I am smiling at this avalanche of words, that Nic has triggered. White South African's, look at who you are: http://www.jahtruth.net/abraham.htm#Naphtali , and especially "he giveth GOODLY WORDS". You make me feel at home.

From the sound of it, South Africans, are more divided than ever. If only they realized that they are still tax-slaves to the state, with even beggars and cardboard-dwellers paying sales-tax, then maybe they wouldn't place their money inside banks that borrow worthless paper money from privately owned 'Federal reserve banks', thus causing inflation that exceeds the man on the street's received 'interest', thus hurting everyone. (What a fun life of banking!) All of which God outlawed in, Deuteronomy 23:19 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: 23:20 Unto a stranger (foreigner - a non-Israelite)* thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the "I AM" thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land where thou goest to possess it. *Deuteronomy 23:7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he [is] thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land. 23:8 The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the "I AM" in their third generation. Leviticus 19:34 [But] the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I [am] the "I AM" your God. 19:35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in Judgment, in measures of length, in weight, or in quantity. 19:36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I [am] the "I AM" your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. Obviously we have not obeyed God in this, so far, nor the rest of The Law. Therefore SA, like the rest of the world, unless people improve their morality, will soon go the way of all previous world empires. The dow jones crash of 2008/2009, was already worse than 1928/1929, and this crash was partly triggered by collapsing oil-supplies, and price-shocks, which will continue. It's always the 'money'-pulation. If we obey God only some of the time, then we are all criminals the rest of the time. http://jahtruth.net/ You're welcome to join SA in Distress, to discuss : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SADistress/

One thing I hate is the fact that the other side of our South Africans are unble to accept BEE, but that is not a problem yes for some people change is pain. The raiscesim esue is all over the world and if we can't accept ourselves as South African who will accept us. You know one thing fosure Apartheid existed in South Africa and we are saying let us put that all into the past yes we want to do that now tell us how are going to do that if we are every day keep on going back to the word that brought the deaths, shaime to the people who were poor that time jus to instill the fear of the master. You know the were people who were victimised by aparthied wich are still victimes today. If we keep on going back to the word what about those who adjusting with the scares and visons that can't go away from that time? You know if we are talking about South Africa today for me no body is a victim so let us not go back to the words that will never make us South Africans. Black and white isue is be coming boring now South Africa is multy racial coutry we have Colourd Indians and so on. Now we have to take our country foward and deal with isues and stop waisting time with the isues of aparthied racial issue existing.

I feel so grateful that I got to leave a bunch of ignorant, bigoted, miopic morons behind!

I remember as a young teenager being inspired by Nic and his family - who were pillars of decency in a morally defficient society. Thanks Nic - there are many people like myself who might never be able to thank you in person but you gave us the confidence to reject prejudism and help our 'neighbours'. You made us who we are today - so that we dont have lie when answering 'what team we were on...'. However - if South Africa now chooses to reject YOUR kids - then South Africa is in no better position than it was before?

I dont know what the fuss is about. its easy check my ID book and Passport it clearly states SOUTH AFRICAn and thats what I am . I dont know any family in Holland or any other European country. I am born in SA, my father and his father and so on was born in SA We are part of this country its history and future. This can get very technical as even black cultures migrated to souther Africa over the years so no one can really claim anything here appart from the Koi San. GET OVER IT we are here and we are contributing towards a better SOUTH AFRICA FOR SOUTH AFRICANS!! (BTW even Afrikaans is native to South Africa its made here and spoken no where else in the world but here)

Fibonacci (greatst mathematician of all time)??? It should be "considered most talented mathematician of the Middle Ages". Scrubzzz go zzz in peace.

Nic I was quite shocked to read your blog by clicking on your name below your picture. So you are a BBBEE “expert” who gets paid to give companies the populist view! Eish!!!! I found your article on Julius Malema nauseating. I dare you to devote an article to my question on BBBEE and Affirmative Action at the expense of white orphans while empowering the kids of the likes of Motsepe et al. You could extend it to reflect on poor whites in general but be warned that may leave you with the long-term dilemma of the white middleclass. You are the type of guy who made money out of BBBEE whilst probably blaming the poorer whites for gaining out of apartheid and BBBEE.

