Following on from my confession I have decided (after much debate/discussion with myself) to publish the following post by Jason Von Berg.
I had a drink with some friends of mine the other day. The overbearing and saddest discussion that I’ve heard around SA followed. My friends and I love SA. They are here, starting companies, creating employment and building a life. Many of them though feel as if they want to stay in SA but are not being given the choice to. In spite of this feeling, they are choosing to stay and I am proud that they do.
Jason is one of these people, he chooses to stay in spite of everything he is writing below and we need more people like this in SA.
Here goes:
Hi Nic and the rest of the SA rocks readers,
It might sound very cliché and overdone but I will begin like this: I really am a proud South African. I love living here. I’ve been lucky enough to do a bit of traveling in my 23 years and barring New York City, this is the place I want to be.
However lately I have been questioning all of the above in light of what is going on. Today I am particularly worried. I feel helpless and to an extent I feel it may be time to start looking into moving- out of SA. Some of the issues I worry immensely about include:
1. Our next president. I don’t profess to be an expert in politics but looking forward and seeing what Jacob Zuma faces in terms of charges this August, I can’t help but wonder how good a president he will be. Leading by example… that is a problem in my eyes. Is he the best of a really bad bunch? Many things about him and his lifestyle I don’t agree with.
Former boxing champ and convicted rapist Mike Tyson is on his way to South Africa to raise money for charity at a massive gala event next week. A CONVICTED RAPIST allowed into South Africa when we have rape stats like ours. This sounds like a game show: For one million rand, the final question for you is: “Who will be making a speech at this special gala event?” The answer? The acquitted of rape man, alleged corrupt fraudster and possible future president of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma.
2. An 18year old goes on a shooting spree in the Northwest in an apparent racially motivated incident. WOW this is scary.
3. Mr Jackie Selebi- our National Police Commissioner. Can they actually charge him already… the man clearly isn’t all that innocent.
4. The complacency of the man who runs this country aka Mr Thabo Mbeki, who is now currently is Zimbabwe. Just earlier “Good progress is being made with relations between the Zanu PF and the MDC” Great, thanks Thabs, who actual cares!? Does he have something to hide? Why is being so quiet?
5. LOAD-SHEDDING. This really is getting me down. We are all, as a basic human right, entitled to electricity and clean water. Water is fine – for now. Electricity on the other hand, well… This load shedding is killing me. I understand that there are less fortunate people than me, and if this is how I feel then I can only imagine how they feel. It took me over an hour to get to work this morning, fighting against lights that are out and stupid taxi drivers (who have no consideration for anyone else but themselves).
I don’t think it’s right for us to sit back and accept this. It’s bullshit, but then what do I do… I have no power (pardon the pun) to change this, and well unless there is a massive uprising, where people turn around and say enough is enough, then what?
I hate being the voice of doom, but at the same time I just can’t help but think about moving. I am still young, but eventually I want to have kids and I want them to be brought up here. Your knowledge through education of the world is so much greater than in other countries. I am an ambitious person, I have goals that I really want to achieve, but if I’m forced to live in a place that is being run by alleged corrupt officials and children can’t learn at school then in actual fact I’ll have no choice. I try very hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel (if you’ll pardon the pun again). I look at the wonderful highveld sunsets. I listen to my favourite radio djs every day and know that I wouldn’t get the same quality abroad and I think back to my summer holiday down in the Eastern Cape, the beach, the sea, the good holiday vibes from everyone down there and well I see why I love this place. Please give me some reassurance that things will get better.
Thanks for listening/reading.
Let me explain why I have published this post. Many people criticise me for being ignorant, blind and stupid about SA. I am not, nor is Jason and nor is anyone else in SA with half a brain. But as I have said a million times over, I choose to stay.
I am deeply upset by the load shedding/blackouts taking place. I am upset by the crime, Zuma doesn’t bug me that much and the general state of politics I can deal with. But what I want to say to people is the that the choice is always there and present. Choose to leave, choose to stay but choose to do it for the right reasons.
