We hate refugees. We burn them out of their homes. We chase them away. We burn down their businesses. We tell them go back to where you came from. Bloody refugees. We really don’t like them.
So when Helen Zille comes here and tells us that kids from the Eastern Cape are refugees, we get upset. Yes, they are poor. Yes, they can’t get an education in Eastern Cape. Yes, they would prefer to go to school near their homes rather than cross into another province to get an education. Yes, they have no choice. But why call them refugees? They are not dirty like those Zimbabweans or those bloody Congolese. They are not dodgy like Nigerians or scheming like those no-good Somalis. They are South Africans, just like us.
Helen Zille, take your 30 schools and shove them up your backside, we won’t go to a school that compares us to those scumbags from across the border. You can’t call our children “refugees”.
What I wrote above is bullshit. Bullshit semantics.
Semantics allow us to find a thousand meanings in a word. It allows me to extract a bullshit line of thinking from just one word. It allows me to insinuate that you hate the word “refugee” because you hate refugees. It allows the ANC to infer that Helen Zille is a throwback to apartheid. It allows a whole bunch of people to get on their high horses.
Because, at the end of the day, words are always so much easier to deal with than problems. And really, that is what we have got here – a problem. Education in the Eastern Cape is rubbish. So rubbish, kids have to go to another province to be educated. That is a problem.
But we would rather cloud the problem in bullshit semantics. Oh well. I guess if we look on the bright side, the kids in the Eastern Cape won’t be doing this. You need an education first.
Good point, that’s what I thought when the tweet broke. I personally found it interesting that people got more upset by the unfortunate choice of words than the problem itself. I am kind of disappointed cause the ensuing noise is distracting from constructive debate. The ANC has had a lot to say about how ‘inhumane’ the statement was. I’m still waiting for the EC education department to tell us why the education department is in such a mess and what they plan to do to address the same. Anyone who’s spent time in some schools in tbe townships knows that something’s gone wrong. In many ways, standards are much lower than what I was offered in the 80′s. Which is why I’m frustrated that we seem getting ourselves in a tangle over words. I’m more upset about why we are producing a workforce that won’t be able to compete in this globalised world we live in. Our future livelihood depends on it.
A rather weak opininon I must say David, based on the fact that you angle your argument solely on the word “refugee”, do you even know what the word means as opposed to the word “immigrant”? Back to the main point, why do you leave out the word “educational” in your piece, reading a few comments here, and I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM BLACK, but more importantly throwing the race card into every argument that can’t be backed by logic or facts? Grow up people. Racial propaganda is only harming our country’s growth above all things.
Words will always be interpreted and contextualised from the perspective of the reader. Anyone including political parties are free to state their interpretation of the utterances of another. In politics its an age old tradition to distort the truth by twisting the meanings of words and/or statements by another party in order to stir up emotions. Emotional control of the electorate is a very powerful tool the worls over. In SA there is so much politcal power to be gained from the “racism” card that any situation that can be even remotely framed to claim racism against white people, will be used exploitatively. Just why racism only applies to a situation where non-white people feel aggrieved by the actions on whites defies all human logic. To my mind it applies equally in reverse. Whatever the context, we all owe i to ourselves to look through the oft used racism bleat and assess the context of the situation.
In the context of this case, it is abundantly clear that use of the word “refugee”, in the eyes of the DA, summarises the plight of the EC pupil and the measures to which they are now forced in order to overcome their educational challenges. Of course the ANC will avert attention to the true story and play the cheap racism card, a card that is becoming so frayed at the edges now, that is is about to disintegrate. A deparate ANC trying to do damage control by diverting from the truth, ….again (yawn)
@Atheling P. Reginald Mavangira
Well, of course, Albinism is a medical condition, which affects 1/17000 of children born in the UK, and is prevalent among all nations worldwide. Very nasty for the sufferer as it affects sight apart from an intollerance to sun. I have huge sympathy for Albinos, as indeed I have for Refugees. If you called me an Albino, I would laugh and move on… having dark eyes etc. although a white skin.
This word ‘refugee’ has been taken into absurdity. Probably ill-advised owing to the amazing touchy-ness of South Africans. What is much more imortant is a discussion on the reason behind why people are moving. That is a much more important (and with good governance) a cureable problem. Albinism is not cureable.