I have had no response to my question: Should white orphans be on the butt end of Affirmative Action? Could someone morally justify this practice for me please? I think it is like taxing you because your neighbour won the Lotto… I would personally like to see Zuma giving these kids reasons why they should make place for the kids of for instance Cyril Ramaphosa, Tokyo Sexwale or Patrice Motsepe. Also remember that organizations are incentivised through BBBEE to give funds to charities that do not support said white orphans. Perhaps Zuma and Julius could go on a visit and give presents to only the "previously disadvataged" orphans and tell the white orphans that their present is the guilt for appartheid.

oh noooo.... not this guy again. Please. He seems one of those older fathers who needs to bring up his kid according to a psychiatrist's book. It's deluded thinking. Why bring a 9 year-old into this nonsense. Let him play outside - oh no i retract that. outside is dangerous. So the little black kids will feel so bad - hey? are you serious? i get the feeling you have a kind of obligatory guilt feeling. The kind that disappears when your eyes are closed. Nothing you say makes any sense. plus you boast underhandedly on how white your kids really are. Just so's everyone will know there's NO mixed blood. he he he

What is wrong with all these people? Why are they so angry?

Hahahaha...and all the King's men couldn't put Humpty feel-good multi-culti Dumpty again....HAU!....me da thinking where's da Mandelatopia...EISSH!

Ok I am in a proffesional career being treated like a second hand ciitizen cuase of BEE. My kids also getting qualified as proffesionals. Then from an early age they have been deprived in sports and many ways in there lives. They despise the people managing this country. They want to get away. Can you blame them?

Yawn........

My snow-white maltese poodle growls and tries to attack any other breed of dog, excepting other white maltese poodles. Does that not tell you something? It is inbred , animal instinct to want to be with your own kind, and to fight off aliens.

@Jakerman you say "They call us illierate now wtf". You have just proven that you are illiterate, have you tried reading your inane drivel? Do you even know what that means? Got to say I love your explination of SA's history. If I could have learnt it like that in school, I could have saved years of studying. I can imagine your school career: Maths 1 + 1=2, check. English, Not needed. Afrikaans, Not needed. History, tell a couple of jokes. Science, Huh what is that? School done, 12 years in 5 minutes. Here have a top end management position, cos you were disadvantaged. You must have been, cos you cant spell and your History rendition is a f^cking joke. It is morons like you that are ruining what many consider as the most beautiful country in the world. Pity really.

I, too, have two sons aged 2 and 4 respectively. I would like to attempt to answer the question from the perspective of a black South African who is not allowed, by the state and assorted agencies of the state, to call myself and my children Africans... and admittedly, as a result, I am starting to wonder why on earth I would want to fight for this dubious honour. None of us "belong" anywhere. We have to carve out an identity and an existence for ourselves where our parents cause us to be born. We have to work towards being recognised for who we are and what our contribution is to our families, communities and our societies. In a time where one cannot assume acceptance by one's second cousin twice removed (or one's mother-in-law) for that matter, why seek acceptance by the populace of an entire country or its systems? We should stop stressing. We should acknowledge that many of us live better here, given the jobs we have and the income we earn, than we would, just about anywhere else in the world. We should be grateful for this. Let us belong in our families and be active in our communities. While we don't know the neighbours four houses down on the opposite side of the road, do we really have the right to care about whether our kids "belong in this country"? Do they belong in your street?

Your way is called "AFRICAN DEMOCRACY". Do as I say or we will come and beat you up. Keep the people down so they do not understand or do not want to! So that us few can rape the country and continant of the remaining wealth.

Without going into details, because I have my own views of the "take even though I do not deserve mentality", here is a solution. Those born before 1994 are disadvantaged, those born after 1994 but to (either) parents who were orn efore 994 are disadvntaged. Those born to parents born after 1994 are not disadvantaged.

. . Christ. . . Unbelievable. . .

Can I suggest that everyone be very careful, including me, because we are dealing with destiny, prophesy and God, despite what each of us thinks or feels. Arrogance will backfire on you. Humility may just save you; regardless of colour. 99% of Biblical (Nothing to do with any organised religious movement, because they don't know!!!) prophesy has come true in minute detail. Guess what that means? See for yourself http://www.jahtruth.net/horse.htm . Yes whitey has done some very bad things, when he had the responsibility to lead by example and he will pay; as in now, but no one is the author of the final outcome. But let him who has not sinned cast the first stone. We all know no one is innocent. Anyway much bigger fish to fry if you do some reading.

