South-africans violently repel foreigners

[Morgoth]

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Seems like this is getting even worse... And I always thought SA is one of the more civilized places on the black continent. My brother in law has good friends living there, I hope they don't get grilled.

[Pidesco]

Every once in a while, there's news here of Portuguese immigrants being victims of criminal violence in South Africa. It seems like violence is one of the most common problems there.

 

I had a couple of friends living there for a while, but they have left some time ago.

[Humodour]

You have to remember SA still went through a lot of the problems the rest of Africa did. It's more 'together' than the rest of Africa, but it still has massive problems with things like AIDS/HIV, child slavery, racism, etc.

 

It's a very important centre in Africa, though. Over the next 50 years, Africa's population should double (accounting for most world population growth), while the people should live twice as long (i.e. about 60). SA will play a key role in whether Africa turns out for better or worse.

Edited May 26, 2008 by Krezack

[Walsingham]

I agree it's important to point out to the naive that South Africans who are black suffered deliberate destruction of their social and cultural structures under apartheid. Education was specifically aimed at producing 'worker drones'. Minimal English, mathematics, and so on. Just enough to make servants you could order around without learning their language. The resistance movements ordered people to disrupt this 'Bantu' education with violence and non-attendance. This further weakened teh education of several generations. As a consequence many neighbourhoods in South Africa can be better regarded as post-apocalyptic.

 

However, as Homer Simpson says, just because we understand doesn't mean we care.* A history of white oppression explains, but cannot morally excuse the current meltdown. Which I know is harsh, considering the extremity of the damage white rule did. However, until we begin to take responsibility for how things are - instead of blaming others - progress it quite simply impossible. The New South Africa is smart enough, moral enough, and rich enough to be making headway on these issues if only it would face the challenges.

 

 

 

 

*Before anyone complains, it is

 

LISA, crying: "You don't understand!"

HOMER: "Lisa, honey, just because I don't CARE doesn't mean I don't understand..."