africanhope
11-29-2010, 07:59 AM
Every now and then, I read something on the boards about my country which, to be frank, I don’t recognise. What I mean, they talk about things happening here that we living here do not seem to know, and that made me decide to post this thread.
Let me start with, well, the start: I am not a supporter of the ruling ANC. I think they are doing a pretty rubbish job of governing this country. I actively support one of the opposition parties, and am quite active in opposing the ANC. I hate one thing more than the ANC government, and that is the Apartheid NP government. I hate apartheid in all its un-glory. I am very aware that we have serious problems in this country, and am not blind to it, but very vocal about it. Crime (murders and rape being the major ones) is too high, way too high, unemployment, HIV-AIDS, poverty, homelessness, and many problems. But still there are a few misconceptions about my country I have to attempt to dispel.
misconception 1: SA has a black government
We fought long and hard not to have governments for and by one racial group. That was the old way, we do not have that. What does it mean a black government? Does it mean only blacks can vote for it? Everyone can vote in SA. Does it mean that the legislative branch only consists of black people? Again, all races are present in Parliament. Does it mean our executive (cabinet) is only black? Again this is not the fact, some of the highest posts are filled by people of various races, and one deputy minister is even the leader of the White supremacist party the FF+! Are the majority of our government in all branches black? Well duh, 80% of our population is black; it would be weird if it wasn’t. Bu we do not call the US of UK government a white government, so why do some people insist on calling SA’s government a black government?
Misconception 2: There is a white genocide going on
This one I come across every now and then. Funny. You’d think if a genocide was happening, we would notice, it is not the type of thing you don’t see happening. And we know all about genocide’s here, the British attempted it against the Afrikaners in the Anglo-Boer War. We sure did notice it then! But now? This is related to crime, and the farm attacks, horrible cowardly attacks on soft targets which should be stopped, and which the current government seems unable to stop. But is this genocide? Here is a definition of genocide: Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group. So this can only be genocide, if this is deliberate and systematic, for which there is no proof. This is crime, and whites are not the only ones suffering. When the latest crime stats came out last month, it was clear that in the city where I live, 4 of the 5 police stations with the highest crime rates where in traditionally black areas. Black South Africans, White South Africans, Coloured South Africans, Indian South Africans, ALL South Africans are suffering from the scourge of crime, a crisis the current Government has only now admitted to be a huge problem, and has, now that the political will is finally there, made some leeway in combating. (Not by enough, but crime is down).
Misconception 3: The economy is falling apart in the new South Africa
Very very wrong. We do have problems (in these times, who doesn’t?) Unemployment and poverty is too high, economic growth not high enough. But still our economy is actually a lot better now than other the Apartheid regime. South Africa's economy has been in an upward phase of the business cycle since September 1999 - the longest period of economic expansion in the country's recorded history.
During this upswing (working on data for the period up to the fourth quarter of 2007), the country's annual economic growth rate has averaged over 4%. In the decade prior to 1994, economic growth averaged less than 1% a year.
South Africa's real gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 3.7% in 2002, 3.1% in 2003, 4.9% in 2004, 5% in 2005, 5.4% in 2006 - the highest since 1981 - and 5.1% in 2007. In the fourth quarter of 2007, South Africa recorded its 33rd quarter of uninterrupted expansion in real GDP since September 1999.
South Africa's economy has been completely overhauled since the advent of democracy in the country in 1994. Bold macroeconomic reforms have boosted competitiveness, growing the economy, creating jobs and opening South Africa up to world markets.
Over the years these policies have built up a rock-solid macroeconomic structure. Taxes have been cut, tariffs dropped, the fiscal deficit reined in, inflation curbed and exchange controls relaxed.
Economic growth and prudent fiscal management have seen South Africa's budget deficit (the difference between the government's total expenditure and its total receipts, excluding borrowing) drop dramatically, from 5.1% of GDP in 1993/94 to 0.5% in 2005/06 - the second-lowest fiscal deficit in the country's history after the 0.1% reached during the gold boom in 1980.
In 2006/07, the country posted its first ever budget surplus, of 0.3%.
Consumer inflation came in at under 5% from 2004 through 2006 before global prices pushed it up to 6.5% in 2007. In 1994 it stood at 9.8%. Currently our inflation is at 3.5%. http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/economy/...ght_month.html
All in all, we are doing well with our economy, better now than during the apartheid regime, here is some more links:
http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/economy/...recession.html
http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/economy/...exchanges.html
Misconception 4: SA is a second Zimbabwe
This one just gets me. There is so little comparisons between Zim and SA, it is scary. Let's start with history, the two countries road to full democracy differs vastly, and this will have an influence on our present. Zimbabwe struggled with tribalism a lot more than SA. Let's look at demographics - South Africa's white population is a lot larger than Zimbabwe's ever was. Let's look at economy, even in it's hayday, the Zimbabwean economy never came close to SA. Let's look at politics - Zimbabwe still has the same President violently holding on to power since independence in 1980. South Africa has it's 4th President since 1994, all our previous Presidents stepping down. And lastly but most importantly - Rule of law. South Africa has checks and balances in place to protect our fantastic constitution whilst Zimbabwe has never had these protections in place.
These are the 4 misconceptions I will focus on for now (due to space!). Let me state it again. This is not a denial of our problems, heavens know we have them. This is no defense of our government; heavens know just as well what I think of it. (I will start a thread soon on the ANC’s attack on our freedom of speech). This is just an attempt to counter some of the misconceptions I have come across on the forum.
