The ongoing controversy and mudthrowing between people (mostly black) who believe that whites have exploited them over centuries , stole their land , kept them from progressing and still control the economy to their detrement and their antagonists ( mostly white ) who are adamant that they stole no land , that blacks already control a very large slice of the land and economy through their own efforts , as well as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and affirmative action seems to increase in virulence and bitterness.
Some radicals in the youth movements even foresee a revolution where they will take the whites "ill-gotten" possessions by force. Many believe that there is a worldwide conspiracy amongst whites to keep black people in permanent subjugation. Many black people in South-Africa , elsewhere in Africa and also in the United States of America and Europe also believe that racism is still very much present and that whites still regard them as primitive and inferior.
The whites in turn accuse the blacks of having no work ethics and no enterprise and regarding themselves as victims of white exploitation referring to slavery and colonialism. They claim that there is no bias against blacks and that they must get off their backsides and work like everybody else instead of blaming others for their misfortune and lack of progress.
Both sides generalise to a certain extend but that does not detract from the fact that the ongoing war of words is driving people apart and take us further away from our icon Mandela's ideals of a united country where everybody prospers and brotherly love abounds.
Something must be done to turn the situation around and it will have to start with the ANC-goverment which is responsible for most of the frustration and negative feelings. It is their ineptitude , and failure to run the country effectively that cause the anger and resentment which is not directed at leadership but at people of other races.
If they are successful in fighting corruption, providing proper services, solving the education problems and creating conditions that will be conducive to job creation the whole mood in the country will change and there will be more harmony and goodwill.
As things stand now we are already regarded as a failed state by some political commentators.
Only black people have the numbers to rid the country of the ANC-goverment and their incompetent and often corrupt leadership at the ballot box.
Will they vote them out or will they continue with the futile practice of destroying property and burning tyres while the fat cats get fatter and the desperately poor grow in numbers ?
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