Is it possible to go somewhere else? I am currently living in the USA in order to study, but the paranoia that revolves around immigration here has led to plenty of assurances that I am not welcome to stay beyond the duration of my studies. When I graduate, I am expected to leave within 60 days. My brother married an English girl, and moved with her to Britain. But though she's a citizen, he is having a very challenging time sorting out his immigration, and currently can't visit me in the US, or our parents in SA, until his immigration issues are solved. We don't know when that will be, and so it was 18 months ago that I last saw my brother and sister-in-law, on their wedding day. There just aren't a lot of places willing to make room for diversity, and white South Africans are a symptom and signifier of diversity. But South Africa has the advantage of that diversity, and the opportunity to become something unique and powerful because of it. Our constitution makes that possible. We just have to maintain a focus on that goal. We really can all live together. We already do, and while there are problems, they don't have to make it impossible. Everything is challenging, but we just have to make it work. And we can be wonderful when we do.

scrubz - I must then apologize so please accept it . I just become so da..n tired for some of the comments on this forum that I guess it started to let me loose a bit perspective too. In fact I must admit I not even read your full comment. (I am by the way DEAF and Afrikaans speaking with English my third language and I dare one of the other commentors to do better than me with Afrikaans or sign language - That is except the well known middle finger - smile).

first you were european, then wit, then boer, then afrikaaner. you should stop confusing your children. tell the thruth you are slaves of the queen, jan van riebeeck found our country by accident, he travelled from europe for new land due to over population, poverty, disease, slavery to the queen. he stayed here had sex with our fore mothers went back to tell his king (stupid ass) of the so called no bodies land he found. the bitsch of england found out and declare war. makes slaves of the enemy ducth or boer at the time....you fight she thought o.k republic, but still my slaves ur not too many to built my colony but makes the homeland people slaves and take out the wealth but it comes to me. She was and is still the bitch in charge of you. The only reason you could get so called wealth was due the GUN and killed many of our forefathers but King Shaka learn you suckers a lesson thats why im glad to have a Zulu president. but we also have access to good weapons now. this AFRICA/ETHOPIA has always belong to non white people and cultures. we'll take it back course you brought a course here...you were always cursed...before you it was ethopia, no money but always food, wealth, happiness and good families ties. You stole it from our children but 1 or the other day we going to take it back. VIVA, the total of deaths called is not true as you are very good at covering up and lying. tell the children you were nver rich and will not now be. Our youth is taking the way foward. Our eldest are still brainwashed by your f@cked up ideals but we will built a new African empier cuz they were forced to do stupid sh!t for boer of grad 8 that time that became managers (It made the dumb sucker feel suprior). They call us illierate now wtf. wheels is turning, f^ck back to forefarther land where everybody is white and equal. Our ancient kings of egypt ruled over europe and its coming again. prepare urself course we are born leaders but were not allowed to develop and now we are...see the beautiful future

@Philv . Correction of web site reference http://www.jahtruth.net/abraham.htm

@Philv . Correction of web site reference http://www.jahtruth.net/abraham.htm

@PV, to answer your question "For those who wish to leave SA there's one question to be answered, Is it going to get better? You know the answer" Yes, i do know the answer as I am living it. Yes it is better after you have left, for the first time in years I have slept a full nights sleep. For the first time in years I am not being discriminated against because I am white. For the first time in years I am living in a country where the Police are there for you and not for their own back pockets. For the first time in years I dont have to dodge potholes in the road when I am driving. Fair enough I dont have the South African weather here in the UK, but I am able to live my life without being loccked away in my house that looked like a prison.

@Anton, you embarrass yourself with your lack of knowledge. Maybe you should open a book before you make comments in public.

Get off the drugs, Dude ... quickly. Your brain is showing some earnest signs of deterioration.

I don't care about the details...nobody has a RIGHT to burn schools and people for that matter in protest of whatever! I have never seen white people burning anything besides charcoal to cook meat on!!

