By Adam Currie
Well, well, well … I do love to spark a debate and my last little ramble (A Canuck Kaapie) certainly got some individuals blood boiling. A good few old-school Johannes shook their heads, put there brandewyns aside, and decided to give me a good ol’ Groot Krokodil finger wag.
I was thrown the ever-so-popular, “Why aren’t you back in South Africa then” line, as well as the clichéd, and oh so melodramatic “Crime in SA is real” spiel … (cue the violin music). I am well aware of crime in SA — my student digs in Grahamstown — with a permanent SAPS inspector parking spot — can attest to that. However in life you will always have the pessimistic cowboy in his rocking chair, just waiting to shoot down the first glimpse of optimism.
It got me thinking and, after a discussion with some other young Saffas this side of the pond, I decided to gain some perspective. Being new to this land of frosty winters and mediocre ales, I decided to head down to my local watering hole in order to watch the Mighty Men in green demolish those silly chaps in black, with that funny pre-game dance (Boks vs All Blacks if the sporting metaphors are not driving home here).
I pulled up a chair at the first Saffa supporting table I could find — not difficult … it was beaming with beers, meat and an all-round incredible aura that would make Mandela and Sisulu do an African jive. I announced that I was new to Canada and, upon hearing my oh-so-smooth Saffa tones, was greeted with a backslap, a “howzit” and an ice-cold frosty beverage that would make the SAB breweries chairman kick his heels with glee.
I asked what had brought these fine esteemed individuals, stemming from Potch to Paarl, to this land of maple leaves and lumberjacks. I was expecting the clichéd drones of “South Africa is going the way of Zim”, or worse yet “I am here on the new white refugee programme”. But what was this? These fine learned persons threw crazy lines out such as “I am here to build up my skills, and then perhaps head home after”, or … “I am young and travelling with every intention of heading home”. My word … The audacity of them all. I felt for a second a feeling of euphoria. A feeling that, unlike Brandon Huntley, I was indeed not alone in this cruel world.
As we sat and chatted it became clear that “our” generation was not defined by age or race. Old and young we sat and conversed, discussing essential and global diplomatic issues. Issues such as Shalk’s mullet to Zuma’s latest auto sector stimulus policy. We threw in terms such as “china”, and were greeted by a hoorah from the Asian contingent in the back corner. My word, what a spectacular gathering of the finest South African minds of tomorrow.
We were indeed optimistic about SA, yet wanted a bit of travel under our belt that stemmed further than the Springs/Benoni campsite. Madness I know, but true. We might not have agreed on the important things in life (ie WP are clearly returning to their glory days), however the question of returning home was not an option … it was a “gimme”. There we sat … black and white (stop coughing — old school cowboy “we will never unite” readers … it is true … serious … no really … black AND white), and discussed our future paths. The paths indeed differed, however the destination was predominantly “home”.
I must be the first to admit that I am not some “the world is made of candy floss and bunnies” hippie that feels if we all just took the time to hug the person next to us, that the world would be a better place. I am fully aware of the issues faced by our nation daily, and am fully aware of factors such as crime, HIV, and the stigma attached to being “African”. However, jeepers what an awesome feeling to know that I am indeed an African.
I keep stressing myself as to being part of a “lucky generation” and hell yes I am. No country in the world can speak as openly about issues such as race, discrimination, and the importance of a decent fast bowler in our cricket side than a Saffa, and we are all the better for it. We have transcended from an era of being held back with regards to discussion and thought, to one that is now hailed as a model of developing democracy in its finest form (I stress “developing” as I can feel the rage ascending in that cowboy now). Yes, I know we have issues, however what other country can boast as far as we have come?
I have travelled and seen places that are supposed to be what South Africa “should” strive to be. I have seen the first world, and with it its fantastic public transport systems (*cough* splutter*… 1 x Saffa taxi over London underground any day thanks), yet still think that South Africa has more potential than these pantheons of first world society.
So I leave you with this … I will indeed come home (very soon in fact), print out my CV and get in line. So dad prep the grid, mom please pack the sarmies for the cricket, and gents make sure that the Labels are cold.
I realise the going will be tough and the issues faced by South African daily are real. However … I am also Saffa-nised enough to realise that we are the best damn individuals on the planet, blessed to be part of this era in our history, and that while not perfect with regards to our domestic issues, we are the envy of many … and, regardless of any pessimistic old grouches telling me otherwise, there is no rather place that I would rather end up.
