In the early 1990’s South Africa’s brutal Apartheid regime was brought to its knees, ushering in a new era of freedom, democracy, and expression. Many young South AFricans have no living recollection of the Apartheid era, and know only of the country as it is – a place where people of all races have complete liberty of movement.
Yet one of the overarching themes in this past edition of the 2012 Vancouver South African Film Festival is that xenophobia, while no longer legally legislated, is widespread and tolerated in South Africa.
Rape, homophobia, child poverty, and racism towards immigrants are sadly a reality in South Africa. Several films at the VSAFF highlighted these issues, include the acclaimed “Man on the Ground”, the story of immigrants living in South Africa’s vast townships during the wave of xenophobic violence that swept the country three years ago.
The courts in South Africa have begun to deal with certain abhorrent acts of violence, including cases of “corrective rape” – the idea of raping lesbian women to rid them of their homosexuality. Yet the legal system is far behind the situation on the ground, and women continue to die in increasing numbers. (1)
Recently Somali immigrant shopkeepers found themselves the victims of hate attacks, including the destruction of personal property and theft. Many immigrants fear for their lives, but have nowhere else to go. (2)
Apartheid in name is over in South Africa, but in practice the country remains a deeply divided place. Disparities in income, education, land ownership, are exacerbated by government corruption from an ANC in power for nearly 20 years. It remains unlikely that there will be any drastic improvement in the situation in the near term. Ultimately a combination of new governing parties, improved education and literacy, and better health care will allow the country to face down corruption, xenophobia, and poverty.
In the meantime, NGO’s like Education without Borders continue to deliver significant incremental change in South Africa’s townships. Events such as the VSAFF raise funds for real projects run by volunteers and local people. These projects not only improve the lives of South African youth, they also help raise a future generation that will be more tolerant, informed, and productive. (3)
(1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13908662
(2) http://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/storekeepers-smash-somali-shop-in-khayelitsha-1.1302825
(3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn3aJKORPEQ&feature=youtu.be
It is sad to see that South Africa still suffers from the scars of imperialism and the racism it brought with it. The way out of this horrid cycle is surely development of education and the nation as a whole. I think much can be said for Christopher Hitchens’ that the best way to achieve this development is via the advancement of women, giving them control over births and family planning.
http://youngleftie.wordpress.com/
Imperialism left many scars on the country; however, many argue that Apartheid, as brutal as it was, left the country with a solid foundation for economic development, and by extension social development. Whether this is true or not is of no relevance, since people in South Africa suffer injustices today, and the past can do nothing to rectify this.
Putting this aside, I agree wholeheartedly with your statement that the best way to achieve development is via the advancement of women. It is no mystery that some of the world’s most progressive communities also happen to have women as leaders and decision makers.
I get the general feeling though that no matter how well positioned the country was left to develop economically, it was inevitable that South Africa’s social problems would continue for a long time, as the experience of South Africans due to imperialism was so deeply damaging and I suspect still causes a lot of hurt within the black community.
Good, concise and well written article Glen.
Thanks Wil,
You should take a look at the photography program we have been building with a local photographer in Cape Town. May be something that would interest you down the road. The plan is to develop this into a book that talks about our students, their art work, and what we do as a charity.
G.
G.