What if very ancient prophesy foretold that Southern Africa (SA and Zim) would be owned by white skinned people and those white skinned people would be quite easy to identify? Ok, so who are these people? Saxons as in Isaac’s sons (Sons of Isaac) GENESIS 21:12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called [(I)saac's sons - Saxons]. And Southern Africa was prophesied as being theirs?? GENESIS 28:14 And thy seed shall be as "the dust of the earth"(>500 million), and thou shalt spread abroad to the West (USA), and to the East (Australia, NZ), and to the North(Canada), and to the South (Africa): and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (all from Brit Isles in the same order) Ok so which branch of the Saxon’s settled here? GENESIS 49:21 Naphtali [is] a hind (or Springbok!) let loose: he giveth goodly words. Ok, now we know that Southern Africa is Naphtali country, but the English (tribe of Ephraim) and the Dutch (tribe of Zebulon) settled here. So are Naphtali the French Hugenots? I am not sure. Ever used the famous South African expression Naph ie sound a bit like Naphtali’s brothers mocking him a bit? http://www.jahtruth.net/abraham.net Does this excuse the abuses that the Saxon committed on non Saxons. OBVIOUSLY NOT, and this is part of the reason for the pay back now. Saxons are paying for taking advantage of the power given to them by their birthright; making themselves rich at the expense of others and oppressing the poor. Another source of payment that Saxons are suffering is the willful and thoughtless giving away of their gift (the country) given to them by God. Remember what happened to Esau when he sold his birthright to Isaac for a pottage of Soup? You would not want to be Esau. Mr Joe Igbokwe of Nigeria makes a very interesting analogy, when he says that removing whites from Nigeria caused it’s falling behind. It’s clear that Nigeria was not given to the Saxons so they could not stay. It is the doom of men that they have short memories, hence Christ came to save them. See also http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SADistress for more info on the truth behind SA.

@anton:you should have looked it up,before calling people names.you are so incredibly wrong,and worse so for your patronising tone.afrikaans was already a subject.the rising was against the government trying to force the schools to instruct in the language of the oppressor.!i know this because my parents were amongst them.im sure if u had 2 google it...

I agree completely with Charlie and Ronald. I must say, although I agree with the points Nic makes, I find the very existence of the column disturbing. I don't think it has done much toward promoting peace between so called races, and the unbelievable blather of hate-speech and addled thinking that has populated the comments just prove this. We have some really sick people here.

@ Franko..... you criticise Scrubz, but your grammar isn't so hot either. Ever heard of singular and plural you arrogant git.

@frankc: firstly,i never claimed to be an engineer.im in DEVELOPMENT mostly!so what does that say about your reading skills?secondly,im writing on my phone,so i usually revert to chatroom language.and thirdly, i do run my own business.i run four of them and just sold a portion of the fourth one to a good friend of mine,who happens to be a white afrikaans male.so bite me!and you proceed to make the same point i was making at her,that each person is responsible for their own fate, DESPITE THEIR RACE.Yeah, speaks volumes about the issues you harbour.and another thing:before you start criticising people's grammer and spelling,you should at the very least take a minute to read your own post.

Thsif, You are the moron. They had to take Afrikaans as a subject only, not learn everything in Afrikaans. South Africa has always been exploited by greedy governments be it foreign or local. So BBBEE (Bulshit Baffles Brains Endlessly Every day) is just another way to exploit the majority labour force and keep them subdued.

Shells you moron, they burned the schools because they were forced to learn in Afrikaans.

not all white people are racists or took part in the apartheid injustices, not all black people are stones throwers...all that happened in the past was a way of raising concern over the injustices of the day. black people used whatever means they had at their disposal. we can not justify doing wrong in order to correct the wrong but it was to be done or else we wouldnt be free. we need to focus on breaking the racial divide, find workable solutions to this eminent issue

Why won't you publish my comments??!! Free speech!!! As I have tried to say 3 times now on this article.....the black people also had schools back in apartheid days so they could get educated and grow...but what did they do...burn down the schools! Now whose fault is that?! The white people definitely cannot take the blame for that!

I think it is grossly irresponsible to bring a white child into the world in South Africa.

"Every word we say or write goes out into the world in which our children live and grow". Borain, if you believe this, then why do you write such nonsense? Amazingly, I who have NEVER served in any ANTAAI -APAARTHAAID movement, however been serving OUR country and all its people for more than 30 years, has NEVER wondered whether or not I can truly tell my children they belong here. Furthermore my children has never been asked what they are doing here or do you belong here? My boy, a feisty redhead with obvious sensitive skin, like myself has no problem with affirmative action and work his butt off, side by side with his fellow South Africans in the hot African sun to make a difference. He has no doubt whatsoever if he belongs in SA. He knows, he does, because God placed him and his family here with a divine purpose. He also knows, he is the apple of my eye, my hero and I love him dearly. Give this to your boy to read.

