I'm SouthAfrican.People have a wrong perception of my country.What do u see/think when u hear SouthAfrica?

Answer 1

South Africa is a beautiful country, with beautiful people, stunning landscapes and breath taking nature. It is a country crammed with culture, history, and tradition. Yet, South Africa has a lot of problems which simply cannot be denied. I have been living in Cape Town for over 2 years, and I - as a journalist - have encountered a lot of wrongs and have often seen the dark side of human nature. I have written about babies being raped, women being assaulted, and people being killed without any reason. I have reported on corrupt officials and politicians who only think about themselves, using and abusing their supporters.

South Africa has a huge problem with poverty and unemployment, 2,5 million people are in need of housing, and many state hospitals are in a bad shape.

I know this, because I read various news papers and have friends in all parts of society.

That does not mean that South Africa is only about misery. A lot of good things are happening here, which are also mentioned in the news papers. But there is a lot of work yet to be done, in order to make South Africa a better place for ALL.

Answer 2

I personally see a country that has gone throught a lot and now is seeking to make things right. I see a group of human beings who more or less agree to living in one area of geography under one banner. I see a country that a lot has been wrong in it and is trying to fix it. Your right, people have a wrong perception of your country. They think it is full of conservative dye in the wool 19th centuryites. Others think that the uncivilized hordes have taken over. However you will find that these are the people who are ignorant. Think not much of them. You's have a country to build. Thats more important. You lot are ahead of many other countries. You have wealth, education, technology and most important of all DEMOCRACY. There is slowley emerging a new image for South Africa. One of a humane and mature democracy. IT IS HAPPENNING. One of the great things in the eyes of the world is the emergance of your country in soccer. I was brought up in a world of the springbox. But now I regard you as one of the soccer nations. Sure people will have a negative view of your country for some time. But in time they will not remember the bad old days. Just ask the Germans and Japanese, and even the Russians. Your county's only direction now is up. Have faith.

Answer 3

Apartheid. Your government oppressed the native community and for much longer than the other colonizers of Africa. It boils my blood at the thought of it's audacity to do that.

It is not something easy to leave behind. The Germans have had to deal with being the founders of the Nazi Regime. It has made mends as much as to be expected and has moved forward.

Getting rid of the evil apartheid terms was a start. Your country is moving forward.

I also think of Mandela when I think of South Africa, he is an inspiration of hope really.

The perception is deserved but I have never been rude to a white or black South African. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt when I meet them. It is ridiculous to judge someone on decisions that they themselves did not implement.

p.s. Your country is known for diamonds also. Every country has it's good and bad. I've learned to stop asking others to judge me.

Answer 4

People need to make friends with people from South Africa. Some of my best friends are from South Africa. I think of the beauty of the natural surroundings of the area from the photos my friends have taken, I think of the many happy and positive people who live there who are friendly and kind. I think of people who are resilient and strong. Okay - and they need to understand that there are people of all skin colors in and from South Africa. My friends have English accents and have light colored skin. There are of course political issues and crime that I hear about too but I'd love to visit South Africa, my friends are always bringing these great photos back from their trips. It's an amazing country. There are amazing waterfalls, animals and different areas to see other than what the news and other people who have no idea about the overall picture tend to say. My friends are not racist at all and there is alot of racial mixing from their standpoint. Alot of the dark skinned people are no different from my friends really except for perhaps clothing and subcultural differences.

Answer 5

It's kind of mysterious. We hear so little about South African culture in the States, so I only can glean things from reading Nadine Gordimer and seeing films. The racial situation seems highly complex, and the history of racism has parallels in America, which means there is no one simple story about how the races relate to each other.

I think also of gorgeous beaches, safaris, great white shark attacks and high crime rates in Capetown.

Answer 6

I see a lot of people saying that the change was positive and the country will get better.......Oh my, they just have NO idea!! Did Zimbabwe get better? Oh no, so sad to see such a beautiful country slowly being destroyed by it's majority. So sad to see a minority under such oppression in this modern world, paying the price unfairly for the past......

Answer 7

Talk to me!
My biggest goal is to move to South Africa. I am simply a KY boy who likes to be outside. I want to cook in South Africa more than anything. The spices and rubs, ooooh, my mouth waters. Not to mention, I have worked with a few people from SA that were nothing but fantastic. Africa, all around, sounds like home. contact me and let me know whats up in SA.

Answer 8

To be honest, the first things that come to mind are apartheid, AIDS and poverty. I also think of rampant discrimination and unparalleled racial hatred among other things. It isn't a place I'd wanna visit anytime soon, but maybe I could be convinced otherwise.

Answer 9

i see beaches of clear white sand forrests hills valleys the bustle on the busy streets of johanisburg the ceremonys of pretoria the big hole at kimberly the boars on there farms the friendly people i was confronted with and met a beautiful country mixed up by politics and a yearn to be free ,yes africa south africa in my heart too ty.

Answer 10

I think apartheid and Nelson Mandela
Wealthy White South Africans and oppressed Black South Africans