Race classification: Then and now

The highly praised film Skin - which recalls the sad fate that befell that Laing family in the 1960s - offers South Africans a timely reminder of the cruelties of apartheid in general and of the iniquitous doctrine of racial classification in particular.

Sandra Laing was born to a conservative, apartheid and National Party supporting family in Piet Retief near South Africa's border with Swaziland. Instead of enjoying life as a young girl, she suffered the torments of rejection. Instead of bringing joy to her parents, she brought them anguish and shame through no fault of her own.

Unlike her parents, Sandra was dark-skinned and her hair crinkly instead of straight or wavy, probably because one or both of her parents had inherited Negroid as well as Caucasoid genes from one of their forebears. Sandra was mocked and ostracised at the local white school and, according to one account, eventually escorted out of the school by two policemen as if she was a common criminal.

Given her rejection by white children of her age, most of her childhood friends were black and later, when she was 15, she fled to Swaziland with a young black man. Had she lived in a British colony in an earlier age, she would have been said to "have gone native."

At the time of Sandra's birth in 1955, the ruling National Party was pressing ahead with its drive to classify all South African into one of four major racial categories: white, coloured, Asian and black. Race classification was hierarchical, with the opportunities accorded to white being substantially greater those which filtered down to blacks. Coloured and Indian occupied an intermediate position.

Infused with the ideological of apartheid, the National Party government of D F Malan sought to hermetically seal the designated races off from one another. It was an absurd as well as a cruel project. Viewed in context of the Immorality Act, which criminalised inter-racial sexual intercourse and international marriages, it is reminiscent of the Nuremberg laws of Nazi Germany.

The scholarly Wilmot James, who represented the Democratic Alliance in parliament, reckons that at least 10 % of those who were classified as white in the 1950s were white-looking coloureds who had moved into white areas and made friends with whites ahead of the implementation of the Population Registration Act.

On the same note it should be recorded that studies undertaken in the 1970s, summaries of which were published in the press, calculated that between 6 and 7 % of the gene pool of white South Africans was derived from their black and brown compatriots, though, of course, they were not evenly distributed in the white community as a whole.

The unequal distribution of these "alien" genes accounts for the snide remarks of white who thought themselves to be racially pure about their darker skinned racial kinsfolk having "a |touch of the tar brush."

But if it is salutary for whites in South Africa today to contemplate the evils of racial classification and the use of it to restrict the life chances of those consigned to the lower ranks of the racial hierarchy, the leadership of the ruling African National Congress should take cognisance of their own role in perpetuating a form of race classification.

President Jacob Zuma, like President Thabo Mbeki before him, is a strenuous proponent of "transformation," a vaguely defined policy objective which most South Africans understand and support as a constructive policy aimed at reconstructing South Africa as a free, open and non-racial society.

Unfortunately, however, it involves racial preferencing in favour of blacks through the policies of affirmative action and black empowerment as a means of redressing past discrimination against and oppression of black South Africans by previous white governments.

The difficulty is compounded by the steadfast refusal of the Mbeki and Zuma administrations either to set a deadline to its racial preferencing policy or, at the least, to exempt young whites who were grade one or two pupils when Nelson Mandela was released from prison in February of 1990 and who should not be held accountable for past injustices.

Racial preferencing policies self-evidently require racial classification in order to identify those who qualify for preferential treatment and those who do not. Thus post apartheid South Africa is characterised by a glaring anomaly: an ANC government that proudly proclaims its commitment to non-racialism while retaining a form of race classification and "positive" or "fair" discrimination in favour of blacks.

There is another even graver problem: the ANC's steadfast commitment to the doctrine of proportionality or represenitivity which seeks to ensure that the racial profile of government departments and private companies reflect the racial profile of the population as a whole.

Apart from leading to employment of people on the basis of skin colour rather than experience or qualifications, at the risk of administrative incompetence and, in extreme cases, even administrative collapse, there is an even graver objection.

Representivity or proportionality has an unfortunate history: it was used by the Nazis in German in the early years of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich to restrict the number of Jews in the legal, medical and teaching profession to the proportion they constituted of the German populations as a whole.

It is significant, too, that Hendrik Verwoerd, who was later to acquire notoriety as the "high priest of apartheid," advocated it use in South Africa in the 1930s to limit the number of Jews in he profession to their proportion of the population. His aim in doing so was to ensure that Afrikaners and their English-speaking compatriots were similarly representative in proportion to the numbers in the white population as a whole.

Black people were apparently not considered at all by Verwoerd in the 1930s, possibly because the number of black professional people was minute in those years. Later, when he became Prime Minister, he deployed a different rationale to restrict the number of black people, arguing that they should exercise their skills in their own areas and not in white-designated South Africa.

Whatever its theoretical justifications in South Africa, the doctrine of proportionality is a potentially pernicious doctrine open to abuse as a weapon to be wielded against minorities or selected minorities by the dominant majority.