The many blacks were not killed because they were black (else the entire black nation would've been slaughtered like the indians in America and the Mauries [spelling?] in Australia by the settlers). They were killed because they threw rocks, petrol bombs, burned schools, attack police stations, planted bombs, planted landmines, did farm attacks, supported SWAPO, infiltrated the country, instigate violent riots, etc etc. Honestly, if I were 1 of 10 police officers and a angry crowd of 40 000 arive at the police station where I'm situated, I will defend myself also (Sharpville). Now people will say "but they were children", you know what, a child throwing rocks and giving people a tire around the neck, is just as dangerous as an adult. And please don't come and tell me the ANC and PAC only targeted military targets as their original "resistance plan" stated. We all know that is bull.

Dear Tembo. Do you REALLY know for a FACT how many blacks was killed by whites during apartheid or do you just accept what you was told? According the Truth commission during the apartheid regime the number of deaths by political violence during 1948 - 1994 was 21 000 (46 years = 456 per year). During the Anglo-Boer war 1899 - 1902 the number of people that was killed during battle, from wounds or diseases and in camps was 75 000 (3 years = 25 000 per year) and today under BLACK government there are 50 000 + murders per year in South Africa). We didn't wasted our time with hating the English but instead we learn, work and build this country. With above figures PLEASE explain to me why 21 000 deads over 46 years is SOOO worse than the current 50 000 per year? The MOST important benefit that MOST white people got from apartheid was a GOOD education but the current government had 15 years + to give the black people the SAME good education but instead prefer to degrade our education system into hell. FOR ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE I just want to ask this question. WHAT IF the apartheid goverment was still in power BUT apartheid totally scrapped 15 years ago??

I think this is such a ridiculous article. If you are entrenching the "you are white boys" into your kids so early, then you are a bad South African. We shouldn't impress upon our children how different they are. That being said, I really enjoyed your previous column.

@Kehla: Your comment: Call yourself "white"...call yourself "black"...and immediately you become a racist...; would this then not make government racists as on all forms they ask whether you are African, Asian, European, or Black, Coloured, White. I get really upset when people generalise and say whites were privilidged. My parents grafted hard, very hard to provide for us. In addition, I had to pay for my own studies, no bursaries/no sponsorships. I studied hard and qualified well. I have two qualifications of which 1 is in IT that I achieved Cum Laude. When approaching companies for work end 2001 I was told you are academically what we require, but you have wrong skin colour as these positions are AA/EE/BEE. What message does this send? Is what was done before not just recurring but in reverse i.e. policies now discriminate against whites. There is a saying: Two wrongs don't make a right. True...so true. Governments, especially in Africa, stay in power by promoting segragation. They play the racial card, continuously like Julius Malema when welcoming home Caster Semenya. The largest population group in SA is between the ages of 14-19. This is the next work force, the next professionals and if they get indoctrinated into following and believing the words of a youth movement leader like Julius Malema, were will it end?

Stop making an issue of it Nic. First of all, pigmentation only make up 97% of the genetic structure of a human being. Below the skin we are all the same even though we do have different characteristics. But since you brought up the issue, you are doing a great discredit to the South African whites who even with all these adverse circumstances against them, are pulling themselves up by their bootstraps day by day and make a success of it. What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger and we all in South Africa are benefitting from this, now that is Patriotism!

"Every word we say or write goes out into the world in which our children live and grow". Borain, if you believe this, then why do you write such nonsense? Amazingly, I who have NEVER served in any ANTAAI -APAARTHAAID movement, however been serving OUR country and all its people for more than 30 years, has NEVER wondered whether or not I can truly tell my children they belong here. Furthermore my children has never been asked what they are doing here or do you belong here? My boy, a feisty redhead with obvious sensitive skin, like myself has no problem with affirmative action and work his butt off, side by side with his fellow South Africans in the hot African sun to make a difference. He has no doubt whatsoever if he belongs in SA. He knows, he does, because God placed him and his family here with a divine purpose. He also knows, he is the apple of my eye, my hero and I love him dearly. Give this to your boy to read.

