It’s now an official fact. South Africa is the country with the biggest gap between rich and poor. How have we let this happen?
15 years since democracy I would have hoped that we would be united enough to begin creating channels that allow those at the bottom of the pile the opportunity to dust themselves off and feed themselves. The efforts have no doubt been made, but they are clearly not effective enough. Changing our education system ever so often does more harm than good to the recipients of it.
I’ve struggled for a long time to pin point what needs to be fixed first in order for everything else to fall into place. I have now, after many a dinner party conversation, many a braai time discussion, decided that EDUCATION is the key. You can not make informed decisions with the lack there of. It is impossible to even be aware of what you are actually entitled to without it, you can never even know when you are being cheated without it.
It’s the powerful torch that’s necessary to brighten the paths of generations to come.
We have been fortunate and blessed enough to have a peaceful transition during the change of power. No bloodshed. Just deep gashes, wounds and scars in the memories of all that had to endure that horrible past. (Which did consist of that).
And now the remnants of a past so heinous it never leaves us and threatens to rip the wounds open on a daily basis.
Townships. Squatter Camps. The intense clarity of entering Surburbia after visiting a town ship. All constant reminders of what was.
When people come to South Africa they may have read about our history, some not. You may never understand the full extent of what Apartheid stood for unless you experience it first hand. Or come as close as possible to experiencing what the reality post-apartheid is like.
The tourism industry does not do this (massive) part of our reality any justice.
Too many times I have had friends coming to visit Cape Town and seeing the post card view of it all - The mountain, the sea, the restaurants, the pristine beaches, the party & club scene, the surf sub-culture, Long street, the museums - and not having their eyes opened to the harsh (but very real & enriching) reality of South Africa: the poverty, the lack of service delivery to the parts of South Africa that are described as “previously disadvantaged”, the cultures from the people who’s culture it is. Once you have a peak into this so very interesting world you will realise that there is absolutely nothing “Previously” about those that live in these areas. They are still disadvantaged.
It’s very evident.
I'm fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go home once a month (to a Township/location called Ga-Rankuwa) and this grounds me and reminds me of where I’m from. It’s very easy to forget what the realities are although I grew up in that environment & have been immersed in it for the greater portion of my life (19 out of 22 years).
Its so easy; when I return to Cape Town; to this luxury I now call a home - with a pool, high walls, armed security system, electric fencing and a bird song infested garden; to lose touch & to stop caring about the masses that struggle.
Something drastic has to change if we intend to be truly united. More arms need to be stretched out over the proverbial fence if we want to see this country flourish. If we want to keep the title of “Rainbow nation” bestowed upon us after the incredible Madiba saved an entire nation.
We need to get a grip of reality & participate in active unity. We owe it to ourselves, those before us & those that are yet to come.
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