This is such an intelligent article from a true thoughtleader. Ofcourse Huntley is being exploited by racists who are just tired of having to compete with Africans in the workplace. A lot of them would rather have blacks as maids and gardners and so it ticks them off that these people who have been raising them (white South Africans) and their children are given a chance to provide a better future for their children. I think Huntley only wanted a free house and a gov grant (hence the false claims of having been attacked by criminals). As for BEE preventing him from getting a job, now that’s silly. Just tell me, who would want to “grab” a job from a water sprinkler. There aren’t too many competitors in that profession, trust me. Anyways, it would be nice to have people (white and black) who are trully committed to our country. It’s a wonderful thing that Huntley left but what surprises me is: why his sympathisers haven’t left. Why are they still here. They should get packing already! Bye!
Semper fi Marine!
(co-incidentally most of the people I spoke to in the UK said the same thing when I first arrived – and they are all still here 6 years on…)
Hi Adam and other readers, I’d like to add my name to the list of white South Africans who is currently travelling and living overseas with every intention of returning to my beautiful mother city! Though I don’t think I’ve shared it with you before, this seems like an appropriate place. Save me a frosty Label!
Sweet, may be too sweet…
I Feel like I just watched an American chick-flick or on of those “saving-the -American-Nation” flicks with the military drum beats in the background..
Looking forward to your return my Brotha!
OMG…the first Thoughtleader that brought tears to my eyes! Finally a tribute to those who do travel, who do have interests abroad, but are still firmly attached to South Africa’s apron strings. We have lived ass expatriates for the past ten years, although we keep a home here. In Mexico I accosted a black lady in aa supermarket because I was so thrilled to see a black face after a long period of drought (turned out she is Jamaican – but we still shared our lunch).
Another often forgotten fact is that the expats often come back here with shekels burning in their pockets. They have often paid off their debt, having eared in stronger currencies. This month, we have given two biggish (for most home-owners) building projects to two different building companies.
All hail the Remittance Men!
Your last paragraph reminded me of a young South African in London explaining to me once: “People think we’re arrogant, but we’re not. We’re just the best.”
What a breath of fresh air. I have recently returned from 4 years in England. I always knew I was coming back so I had it easy. I came back to a job and a house. But Oh! what a pleasure. This is not about the weather. It is about the people. Too many there and too unfriendly. It is about the space and the size of the sky. It is about being proud. It is about the warmth of all the people. It is about having real issues that are worth talking about. It is about rugby and cricket and Bafana Bafana. It is about proper mountains and proper beaches. Amazingly it is about service from service suppliers and about superior health service (admittedly private). I now have a beautiful S.A. flag on my car and it will remain there forever.Siyazama is a motto of a building company here. It means “we strive” and that is exactly what we are good at.
Viva! You think like a South African. Clearly the problems of the people of South Africa are YOUR problems too. Therefore, this is your home and you are needed and welcomed back!
One aspect I must agree with you on is that us SAffas discuss issues, sometimes at odds with reason (Caster Semenya saga comes to mind); however if the race card keeps cropping as it seems to do more often than not nowadays, debate will be stifled in this country and then what will we have…?
I really enjoyed this article of yours. Really I did … and I am a white South African.
Your stereotyping gave me the chuckles – BUT – you are clearly privileged, as am I. Be careful not to stifle the voice of the unprivileged in South Africa, the biggest challenge we face. I know, it’s hard when you’re sitting with a frosty on the other side of the lake… A country where the majority lives in abject poverty, is hardly the envy of the world… You have a healthy attitude towards South Africa, and it’s certainly the humour keeps us going, I just hope it’s us who laughs last… because if we keep building multi-billion rand soccer stadiums while the masses down the road are scavenging off rubbish dumps, the joke might just be on us in the end…
Nice one dude! Catch you soon. Optimism is a wonderful thing.
Anyone needing to go further than the Benoni campsite has revealed himself as a deeply empty soul.
Intelligent? Yes! Honnest? Yes, Yes!!
Congratulations, Rod you really speak your mind. You have also recovered well from your “If..” blog. Being in my late 40′s, and having been born & bred in Soweto, I am still over sensitive of some Mlungu talk.
Back to your topic…White people (including some people who were told they were not Africans, and Africans who were told were better under Apartheid than those living north of the Limpopo) have been lied to by the NP, Broeder Bond, NG Kerk, you name it. They have been lied to so often, that the lies became the truth. Soon, they began lying to themself, taught their children the lie, who taught their chldren, etc!
If you meet mr. Huntley, thank him for exposing the lie. The Canadian authorities believed him! The lie is no longer, “Whites were ordained by God to be superior to non-whites”. He changed it to, “Africans will kill me for my assistant sprinkler/hosepipe mender job”, S’True s’Bob, eish, I don’t know!
