The Republic of South Africa has a very disturbing history. Between 1948 and 1994, there existed a system of racial segregation known as apartheid in the country.
Apartheid was enforced through legislation by the National Party (NP), the governing party made up of the white minority racial group in the country. The NP suppressed dissenting views from the black majority, and with the backing of some Western powers such the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), the small white-regime survived for almost 46 years.
Observers say the US and the UK had big corporations in South Africa, and due to these interests, these two Superpowers pursued a foreign policy favorable to the apartheid regime, blatantly ignoring the suffering of the black majority.
Even Margret Thatcher’s spokesman, Bernard Ingham, famously said that anyone who believed that the African National Congress, a predominantly black party would ever form the government of South Africa was “living in cloud cuckoo land”. Also, the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative lobbying organization, actively campaigned against divesting from South Africa throughout the 1980s.
Under the apartheid system, the rights, associations, and movements of the majority black inhabitants and other ethnic groups were also curtailed. White supremacy was the order of the day. Whites were better educated, had the best jobs, and lived in the best parts of the country among others.
However, this social, political, and economic exclusion of the black majority by the apartheid regime will culminate in the rise of African Nationalism, and the spirit that the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.
It was through the rise of this new spirit of African Nationalism and self-determination by the black majority that activist like Nelson Mandela emerged. Mandela was branded as a terrorist by the apartheid regime, and even including the UK. Imprisoned on an isolated island, Mandela will be released from jail, and will later become the first black president of the country.
But as Mandela and his Black Nationalist elements won the political independence in the country, on the other hand, the huge social and economic gap between whites and blacks still existed, even up till day. The hope that the black nationalists had in fighting for freedom and independence has soon become a lost one. The future is not certain for many South African blacks.
It is against this historical background that the Australian renowned journalist and filmmaker, John Richard Pilger put together a documentary about why apartheid still exists in South Africa despite the blacks having access to the political seat of the country.
Pilger was born and raised in Australia, but he has been living in the UK since 1962. He served as a war correspondent in the Vietnam War, reporting for the Daily Mirror. Pilger has been a strong critic of American, Australian and British foreign policy. According to him, these countries foreign policies are driven by an imperialist agenda. He is also a strong advocate for Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
With this history of being the defender of the oppressed, Pilger in 1998 looked at the situation in South Africa and put together a thoughtful documentary titled ‘Apartheid Did Not Die’.
Some people have described the film as the sad truth that blacks in South Africa only gained political independence and a colorful flag in 1994. The Rainbow colors of the flag of South Africa were made the official flag of the country after the end of Apartheid in 1994.
In the film, Pilger chronicled clearly how the heroic Nelson Mandela and his compatriots in secret negotiations with the apartheid regime bargained away black economic rights resulting in compromised independence.
Pilger gathered that whites in South Africa still remained the captains of the economy while the black still served them just like the apartheid era.
And according to some critics of the apartheid regime, this painful reality and injustice is protected by use of sentimentalities of reconciliation and national unity expressed in the largely wishful slogans about a rainbow nation. The colors in the flag are primarily used to represent the oneness of the different skin colors in the country, and critics say this has overshadow the realities in the country.
The realities are issues of education, employment, health among others facing the black majority of the country. All the industries and the big corporations in the country are owned by the whites. Inequality between whites and blacks in South Africa is real. And those are some of the pressing issues that the film addresses. Take your time to watch the film and learn some of the historical incidents that have happened in the world before today.
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This is very misleading. A lot has changed in South Africa since 1998. The majority of parliament seats are occupied by black people, mostly ANC members. It’s true that whites still hold economic empowerment, however, it is the country’s private sector that keeps it standing on two feet while still being treated submissively by the government. The minority pays the taxes, while the money is wasted by the government. The country is currently in its worst state, ever. The currency is down the drain, crime is at its peak and the government can’t provide basic human needs to anyone. With all these issues, the government still laughs away making as if nothing is wrong. Our current leaders are pathetic.
Im sure you are white if white people get in to power blacks are done u guys should crawl back where you came from
So you wrote a whole article based on a 1998 film? A 18 year old documentary?! As a South African I call BS on this.
this article totally disregard historical facts as well as the current facts about SA.
as a white south african, i urge the writer to educate him/herself about the history (especially the terrorist nelson). further more i also urge the writer to look at the state of the economy, unemployment rate, crime stats etc of south africa pre and post appartheid. also, annon idiot. please also note the 109 laws against white minority now, as apposed to 1 law against blacks during appartheid. it infuriates me when uninformed cunts run their mouth on things they know nothing about.
