Is it racist to think that South Africa will go crap?

[Rum]

It shows distinct signs of doing so. I don't like to think of myself as a racist, so what's going on here!?

[Chinaski]

Why should it be racist to make historical predictions of any sort?

[Arse]

In some ways South Africa has already gone crap, and many of those ways date from long before the fall of apartheid. However, before that era ended who worried too much about the living conditions of blacks in townships? There was no AIDS and any poverty was simply blamed on the racism of the government.

Add to that that whenever a repressive government falls, crime rises - eg, Russia, Iraqi looters after the fall of Saddam, etc. Add to that the HIV virus, and yes South Africa is going to go crap, but not because democracy and equality are inferior to white supremacy. If the horrible suspicion in your mind was along the lines of "South Africa is going to go crap because black Africans can't run their own country", then relax that's not the reason.

Incidentally, black Africans seem to be running Botswana, Zambia and Senegal just fine, and probly other countries that we hear nothing about on the news too.

[M]

I wouldn't say racist (unless you qualify your thoughts in that direction, of course ). It is a nation with innumerable problems, going way back. I do believe they have tough times ahead.

[CJ]

It shows distinct signs of doing so. I don't like to think of myself as a racist, so what's going on here!?

Shite education, political and financial abuse of the majority by the minority, then the majority take over, it's not race it's power play. If the race rolls were reversed the result would be the same so it isn't a racist issue. Stupidity fucks countries, look at Cambodia, worse state than SA but no 'race' issues there.

[JimC]

I suspect that part of the problem is the feeling that the ANC can do no wrong, coasting along on the moral triumph of Mandela, which may make too many people reluctant to criticise the corruption and inefficiency it contains.

[CJ]

I suspect that part of the problem is the feeling that the ANC can do no wrong, coasting along on the moral triumph of Mandela, which may make too many people reluctant to criticise the corruption and inefficiency it contains.

I would agree with that.

[Durro]

I've been to South Africa...

When we were there, the division between rich and poor was extreme. Just a km or two from shitty shanty towns are luxurious mansions replete with barbed wire, high fences with embedded glass, roving dogs and security cameras everywhere. Banks have two doors to pass thorugh - the first one allows you into an airlock which remains locked until the bank staff have checked you out and let you in the rest of the way. Suspicious people are held captive in the airlock. All shops are adorned with thick steel bars and many have armed security guards. The whole nation seemed to be paranoid about crime and personal safety. We spoke with lots of Sth Africans and many had accounts of violent crimes perpetrated either on themselves or immediate family. The radio broadcast monthly "brain drain" statistics, lamenting the number of trained professionals leaving the country for good.

When apartheid collapsed, there was a move to replace many white middle and upper level managers and leaders across a wide range of professions and industries. However, the quality of the black replacement wasn't always up to standard and this caused many problems. One such account was the story of a newly invested black policeman who was on duty at a station when an emergency call came in - the home had been invaded and the owner was being attacked by a group. The policeman turned out to be illiterate and couldn't write down the address, and forgot the street name. By the time it was sorted out, the home owner was found dead, after having been gang raped and murdered and their home plundered.

In a country that did the first heart transplant, their health care system is crumbling as the professionals emmigrate elsewhere and few educated people are taking their place. Standards of care are declining badly and all measures of health care are quickly becoming 3rd world standard.

When we tried to ring the airport to re-confirm our flights, we couldn't get through, as thieves had dug up the phone lines to steal the copper.

HIV is in epidemic proportions and entire villages have been decimated by the "thinning disease" as it is called. Poor education and superstition combine to worsen the crisis - many believe that having sex with a virgin will cure HIV and there have been reported instances of children and even babies being raped by HIV positive men in search of a cure. Safe sex is virtually non-existent and ignorance reigns supreme.

In short, it was a scary place to be in. Many locals lamented the decline of the country and given their strong mining sector, agriculture, tourism and other industries, they should be in a wealthy, secure country. But Sth Africa is going down the toilet and those that can get out seem to be doing so in droves.

Durro