Gabby, just read the article again..... Then wait a while and read it a 3rd time.... then read the responses... then read the responses ..... "again"

GIVE 80% of YOUR WEALTH to the rest of the country. Will that stop BBEEE / AA? (P.S. You already are donating at least 40% of your wealth through taxation, but of course, that does not count)

Hi "scrubz" With your grammar and spelling it's almost proof that she is correct in at least your case. Somebody that write like that and in the way you do simple CANNOT be a top class engineer. (What would you think of a Judge that wrote his verdict against you in that way?) Surely an ENGINEER should at VERY least be able to write properly, don't you think? If you was so "good" then why not starting your own business or am I correct that you don't have the guts and talent for even that? The problem with many people like you is that you is that YOU must be paid big bucks and be regarded as the best otherwise it's a racist issue but in real life even two identical qualified persons can have a very different income and circumstances. Get over YOUR issues because each person is responsible for their own life and future, nobody and nothing else.

Of course one should try to protect your child. After all there's a distinction between coddling and protection. And on the "right to be in SA issue", I am surprised that you, of all people, should be asking this question. My family knew your dad well and I have followed your chequered history through the struggle, and you should know, and ASSERT that although we may be paler than some, we are natives of this continent and country. It is my homeland, for the liberation of which some palefaces also died. No-one has the right to deny us that. It's simple.

@"Everyone, Black and white", it seems that a lot of you are making excuses for your own personal failures. Please move on, do what is required to be referred to as a success and stop blaming BEE, Apartheid or in-equality. You belong where you are now, not where you imagine you will be one day. Stop being part of the problem but rather be a part of the solution.

Nic your question "Do we belong here?". Yes we "ALL" belong here - I was born on THIS planet, and SA is a small part of THIS planet. Which brings even imigration laws into question. Which government has the right to keep me from living anywhere I want to? I will only forgive those that beacon off land for natural reserves like Antartica.

Everyone has a right to decide on their own future. What ever opinions will be raised on this article will not deter your ultimate decision. Whether you or your children live here not its up to you because people who remain behind will live their lives and there are many people of different races who are optimistic about this country coming good. It will and those who are pessimistic with secret hopes of unity not happenning will also witness this country be great.

I have a fair knowledge of your apartheid history. However you evidently know very little about our Nigerian history and the slaughter of the my people, the Igbo in Biafra. You softie south africans ain't seen nuthing of the real brutality of Africa because the whites did not allow such slaughters to take place. I say be careful. The white 'devils' you hate may be the mildest of devils is what Im saying. Further Im saying you should treasure these 'devils' because the benefits they bring are worth far more than any hurt they cause, which seems more emotional than the physical savagery of genocide my people suffered by fellow black africans.

No, no white person belongs in this country. African leaders iterate that fact every day. Should another country open its borders to us whites, how many will leave and let this place rot in its own cesspool.

it is the job of all of you to ensure that your children have choices. If you choose to tell them and instil in them that they will be discriminated against, so the cycle will start again. GHet on with it. A great opportunity for kids to make their way in this fine country. Whites will always be employed, so will blacks, chinese whatever....it's the hunger that will get one a position before another.

Remove colour from the equation! South africa would still have 65 000 000 people living in it (stopped counting how many illegal). There would still only be enough jobs for 50%-60% of the population. 10% of the country would still be paying tax and supporting the other non-tax payers. Inevitably there would still be poor, still be rich, still be poverty, theft, rape, murder and other crimes. I have lived in many other countries and they all have their issues. Even countries like Australia have corruption, albeit through disguised beurocratic legalalities. As a parent I would hate to negatively influence and raise my kids to believe that the only way to get a job is if they are black. No, the opportunities and jobs will always be there, and that is why it is so important that parents encourage and support their children to do their best. One day my children will have to decide for themselves where they want to live/work. South Africa is without a doubt the most beautiful country in the world, and had it not been for all the violence and crime, foreigners also would be flocking to our country looking for jobs and hoping to be part of this special country. Unfortunately the question I ask myself is not wether my kids belong here or not, it is wether they are in a suitable safe learning environment and have an opportunity to play with their friends and enjoy life without being a victim of crime. Can they go to school, Varsity, find a job and grow up in this counrty without being murdered for R10 and a cellphone, or without having to experience the trauma of a hi-jacking, or losing a friend/family member to senseless murder?? No one but no one in this country can say it won't happen, regardless of race. So if I am a responsible parent thinking in the best interest of my children, the decision is obvious. Statistically it is just too unsafe. Not everyone can afford to live in a posh Golf estate surrounded by 24 hour security, and even that can't guarantee safety. I have always believed that South Africa is a 1st world country with a 3rd world mentality. Wake up and smell the coffee, coulour has nothing to do with it!

