Over the past 20 years, hundreds of thousands of people, and by some estimations, more than a million people have left South Africa and settled in other countries.
Some might say, “So what? People have migrated for thousands of years and will continue to do so in the future!”
Last year, South Africa’s ANCYL leader, Julius Malema started making a lot of noise about nationalization, and specifically, the nationalization of the mines, a major source of revenue for the country, and the possible establishment of a state mining company.
At the time, as this article suggests, South African President Jacob Zuma said that nationalization is not ANC policy, and that the ANC has not shifted its policy on nationalization.
Yet, a mere 4 months later, Jacob Zuma launched a state mining company!
As a regular reader of the South African news website, News24, I have become aware of a new type of “conflict” that now exists amongst South Africans… as if life’s day-to-day challenges aren’t enough to keep everyone busy.
The conflict I am talking about is between South African expats and non-expats in the MyNews24 (letters) section of News24. And at times, it gets downright nasty! Read the rest of this entry »
In this recent article published in News24, Prof. Jonathan Jansen, the rector of the University of the Free State, is reported as saying that racial tension is building in South Africa, comparing it to a volcano waiting to erupt.
On the eve of Soccer World Cup 2010 that is being held in South Africa this year, I was wondering how South Africans living abroad feel about sports’ biggest event and the fact that it is held in South Africa this year.
While soccer is a hugely popular sport around the world, not all South Africans are soccer fans. Some may not care to watch SWC 2010 whether it is held in South Africa or not. Others may be very excited about it and can’t wait for it to start.
South Africa has many good points, but it is also known to have very high crime rates. That was one of the reasons for very lackluster ticket sales in Europe. A lot has been said about the crime, and the South African government has gone to some lengths to assure people that they will be safe during SWC 2010.
So, now my questions to you are… Read the rest of this entry »
Eugene Terre’Blanche, the well-known, charismatic leader of the AWB was murdered on his farm outside Ventersdorp in South Africa over this past weekend (April 3, 2010).
This seems to have set off a firestorm in South Africa, especially amongst AWB members and supporters, who regard this murder as “a declaration of war by black people on white people.”
I started my day out quite happily this morning. Central Texas had a great snow day yesterday, everything seemed so fresh and clean outside when I dropped the kids off at school.
I was ready to take on the day and have a good one… until I saw this news report on Fin24.com…
South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, has a long history with the ladies and he adds more episodes on a fairly regular basis.
Zuma is a polygamist. In January 2010 he married his 5th wife, and no, the first four wives are not deceased (except for wife #1), and neither is he divorced from them. He is apparently also already engaged to what will be wife #6.
Zuma has fathered 20 children so far, if news reports can be believed. Some of them have been with his wives, but certainly not all of them. For example, the latest one, #20, was born to the unmarried daughter of a friend of Zuma’s in October 2009. Read the rest of this entry »
You know who Julius Malema is, right? If you haven’t been in South Africa for a while, and you don’t really follow the news there, you might not know.
So let me tell you…
He’s the fellow on the right. He is also the controversial leader of the ANC Youth League, with a love for radical statements and threatening anyone he does not agree with.
“Who cares?”, you might be thinking. Well, perhaps more people should be worrying about this guy!
Have you ever heard about the Texas Potjie Festival and wondered what it was all about? Well, wonder no more! Check out this video to see for yourself!
Read the rest of this entry »