I choose to stay because I feel I owe SA something. I feel I can make a difference and I feel that for my own personal mental contentment I must do what I can. So I do.
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Popularity: 4% [?]
January 19th, 2008 at 11:27 am
See Nic what happens when you leave the door of negativity open you attract the shit eating, crowing ex-pats in to come and peck on your carcass…. Nice….Helen why dont you go and dance around southafricasucks.com with your other aussie mates…..Jesus dont you have better things to do like looking for a second job to keep you out of poverty ???
January 20th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Well it just shows you that a lot of people still have to grow up in
this world. Pray to God you dont get ill and have to get a quadrauple bypass. Because that is what happened to my husband, but he can still work and put food on the table. You must be the scum of this world. The asked for an opion and I gave one.
I dont need you F….. COMMENTS in my life. Go to Facebook and
post your opinions there. You are scum.
January 20th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Dear Jason
After my outburst about that idiot, I still stick to my guns. Lots of
luck with your decision.
January 20th, 2008 at 4:42 am
So Me if you are still in South Africa, get on your knees everyday
because you need it!!!!!! And hope you dont ever get ill. I say
again, you are scum. By the way what is your real name? Ashamed
to mention it? Have to hide behind “ME”? I dare you to tell me your
real name.
January 20th, 2008 at 7:47 am
South Africa evokes intense emotion in all us. I love it, Helen hates it. No room for fence sitters here. Who knows what the future will bring? There are no guarantees you are safe in any country. People have made and lost fortunes all over, not just in SA. Politically, economically, socially there is uncertainty wherever you are today.
Helen, since you left, you missed out on the 25 best years in South Africa!
January 20th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Feistry Fairy, thanks for your reply. Just to set the record straight
we left 6 years ago. Just read my first reply to Jason. I wanted to
leave 26 years ago, but because husband was a bit stubborn it
only happened 6 years ago. Although he went through a terrible
time when he got sick, I don’t regret and will never regret my
decision. As you say, either you love it or you hate it. I don’t hate
South Africa, I hate what is happening to everyone in South Africa,
my friends, cousins, unknown persons, black and white. Not a day
goes by that I don’t think about them in my prayers. And good
point. No guarantees in another country, however I went out
last night and got home 1.30 this morning. SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Freedom is a basic human right, and it has been taken away from
South Africans. I got it back by leaving the country, and it does
feel like heaven!!!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Hi all, It seems as though Helen has deleted her posts/comments from this blog post. Unfortunately everyone has the right to do this in theory. I am looking at my approach to this sort of thing. Unfortunately Helen did not have the guts or strength in her convictions to keep her opinion up for all to see.
So be it. Fairly typical. What can you do?
January 20th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I left about 20 years ago. I have seen the country deteriorate to a point of desperation. I have also seen the country inch back in the same way a plant does after winter. It starts with little green buds of life and hope and blossoms from there.
Living in South Africa, you may not be as aware as I am. I look from the outside in. I see how much the country has grown and how much has been achieved. It really and truly is phenomenal! All these changes have taken place without extreme bloodshed. Yes, there are a lot of angry people without much of an outlet. Yes, the crime is horrendous. But the country is so beautiful. The people are living side by side and learning to get along. Change always comes at a high price and I applaud those who are part of this change and are trying to make a difference.
My trips back to South Africa keep me whole. SOUTH AFRICA ROCKS!
January 20th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Great Comment Lynne! Thanks for the positivity. It’s nice to occassionally hear from expats who are relatively chuffed with what they see and who stay grounded about the problems we face!
Thanks for visiting, I hope you’ll keep checking in on the blog!
May 4th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
When our heart is in South frica then your life is here. As they say your home is where your heart is.
May 4th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Dear all who reads,
I would also love to stay as this is the most beautiful county in the world and have been here since I was 3yrs old (this is my country!), my husband was born here (his whole life & family is here).