The fact of the matter is that black people also migrated to the southern part of Africa from the North. Nobody can dispute that. We didnt walk we came by ships - hundreds of years ago. I have as much right as my fellow black south africans to this country. It is racist of black people to think or tell me to go back to Europe. I am not a European but an African.

This is a well balanced and objective article. Kehla makes a strong point that its not politically correct to discuss colour. Carol you need to know that I have suffered unemployment at the hand of racism even though I have qualification because I'm a white male. I have three children who I fear may be discriminated against for being white. I try and show them the potential this country has and reifnforce the need to be self employed as a counter measure. I believe AA embarasses my black friends and peers, and that the action is purely politically motivated rather than remedial action for the less advantaged. I pray for the day that I am seen as just South African rather than a white male who lives in Africa ...

Bob has R10.00 Fred has R1.00...Bob has a business and employs 10 Fred's. Bob's business makes R20.00. Next year he could employ 20 Freds.....but Bob leaves and 20 Freds go hungry..VIVA!!!! Maybe if BOB knew his children were seen as equal 20 Freds would work and eat.mmmmm....LOGIC....MMMMM..VIVA!!!

Bob has R10.00 Fred has R1.00...Bob has a business and employs 10 Fred's. Bob's business makes R20.00. Next year he could employ 20 Freds.....but Bob leaves and 20 Freds go hungry..VIVA!!!! Maybe if BOB knew his children were seen as equal 20 Freds would work and eat.mmmmm....LOGIC....MMMMM..VIVA!!!

After thinking about this for a while, I have a question: Should white orphans be on the butt end of Affirmative Action? Could someone morally justify this practice for me please? I think it is like taxing you because your neighbour won the Lotto… I would personally like to see Zuma giving these kids why they should make place for the kids of for instance Cyril Ramaphosa, Tokyo Sexwale or Patrice Motsepe. Also remember that organizations are incentivised through BBBEE to give funds to charities that do not support said white orphans.

@ PKV - you hit the nail on the head - Wake up SA's - the harsh reality is the situation SA is in now is as good as it will get - the only serious, rational debate should be around the rate and extent of deterioration. Those hoping/praying for some miraculous re-surgence of good-governance, law and order and decent civil society are delusional to put it mildly. In case you were wondering - I've been in New Zealand with my family for 3 years now.

For those who wish to leave SA there's one question to be answered, Is it going to get better? You know the answer

I am in Australia for my kids too. Hey I am opening up another door for them. they still love their country and look forward to going there again but think now they can have the best of both worlds. I did it because i could to have options more for kids than for myself. Why not I ask you. the world is a small place in the galaxy

"Que sera, sera Whatever will BEE, will BBBEE The future's is dark you see Que sera, sera" What will BEE, will BBBEE

The real issue is that there are many unresolved historical issues. And both sides don't want to acknowledge their positions. Because doing so will weaken their grip on the country.

Well, it's basic knowledge if you were to take a sample grouping of people in the economically active segment, the vast majority of them would be Africans native to this land. Thus whilst the government has an obligation to avail opportunities to all citizens, it's morally sanctioned to ensure the opportunities are equitably distributed, moreso, in light of injustices of the past. Sir, enlighten your children on the correlation between social security and equitable participation in the economy by all ethnic groups, and they might JUST lose the preoccupation of sun's hellish effects on their skin!

yes we belong, the legacy of nelson mandela is that whites shall never dominate blacks and that blacks shall never dominate whites, i pray this prevails as it has over the last few years. lets face it, we have lived in a country where injustice runs deep, as white people we have a responsibility, no a duty to build this country and to impact on the lives of those less fortunate than we have been. we do injustice to our children by whinging and whining, in general in the face of forgiveness and grace, us white people are largely graceless, bitter. try finding a job overseas right now, the economic climate is such that its impossible to expect a better life in a first world country. we are so richly blessed in south africa, lets build, can you improve the quality of life for your domestic worker, can you change lives. do we belong, our forefathers didn't whinge when they settled here, they built, they created, they contibuted. they also did many wrongs, in our attitudes lets make right, lets teach our children to change lives, we do belong......i am an african...