Democracies are not merely characterised by majority rule and the holding of regular elections under clear and equitable rule. The defence of minority rights is an important and perhaps even indispensable distinguishing feature of democracy.

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Humour of Flat Earthers who believe in Democracy.. Ai tog.. the idiotic ramblings of proponents of 'democracy'... Like flat earthers, who have yet to hear the Galileo sanity of a constitutional republic, with educational voting restrictions.. they ramble on about 'democracy'.... what on earth . .more do you think is going to happen when you give millions of functionaly illiterate people the vote??? that is what 'democracy' represents -- giving functionally illiterate people, whom you would not hire to do your personal family bookkeeping.. and you put such ignorant idiot's in charge of decisions about billions and billions of taxpayers money! And then you wonder why its going to hell??? Puhleeezzeeee "The proletarian is never dangerous so long as his belly is filled and his eyes kept a-pop, and he still believes in ghosts, and has only shifted his belief in witches to the political sphere. What is worth knowing he doesn't know and doesn't want to know; what he knows is not true." "I do not believe in democracy, but I am perfectly willing to admit that it provides the only really amusing form of government ever endured by mankind." -- HL Mencken . .less by White Refugee on January 28 2010, 18:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

and pass laws were bad...... The scales of justice will never balance in favor of true equality. The "new" South Africa is blindly focused on appearance, window dressing, unfortunately the reality the rest of the World works on economics. Where are the promised 190 000 police . .more officers? 500 000 jobs promised by the end of 2009. Renaming streets does not equate to service delivery. After 2010 then what?? Skills cannot be created out of thin air. Weaken any market by diluting the existing skills does not make for a better solution, SA should be learning from Poland, 500 universities STATE sponsored. Why do we need Arms, Jets, and Subs, probably because universities don't have a kick-back scheme? Looking representative will not deliver us from this vast economic divide. Reality is that current policies will only further exacerbate the problem and allow easier access for foreign companies to control local markets and then... no union alliance will save us, At least in the Apartheid era SA developed its own technologies and industries, atom bombs were produced in the 80's at the height of sanctions. Why are we now so eager to lower the bar...are we not up to the challenge of transforming South Africa? Just managing perceptions? History will judge the Mbeki and Zuma era harshly The Madiba Magic will not save usany longer. Clear and fair policy will. . .less by Verni on January 29 2010, 00:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

sad The sad part is that this "racial preferencing" does not seem to be benefitting the majority of the very Black people it purports to represent. by dumisani on January 29 2010, 02:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"still vote anc" Allegiance is by and large along colour lines. The only alternative to voting for the anc is for there to be a viable competitor. There isn't one (which receives any media coverage). Young, moderate, middle class blacks who understand the gravy train . .more ethic and it's near term consequences, and the needs of their folks who are watching their dream unravel need to stand up and be counted - soon - while there is still some money in the pot. Helen Zille has anough on her plate and needs to focus on the gains she and her team have made. Tokyo Sexwale and Helen Zille could do a lot of good. Motlante will hold Juliuses leash while Winnie is not focusing... . .less by bergen on January 29 2010, 06:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Neo-apartheid Apart from "transformation" being simply economic ethnic cleansing against whites, Zuma's ANC has played another race card as evidenced by his "100% Zulu" slogan and revival of archaic tribal customs and invoking a culture, some aspects of which only he . .more seems cognisant of. Just as most Germans did not push the Nazi agenda but got on with their lives, most South Africans did: whites before 1994 and blacks during the so-called xenophobia attacks - "for evil to succeed it is sufficient that good people do nothing". The irony is that were "representivity" based on matric results, blacks would be OVER-represented in the coveted positions. . .less by Theseus on January 29 2010, 07:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

"Young, moderate, middle class blacks " Unless they are "CONNECTED" they too will be shunned. The best of these minds are emigrating, where they are appreciated. Tyranny demands loyalty over "intelligence." Its counter-revolutionary ! by old, female on January 29 2010, 07:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Non-Racial What is a non-racial society ? Are there any countries in the world which have a non-racial society ? by Hugh on January 29 2010, 07:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

race I would love to see the ANC definition of "Coloured", which they use so freely. by witbooi on January 29 2010, 07:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