It really get me upset too. How ignorants just think they know what happened and is happening here.
do yourself a favour and look at the crime reates in south africa from 1994 untill now you cant write an article on old news because it is out dated yes there is a lucky few white people with money but that is because they worked for it not like the blacks who sit around waiting for it to be given to them or just rather go and steal it the country called south africa is quickly turning into zimbabwe 2.0 look at the attacks on farmers because we all know the way to make your country better is to kill of your food supply. if our presedent and associates could maby stop lining their own pockets we could get somewhere but no its easier to play the good old reliable race card than to do something and make this country great again. do your freaken homework before you write.
This is like usual a one sided argument.The country is in shambles due to the current government where crime and corruption is the norm of the day. There is a new form of oppression and “aparthied” sticking out its ugly head where the minority is oppressed.Take a look at the BEE laws and not to mention nepotism that runs rife. The ANC government must be taken out of power or there will not be much left for any citizen.There is also a white genocide going on in this country but its played by the government as it is not a problem but crime statistics tells another story.A whole lot has changed since this documentary…
Im so happy to see Im not the only one out there who actually have a voice.
Nothing here is said about white oppression, how every white person in South Africa is made out as being racist which is obviously not true. One black person even said only whites can be racists. A black person even called for blacks to do to whites what the hiltler did to the jews! But this is not seen as hate speech. At the end of apartheid 1000’s of whites moved abroad, while the whites that stayed here believed in change and wanted a democracy. Nothing is said about how white farmers are brutally killed in hate crimes and the police don’t do anything to protect farmers (black and white) I do however agree that the government waste tax payers money, whilst other black people in this country use the bucket system and have to walk very far just to collect water. The ANC is ruining this country for everyone. The president even bought himself a private jet while poor students protested for lower university fees!! Is this a president that really cares about the well being of the whole country?? Of course not! Yes, apartheid was very wrong, but 21 years after democracy everyone in this country are suffering! When apartheid ended I was 5 years old, I grew up in the new South Africa where I was told by my parents that everyone is equal. I was not brought up to be a racist, but I am being called a racist by blacks daily! I am so sick of being called the bad guy or racist by the biggest racists! Whites are oppressed and can’t find proper jobs because of BEE, but hey BEE doesn’t even benefit black citizens as it should all because of nepotism! South Africa is going to burn to the ground all because of the ANC’s leader Jacob Zuma! They even stated that if anyone votes for the DA (DA leader Mmusi is black) that they are racists! How pathetic. Even the black people in this country is starting to see exactly how pathetic our president is. The ANC can stay in power, but seriously need a leader capable of actually leading this country and reuniting the rainbow nation. This is a beautiful country, with a whole lot of beautiful people from different background and cultures, but the ANC are dividing us. They are corrupting the minds of the people they should be helping. The ANC only help themselves and play the racist card for mistakes they fail to correct. Crime is out of hand and the police cant be trusted. The people should not fear the government, but the government should fear the people. All of us (this includes all races) are sick of seeing this country going down the drain because the ANC only care about their own interests and filling their own pockets! Poverty will always be a problem thanks to Jacob Zuma! Zuma the people are sick of you, yes you and this does not mean people are racist, people can see through you! There are still people that vote for Zuma because they are scared apartheid will be brought back, but the truth is that there is no place for apartheid here. I am white, and I am in this country because I believe in change and I can see the wonderful possibilities for this country that can benefit everyone as a united nation. People won’t believe Zuma’s lies forever. You can only get away with lies for so long. People want better lives, free education, running water, jobs and to live in peace. And yes white people still thrive even though we are being oppressed by means of racial quotas and BEE. All this because we know that we have to work for what we want in life. We will start a small business if no one wants to give us jobs because of our skin colour. And yes black people will come to work for us because the government failed to provide jobs to people as promised. They even out source workers from abroad when they could have created jobs for our local people that desperately need work. I even started my own business where I teach art to black children, I even sponsor free art classes for black children that cannot afford it. I do this to keep them of the streets, to let them understand that they are worth something in this life and that you can become anything your heart desires. I am not a racist and I speak for all who is suffering under this government and this specific president. The rainbow nation we are today, is nothing like Mandela imagined this country to be. Its sad
It is sooooo good to hear other people speak up too. Thank you, whoever you are. Beautifuly said and without anger or a short fuse. I wish I could explain our situation as nicely as you. I get too sad and angry and then my words come out so bitter like an argument. Im sooo tired of fighting. I wish our country will be fine soon
Thanks Laura, the world needs to know.. There’s always 2 sides of a story, then there is the truth. We have to speak up everywhere we can as much as we can, and hopefully we will be heard. I am all for human rights. I am also very angry at this whole situation our country finds itself in today, but hate just brings hate. We need to bring the change we want to see. If we can get more people to open their eyes by telling our stories it might bring a change our country needs.
