South Africa

When things are looking down it can be an eye opener to see things from another's perspective.
I've written a couple of times in my blog about how things seem to be looking bleak in South Africa these days. But the grass isn't always greener elsewhere...

Way back during the apartheid years, when I was in international company, I hated having to admit to being a South African. During the transition to democracy that changed and for a time, I felt proud of my country. Lately, I'm starting to get that uncomfortable ashamed feeling again when I travel. Yesterday I hit a particularly low point.

It seems that all our state institutions in South Africa are being tested at the moment. They're all in crisis or under attack -- from the Human Rights Commission, to the Judiciary, to the national broadcaster. It's the toughest test our teenaged democracy has had, and its clearly time for us all to grow up and become adults.

I have been reading the text of a remarkable court judgment delivered by judge MP Tsoka, of the High Court of South Africa, at the end of April this year. It is an incredible document, and amid all the bad news coming our way lately, gives me some hope and encouragement. The judgment concerns a case brought by residents of the township of Phiri in Johannesburg, asking the court to declare unlawful, the installation of pre-paid water meters in their properties.

The Sunday TImes in SA reports that the number of South Africans worth over 1 million US dollars has increased by 14% in the past year. In Africa as a whole, there are 10% more dollar millionaires than there were last year. Africa is second only to South America in the rate of increase in the numbers of ultra-rich. Those worth over $30-million. At the same time, we know that Africa is the only continent where poverty is on the increase. Over 121-million Africans try to get by on less than 50 US cents a day. What's wrong with this picture? 

On Youth Day, June 16th, Julius Malema, the leader of the ANC Youth League, said at public rally that the youth were prepared to kill for Jacob Zuma. A few days later, Zwelinzima Vavi, the head of the giant trade union federation, Cosatu, said the organisation's members would be willing to sacrifice their lives for Zuma. Despite the outcry that has followed these remarks, I remain deeply, deeply disturbed.

On Wednesday (28th May), I paid a visit to Mary Tal, who heads up Whole World Women Association, an organisation based in Cape Town, dealing with the concerns of refugees and migrants -- and women in particular. Whole World Women is a participant in the Citizen Journalism in Africa project. When I meet Mary, she looks tired. She has been very involved in the recent xenophobic crisis in South Africa.

It's a strange and terrible time in South Africa. The xenophobic attacks, which started in Gauteng province (Johannesburg, Pretoria and surrounds), have now spread across the country. It's horrific. Tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes -- again. Several killed, many injured.

Civil Society calls on government to meet international HIV/AIDS obligations regarding sexual & reproductive health

I have just finished reading The Uncertainty of Hope, by Valerie Tagwira. It is a novel set in the Harare area of Mbare, during the time of Operation Murambatsvina. The novel reminded me why fiction is so important. It's important for lots of reasons, but one of them is that it teaches us, by helping us imagine -- other people, other lives, other circumstances.

Whether we talk about homophobia or xenophobia, we need to acknowledge the fact that these are hate crimes and that for as long as human rights are not seen as indivisible, these violations will continue in other forms and this continent of ours that we call home will perish.