race issue hating something that you cannot change or have no power over it ,its stupidity .No body chose to be black or white . by sifiso mkize on January 29 2010, 08:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Stop hate speech and unite as Taxpayers every time is read these blogs, I realize that there is pattern of extreme anger amongst whites which is slowly but surely transforming into hate. The ANC's failures are been attributed to the entire African race as opposed to a few elites who want to . .more enrich themselves. The black middle class is just as fed up as most of the whites but all must remember that it is the poorest of the poor (true apartheid victims) who vote for the ANC. Instead of spewing anger and chanting hate slogans, ALL TAXPAYING Citizens must rise up and challenge the government instead of degenerating into hatemongers. We need to focus our tax RR on education, infrastructure and research and provide a vision that will catapult into a true economic giant. . .less by Dza Vizionary on January 29 2010, 08:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Still left in the dark... Most of you whites responding to this article obviously come from the apartheid generation, so we so-called Blacks can't do anything to help you. However, be very careful to infect your kids with this racial divide. It was indeed very necessary & still . .more necessary to redress the racial imbalances that was masterminded by your fathers and forefathers. Also, the ethnic divide created by your forefathers is the one that continued to induce hatred & killings amonsgt ourselves. Their strategy of divide and rule worked, but it was not going to sustain for ever. However, I do anticipate to see progress in complete removal of this racial classification laws of our country. South Africa needs to be one nation that belongs to all people who live in it without descrimination by skin colour or ethnic group. We are all people of God, whether dark skinned, yellow skinned or whatever the colour of the skin. . .less by Nonsense on January 29 2010, 08:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Tarred and Feathered I seem to recall that the Prof who made that "Afrikaners have 7% coloured blood" declarator , was tarred and feathered . Cant recall his name - perhaps Floors van Jaarsveld . For all the lightees who dont know of or understand the tarred and . .more feathered practice , it is medievel practise of covering an undesireable with tar and feathers which were nigh impossible to remove . The way forward however , is qualified franchise . Persons who cannot construct a cross on a ballot paper , cannot be entrusted with the vote . Hence , African democracy being directly proportional to the literacy of the electorate . . .less by Green Room on January 29 2010, 08:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Did anybody do a DNA test on Laing and her "father"? "Unlike her parents, Sandra was dark-skinned and her hair crinkly instead of straight or wavy, probably because one or both of her parents had inherited Negroid as well as Caucasoid genes from one of their forebear" OK, you can believe that, or . .more you can use Occam's Razor and ask whether it's not much more likely that her mom had a thing for dark chocolate. There was a paternity test done on Laing's father, but that was in the days before DNA testing, and all that could be said was he couldn't be excluded as the father, which leaves a huge gap for another possibility: Laing's father is probably the gardener or another black. This tear-jerker is possibly not so much about apartheid, as it is a warning to women especially not to partake of miscegenation. . .less by Afrikaner on January 29 2010, 08:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Outnumbering the whites: 20:1(or more if we include tourists that stayed) And still cannot compete without laws. This type of protectionism cannot last. There are not enough white people left in SA to protect it from the Chinese and Indians who unlike SA have spent the last 20 years educating their populations. The . .more only barrier we have had against the China wave is the language and they passed laws 10 years back that every university student had to take English(a universal language) as a major.India will soon be the biggest nation of English speakers (more than the rest of the world combined). This while we contemplate teaching our kids Pedi(with no words for anything circa 1300) at Varsity? Make sure your children are learning Hindu or Mandarin as the next colonization of Africa is due soon. Oh and the next lot of overlords wont be so nice so you better be able to speak their language. Hey one upside we might actually have power and street lights that work at night and go off in the day. Currently mine go on during the day and switch off at night? . .less by Fred on January 29 2010, 08:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The big question The laws that were used to determine what race people are, were abolished 20 years ago. So if a white skinned South African decides that he is "Black" and therefore eligible for lovely BEE deals, I don't see how anyone can legally challenge . .more him. And if they did, the court case would be very interesting - the ANC using the pencil test to prove that this impostor "Black" would never have been considered "Black" in the old days. I am surprised that no one has yet done it, if only to reveal that the ANC today have policy that is just as racist as anything that the Nats ever invented. . .less by Sad Days on January 29 2010, 08:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Apartheid - Transformation - Apart-hate As a white small business I am stuffed and struggle to get contracts with other big business because of the lack of BEE credentials. Fact is I can not afford to have a BEE partner. Every potential BEE partner claims he knows someone of importance in . .more government. Every BEE partner want to make money out of government and claim they can open the door and that is where it stops. Wasted many hours on this without success. We are living in a world of "apartheid" under a new transformed name called "transformation". Transformation is just a softer word understood in the english language. Overseas people saw apartheid as : Living "apart" and "hating" (heid) each other. There is no such english word and was interpreted as aprat-hate. Now we have transformation and the hate part is growing day by day. . .less by Businessman on January 29 2010, 08:46 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

True Well written. Grew up on the streets of yeoville as a poor white. Had they educated me properly I could have written same! Set a date for true freedom and lets move on. by kerri on January 29 2010, 08:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

DNA Test Oh. Right. Gosh you're so smart! A DNA test in 1955. Now why didn't they think of that? (Must be because they have a love for "dark chocolate"). Educate yourself, man. DNA test hardly existed before the 1980's. by @ Afrikaner on January 29 2010, 08:57 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

