viewmessage.asp
unbelievable !
Keven Bennett // May 8, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Nope, Nathi, you ARE a racist.
THAT is your type. I never said a word about communism. You are so bigoted that you can’t even comprehend it.
BTW, I suggest you move to the moon. There are no Blacks there.
Nathi..inkosana // May 9, 2008 at 8:04 am
Kev, your taking this too seriously .. So now I must blindly truest the ANC, without question or critique , because , just the reason they a a liberation body .. they are Christ annointed now ..?
Even Angry African agrees that Zuma, and a number of ANC iniatives (not all ) are up for question and review ..
theyr not perfect ..
so what are you on about .. I havent said one racistthng on here ..
I am however weary and critical of Arican governance up until this point .. honestly just look at the evidence ..
With a wiser approach , Africa wouldnt be where it is ..
eg: Zimbabwe …( SADC NOT condemning Mugabe’s actions..and dillydallying on critica issues such as the refugees that are streaming into south africa)
unfortunatly mate, IM THE SOUTH AFRICAN TAXPAYER ..not you ..so I have a much more legit right to comment on whats going on …
Keven Bennett // May 9, 2008 at 9:23 am
Nathi:
There is no question in my mind you are a racist. None. Not one inch of doubt (centimeter to you).
As far as being able to discern this, well, I hate to say it, but the transform of bigotry across nationalities is affine, straight linear, no contest. Delta x and Delta y. I’ve had 30 years of experience as an adult with your type and you are no different from the far-right looneys in our country. Your bigotry is so easily detectable I can smell it 11,200 km away. Yours stinks.
Don’t lecture me on being a “taxpayer”! You left! I can tell you left because of race.
AND, I am blogging from the US, where we have had very similar problems. I CAN and WILL comment when and where I want!
You don’t like it, cry in pot that used to hold your Apartheid gold, whiner.
Better yet, get your cowardly a** back to your country and build it like it should be built!
Nathi...inkosana // May 9, 2008 at 11:43 am
LOL, stop stop kev, relax man you’l have a heart atche ..
Im nt a racist dude .. Im not KKK either, I dont have a white hood and robe in my closet .. no horses, no swatzstika ..
relax dude .. Yu said your 50 sumthing ..Take it easy on the old heart ..
Your opinion is obviously subjective ..and if you like , your welcome to base your whole outlook on me based n a sum total of two pages of comments ..
thats fine ..
Im a TAXPAYER..in south africa .. I live in Durban .. have been there my whole life .. I am looking at options in working and posibly stuudying more overseas , becasue its hellvah more favourable
just like the thousands of South africans who thanks to the global opening of the right to trade,can come and go where they like ..
(Living standards in personal safety, Greater exchange rate , 1st world oppurtunities and Ecnomies …
No demcratic governent can stop me , and frankly if I dont like it here … Il go along on my merry way and make my $$$$ … Zuma can kiss my ass
Anyway , also tell that to AA as well, he’s the ne whos been out of the country for a number of years …( due to the reasons as stated)
Comment all you like …but Im still the taxpayer and Il say how I want my money to be spent …my opinion is the one with more weight .. oh and one more thing
I have the VOTE …so Il vote for whomever I want ..in my country
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