Lived in South Africa during Apartheid years. AMA

[iswhatisis]

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Brit, who emigrated to SA, went to school, grew up and worked in South Africa during apartheid years. Ask me anything.

Are you black or white?

Any thoughts on the recent Gupta scandal?

I'm white.

What made your parents emigrate there, particularly during apartheid?

Yes nothing surprises me re the Gupta scandal.

Luna, they wanted a better life for us. People were being made redundant in my home town. Industry was in a mess. People were either emigrating to Australia or South Africa.

Did they have reservations that a better life could happen somewhere that so much of the population were being denied human rights?

Luna, No.
They only saw things in terms of how it would benefit us.

Did that view change once you arrived and they experienced the reality?

Shockingly, I would say no.
Once settled, people soon adapted to the 'norm'.

How did your family feel about the end of apartheid?

Did you ever see anything that made you question humanity?

Namechanged,
Relieved.
Youcanaskmeanything
Lots of things.

As did I
When and why did you come back?
I had a wonderful childhood and teenager hood, but I am very glad I am not there now.

Youcanaskme,

it's shocking how quickly a person can become desensitized to a situation.

Do you live in the UK now?
What was your country of origin?

If you have moved back how have you adjusted to the move?

Did you have an awareness of how wrong it all was? My DH didn’t (also grew up in apartheid years). He eventually woke up when he finished Uni and voted for the new South Africa.

Huck,
same here.
There are lots of conflicting emotions. On the one hand it was the perfect childhood and teenager hood, but at what expense?

What's truly shocking is that when I was growing up there, I never truly thought about it.
It took leaving to wake me up.
Distance really does help a person to see properly.
When you're in amongst it, it's difficult to see things clearly.

One of my friends was a descendant of the original Boers living in Zimbabwe her father had an influential occupation
She has since moved to the UK.

I've told her that she must write about her experiences.

Do you live in the UK now?
What was your country of origin?

If you have moved back how have you adjusted to the move?

Purple Nail.
Yes.
England.

It was easy to adjust to the move.

Did you have an awareness of how wrong it all was? My DH didn’t (also grew up in apartheid years). He eventually woke up when he finished Uni and voted for the new South Africa.

Yes.
I think most people have awareness.
If anything as well as feeling guilt, I now feel sorry for the white people living in South Afirca. the tables have turned.
They are facing tough times and two wrongs don't make a right.

the whole situation is similar to Animal Farm.

One of my friends was a descendant of the original Boers living in Zimbabwe her father had an influential occupation
She has since moved to the UK

Purplenailvarnish,
In my experience, the Boers (Afrikaners) hated the Brits!
From what I've heard, the few remaining white Farmers living in Zimbabwe are suffering terribly.

but people don't care about that.

I've told her that she must write about her experiences.

Why not?
SA and Zimbabwe are amazing places.
I feel honored to have lived in such an amazing place.

When and why did you come back?

Huck frm Scandal.
The rand was going downhill,and it was getting difficult to sell houses.
that was the main incentive for coming back.