BLACKS WILL CONTINUE 2 PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IF THE WAS NO AFFEMATIVE ACTION,THEN WE WOULD HAVE EXPIRIENCED THE KILLING AND THE TOTAL ERADICATION OF THE WHITES IN SA LIKE MOZAMBIQUE.U MUST B GREATFULL TO MANDELA. by QABANE on January 29 2010, 09:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

We do not need slave masters Dza Vizionary I agree with you, anger and hatreds directed towards blacks in this block is becoming irritating. Hatred for black does not allow otherl people see the real problem, for them the problem is a black person , for them we were meant to be . .more their servants. They cannot see beyond that. I personally think people like should migrate because they need slaves and unfortunately they cannot get them here. . .less by South African on January 29 2010, 09:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The policy of racial representivity IS pernicious "Racial representivity" is not "potentially" pernicious as a policy, it IS pernicious. What may arguably be an OUTCOME or symptom of absolute equality is now disingenuously used to pretend it implies equality. It's almost like taking a corpse and . .more arguing that since a living human being has a temperature of 37 degrees C, raising the temperature of the cadaver to 37 degrees C will mean it's no longer a corpse. It is doubtful that there is any country in the world where racial and demographic representivity in all spheres and endeavours is a fact of life. One need only look at the demographics of international sport to see that the races are not proportionally represented. Yet in South Africa a demand for racial representivity in national sport teams has been forced down the throats of most sports bodies (excluding soccer, of course!). Equal access to education and training, and equal ability and propensity for hard work and achievement are prerequisites for potentially attaining racial representivity in a non-racial setting; but for the racists now in charge that process is too slow, and they choose pernicious racist means to achieve that ridiculously dubious goal. . .less by flebus on January 29 2010, 09:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

It is up to all of us. We all need to unite for a better South Africa. For those who cares, this is our country . We have to make this country work fo us and our children. The greedy individuals in power should be taken to task. The reason why ANC still wins the . .more election is because Black South African do not trust the whites. The whites still controls the ecomony and believe black South Africans are still feeling it. there is still a long way for all of us. . .less by South African on January 29 2010, 09:26 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Racism Thabo Mbeki and Verwoerd, two sides of the same cion, the only difference being that Thabo Mbeki was operating under a Constitution which proclaimed non-racialism as a founding principle. Mbeki chose to ignore that, and gave vent to his racial . .more prejudices through the most despicable racist practices during his presidency. He spurned the concept of one united South African nation, and invented a "white nation" as a focus for the racial hatred of "the majority". These two men, Verwoerd and Mbeki, are the authors of the racial conflict which will persist in South Africa for many years to come. Both could have given leadership towards a non-racial South Africa; Mbeki more so than Verwoerd, given the mores of their times. But both were abject failures in leadership. . .less by flebus on January 29 2010, 09:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@D******* Get lost - you're an idiot! What does D******* stand for anyway - D*******? by Reality Check on January 29 2010, 09:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Immorality act = Nuremberg similarity !.. No wonder this place is such a mess and the black youth spend their time raping murdering and pillaging, when an article like this likens our previous laws to Nazi-ism. Its this kind of drivel that ignorant useless 'liberals' and militant, hopeless . .more toy-toyers, spew in defence of their abject stupidity, laziness and barbarity. Is there no-one left who still has accurate knowledge of S.A's history. This must be the only country in the world where authoritative accounts and records are summarily dismissed by terrorists and replaced with fictitious rubbish to justify said terrorists' heinous, savage behaviour. The immorality act was just that;- to prevent cross-species breeding and promiscuity.- Both noble aims indeed. . .less by Voortrekker on January 29 2010, 09:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

