The comment below was posted on blog post on SA Rocks by Akona Ndungane. It really made my day:
Hi
I stumbled on this blog only a few hours ago and I am filled with tears
I am part of a group travelling the globe for a year for an alcohol brand, fun and exciting yes, but here’s the part that kills me.We are all from different, me being the only South African, I meet so many people everyday, I used to love telling them I am from South Africa.
Now I have to brace myself for either being told how beautiful and dangerous it is, or that they know someone who used to live in SA and left because things are so bad, or that they heard white people aren’t safe. Or meeting South Africans that have left and have nothing good to say. I have never in my 23 years been exposed to people without pride in SA. My heart breaks into a million pieces as my bubble is burst almost everyday.I had never left my country before, sad as that may sound, and I’m experiencing something amazing, but I don’t have the strength anymore, to argue with ignorant people, who probably get their info from people born from this brilliant country but have no gratitude or praise for it. I almost don’t think there is a need to leave, the world is great, but SA has everything I need and love
Thank you for this blog
This is what will keep me going for the next six months until I get home
Thank you
This is why I started blogging and more specifically why I started SA Rocks. Thank you Akona!
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April 21st, 2008 at 8:44 am
Cool.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:40 am
that is a really nice comment. Im glad that he is travelling around the world experiencing other things. He should come to Japan where i am now and see how different it is to South Africa.
I love South Africa so much. It has given so much to me and i wish i could give back to it…somehow. But i dont know how.
I unfortunately dont feel safe in SA anymore and thats why im in Japan. And with the threat right next door from Zim and all its crap, i hope SA can pull though. If you need me to do anything Nick…just shout…
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:21 am
Hi Verge
I was in Tokyo a few weeks ago, and it was fantastic.
There are very many places that are different to SA in positive and negative ways – I’ve been to 20 cities in just over 6 months.
From all this travel, I know that there are so many other places I would love to visit, but I can’t imagine living anywhere else in the world. no matter how bad things get in my home country, I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to make my mark in the country that taught me pride, I’m going to make a difference in the country that showed me that passion and compassion lead to great things
There is no place with a pulse that beats as hard and as beautifully as South Africa.
I’m glad you are experiencing something different and loving, but SA needs more people who do love it unconditionally.
I hope you do at least visit SA sometime, share what you have learnt elsewhere and be inspired to stay
Thanks
Akona
(female)
April 24th, 2008 at 5:48 am
wow man.
SA needs more ppl like you and this website.
Good luck with your future endeavours and have fun travelling.
SA is going to need all the help it can get. And im glad there are still people out there who believe in it.
Ganbate(good luck in Japanese)
April 28th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I am from South Africa, but moved to New York when I was young. I am going to school here, but will be leaving to go back to SA in October 2008. My entire family is discouraging me from going back as there is power shedding, crime, etc.. the list goes on. And I KNOW THAT. I acknowledge that there are flaws in our beautiful nation, but how is it possibly going to get better if eveyone’s running away? How is this brand new, (14 year-old) nation of ours going to survive and reach its full potential if everyone is turning their backs on it and not helping to make a change? COME ON PEOPLE!! I feel very strongly about returning, and really feel like I want to help make a change. I have met with the people from the Homecoming Revolution in NYC last night, and have gained a lot more support through them, and also through websites like this. Thanks for the support guys!!!
Everyone: stop complaining about how bad things are, and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. In the big picture, our nation is flourishing with opportunity, and potential greatness. It is up to us to make SA what is has the potential to be.
Much Love
Bianke
April 29th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I am South African and live in the UK. I love SA to but the negatives at the moment simply outway the positives. People on this website say come back home and make a difference but does anybody really think an individual can make a difference considering the people who have been tasked with the responsibility of looking after its citizens give a rats a*ss about them. If a country cannot provide the basic things like electricity and water how can you really expect people to comeback. This is not the norm in the real world, why is it the norm in SA. Have the people become so used to the second rate standard of living that this now the excepted standard of living in SA because we are part of Africa. As much i would like to comeback i am very cautious about even visiting. Some people may say ‘what do u know you dont live here anymore’ however my information is first rate from the people themselves who live there. Who am i to argue with them.
May 1st, 2008 at 4:12 pm
@H123
You’re believing the lie. This lie is the problem. You can’t honestly say that the contributions of a single person count for nothing or can have no effect! History has taught us differently … why believe otherwise. When everything starts falling around you, you don’t fall too. Imagine if Sir Winston Churchill or Madiba believed those types of lies!
C’mon. South Africans have fought for centuries against all sorts of odds … we can’t stop now.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:35 pm
bianke… i must agree with you. if i were elsewhere and knew of what was happening here… i would never subject my family to this..
all around me are friends leaving, not because they hate the country but because of the fear for their families. we are all made to nuture and look after our offspring..
i still have hope. (have no choice) that things will get better but… with the looming next president i have grave doubts.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:38 pm
oops have replied to the wrong person… it was to H123 i was replying.
bianke – my darling.. come home… make the difference..
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
It’s so easy to complain and lay blame or find fault – even in ourselves.
When you criticize yourself, when you see something bad in you, do you step out of yourself and run like a chicken whose feathers are being plucked. Or do you put in energy and time and effort to make yourself better?
What’s the difference here?
Or is it because you’d rather complain along with those that don’t know so that you don’t have the heavy burden being positive about Azania
To you – I say adios. Stay where you are, if you need convincing, really keep your negativity where you are.
August 11th, 2010 at 8:52 am