I recently took a trip up the N1 to the small Karoo town of Graaff-Reinett, I became astonished by the behavioral pattern of the people of this poor Town. The Town is mostly comprised of Coloured and African people and has a prevalent HIV/AIDS rate due to unemployment and poverty. The unemployment rate in this area currently stands at approximately 70% the majority of people are dependent on government grants, and their days are mainly comprised of drinking cheap alcoholic beverages to pass time.
Despite all these dire living conditions the people of Graaff-Reinett live are exposed to, I am amazed by the close-knit relationship that has developed between the Coloured and the African communities. These two communities are integrated to a great extent despite Apartheids legacy of trying to segregate people into different living areas because of their skin colour. The use of Afrikaans and Xhosa by both the Coloured and African community is found in Graaff-Reinett. Inter-racial marriages are a norm in this region and no one gives funny looks if an inter-racial couple walks hand-in-hand.
The Western Cape Coloureds and Africans can learn a great lesson from the poor people of Graaff-Reinett. This imperfect society is doing the right thing in practising the true meaning of ubuntu and living in a democratic race free society.
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This place sounds rather depressing, poverty is not cool! The same applies to rich people, they don't see colour because they are equals in the sense that they have wealth.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy they don't see colour, but I think it's important that they get empowered financially.
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