So if white people to choose to send their kids to schools in a different province, that is simply a concerned parent looking out for their childs best interest, but if a black child moves from another province they are then a refugee?!?!!
Cheap politicking on both sides!!! Instead of focusing on how to address the problem caused by the collapse of education in the eastern cape, and the resulting overcrowding in the affected schools, both parties use the problem to play the blame game, and the real problem is swept aside!!!!
Zille’s intentions are not to address the plight of pupils from the Eastern Cape or even other provinces within South Africa but segregate them and let them be affected by the poor state of eduction in those provinces. This will help her mission of considering blacks as only voting numbers that cannot think for themselves so she exploits the situation for her party selfish gains. Instead she should put a plan to address the challenge and help improve the quality of life for South African citizens regardless where they come from. Her narrow minded thinking as DA leader only allowed her to think of SA pupils as refugees in their own country. We cannot deny we faced with education crisis in our country but we need to be able to say what little can we do together to improve our education than stooping so low and our fellow citizens refugees. Zille must just apologize and dig in and ensure she plays a role of a citizen and help improve education in our country even it means accepting pupils from other provinces as long as it addresses the challenge rather making feel unwelcome in the Western Cape province. That’s the little she can contribute with as Zille the SA citizen and as well DA leader. We must not put people in pigeon holes as a result of where they come from but allow free movement and choice of where they want to be educated.
When citizens are damned whether they do or don’t, it seems miraculous that anyone makes any effort at all to help another in this country.
Make your choices: live with what your government provides right where you have previously voted; seek ‘greener’ pastures and accept there will be a period of adjustment for all involved; find insult in a single word you cannot define correctly because your own education is lacking, or stand behind the choice you have made to move and move past the greater insult of your children’s neglected education.
The election battles are hotting up; it’s not going to get any easier for a while.
The point about this is that no one could know in advance what numbers had relocated; that they are accommodated at all is a good signal for their future. According to the rules, children must be registered at school by a particular date the year before their entry. If it doesn’t happen, don’t blame the authorities, no matter the political party involved. Brick and mortar cannot be relocated as easily as people.
@ Atheling: Inaccurate, yes. Racist? No.
You have not demonstrated how the word “refugee” is racist. All you have done is attempt to cloud the issue.
My own family could be considered refugees as they left what is now Germany due to political instability.
Again: How is the word “refugee” racist?
@Lennon, the word refugee is used against non-whites in particular.
@Jean et al. Since when has the word refugee been used in the education context? That is absurd.
But noting that you continue to dismiss these disgusting utterances, one amongst many that she makes and much like you suffer from this wholesale amnesia and deny you never participated in apartheid, it begs the question why then should ANY of you oppose that we SING our struggle songs and USE the words, Kill the Boer?
If you are prepared to deny that the word refugee is not insulting to citizens who were born and bred in this country, why then should YOU deny us what belongs to us?
At what end are you prepared to end your HYPOCRISY?
@Tofolux: How is it used “against”?
Refugee – no choice. Immigrant – has a choice. Learn to dictionary.
@Lennon, 1+1=?
@Tofolux: Stop dodging the question. How is calling someone a refugee racist?
Most of the students who happen not to have access to classrooms in the Western Cape have migrated to that part of South Africa with their parents. Parents have considered it unwieldy to manage and nature their children from a distance. Is this a crime for people who are basically the indigenous inhabitants of the African continent? This is their motherland and there is no other. They cannot be defined in any other way except by being African. Hellen Zille is venturing into dangerous ground. She must be careful.
Forget about the ANC and its problems in implementing policy. Migration towards cities in South Africa is not a problem for the Western Cape only. It is happening to other cities as well and officials are expected to have a plan that caters for such incremental population growth. Zille cannot give a cold response as she has done to genuine human movement triggered by a desperate need for access to resources and job opportunities. Yet she expects the same people to vote for her party. The premier of the Western Cape has been exposed for who she is. I just wish African voters (those that have been voting for her party) remind her of this at a crucial moment. I do not envy Mazibuko. Zille is making her job of attracting the African vote difficult to pursue.