According to some scientists it takes up to 50,000 years to have micro gene changes So given that every race group has different genes somewhere along the line then it is fair to say that changes as per Darwin and survival of the fittest or evolution can take a very very long time. This means that if people say all humans must behave the . .more same are not thinking straight as clearly some have evolved along different lines in different directions just like the Tigers and Lions etc. Thus there will be these differences between race groups. The fact that black Africans do what they do is is normal behaviour and cannot be criticised. Other groups might not like the way thay have destroyed modern Africa but do not expect them to behave like the Chinese or Brits or Americans as they cannot it is not in the genes according to what I read. So stop blaming them as that is how they are built. . .less by Realist on January 29 2010, 09:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Tired Come on guys lets get serious without being overly sensitive. The imbalances of the past need to be redressed and it is not going to take 16 years it will take longer. My personal experience as a black man is that, yes there are EE posts etc. however if . .more these quotas are filled only white people get the jobs thereafter. I am qualified and have experience in financial services (11years & I am 33) and broken new business records but it is still impossible to break the invisible racial barrier to advance my career. I have worked in a bank where you had to be Afrikaans to progress and in another where you had to be Jewish to advance. These are plain facts most of you know these things. Unless you have a better solution to be redress what we have gone through for 300 years I will fully support AA & EE. . .less by Eeish!!! on January 29 2010, 09:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ sad days You are spot on -we must force the ANC racists to use these humiliating tests to "prove" ones race. I tell everyone I'm black -why not? If you dont like it then prove otherwise and I will contest those results in court. It always amuses me that the child . .more of a white mother and a black father is nearly always designated as black. How can 50 % white and 50% black = 100% black? The only reason can be that being black in 2010 is a better deal than being white -you get more breaks in life ask Obama or Tiger.If they can claim to be black then so can I. . .less by Pikswaart Booi on January 29 2010, 09:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The "Previously" Advantaged As a German who stays in South Africa most of the year since 1996 I have to say that 90% of the european rooted former suppressors have a total racist attitude.I am largely integrated into their daily talks and comments. SHOCKING! These people who hold up . .more their culture and educational leadership as "european first world people" would be jailed in Europe today.Their morals and culture is neglected and demoralized. Following wages starting at R60/day up to social welfare and other workers rights and benefits given or better to say not-given ,the proudly south african employers would face trials in court for abuse, exploitation and crimes against humanity. The former class of suppressors and exploiters own 80% of South Africa still today, they live a life of wealth and waste. As a social scientist I have to say that most of these european rooted today have a obvious psychological problem.Their knowledge about african cultures is based on myths that were largely spread while appartheid and made it easier for them to abuse a human nation. The problem is for them to accept mentally what apartheid really caused. To be true to themselves is almost impossible (without guidance), compareable to imprisoned former dictators who can not understand what they did wrong. Sorry for my pidgin English . .less by Roland GERMANY on January 29 2010, 09:59 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ DNA test I don't think Afrikaner needs education, but you do.Try reading his post again. Oh, and in case, (as is so often the case these days,) you are mathematically challenged ;- born 1955,- DNA technology say 1985,-her age therefore =30 when DNA available. . .more Therefore dummy, it is conceivable that both she and her parents were alive and 'test-able' when DNA analysis became available. Thats what Afrikaner said, you were just a bit too dim to understand. But I agree with him - it was probably the garden boy. . .less by Voortrekker on January 29 2010, 10:11 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Businessman - the solution Be the guinea pig - tell the powers that be that YOU are "black" and are therefore BEE compliant - they have no way of legally proving that you are not because the laws that determine such things have long been abolished ... so problem solved. . .more Do it and become the test case. I think it would be a fascinating exercise. The whole BEE exercise is relying on the fact that everyone continues with apartheid thinking even though it is long gone. You are African. Do an Ali G and become a "black african" - tell people its a mindset and you have decided that is what you are. The only way they can argue with you is by bringing the pencil test back into law. Are they going to do that ? I think not. If there is a flaw in my thinking, someone tell me. I believe this is the solution to the ANC racial madness - everyone decide to become Black. . .less by Sad Days on January 29 2010, 10:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Obsolete argument that cannot reach society at large If you want to convince society then you need better adapt a better communication strategy. This piece is penned in the same style as the 50's and will not reach a younger audience. The older audience are immune to changing their habits and . .more thinking. You want to convince a wider audience? Look at the following communication style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHdwqTjrqfE&feature=popular . .less by Bemused on January 29 2010, 10:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Comments above It amazes me how arrogant most of the Whie comments are above. The fact that Blacks were severely robbed of basic human rights for centuries means nothing to them (WhIte SA). All they care for is the petty argument of affirmative action because it affects . .more their livelihoods. That Black people stay in Shacks and Match boxes in townships is no issue. White SA is spoilt and Black people rich or poor should start looking at this SERIOUSLY. I think Whites perpetrate Racism. This must stop immediately. . .less by Pops on January 29 2010, 10:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Disgusting White racism! Thanks "Roland GERMANY" for your input. I am really appalled at the comments, but largely unsurprised as this kind of racial battering from white South Africans is standard fare online. White South Africans refuse to acknowledge that apartheid . .more was a cruel and insane system and that despite their protestations, they STILL reap MASSIVE rewards for the material possessions, positions and wealth which they acquired under it. It is not the birthright of white people to live lives of uninterrupted opulence and privilege, neither is it the birthright of Black South Africans to be the modern-day slaves and burden bearers for the system. Until such time as a better system can be developed, BBBEE, EE and AA should remain to give people a chance at attaining what white people have in excess...OPPORTUNITY and RESOURCES! White people need to stop lying to themselves about this imagined victim-state which they are in as looking around, they still clearly hold all the cards. . .less by Charles on January 29 2010, 11:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Voortrekker Homo Sapiens = Mankind, all of them, white to black. Cross species breeding is naturally prevented. The Imorality act was just what it said. Immoral! by Nic on January 29 2010, 11:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Pop - sickle Pops, Just use your head for a moment. Why do you think that "white people" still appear to have a form of rascism lurking within them. Ill tell you.... because just about everything you touch turns to s hit. Look around you... we get upset with you . .more lot because you just dont seem to have the ability to do anything right... always have to be treated with kid gloves, whether in majority or minority. White people in general have high standards, look at Europe and all white controlled countries. Then compare and take a look at black places ... Clear black and white differances dear Pop..... . .less by Todd on January 29 2010, 11:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

