Day 18 - Land of the Free

Tomorrow, 27 April, is Freedom Day in South Africa. Yet another public holiday where productivity stops, and people celebrate for it seems no other reason than just because. This is also the date that we as South Africans lost our pariah status in the eyes of the world (The pariah status was also temporarily lifted by the various governments of the world if, of course, our cheque was big enough to buy, um,  nuclear capability – yes true story -  or we had something like – let me think here – gold or perhaps diamonds to trade with. Imagine if we had oil!) and officially became a democracy. As far as whites were concerned we were already a democracy, with may I add, a battle hardened highly effective military, nuclear capability, a world class road network, effective banking systems, enough farming to keep us all fed, and an attitude and arrogance to put two fingers up to the rest of the world. But it had to change. We all know that and this was the time when all adults, regardless of creed or colour were given the vote to elect a government of the people.

Seventeen years ago, on this date, I stood, for hours in the rain and in the mother of all queues that enveloped South Africa House in Trafalgar Square, London. We stood. we chatted, I think we were all positive about it, I know I was. And I think most of us there were working illegally. It was what a young South African on a South African passport did back then. Everyone went to London, everyone worked. Everyone ducked and dived. Now, I digress somewhat, but ask yourself this; if you worked for British Immigration back then – you know, those people who used to give us a rev or two at Heathrow -  wouldn’t it have been a great opportunity to round us all up and send us packing in one swoop? Maybe African bureaucracy is not that far behind after all?

Freedom Day. Now that’s an interesting term. We live in suburbs, trapped behind barbed wire and electric fences. Our houses are alarmed, our perimeters are secured by invisible beams, we train our dogs and hope they will survive the poisoned meat sent over the fence to distract them. We teach our children not to open the electric gate or the door at home under any circumstances, those who can afford it, install CCTV to monitor the surrounds of their house, some employ permanent armed guards at their homes and businesses, other can only afford armed response and hope that they will get there before its too late. No one trusts the police to do anything positive or get there and one hopes that you never have to deal with them. The more organized street communities erect booms across the roads and guards check the comings and goings of neighbours and friends.

In our cars, we drive with the windows closed, at night you stop at the traffic lights and stop streets at your own peril. A visit to friends is pre arranged so that the gate opens just as you arrive in case there are bandits lurking. We all know someone who has been hijacked or attacked. We know people who have had their bank card cloned and accuse them of being ‘negligent’ or worse still ‘stupid’ because they let their card out of their sight.

We accept crime because our children know no different but we – as individuals and citizens and business owners and government we know how to stop it. But it’s not a profitable solution. Crime provides employment. VAT is earned off the replacement of stolen goods. Jobs are created by crime. But we put our collective heads in the sand and we blame poverty but won’t tip the car guard or the waitress. We carry weapons, of various types and intensity, the government wants to take away our licensed guns. Perhaps if they put as much effort into finding illegal guns as they have put into finding ways of disarming law abiding people our communities would be different. And safer.

I could go on and on. Freedom Day? What has our world come to? We, as South Africans of all colours, are all affected and hence have way less freedom now than ever before.  

And still we have majestic mountains virtually untouched, natural habitat and biodiversity that is the envy of the world, internationally acclaimed heritage sites and natural beauty that should bring people from all corners of the planet. We have abundant space and various climates. You can suntan and snow ski in one day, our beaches are magnificent, the majority of our people are friendly and welcoming. We have the solutions to solve our own problems but still this privileged life is deteriorating around us – and there doesn’t seem to be a way out. Is it just Africa? Is it going to change? Should we get used to it?

Does this frighten you? Has it at least made you think? Are you free to go anywhere in the land of your parents? Are you going to do anything about it? And finally to simplify this; how comfortable are you taking a peaceful, maybe romantic walk on an isolated stretch of beach?

Happy Freedom Day. Until tomorrow.