I have been in Johannesburg for well over a month and I haven’t said a thing about South Africa. It is not so much because since I spend so much time working I haven’t seen anything of it and it isn’t because there is nothing to say. It is just that I really do not even know how to start or what I should say to be fair. So remember that this is coming from somebody who is white, maybe a bleeding heart socialist but still white, spends all of her time in the office where most people are white and most of all this is coming from somebody who is staying all expenses paid in the Hyatt hotel in Johannesburg where a night cost what a person, let’s say who works at the cash register (always my personal point of reference) makes in one month. You can see why I am reluctant to say much. Also not helping is the fact that the other geologist is an old racist Brit who says things like “From my observation, the darker the skin the worst the driving” (or have I mentioned that already?!). But let’s just say that in South Africa if you are not a poor person you are stuck in what I call the Golden Cage. There are entire parts of town where you cannot go. If you are poor of course you can go anywhere as long as you don’t offend the rich or you are there to work for them -OK surely you can hear the sarcasm in this.
Rate of unemployment in South Africa is through the roof. I am not sure what the number is but it is well above what any western country experiences. The difference between the haves and the have-nots is huge. Of course the haves are mostly white and the have-nots are mostly black. Though the percentage of white to black at the hotel has to be about 50/50 and one of the magazine you get in the room is “enterprise – where black business lives” (www.entreprise-magazine.co.za).
Typically the Afrikaans are unanimous about things being better before 1994! I can't say that I am surprised at them saying that! They were living on the back of the black population!
Other typical and very common comment is about the fences. I would say that today if I had to describe one thing that would allow you to recognize Jo’burg from another practically instantly I would have to say that in the rich neighborhoods it is the high walls with the electric fences and mean looking razor-blade-type barb wire. The comment is about how “before 1994 you never walls and fences like this”..Well again here is a shocker. Before 1994 if you were poor you were black, you had no rights and stealing from the rich white elite would really not be one of the available options. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying stealing is generally alright, but really when people wear watches that cost as much as you make in a year etc, stealing sounds like redistribution of wealth, doesn’t it?!?
I don’t really want to say much more until I get a chance to travel.