To all the stupid racists All those who don't like the current status quo can go back to where they or their grandparents come from. This is Africa and we love it. Black rule or no rule. This country cannot afford a powerful minority anymore. Those who love Africa and believe in . .more African rule can stay, no problem. All the racists must be thankful to Mr Mandela, otherwise Africans would have long kicked some of that racist A**. . .less by African Man on January 29 2010, 11:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

How long is it going to take to change Lets us face it guys, we are a rasist country shii. I still think there are people who need to migrate, really we do not need them. They do not belong here, this is Africa , they have no solution and have nothing good to say ,why are they still . .more here. If they do not care abou tthe future of this country why are they still here. . .less by South African on January 29 2010, 11:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

And Hillbrow, Yeoville and Orange Grove......... were great suburbs to live in - not the decaying supperating slums the are today. Johannesburg was a vibrant city - not the steel shuttered slum it is today masquerading as a "World Class City". The Joburg Gen along with groote Schuur was one of the . .more finest hospitals in the world. South Africa's road and rail infrastuctire was the best on the African content. Despite apartheid hordes of foreigners teemed the borders and wanted to work and live in the country then. The country had nuclear capability and the finest military industrial complex in the world. It generated enough electricity for the country and the sub continent. And then it all just fell to pieces .........in the name of liberation, freedom, "non racialism" and a better life for all. I wonder why? . .less by Torte on January 29 2010, 11:51 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Pops Apartheid was a policy for 40 years - it has not existed for at least 20 years. How long do you need before you stop acting like a victim ? Most of the squatter camps were formed under ANC rule. The unemployment, the crime, the . .more deterioration of infrastructure, the corruption, the waste, the greed - these are all caused by the ANC. They had a chance to make SA work. They failed. They chose to line their own pockets instead. And worst of all, after fighting against racism for all those years, they are now keeping it alive so that they can keep gorging at the trough. That is why white skinned South Africans are angry - and sure, amidst that anger, some retaliate back using racist language. You can't, as a government, fan the fires of racism and then complain when others retaliate in kind. This has less to do with Apartheid and much more to do with ANC misrule. My advice to a black skinned South African is to work hard, work clever, get educated, and vote for a party that encourages you to think like that and doesn't treat you like a victim that can only survive on handouts. Do that and you will succeed. Don't do that, then you will probably be in that squatter camp for a long time - a permanent victim, forever blaming apartheid and living in hope that the ANC will reward you with handouts in exchange for votes. . .less by Sad Days on January 29 2010, 11:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Sorry Todd hello todd, you are blinded by senseless generalization. could you please specify who you mean with "the whites"??? and white controlled country? is poland white? russia? was hitler? or charles manson?? and has that been like that forever?? is it . .more been a development? how could it develop?? and how do you develop "high standards" as a suppressed abused popolation with schools educating you to a class 4 level so you d be good enough to work in a coal mine?? you old racists here have never seen what european politics look like today. there are immigrants, million of immigrants and europe stand for politics of respect, integration and a multi cultural society. cant see any hope for you . .less by Roland GERMANY on January 29 2010, 12:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Charlie charlie White people have succedded whereever they went around the world. They did not need apartheid to be sucessful. White people around the world generally live high class opulent lives because they have used their brains and have entreprenerial and . .more industrious minds. Thats why we have OPORTUNITIES and RESOURCES. We have it all over the world. Get over yourself man.... its pretty obvious you havnt traveled much .... . .less by Todd on January 29 2010, 12:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@roland german It is interesting that your statistics are rounded off to 90%.That means that you have spoken to a few million whites since 1996.Interesting.Let me remind you that Germany's colonial history was extremely violent and brutal and that Namibia still . .more struggles as a result of YOUR racist policies.Go away and sort your own baggage out. . .less by native on January 29 2010, 12:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Comments I am as disturbed as my fellow citizens at the naive,arrogant and misinformed vitriol we are subjected to on this site.Though I am sure that this a a small cross section of the population, it is disturbing to observe the reluctance on behalf of the . .more privileged few to acknowledge the misery and suppression of our countrymen and women during apartheid.Shameful. . .less by RT on January 29 2010, 12:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

To Charlie Charlie white people have used slaves all over the world. Does that make them better people. by South African on January 29 2010, 14:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

