I'm one of an increasing number of people in South Africa who are saying goodbye to loved ones as they emigrate for a safer, better life in a different country.
Years of corruption and incompetence have taken their toll on this beautiful country. Crime, poverty and failing infrastructures are making it increasingly difficult for people to advance themselves. Genocidal rhetoric coupled with a complicit government that fuels flames of racial hatred, is disturbing to say the least. Farmers, who have been the mainstay of the country and, indeed, sub-Saharan Africa are being murdered purely due to the colour of their skin.
More recently, we have the following attack on the South African Constitution: "South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the ANC would change the constitution to allow for expropriation of land from white landowners without compensation. In other words, the South African government, under the leadership of Ramaphosa, complaining of racial inequity, still wants the power to seize land from white landowners, and plans to make it a constitutional amendment." [Sources:
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To top this off, jobs are subject to the failed Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE or B-BBEE) a form of black economic empowerment initiated by the ANC government and on which they have doubled down to make requirements ever more stringent.
This is not economic empowerment for a minority as many countries do. Black Africans constitute 91% of the population of South Africa; whites account for between 5% and 7% of the population. This may be optimistic. No census has been done since 2011 so demographics are 'guestimates'. Census 2011 - whites made up 7.5% of the population.
Skin colour and not technical or academic qualifications are measures for jobs. Although BBBEE was championed as redressing past wrongs against the black population in South Africa, it has had the opposite effect. Through corruption and lack of basic expertise, Eskom (the national power provider) cannot keep the lights on and, in only one instance, 90,000 mining jobs are on the line. [This article is from 25 March 2019. https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKCN1R61NM-OZABS]
South Africa has an election next month and campaign slogans by the EFF (Economic Freedom Front), which is front and centre on the issue of white genocide, declare on posters all over Johannesburg "OUR LAND, OUR JOBS". Racial violence is already escalating and more is anticipated over the election period.
People (particularly those who are highly skilled) are emigrating en masse from South Africa and who can blame them? As much as I will miss my children deeply, I am so grateful that they are now living in a country, which may be colder and less sunny than South Africa, but is safe and where everything works.
GOODBYE
My Loves
As you start your new life
Half a world away
It’s so very hard
To say goodbye
I wonder if you know
What I’ve tried so hard to hide
My heart aches as we hug
It’s so very hard
To say goodbye
With my heart beating
Until my chest will surely burst
Love means wanting the best for you
It’s so very hard
To say goodbye
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| Edinburgh Castle [Source: Own photograph] |
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| Glasgow Christmas Lights [Source: Own photograph] |
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| Glasgow Christmas Lights [Source: Own photograph] |
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