Question about post-apartheid South Africa?

Question

I'm a history buff, but too young to remember South Africa and the struggle to end apartheid but I find it interesting. I was told that, back when apartheid ended in 1994, a lot of whites left South Africa. I was just curious, did they leave out of fear of not being able to control the government or did they leave out of protest.

Also, where did the majority of them move to, considering there aren't any countries where apartheid-governments exist, at least none where whites are the ones in control.

I'm just curious, thanks in advance for all the responses.

Answer 1

Hi M M! I am not going into all these things that others have mentioned already! I think all the answers are worth reading. Speaking for myself, as a young professional, I left not because of the fear of not being able to control the government, but the fact that the government can't control - or don't even attempt to - control the crime. It's just easier for them to deny it.

I would love to have my family here with me in the UK, but they are too old and patriotic. :-) Most of all I would love to go back to SA with my little one year old, but I am simply too scared that something will happen to him.

I don't want or need to live in a country where apartheid exist. To my knowledge I have never done anything bad to a person because of their skin colour. A lot of black people near where my parents live, cry every time my visits there draws to a close. I'd like to think that I am a caring and generous person, and that they care about me.

The only reason I mention this, is because you seem to think that it is only racist hooligans who left SA because they can't stand living without apartheid. Not true at all. I'd love to go back and help build a prosperous and peaceful country - but not if my son and I are going to get killed for it.

Answer 2

Crime and an uncertain future for adults and their children cause them to leave.
A possibility for a better quality of life.

They then usually seek countries with a similar language, climate and culture.

It's not easy, however, as only a small percentage of South Africans have dual citizenship and most countries have very strict and rigorous immigration policies.

If given the opportunity of immigration I believe many many more white families would leave.

People who have been the victims of crime usually don´t return.

It is also seldom that people who have completed the immigration process for Australia, Canada, USA or New Zealand return.

A larger percentage of people who leave to work in London do return. Their reasons for leaving (usually financial and/or travel) are generally a little different from those who left for the other countries.
They also find a large percentage of the English are leaving London for a better quality of life.
During their time in London their memories of the crime and bad politics in S.A are dulled and dreams of a re-emergent harmonious rainbow nation are enhanced.
The thoughts are usually "London is not that fantastic, therefore Europe is not that great, therefore there are problems and crime wherever you go in the world".
They return to South Africa to be reminded again of the overwhelming problem of crime and bad politics.
However the family strings also pull very tight ...

and so the self permitted indoctrination must begin...

South Africa is the greatest country on the Earth (Thinking: " I have to live here so I better start getting that into my skull ")
The forced positive thinkings, the self-psyching "sure there is crime here but there is crime everywhere", "sure we have our problems but look at the beautiful country we live in.."

But people can´t trick their own psyche and within they know that if they had the opportunity to take themselves and their family and leave to Australia, New Zealand etc. the country would empty of the whites quicker than you could say "Mshini wami!"

Answer 3

the people that have left South Africa had the foresight of
what was to come....they are the people that can now say
''I Told You So''
Any way what would you do if you have a family to support
and your job gets taken away from you?
You go somewhere else where its safe...
So there u are...you said it your self...quote:''considering there aren't any countries where apartheid-governments exist, at least none where whites are the ones in control.''

There is no such word as ''Apartheid'' is a made up word that
only the Bleeding Hearts Like To Use.....
Same as the S.A. so called flag....no history behind it....
It was made up from a TV competition....

Answer 4

The biggest reason they moved was to avoid the conflict that everyone thought was coming. At first it was thought that SA would end up in civil war but Nelson Mandela saved the country from that one.

Although he couldn't save it from the humongous crime rate.

The second reason was because they needed to earn money to stay alive. There was reverse apartheid just after the first election and has remained so ever since.

The one thing you are missing here is that no country in the world has named its racism like the old South Africa did - but every country has apartheid!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

The idea of white flight from South Africa has been greatly exaggerated. Yes, brain drain has been a problem. Many South Africans hold dual British-South African passports and some have exercised this to emigrate. At the same time, and thanks to the leadership of Nelson Mandela, there was not the apocalypse wave sweeping the country that many had expected.
Unfortunately, lawlessness, crime and violence is rampant. I fear that as the succeeding generations of ANC leaders proceed, the country will continue to slip back to the standard African norm. A pity.

Answer 6

It's true that many white south africans left just before and immediately after 1994. Many of them left because they did not see themselves under a black rule. Others left not necessarily because of a fear of black rule but genuinely they thought that there was going to be a war in the country. Now having been aware of how ravaging wars had been, especially in other african countries, they felt unsafe.

But, some responses refer to "crime". This has been a later reason for others to leave. This group's decision to leave is understandable, and one hopes that the government will soon arrest the spiraling crime. The country is losing very skillful people who leave just because they feel unsafe!