And what about our CHILDREN? Does 'transformation' benefit the 20million children in this country. Does AA/BEE help these non-voting children access better education? Does it improve their home environments? Does it ensure them a sustainable, DEBT-FREE future? According to . .more our latest matric results, and according to research that reports 12 million children still living in desperate poverty, the answer is NO. Transformation, Affirmative Action, BEE, and continued race discrimination are depriving our children of education, healthcare, electricity, and sustainable futures. Moreover, we are saddling our future generations with DEBT incurred by misgovernance, mismanagement and all the corruption and cronyism that goes hand-in-hand with colour-coded jobs and economic opportunity. Transformation is designed to satisfy the present generation of disgruntled adults at the expense of their children. ... and so the sins of the fathers are forever 'bequeathed' to their children. . .less by Saffer on January 29 2010, 16:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Roland German I find it rather ironic that we have a German telling white South Africans that their are basically racist and fascist. In the nineteenth century the white poor of Britain were as much slaves as were the black people. Read some British social history . .more seeing as you are a sociologist. The poor of any country are exploited by the rich. My own father was a coalminer in Britain in the earlier part of the 20th century and it was sheer exploitation. He could not read or write. However he never wallowed in self-pity and demanded this and that. I volunteer at a school for disadvantaged black children. They have no work ethic, they are so lazy and lack discipline. If they want an equal opportunity they must learn to work harder. I am sick and tired of the victim mentality. Black people from other parts of Africa almost inevitably tell me that they have never met people as lazy as SA blacks with such an attitude of entitlement. There are hundreds of white SA volunteers who work hard at schools in which we operate, but we whites are always told that we do nothing to improve the lot of the disadvantaged. . .less by Jeff on January 29 2010, 18:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Pops Your comment is quite interesting.I believe that most whites appreciate the need for actions to redress the imbalances of the past. AA was a necessary evil (it is by definition racist but is allowed by our constitution as it is in a good cause). The . .more problem is 2-fold. Firstly, if there is no sunset clause, that alienates all whites and in SA, we need all the skills we can get. Secondly, the way it is implemented is wrong. When race becomes the overiding factor (in fact, in many cases it is more political connections than race and that just aggravates the situation) rather than one input alongside the required skills and experience, then our services start to fail - as is already happening. So, giving a few more jobs (or expensive contracts) to mates of politicians; does that help the starving masses you claim to be worried about? When you have useless municipal managers that spend public money on cars for themselves rather than fixing roads, taps and sewage pipes; does that help the poor? Let's all try and look at things rationally and without emotion. For SA to prosper, we need everyone: black, white, coloured, indian etc etc to feel welcome and encouraged to contribute. During apartheid, non-whites were excluded, whites are now excluded - neither is right or helpful. . .less by Wiseman on January 29 2010, 18:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Whos best? Under the nazis the average lifespan of all Germans and particularly jews was lowered Under NAT apartheid the average lifespan of all South Africans and particularly blacks was raised Under the ANC the average lifespan of all South . .more . .more Africans and particularly blacks has been lowered P.S. all 3 of the political entities practice/d social engineering, only 1 political entitys practice was to the advantage of the entire countrys population What therefore is the better social engineering policy? Nazism . .less by andrewa on January 29 2010, 19:53 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Whos best? Apartheid ANC If you measure it by lifespan then Apartheid was better for ALL South Africans (if you measure it by dignity and stupidity then it wasn't) by andrewa on January 29 2010, 19:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Racist whites please leave - grass is whiter on the other side... SA whites must realise that their race based PRIVILEGES were taken away, not their RIGHTS. Black people have RIGHTS today. These racist whites bemoan the fact that privileges -based on their skin colour has been taken away... agh shame. More BEE and more . .more affirmative action! Not so nice when the shoe is on the other foot is it? Stop talking cr@p about this country and how stupid. lazy, etc blacks are because all you do is perpetuate the apartheid rubbish you swallowed and prove you can not think for yourself. If you hate SA and blacks so much, then go back to the white country your forefathers come from... but you are probably to uneducated / stupid / lazy to qualify if you dont have another passport.. . Give up your privileged lifestyle here and see if the grass is whiter on the otherside or shut the hell up because you are just part of a race hate causing problem. . .less by C-Biscuit on January 29 2010, 20:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@-C-Biscuit Yessir! Black people have RIGHTS today! Yay! Pity that your 'rights' are harming your children and sabotaging their futures. by Safffer on January 30 2010, 17:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