@Lennon, what credentials could you possibly possess that would determine, in your mind, what constitutes racism. How could you, given your utterings on this forum, possibly be objective on the practises of racism. I am not going to discuss racism with you simply because you will begin with the premise that racism does not exist in SA today. Now how can anyone engage with such delusional thoughts. So once again, Lennon what is 1+1=? its a simply question, and please do not dodge this one.
@Tofolux: HAHAHAHAHA!!! You accuse me of dodging the question after going on a rant in which you claim that I believe racism doesn’t exist in SA?
I’ve already stated that my own ancestors could be considered refugees.
Again: How is calling someone a refugee racist?
TRC
Helen Zille IS building schools for the Eastern Cape kids – 30 so far and 26 being built.
Who is NOT building schools with their budget is the Eastern Cape! They now have ANOTHER 5 year plan (the fourth so far I think).
@ Lyndall: It seems that these plans are succeeding (based on the assumption that they plans involved wrecking the province).
@Berri, do you know how many bantustans were incorporated into the EASTERN CAPE? Do you know with democracy, EASTERN CAPE inherited the bulk of those who were forcible DISPLACED. Yes, forcibly displaced. Do you know that Western Cape had the most and the best infrasture built during the years of apartheid. Why do you think the best hospitals were built in the Western Cape, ie Groote Schuur and Red Cross hospitals, because kids from all over African were flown there for specific operations. Does the Cape of Good Hope mean anything to you? You see this is the problem when you suffer from tunnel vision. You cannot see anything but to focus on cheap politicking. But let me also remind you, that a child and a grandmother died there, during this year, because the “best” hospitals/clinic failed to diagnose and remedy their illnesses. These are documented and in the newspapers. Also, let me remind you. that “your” best hospitals ran out of vaccinations for babies, Yep, they had to wait for TWO months, Yes Berrie, TWO months. So stop this cheap politicking and claim no empty victories. The infrastructure in Western Cape was built on the backs of slaves. It was built on the back of a brutal system and NOW you claim this as a victory and say it delivers the best service. In fact it would be a problem if they didnt deliver service on par with the infrastructure they so inhumanely benefitted from.
Tofolux
The best hospitals and schools were built in the Western Cape because the politicians were not corrupt.
Unfortunately most of the money, and there was lots of it, given to Bantustan leaders for hospitals and schools and roads during apartheid vanished. Now this culture has spread through every province the ANC runs,
If you don’t believe how much money was given to the Bantustan leaders – check the annual budget speeches in Hansard.
@Berri. your are on the wrong track. BERRI…..lets go back……infrastructure was built during APARTHEID ERA. Infrastructure in the Western Cape was built by apartheid rulers. It was not whites or the DA who built this infrastructure it was your apartheid brothers. Now infrastructure was skewed in favour of the Western Cape. You have the parliament, the most important port in the country during apartheid and also the long history of when your father, Jan van Riebeeck landed there. Are you getting it now. It doesnt take a genius to see the infrastructure built there and compare it to Eastern Cape. Now really this is so stupid. But I will bear with you.Secondly, Berrie, I WANT PROOF from you when you claim that money disappeared by the Bantustans. Do you know how the system of Bantustans operated? You dont because then all this speculation and really bad bad analysis wouldnt be thought of by you. Be that as it may, you should stop with this load of absolute untruths. Also I am left wondering if dishonesty is a condition suffered by a certain minority in our citizenry? How any person could feel at peace with themselves with this level of unethical engagement, boggles the mind. At least, some of those who looked after our Father, Madiba had enough humanity in them to recognise the good in them. At the core they had enough courage to seek redemption. You obviously have a long way to go, Berrie.
Tofolux
SA was the largest economy in Africa by the end of the 19th century already (ref; “Africa Since 1800″ printed by Cambridge University Press)- done by whites and browns, there were hardly any blacks in the first place, and that was half a century before apartheid.
As for what was given to the Homelands – I read all the newspapers all my life, and checked all the budgets presented to parliament. The figures will be in the Hansard record of Budget speeches.
Or you could read F W De Klerk’s autobiography when he says that Bantu Holimisa had 500 people on the staff of Foreign Affairs in his Bantustan – a country with no recognition from any other country in the world?
@Tofolux:
Refugee : A person who seeks or has refuge.
Refuge : a place of shelter, protection, or safety.
So how is that make the word refugee racist?