I have read several posts, some strong in thought and yes, I agree with all positive and negative. You see, I would like advice from all.
My husband and myself have created and maintained a lucritive business for the past 14 years, have 2 children aged 14 & 11 who thoroughly enjoy there school and would hate to leave, however we are struggling something awful, we have taken several loans from our once small home loan to support our business which has gone tilt since BEE.
We are a small husband and wife team with 3 ex (black) employees who have now left their jobs as they cannot work on 2 days a week (obviously costs them too much to get to work), hence we are on our own and starting from scratch as we had in 1994, this would not be a problem, however we cannot seem to get any work due to BEE! I’m rather dispondant at this stage as we have been fighting for 2 years to get back on our feet from taking loans to only have more dismay!
We saw a light at the end of the tunnel recently when a gentleman was interested in our company, BEE (A big ex ANC diplomat and very wealthy business man), we would have to have sold and run it for as long as they needed us (probably to teach skills etc.) And the catch …after all the meetings etc. All we wanted was R1.4 mil (which would have paid our loans and that all!) however, we were asked “could we not just join the company and pay off from profits!”
Sorry, but where was their commitment? Obviously, nothing came of it. Anyway that is not even my major delema!
Where too from now? We will have to close our business and then ? Where will my husband find work? (he is white) never mind me! (and the loans?)I don’t even know at this stage how to catch up on school fees! All our savings are gone and loans extended! We are certainly not rich, we have old cars no more savings (savings that was ment for retirement) and a house if we sell, takes all back for loans.
Why has it come to this ? We are good people and so were our employees (who also sit without work). Our only opt out is to sell everything and move either to the UK or AUSIE but we won’t have any money to start with!
The first things that go down hill in a degrading country are the roads, electricity, cost of food, crime & petrol. We have a problem with all of these! Do we wait for another Zim senario, where you walk out with nothing but the shirt on your back, if you’re lucky!
Please I’m just looking for advice! How much longer do we wait? Will it improve?
WE ARE SA SUPPORTERS 100%
I wish SA WOULD SUPPORT US 100% IN RETURN!!!!!!!!!
Lovies
SA Family
August 11th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Left for Canasda 10 years ago and have never looked back.
Each year that passes I am more thankful for having left when we did. Everyone who want a job has one and has a reasonable stadard of living. You can work in the street and park and be safe. You pay taxes and get something for what you have paid. And most of all you know that you kids and grand childresn have a homa and a future.
For South Africa ist is the total reverse with thing getting worse every year to the point of hopelessness. Don’t wait while you can with as much as you can for a new hope
August 11th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Hi Keith, thanks for your comment. I’m really glad that you’ve found a place that makes you happy! That should be the top priority for everyone from anywhere!
For me, what you say sounds lovely, but I have my doubts, what are the unemployment stats in Canada? You can’t tell me there is no unemployment, that everyone is happy? In fact, didn’t someone just get decapitated on a bus recently? Stabbed 50-60 times? There are issues everywhere and if you have found a place that makes you happy and is bearable for you, then that’s fantastic!
August 15th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Nic,
you comments amazes me.
Some Unemployment stats for you (have sent you the crime stats already):
SA : 23.5%
Canada: 8.6%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_unemployment_rate
May 16th, 2010 at 5:51 am
& Nic.
Just checking back. You asked for unployment rates in Canada. I sent you a link. No response as you would like to belive that RSA has no unemployment.
As you have never lived in a first wold country you can not comment on where the grass is greener. Also , you do not have children, so again you can not comment on fear. You have EU passport, and have a ticket out when you need to.
Mate, remove your blinkers and get of your EU arse and do something to save RSA. Putting a positive spin on the negatives is not doing anything IMHO.
Btw, did you get what migration means – “im” vs “em” is different! You being an immigrent (from EU) should become an emigrant (back into the EU). The Europeans and Black Africans took SA, and now it is time to give SA back to it’s people the Bushmen and Hottentots.