In January 1991, Gordon Van De Merve (editor of military magazine) shot himself and his family, a letter was found by his neighbour explaining that he saw no future in ‘The New South Africa’ http://www.jstor.org/pss/2934900 [Accessed on 26/10/2011
This scenario clearly demonstrates how values and beliefs (culture) can be so strong. Apartheid was so culturally embedded and a change of legislation alone could never determine the transformation itself. Although I was dismayed by this man’s actions, I can also say that he was somewhat brave and honest with what he did. Many people in South Africa still live with the deep animosity and secretly seek revenge, but they would not dare to take any action on how they felt unless it was some sort of mass verdict. People find it easier to express their emotions in large groups – protests etc. This is because it eliminates the chance of them being personally liable. So although I do not approve with Van De Merve’s naïve reaction to ‘the end of apartheid’ I can give him credit for his rectitude.
South Africa, which is also referred to as ‘the rainbow nation’ has one of the most complex and diverse culture in the world, it is so ethnically rich. However, their historical past has had a detrimental effect on how the world views the country as a whole, many people associate South Africa with crime, apartheid and poverty. Although these are still fairly current, they are far more in subtle than in the past or how the media tends to speculate.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--nyFW18AV20/Tjenc4GDpkI/AAAAAAAACyE/spOv_kVs-Bg/s1600/africa.png [Accessed on 26/10/2011]
The media and technology has an impact on how people view South Africa, sadly, the word Africa conjures up images of deprived people, AIDS, and devastation. Numerous people still view South Africa as a racist nation; this is because during apartheid the media revealed the dreadful events that took place during the apartheid era. The media also tends to focus on broadcasting and amplifying the bad news.
In 1990, the National Party Government lifted the ban on African National Congress and released Nelson Mandela; this date marks ‘the end of apartheid’ but a law conversion was nowhere near enough to transfigure the inexpressible psychological trauma the oppressed people had gone through. It was not enough to cover up the obvious anxieties surrounding the imminent transition of ‘power’ how on earth were such physically and mentally oppressed people able to suddenly rise up and become empowered? In my opinion, the only way this changeover will be possible is through education.
http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/4030/PreviewComp/SuperStock_4030-4590.jpg [Accessed on 01/11/2011]
I spent 5 years of my life in South Africa, from ages 15 – 20, from being in an independent school in North London to suddenly finding myself in a private boarding school in Port Elizabeth. In the beginning it was a huge culture shock for me; I remember my fist lesson in Afrikaans, I didn’t even know the language existed and yet it was compulsory for everyone study, needless to say my first oral was horrific. Spending time in the boarding house allowed me to adjust to the societal changes, I made many friends and my residence became like home from home. After making friends I was able to sign out to their houses on the weekends, this allowed me to see different parts of the Eastern Cape.I think being in the boarding house somewhat restricted me into seeing other aspects of SA culture, the majority of pupils at my school were middle class white people of the same cultural background. After 3 years in the boarding house i moved to Jeffery’s bay with a close friend and her family where I got a profound insight into South African culture. I grew to love, appreciate and understand their way of life.
From my experience, South Africa had two realities, one in which rich (majority white) people live in huge houses, send their children to private school and usually have their own business. On the other hand of the spectrum you have poverty stricken shanty towns with people struggling to make a living and often result in begging. What shocked me most is that these two realities can be of such close proximity to each other and that the reality of the situation is evidently ignored. When I first noticed the apparent difference my heart went out to the all the unfortunate people, I would always reach into my pocket and give change; I knew this wouldn’t make much of a difference but it made me feel sincere. Conversely, towards the end of my time in South Africa I began to get accustomed to the situation, I suppose being confronted by this reality on a daily basis made me somewhat oblivious. It wasn’t that I purposely chose to ignore the situation, but an unconscious decision to disregard the obvious as a means of ‘sheltering’ myself to avoid getting emotionally drawn in.
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