good-bad. white-black. RESTRICTED VIEWS OF INTOLERANT PEOPLE If you talk about NAZI Germany, you should not GENERALIZE (thats what the european privileged apartheid gainers love...and NEED to be able to live with their apartheid past!!) If you were able to diversify the aspects of history you might be able to . .more do a first small step towards a worldwide acceptable species. Comments and discussion that we forward to Europe fresh from South Arfican Racist minority are largeley shoking people in Europe!! Please provide us with more!! As far as you try to tell me about "sorting out my own german baggage"....thanks again for proofing us your small mindedness!!! My grandfather died under Hitler, my grandmother with 6 kids were refugees and other parts of the family had to leave everything behind as they were known Socialists. So just spit your gulb on somebody else. Germany has learned of its past, many other countries as well! Its doubtable if the small last radical minority would ever be able to learn or acept anything!! But who cares about them?? They wont proceed..... . .less by Roland GERMANY on January 30 2010, 18:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Voortrekker, Afrikaner Go start an old fart AWB / KP / FF / KKK / Neo-Nazi Facebook groupie to spew your vitreol. The racial superiority your Oupa said you had clearly ended with you judging by your narrow-minded "arguments". Sad that mainly racist activists and extremists . .more bother commenting on this site. Thanks Roland for your comments. I agree: I still hear racist whites talk disparagingly about blacks almost every day. Ironically none of these whites did anything useful with their lives - no doctors, actuaries, accountants etc - just the mechanics and Bra(n)dy bunch. Fortunately all of them are trying to emigrate. . .less by Francois on January 30 2010, 23:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Orania Orania: It's called New Zeeland / Australia. Haleluja - Aus is being stocked with our bran(d)y bunch - worse class than the first whites to inhabit Aus (criminals). Todd, Afrikaner & Voortrekker, go shaaag a sheep to enhance your gene pool. BTW, I am also . .more an Afrikaner and of Voortrekker origin - so give us your name & stop assuming Afrikaners share your views. I voted for change along with the majority of us each time. . .less by Francois on January 30 2010, 23:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Sad Days Well said. It is all about ANC corruption and incompetence. by YS on January 31 2010, 19:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ Francois Is it better now , do your white kids get jobs , you are a stupid man . what has the African ever invented of note . So my friend sleep well . by D******* on January 31 2010, 23:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ C- Biscuit ( the wany beee race hourse ) uneducated , lazy and stupid , WELL MY FRIEND THAT IS YOU . WHEN THE WHITES / TRIBE ARRIVED THEY TAUGHT YOU DUMB P***** TO READ AND WRITE AND TO WIPE YOUR A RSE WITH PAPER AND WASH AFTERWARD . YOU STUPID MAN , YOU READ AND WRITE , . .more DTRIVE A CAR YET YOU TALK SO MUCH S HIT , YOU DO WHAT YOU DO FROM WHITE MANS INVENTION YOU STUPID I* 6 7 DUMB P HUK . WHAT HAVE YOUR RACE EVER DONE , -------------- P HUK ALL . . .less by D******* on January 31 2010, 23:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Diligaf Diligaf (D*****), unfortunately for you your inability to spell, reason, type, open your mind etc gave you away. Let me guess: You are also short, failed in marriage & average in every other way, yet you think you are superior and part of a superior race. by Francois on February 01 2010, 00:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@D*****f Unfortunately your speling, typing, inability to reason, narrow-minded superiority complex and time of night on-line gave you away. I see MW automatically blocked all comments with mention of your name - no surprise there - so I won't mention your name . .more gain. But you are short, failed in marriage, blonde, average in every other way and yet you think you are part of a superior race. What did you ever invent? . .less by Francois on February 01 2010, 00:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Francois speling , YOU MEANT SPELLING by D*****F on February 01 2010, 01:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

D******f or is it Defunk , as in d****f ! by Francois on February 01 2010, 01:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Francois Speling ! You meant , SPELLING . by D*******f on February 01 2010, 01:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@ D... D must stand for dumb a s s ......the one who is a direct decendent of the great inventors. Guess, this apple fell too far from the tree....suspect some foul play here. by KK on February 01 2010, 12:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

look at the scoreboard SAA, Telkom, Escom, Railway (whats that) , Air Ports Co, all the municipalities, etc etc etc by Africa on February 12 2010, 09:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Roland F-off, Nazi idiot. by Koos on February 12 2010, 16:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Transformation No system is perfect. It is an unfortunate fact that transformation has benefited to few people in this country but that does not mean that it should be abolished. It is also a fact that there population of this country is only 10% or less white . .more and yet 80-90% of the economic power is owned by whites. This is a situation which WILL result in a Zimbabwe style take over if white people carry on claiming to be victims and not allowing the equitable distribution of wealth in this country. Remember, white folk were not born with business expertice. great eduction and technical know how, all of these things were facilitated by their government in order to help them become secure. Transformation, affirmative action and BEE are mechanisms which need a lot of work but they are the tools currently at hand to rectify the imbalances of the past. Finally, the majority of people in this country that: - pay taxes - do the most underpaid jobs - suffer from poverty - support businesses through consumption - pay VAT are black. . .less by Jabu on February 28 2010, 20:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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