Your “overseas experience”, will earn you a feww interviews, and will get you the job over the Black who has been pounding the street “marketing” with a degree from a ‘Bush’ university. He will end up accepting a government job, and the lie starts again! He got the job because he is Black! Whites have all Manangement Jobs!
We will be beat the drum when you come back (Vusi Mahlasela).
How do we unlearn the lie?
Now that is the kind of attitude that makes me proud to be South African. I respect all that you wrote here and I believe this is the truth.
Bring back your skills and let us build this country together. I have realized that many of the people who complains about AA in SA are just bitter because blacks are now given an opportunity and not because it is taking jobs from whites.
Sibusiso,
I’ll tell you what you want to know. I think your own doubts about your qualifications and experience is clouding your judgement and you are generalising about everything. My manager is black. He got there because he’s got the skills and the training. You need to stop with this ‘Eish, its because I’m black’ nonsense. Life is passing you by. What you really want to be is an owner – start your own business and then you can be CEO.
Sibusiso Kumalo – “Congratulations, Rod you really speak your mind. You have also recovered well from your “If..” blog.” Ha ha, I thought some Thought Leaders simply cannot read but this one takes the cake! The author here is called Adam Currie, I don’t write “Reader Blog”, mineis Cracking China. I assume the “if” blog I have apparently recovered from according to you is, “And if Ms Semenya were not black?” Hilarious.
But nice one Adam.
Lekgwakgwa is going back home next year. It has been 10 long years in the US, and to this day I cannot say I am happy.
I’m pleased you wrote this – I hope it gives a clearer picture of some SAns who live abroad, rather than the usual ‘you left because …’. I left because I could. I left because I had an opportunity to work abroad and experience the international University of Life. More than 10 years on and I still say ‘I’m going home for Christmas, holiday, whatever’ and I do keep a close eye on the jobs sites in SA, because one day I’ll move back to SA ‘because I can’.
Some South Africans are very funny about our countrymen that live and work abroad. I find that very odd, because you don’t hear critisism from the English, French, Chinese, Americans, Indians (I can go on) about their young folk wanting to pursue opportunities abroad. Global Village and all that, non??
(Yes, I’m aware of people leaving SA for negative reasons. Heavens, anyone who has spent any amount of time in London will have encountered one of them, but my point is that we don’t all deserve to be painted with that brush!).
Ah Adam. Good one but you’ll grow up and have kids and maybe realise that if SA then, is still like it is now, you’re in the place where you are most likely to lose those kids to bloody murder, next to Colombia of course. No. 1 in cricket and rugby, No. 2 in murder; must we try harder?
Then of course you’ll have to navigate the teacherous water sof racism, corruption and incompetence.
So think on a few things. Great people, great country, rotten to the core and generally useless politicians (and hence governemnet due to cadre deployment) and about the highest crime rates on the planet.
As its sed “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”, or something similar. Think with the head before committing. I’m in but not sure it’s the right decision.
I would also like to add my name to the list of travelling South Africans who ARE going to return home. I have no doubt that we South Africans ARE the best and our country has every potential to be world-class. I’m Indian – but definitely South African first!!
Interesting that Lyndall Beddy and a few other racists haven’t replied to this post. I would have loved to hear what they have to say. Just so it can be balanced. Right now it looks all honky d…
yAM,
There you go again putting me in my place, thanks I need that once in a while.
There you go again telling me I need to get off my behind and stsrt a business, Thanks again I need to start another business.
There you go again accusing me of selfpity, I need some motivational speak.
There you go again patronising me with “I have a black boss”, some of your best friends are black too – you fogort to mention.
There you go again accusing me of generalising, on “everything”? I didn’t mention Apartheid or did I?
These are the lies I am asking us to “unlearn”. Are you up for it or are you going to continue teaching the Lie?
Those people that are not happy and think this Country is rotten and hell on earth, GO somewhere else!!! Go to that heaven on earth, see if they want your negative self!!
By God we will be happy to throw you a good riddance party and please never come back!!!
Sis! Rod. Sis!
Sis! for poluting my mind with your article. As an honest person, Yes! I am an honest person, I would like to apoligise to you, Rod, for suggesting that you are capable of writing such an intelligent and honest article. What was I thinking. SoRRY. I phone Khanye and Serena to apologise for me as well.
What I meant was congatulations mr Adam Currie. We always welcome our broers and susters with open hands.
On the Lie issue, are you game Rod. Heh, China? It takes me and you. (Don’t forget my advise on the China issue.)
Interesting that Tau considers anyone with a different view point racist. How does that foster debate?
@De Reiger on September 17th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Interesting indeed but do understand that I don’t have anything against a different viewpoints but I do know when a person is being racist and I will call that a racist person and nothing more. I am not going to deny that this exist in this democracy of ours.