Answer 7

Many of them left to Australia, New Zealand and the UK, a few also went to the USA. The general assumption was that these countries had white leaders and the people of these countries where of a white majority so it will be better than SA, which has a black majority and black president.
People also had this idea that when the black government took power a civil war would break out, and all the whites would be killed as revenge for the years of injustice.
I knew people in the small dorpie (village) I was living in at the time, who where burying large oil drums full of fresh water and petrol in their back garden, as back up supplies for when the "war starts". People where stockpiling years worth of supplies; canned food, corned beef, bottled water, toilet paper.
They where convinced the blacks where gonna poison our water supply and we will be imprisoned in our own houses.
Parents where even teaching their 5 and 6 year old kids how to load guns, aim, shoot and reload, for in case they got trapped and needed to defend themselves.
I remember kids in school saying things like; "The war is gonna start" or "When the blacks come to shoot your parents, stand in front of them and say:: Shoot me, not my parents, and they will take sympathy with you."
I must add I was living in a very conservative Afrikaans village at the time, and I cant say if all white South Africans at the time felt this way.

Answer 8

You need to get them to answer but certainly it has little to do with the post by Carl sorry Malan. More than 1 million White people have left South Africa in the last 10 years with very few returning. There have been failed attempts by the ANC through campaigns such as the Homecoming Revolution, which has been a disaster, to redress the acute skills shortage caused by this "braindrain." South Africa has slid into a crime cesspool where the ruling Party adopt racist employment Laws thus frustrating attempts by Whites to get employment.That would be a major reason for South Africans not returning.Not disloyalty to their Country but more fear for their safety and lack of job opportunities. Most of these people left for the UK,Australia,New Zealand,US and Canada. It is estimated that the South African population in the UK alone is close to 600,000 and many White South Africans both within and outside the Country fear that SA is headed towards Zimbabwe status. Two "what if's" prey on their mind- when Mandela dies and after the 2010 World Cup. The 4 drivers of their economy are Tourism,Mining,Foreign Investment and Crime which make it very fragile and prone to collapse.
Do not fall into the trap of assuming that all White South Africans supported apartheid and are racist as many 100,000's voted against the then Nationalist Party and took further steps to oppose their Policies. By the mid 1980's the worst tenets of the apartheid Policies had been removed from the statute books and South Africa was becoming a more integrated society albeit that there were huge disparities in wealth. After Mandela's release an overwhelming majority of White South Africans voted for reconciliation and reform in a referendum. After the initial honeymoon period and then the appointment of Thabo Mbeki as President a plethora of racist policies have been put on the statute books causing consternation amongst Whites who feel duped by the lies of the ANC who are basically a communist party.They feed their anti white dogma to Africans and in the one post you will note reference to Australia as being racist which parodies a recent statement by a Government Minister. Needless to say it has no foundation but these kind of statements to a largely poorly educated population merely foment the violence and racism that pervades the Country.Today White South Africans or any Whites for that matter ( Germans included) find that they have to barricade themselves behind fortresses with 10 foot high walls,electrified fences,guard dogs,private security,panic buttons and guns to protect themselves in their homes. It is risky to go out after dark or wear jewellery or indicate any sign of wealth which will attract criminals. Even driving a car is a risk because of the high number of car jackings but the tragedy of it all is that many South Africans think this is quite normal and people everywhere live like this. Of course those who live outside the Country know better but it does not sweeten the bitter pill of watching the Country they built go down the tubes. I hope I have given you enough reasons of why not return.

Answer 9

About 1 million white people have left SA since 1994. (The current white population is 4.5 million) While 50% of South Africans in the UK want to come back, only 9% that lives in Australia...

Most white SA's left out of fear of crime and better opportunities. Maybe more English whites left? Because I doubt if they're as bound to Africa like the Afrikaners. Despite Affirmative action the economic position of white people haven't changed that much since 1994 (it's actually better if you ask me). South Africa's economy (and the stock exchange) is still basically controlled by white people and the best schools etc. are still in the white suburbs.. Progress however has been made to uplift the townships eg. new shopping malls and schools are build there. Most townships have all the basics eg. free electricity, water and sanitation.

Ok, back to the topic of immigration. SA does experience a big brain drain, but people are also fleeing European countries like the UK to amongst other beautiful countries with great weather like Australia, New Zealand and yes, South Africa off coarse. ;) I've met a German in Dec that immigrated from Germany to SA... He lives in Oranjezicht, Cape Town (ok, I know it's a wealthy area at the slopes of Table Mountain... and his house is below the cable car), but he loves SA and don't want to go back to Germany (says there is no German lifestyle). And he is aware of the SA crime rate...

Answer 10

Many left to Australia and New Zealand, a lot are also in the UK, but it's not really that many that left permanently - just a tiny minority. there are lots of younger South African's overseas at the moment, but after a few years travelling, the vast majority head back home. I think the one's that did leave left out of fear of losing the familiarity of Apartheid. And Australia has something similar to offer - racism is still rife over there, even though no Ausie will ever admit it.