My humble plea to the white men
South Africa is a very beautiful country with a great potential. I'm one person who love this country and its ALL people so much. I think this country is in crossroads right now, the decisions that were taken in the past by National Party government some decades ago are now haunting us. When the NP introduced Apartheid they obviously did not think about the future of their own kids, all they have in mind was to oppress a black man and limit opportunities for black children.
There is huge gap between a blacks and whites, in terms of everything. I decided to write this article because as an observant and a very caring young man I have realized that this country is in danger.
Many people in this country are without jobs, it is becoming hard everyday for an ordinary man there on the streets. Most black people are calling for nationalization of mines, some are calling for land grab without compensation. Yes they have their reasons but I don't agree with them. I think the biggest issue here is shortage of skills. Does that mean SA doesn't have relevant skills? No.
I think SA has very good people with different relevant skills to boost the economy, but the problem is that those skills are mainly sitting within the white community. That's is why I decided to write this article. I want to take this opportunity and call upon all whites to share their skills with those who have been unfortunately sidelined by the past. There are many kids out there with great attitudes all they need is a kick start. All they need is a mentor. They don't need freebies
Please please, I know bad things has been said between whites and blacks but at the end of the day we really need each other. If we can wake up tomorrow and decide to chase every white person out of this country in which they belong to, believe me the economy will plummet within few months. If you look at the key sectors that contributes the most in the GDP , and all other critical sectors you will realize that us, black people we are a minority.
Why? Because we don't have relevant skills, there is no skills transfer between whites and us. Government policies such BEE and AA are actually not helping in terms of developing blacks, those policies are only enforcing companies to to employ blacks and enriching the few blacks.
Dreams
I'm calling upon all white people with relevant skills in different sectors of economy to make transferring of skills to a black man a hobby. You might think that this guy is crazy, they are white people who are also in need of skills and jobs. Yes I would agree, but while you are on your proposed hobby help those as well. You might also think that you don't need to help blacks with your skills because you don't care, and you have made enough money to last you and your family a life time.
Let me tell you this, young people are suffering out there and they are getting impatient by the day, so if we don't help them now, we won't enjoy our hard earned cash peacefully in future. One day these young people who also have dreams like me and you, they will take their anger to the streets and destroy everything that you worked hard for.
Just a little story about me, after finishing my degree, I had a basic understanding of what to expect in the working environment. I needed a mentor, I needed someone to believe in me and skill me up. My very good friend and my role model, Siyabonga Zulu, introduced me to Ferdie Versfeld who took me and gave me necessary skills that I needed as I was just a graduated with no work experience. I spent 3 years with this man and the likes of Richard Craig, who also played a very critical role in my career.
Whatever I have become in my career it is because of these 3 men mentioned above,who were willing to share their knowledge with me. I'm calling on you to do the same thing to some young boys and girls out there. I'm sorry if I'm boring you by telling you my success story. You don't need to attend church to have a caring heart.
Mr know-it all
We must tolerate, respect and embrace each other, over and above all we are all humans. The past has been more kinder to white people we all know that, and that has triggered my decision to politely ask all those who are in a better position to help, to raise their hands and save this beautiful country for the sake of our generations to come. We must create a conducive environment for them.
I'm not Mr know-it all, but I think if we don't work together as a nation then we are heading for disaster. Every white person out there loves this country and some of you are so committed in doing great things for this country but you are not doing enough when it comes to skills transfer.
Someone would say, what's the use of transferring my skills to someone and next day he/she would comes and take over my job, I personally think that would not be possible, an experience engineer will never lose his/her job because of a trainee. Experience counts.
You might also ask yourself that, what's the use of giving people relevant skills if there isn't enough jobs for skilled people right now? A united country is a stable country, investors would come running to such a country.
If as a country we can recovery confidence for capital resources to be invested in the economy development and stop threatening investors about nationalization, this country would created millions of jobs. It is a function of a business to create jobs that are currently needed, but the political will is very critical in that regard.
Government must provide business with infrastructure, confidence and good policies.
Before I conclude this, it is also very important to note that there are many black people who have already acquired relevant skills in different fields. Therefore, I also humbly and sincerely calling upon them to also stretch their hands and help. This country needs to grow a middle class, that can not be achieved if we do not fill the gabs created by the past and the present.
Havoc
Hating and insulting each other is not going to help but it's going to cause more havoc. As I said earlier, we need each other even more than before, I'm not asking for handouts but I'm just asking for your knowledge and experience at any field of work.
ANCYL is calling for nationalization of mines and Land grab without compensation, they seem to be full of anger and some illusion. I believe that their level of thinking is somehow retarded. We all know that they are being obsessed about themselves and their narrow self-interests.
I know that some of you will just read this and then forget about it, believe me you will remember this article when this whole beautiful country burns into ashes. When the smoke reaches every part of the beautiful country. During the recession Trevor Manuel used to say “We are in this together”.
I would really I appreciate if you could put more ideas on how this will be actually achieved or not.
If you feel like shouting and insulting me, feel free I don't mind. I would be really scared if everyone agrees with me. Maybe your shouting might wake me up from my wet dream.
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