South Africa: A divided society
Divisions in society have always existed as they serve as an advantage and a disadvantage, but how far can the divisions stretch till they divide a whole nation and create hatred and harm amongst the sides that lay on either side of the division?
South Africa has been a democratic country for 23 years, yet we still are divided with very minimal progress made towards reuniting South Africans to be one. With more serious issues that need to be addressed like the frequent protests that occur in our country and the high unemployment rate, South Africa as a nation pushes them aside and focuses on the superficial problems. Namely, the national outcry of the cellular phone data rates in South Africa compared to other countries. That as a country is something that could be solved within a short time by a small group, mainly people who deal with telecommunications but our country makes a huge spectacle out of it and dismisses the fact there is a 27.7% unemployment rate in the country according to TimesLive.
Subjectivism plays a large role in the lives of many South Africans as it is the main cause of the racial, cultural and gender divide that exists in South Africa.
Race
Apartheid was a legal system of political, economic and social separation of the races intended to maintain and extend political and economic control of South Africa by the White people according to Will-Ed Zungu, a blogger on the HuffPost.
Racism does not only exist amongst the superficial Black and White division but within the way that one views another person. The superficial division of Black and White has caused the thought of subjective conflation: race and class, where if you’re White — you’re rich; and if you’re Black — you’re poor. If you’re White you’re clean and if you’re Black — you’re dirty.
Recalling the hair issue that occurred at Pretoria Girls High School in 2016 where Black students who had their hair styled in a way that the school thought was not was appropriate, hairstyles that suited non-Black people. The girls protested against the school’s conduct and that started a social media movement, The Natural Hair Movement. Which had the whole nation react. One of the girls who had braids on her head described the moment as traumatic as she was pulled out of assembly and was told to “fix” her hair. The movement also had placards reading quotes from American activist, Rosa Parks, “Nah, you wear that hair girl.”
Once again dismissing the fact that there are other races in South Africa that do not want to be recognised as Black, namely — the Indian and Coloured race.
It also exists within the different races in South Africa where during apartheid, Black, Indian and Coloured people were considered limited to one race — as Black people. Which denied them their identities.
Culture
You would think that since 1994 the nation would be one but we are still demarcated.
The fight for Black and White people to be equal during the apartheid era took away the leisure for people to practice their cultures and celebrate who they are. This has led to many people not knowing who they are or rather to an identity crisis, a cultural crisis — which has birthed tribalism.
Focusing on an event specifically when the city of Tshwane rejected Thoko Didiza, a member of Parliament, to be their mayor because civilians of Tshwane, who are mostly Tshwane and Northern Sotho speakers did not want a Zulu person leading them; Tshwane, a city that has been described as a cosmopolitan according to Visit Tshwane.
In fact, tribalism, like this country’s usual actions to not deal with real issues that affect us as a society, has been pushed aside.
Recalling the tribal division that exists in ‘silence’ right now. Amongst the Xhosa and Zulu people.
According to Omeale, when former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela were in power they gave preference to Xhosa people and allowed Zulu people to occupy second place in top positions; giving other ethnic groups lesser roles in state businesses. Then when now president, Jacob Zuma came into position people expected all that to change and be neutral and move towards a fair South Africa, but instead Zuma replaced the dominant Xhosa ethnic group with Zulu people and in turn giving Xhosa people second position.
Gender
Women in positions have increased but they still lie within the subjective rule where females are given power but not according to their what they can offer. They are restricted in many ways.
Prime example, King Zwelithini said having Dr Nkosazane Dlamini-Zuma as a president wouldn’t be good as women are ‘emotional’ — African patriarchy.
In families’ women are also positions but their positions are limited. As a woman, you could be a breadwinner but the man still has the ultimate rule. It creates that divide that as a man, a man has the certain number of powers and a woman has restrictions in her ‘position’.
The divides are real and won’t be solved if they aren’t addressed.
Tladi Moloi believes that South Africa as a country should cease this notion of overlooking our deep-seated problems and confront it head on.
Our cultural differences are meant to bring us all together as one nation to celebrate the ‘rainbow’ we are but instead, people have used that to separate us as a nation and point out their ‘betterness’ versus another ethnic group.
What happened to Ubuntu and unification?
According to the now Chancellor of UNISA, Thabo Mbeki, South Africans must have a national dialogue involving all sectors of society is required to find credible solutions to tackle the challenges facing the country.
With the history of South Africa, we as a nation should redress racial injustice and see each other as one.
We need to treat each other equally and lift each other — no matter which ethnic group one belongs to. Also establish a common South African identity where there’s national solidarity that cuts through the racial, ethnic, gender and cultural divides.
We also should at work recognising one’s individual strength and merit whether male or female.