And by the way go and re-read this and maybe you will do us a favour and leave. Phillipa Lipinski on September 16th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Listen bra before you leave Canada Dry (geez I’m funny or maybe just showing my age) could you just pop down to Argentina. They are joining the Tri-Nations and as you know we have an abundance of rugger players down here. So I thought we could swop maybe three of our loose forwards for a couple of their soccer strikers, doesn’t matter what colour just as long as they can score.Ja and don’t worry I have connections at home affairs, already got the papers.
@ Tau
Do settle yourself Tau. It was just an observation. As you yourself stated you wanted a racist view to counter balance the reviews of the post. Thereby insinuating that any opposing viewpoint ,would be racist.
I do give you leave to state that there is racism in this democracy of ours, indeed I will take it one statement further and say there is racism all over this world.
The fragility of your belief system does radiate through incandescently however in your final statement/request “do us a favour and leave”. Kindly do enlighten me as to who exactly is “us” and which place should I “leave” – the forum or South Africa? In addition to this on what grounds should I be made to leave.
@Frans De Reiger on September 18th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Kindly do enlighten me as to who exactly is “us” and which place should I “leave” – the forum or South Africa? In addition to this on what grounds should I be made to leave.
My answer: The “Us” that I am reffering to is the patriotic South African’s who want to make this country work without negative people like yourself be it they are black, white, pink, red, brown etc (Don’t you just hate it when people talk of a pink colour when you know there is no such human beings?)
Seriously though, I will trade at least 5 people with an attitude like the aurthor of this article to a thousands of people with an attitude like yours irrespect of whether you are black or white, as long as we can have people with a nation building attitude who can see how much value diversity can add to corporate SA and this countries economy.
So yes, if you have a stuffed up attitude you are welcome to jet out and let the one’s who want to build stay behind or stay and work with us. Simple as that.
@Tau
Pray tell dear Tau, you say the “Us” represents all patriotic South Africans and on their behalf you request/ order I leave South Africa.
As reason for this you offer up the “fact” that I am a “negative person” that I have an “attitude”. Now Tau, on what factual evidence do you base the allegation that I am negative or have an attitude?
You say you would willingly trade 5 persons with the authors attitude in Canada for 1000 people with my attitude in South Africa. Interesting, what if I work in a rural South African hospital? Would you still apply the same logic.
Perhaps I never had the need to go a foreign country to feel special and unique, never required foreign studies to attain the skills needed to do my job here in South Africa. Perhaps there is more work to be done here now.
@Frans De Reiger on September 18th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
C’mon Frans, let it rest now. You are accusing me of things I never said on your latest comment. All I am saying is we need more patriotic people in SA that are willing to work together with the rest of SA in nation building and building this country as a whole.
We don’t need negative people like yourself. Believe you me, there is nothing wrong with constructive criticism, but I can’t stand whiners like yourself who just whine for the heck of it.
So get it in your head. I am happy with people who want’s to build but I have a problem with people who just want to make this country of ours look bad because of your negative attitude.
@Tau
I Would like to honestly recommend you that you thoroughly read your initial replies/responses to an article, before posting. This might save us ( as in everyone who reads the responses) and yourself to the exposure to your subsequent convoluted logic (round peg in the square hole variety).
My colleague, who is sitting next to me, would like to know: what’s with all the repetitions of “negative person?”. Repetition rarely wins an argument.
Tau and De Reiger
Let it go!
Both of you have eloquently demonstrated the wisdom of these words:
“Debating on the internet is like competing in the Special Olympics.
Even if you win, you’re still a retard”.
Siyabonga!
@Lunte
Too true I take it you are entering the races, welcome to the specials : )
@De Reiger
*a sigh and smile*
I was enjoying the article until the part about “we are the best individuals”. Stereotyping and generalisation is equally dangerous applied to nations as to “races”.
To add to the comment about the economic contribution of migrants: remittances and repatriated earnings are the second largest financial inflow into Africa, after revenue from raw materials.
pure awesomeness in one article
I’m black, and would like to work abroad – what does that make me?
Bravo Adam. You had me on your side up till quote “It got me thinking” unquote.
When you are thousands of miles away, and you find yourself in the company of young South Africans and you have a few cold ones, then yes, you do get a warm and fuzzy feeling about your country.I was a bright eyed, optimistic Saffa once, living and working abroad. I came home almost 9 years ago, got a Mortgage, bought a Car, married my Sweetheart and now have a son. Adam, you have to walk a mile in our shoes (the soldiers in the trenches) before you can postulate and pontificate about how Rosy the world is through your eyes. Come home son. There is a Suburban 150sqm town house with 8 ft walls and electric fencing waiting for you with your name on it.