why do people think south-africa is a poor country?

Question

im a white female and i live in a very nice place in south-africa im so sick of hearing from other people of other countrys about: we live with animals in our back yard and south-africa people are not look after, its bull ****!!! im not poor most of the population isnt poor, and we have so many beautifull citys where do u guys get ur information from??? lots of love. lee xxx

Answer 1

People are aware of South Africa being a beautiful country, but they are blinded by what they see on TV. I am a South African living in Seoul, Korea and have made it my mission to re-educate people on South Africa.

Most foreigners only know that we have lots of animals and that the San walks around in bikini's. That's why I'm currently trying to get people there. At this point me and my brother(also in Korea) have gotten three churches to donate to AIDS victims in South Africa. We have also managed to get students from our schools to visit South Africa by going on homestays.

The three churches and the parents of the students were pleasantly surprised at how beautiful South Africa really is and will all visit SA during the World Cup in 2010.

We are currently busy putting a plan together, so people from Korea can visit SA on a regular basis.

Once we get people to visit our wonderful country, they can start educating others. But we have to do something. And not promote our country in a bad way, like some are doing. Rather in a good positive way. This way they'll get to see for themselves.

At this point not many realize all we have to offer. If you wanna show people SA, why don't you show them the Lion's Share Video. Scroll down from the link below and click on Lion's Share Video. It's a great video that shows the true South Africa....
http://southafrica-embassy.or.kr/eng/abo...

Answer 2

people just don't see the whole story, all they know of it is the poverty, and they are oblivious to the fact that Africa has huge cities all over, and people drive cars, and ride the subway, etc.

Answer 3

At purchase power parity (PPP), the 3.1 million people in Johannesburg are richer than the people in Singapore, Hongkong, Athens and Paris... and has the 65% of the PPP of the average New Yorker! At PPP South Africa is one of the 40 richest nations in the world. We're however the 9th most unequal divided society in the world with an unemployment rate of 26%.

Answer 4

With all due respect,
You must be a sheltered young woman from a relatively wealthy white family in a secure white neighborhood....
That is a good thing and I am not criticizing it at all...
South Africa has the greatest amount of people with AIDS in the world....That must be a significant source of poverty..
South Africa used to be a wealthy powerful nation when it was under white rule but it went downhill with the rest of Africa under black rule....It is still better than the rest of Africa but it is but a shadow of its former self...

Answer 5

south africa is certainly not a poor country .... that what i know about it. its a place filled with diamond mines so how can it be poor? Sad but true that people hear only Africa and not South Africa .... they seem to believe that like some other countries in the huge Continent known for their lack of money and poor economy .... they link it to SA .... thats maybe why.... email me and be sure to tell me more about SA and my answer ...okay :)

e-mail: [e-mail]
hope to see your message

Answer 6

SA in entire is midsection earnings although that's earnings distribution is between the most unequal contained in the entire international. which means the version between the richest and the poorest is between the biggest. the rationalization basically is apartheid, yet no longer completely, the heritage before and in view that is likewise appropriate. submit-apartheid BEE (economic affirmative action) has created numerous black billionaires and millionaires yet has carried out basically no longer some thing for the individuals on the bottom end of the commercial equipment.

Answer 7

It's all perception...Africans wanted thier freedom from the results of "the white man's burden", you know, civilizing the place...once the Europeans left the place went to hell...

People have the perception that South Africa finally fell into the same catagory..."Oops, the whites are gone, pull out your investments, it's gonna go to hell".

Sad but true...

Answer 8

Firstly your Government and Politicians continuously tell the World that it is a poor Country.When you arrive at Cape Town for instance your first view is the squatter camps that line the highway.All around your major cities there are numerous squatter camps breeding crime,poverty and disease.You have an unemployment rate anywhere in excess of 40% of the economically active. You have one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection and death rates in the World. You have one of if not the highest violent crime rates in the World. All of your major city centres are no go areas particularly after dark. Tourist attractions are in many cases unsafe to visit because of the high crime. People live behind high walls with electrified fencing, have fierce dogs,guns and private security to protect themselves. Five foreign Governments (US,Britain,Australia,Canada and New Zealand )have issued warnings to their citizens regarding travel to South Africa. It is an expensive Country to visit even with your volatile currency.Many residents in South Africa are of European origin and write to their families telling of the conditions under which they live.Many South Africans have fled your Country for places such as Australia,New Zealand,USA,UK etc and tell of violent crime,unemployment,corruption,racist employment policies enacted by your Government etc which motivated them to leave.
If you think you are not poor then all I can say is you have a misplaced sense of values and as another said you are protected from the realities of South Africa for the moment through economic wealth.Long may you never be exposed to the darker side.