As a 31 year old white South African I grew up with apartheid in my minor years and have seen the change in the state of our beloved country. The tables have completely turned and whites are still being targeted for what our forefather did. Thousand of white farmers are attacked and killed and no one bats an eye lid. The new BBE brought in is going to stop white South Africans from owning or creating businesses which with only deteriorate the nation even further. Come over here and see for yourselves that apartheid has never left it’s just aimed at the white man now..
What is your solution? All laws made to regulate money away from the white minority has only led to a few select black diamonds accumulating it through laws of shareholding, where the political connected gather these as shareholders and often lame ducks in different companies, and everybody else is left sitting, as hardly any innovation comes from these persons.
Once again Anonomous is spreading misinformation. Really starting to wonder if anything I read on your website holds any truth… It is rather remarkable at what desperate lenghts you guys are willing to go to try cover up certain truths and try so hard to make such a small group of people ( Afrikaans ) the enemy…. As a modern movement you guys should really GET with the modern times. It is called THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA and what is happening NOW is what you should be concerned about and report on.
By all means delve into apartheid, but not articles published abroad about south africa. go into statistics as a previous person mentioned. look at murders and crimes commited against humanity under apartheid. look at the economy under apartheid. look at education offered to black people in apartheid. and then realise also that when the first settlers came to shores of South Africa the indigenous people encountered here was primitive in every sense. Not one road…. 200 or 300 years is a very very short time to expect to go from primitive to wanting to run an economy or be the president of a country or want all the companies and money the rich white man has. And no Im not being racist. It is truth. And never will I be made to feel guilty for being civilised, to want to build roads and buildings and statues, to invent and create my own wealth. Please take a long hard look at Every person registered at our countries revenue services. Then also know that as a taxpayer I have received a personal call from the A N C threatening me into joining their party to ensure that my doors stay open for trade… Im almost sure you can imagen what happened in the next few months after I refused their offer… sick of this corruption.
This is the dumbest fucking thing I’ve seen you post Anonymous. This is all complete bullshit man. Have you heard of Xenophobia? Its what happens when locals start killing immigrants. Which is black on black violence. Everybody is doing their best in South Africa to make it a better place Except for the Government, which is led by a high school drop out with a Rape Conviction. If you’re gonna post shit about my country then get your facts straight and target the people who are damaging my nation beyond repair please.
You are wrong! The president is NOT a high school drop out! He didn’t go to school!
Google Zuma: I never went to school, but I educated myself
I am a 50 year old South African, did two year military service and knows apartheid and post apartheid. You and your reporter don’t know shit. It will be very difficult to believe any of your articles again. Make sure of your facts before you publish. This is factually a lot of crap.
This is an major factor in Black Reparations. Africa belongs to the Black’s inasmuch the Slaves who were stolen,kidnapped Degraded and torn apart from an rich and civilized culture.
Try seeing everything from a black persons perspective. Then realise that whatever a white person says or feels or argues doesnt matter anymore. The sooner everyone realize this fact, the sooner you can make better decisions on where to focus you energy. Building and putting back and creating what you want this nation to be wont even make a dent in the system. Its too strong and too late. The titanic was leaking water and nobody knew…when everyone was informed they panicked…some took to liferafts and others were too afraid of the unknown cold, dark waters and took their chance on staying behind, fighting mentally for what they believe in. Well, SA can be compared to a very large ship. It takes a long time to build something as strong, but also a long time to sink it. Unfortunately once it starts sinking theres no stopping the momentum. On a graph the two events of a ship being built, the recources it requires, then of a impact, the time it requires to see effect and then finally to start sinking…these events can be compared on a timescale. In my opinion its inevatible that our titanic will sink. No use to hold on to her anymore.
99% of the national budget of over $100bn is spent on the black population – the black population gets free jobs, free houses, free child care grants ( 16 million are on government welfare – 98% are black, 2% are Asian, free electricity, free loans, free water, free municipal jobs, free job promotions, free stock market shares, free business deals, free municipal contracts, salary increases that are far higher than the inflation rate, free hostels, free low personal income tax rates, free farm land, free school funding, free school meals and free school transport plus university and technicon, sports and bursary quotas – 98% of the entire country’s budget is spent on the black population. 98% ! That’s what the black population enjoy and the whites don’t even have that. That’s $100bn a year! For free! $100bn for free! Imagine you don’t see a single $ from your government. NO financial help!
Google South Africa is the world’s largest welfare state