AH
Let me start with, well, the start: I am not a supporter of the ruling ANC. I think they are doing a pretty rubbish job of governing this country. I actively support one of the opposition parties, and am quite active in opposing the ANC. I hate one thing more than the ANC government, and that is the Apartheid NP government. I hate apartheid in all its un-glory. I am very aware that we have serious problems in this country, and am not blind to it, but very vocal about it. Crime (murders and rape being the major ones) is too high, way too high, unemployment, HIV-AIDS, poverty, homelessness, and many problems. But still there are a few misconceptions about my country I have to attempt to dispel.
misconception 1: SA has a black government
We fought long and hard not to have governments for and by one racial group. That was the old way, we do not have that. What does it mean a black government? Does it mean only blacks can vote for it? Everyone can vote in SA. Does it mean that the legislative branch only consists of black people? Again, all races are present in Parliament. Does it mean our executive (cabinet) is only black? Again this is not the fact, some of the highest posts are filled by people of various races, and one deputy minister is even the leader of the White supremacist party the FF+! Are the majority of our government in all branches black? Well duh, 80% of our population is black; it would be weird if it wasn’t. Bu we do not call the US of UK government a white government, so why do some people insist on calling SA’s government a black government?
Misconception 2: There is a white genocide going on
This one I come across every now and then. Funny. You’d think if a genocide was happening, we would notice, it is not the type of thing you don’t see happening. And we know all about genocide’s here, the British attempted it against the Afrikaners in the Anglo-Boer War. We sure did notice it then! But now? This is related to crime, and the farm attacks, horrible cowardly attacks on soft targets which should be stopped, and which the current government seems unable to stop. But is this genocide? Here is a definition of genocide: Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group. So this can only be genocide, if this is deliberate and systematic, for which there is no proof. This is crime, and whites are not the only ones suffering. When the latest crime stats came out last month, it was clear that in the city where I live, 4 of the 5 police stations with the highest crime rates where in traditionally black areas. Black South Africans, White South Africans, Coloured South Africans, Indian South Africans, ALL South Africans are suffering from the scourge of crime, a crisis the current Government has only now admitted to be a huge problem, and has, now that the political will is finally there, made some leeway in combating. (Not by enough, but crime is down).
Misconception 3: The economy is falling apart in the new South Africa
Very very wrong. We do have problems (in these times, who doesn’t?) Unemployment and poverty is too high, economic growth not high enough. But still our economy is actually a lot better now than other the Apartheid regime. South Africa's economy has been in an upward phase of the business cycle since September 1999 - the longest period of economic expansion in the country's recorded history.
During this upswing (working on data for the period up to the fourth quarter of 2007), the country's annual economic growth rate has averaged over 4%. In the decade prior to 1994, economic growth averaged less than 1% a year.
South Africa's real gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 3.7% in 2002, 3.1% in 2003, 4.9% in 2004, 5% in 2005, 5.4% in 2006 - the highest since 1981 - and 5.1% in 2007. In the fourth quarter of 2007, South Africa recorded its 33rd quarter of uninterrupted expansion in real GDP since September 1999.
South Africa's economy has been completely overhauled since the advent of democracy in the country in 1994. Bold macroeconomic reforms have boosted competitiveness, growing the economy, creating jobs and opening South Africa up to world markets.
Over the years these policies have built up a rock-solid macroeconomic structure. Taxes have been cut, tariffs dropped, the fiscal deficit reined in, inflation curbed and exchange controls relaxed.
Economic growth and prudent fiscal management have seen South Africa's budget deficit (the difference between the government's total expenditure and its total receipts, excluding borrowing) drop dramatically, from 5.1% of GDP in 1993/94 to 0.5% in 2005/06 - the second-lowest fiscal deficit in the country's history after the 0.1% reached during the gold boom in 1980.
In 2006/07, the country posted its first ever budget surplus, of 0.3%.
Consumer inflation came in at under 5% from 2004 through 2006 before global prices pushed it up to 6.5% in 2007. In 1994 it stood at 9.8%. Currently our inflation is at 3.5%. http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/economy/...ght_month.html
All in all, we are doing well with our economy, better now than during the apartheid regime, here is some more links:
http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/economy/...recession.html
http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/economy/...exchanges.html
Misconception 4: SA is a second Zimbabwe
This one just gets me. There is so little comparisons between Zim and SA, it is scary. Let's start with history, the two countries road to full democracy differs vastly, and this will have an influence on our present. Zimbabwe struggled with tribalism a lot more than SA. Let's look at demographics - South Africa's white population is a lot larger than Zimbabwe's ever was. Let's look at economy, even in it's hayday, the Zimbabwean economy never came close to SA. Let's look at politics - Zimbabwe still has the same President violently holding on to power since independence in 1980. South Africa has it's 4th President since 1994, all our previous Presidents stepping down. And lastly but most importantly - Rule of law. South Africa has checks and balances in place to protect our fantastic constitution whilst Zimbabwe has never had these protections in place.
These are the 4 misconceptions I will focus on for now (due to space!). Let me state it again. This is not a denial of our problems, heavens know we have them. This is no defense of our government; heavens know just as well what I think of it. (I will start a thread soon on the ANC’s attack on our freedom of speech). This is just an attempt to counter some of the misconceptions I have come across on the forum.
AH