My advice to white South Africans: Forget about the job market. Use your degree and your skills and start your own business. Join forces with others like you and think big. This country needs you. Don't go waste your skills in another country. THis country does not belong to blacks only and I feel that we should let our voices be heard regarding Malema and his cronies. He has been going too far for too long now.

Mr Borain . . your children will never be accepted here in any realistic way, let alone in general terms. This is because they are white. It is because they are white and not for any other reason. Their personal innocence will count for precious little, and it will be of no practical help to them. Africa’s past seventy year history indicates that this will apply in three generations time as much as it does today. Hopefully your children will recognise the truth and not be fooled by a few exceptions, and so leave the sorrows of this continent . . . as my children have, and those of all my friends. I wonder if you would consider your children’s priorities by taking them, while they are young, to where their prospects are not dominated by racialism and politicians beliefs . . . to one of the places which “boat people” try to reach.

@Pat McGroin:m8 of mine in usa,republican,once made the same argument u made to me.except,he he concluded it,with something else:he asked,whether the usa can really say the african-americans have had an equal playing field?his argument was how do american jails hold mostly african-american males,mostly charged with drug-related charges,and then say the communities they come from,are on an equal footing as their white counterparts?(And he is white).he's without a doubt firmly against aa in america,bt he can't help but remain objective,because he's got a lot of information at his fingertips,which he utilises.its known in usa, the governemnt took steps to push drugs into the black neighbourhoods,so he asks,with that impact,can they really say all blacks have an equal footing?No, is his answer, but they do have a choice to avail themselves of certain priviledges,acknowledging though,that its definitely not on a equal footing to their white counterpart.but(and i do agree in some way) they CAN choose to take the hard way out,and avail themselves of the opportunies available to them.so i hear ya.@louis:anc is the problem in my opinion.iv had this argument with m8es of mine,since mbeki's first term in office.that the anc is NOT the party it once was.unfortunately ppl will not trust a white party in power,bcos lets be honest,there isnt one that has proved 2 have their interests @ heart.even the da:when i listen to their supporters(anc,da, even the so called christian based parties) over my wall,or @ work,i cringe and do a doubletake to make sure im not at some twisted rally.and ppl will always opt for the lesser evil,or the devil they know.i still remember my grin wen i voted for ol' Holomisa,knowin full well it was in vain :)-but i just culdnt do the anc thing.

@Letter From Nigeria. I can believe when you say you just visited SA and you know less about our history. When you ask the question "How many Black people were killed by whites". To answer you, so many that it not worth mentioning. Some of them are alive with scars below their hearts. To all my white community, let us not generalised under BEE, AA and the rest of the acronyms we have or not. This was merely a policy to balance the treasure that you had advantage of for more than 300 years, yes, more than 300 hundred years. Having said all the above, I'm 43 years old and never been employed in my own country. I'm proud to tell the country that I have employed more than 6 000 people of all race over a period of five years. I hire and fire them, white, yellow, black green etc. Professionals and unprofessionals. Please note, I'm not an affirmative product. I would like to thank all the white community that find our country as home. We are all equal before the eyes of the Lord. ICE CREAM IS ICE CREAM, NO MATTER WHAT COLOUR IT IS. LOOK AT THE RAIN IT HAS NO DISCRIMINATION, WHEN IT RAINS, IT RAINS TO THE POOR, TO THE RICHEST, BLACK OR WHAT. IT DOESN'T CARE. YES WE CAN BE ONE NATION, ONLY IF WE WORK TOWARDS THIS GOAL, ITS NOT FAR FROM HERE.

A retired friend of mine said about AA, "some eggs will be broken". My reply sounds good as long as you are not one of the eggs. Between 1999 and 2006 I worked an avarage of 3 months a year. So I left for the US. My family name celebrates 300 years this year in Africa but are still considered foreigners by black South Africans. In the long run educated white will leave and uneducated whites will stand on corners selling stuff or waiting for a day job.

Im so sick of articles like this and the comments to follow. WHITES and BLACKS will NEVER co-exist peacefully. The "color" that benefits is just dependent on the "color" of the parties in government and how corrupt they are. FULL STOP. I wish my children and I can just get a decent job because of "quality" and "character". Not get turned down because of skin color. FCUK BEE, it is BS!

My ancestors came to Africa in 1684. You are asking the wrong questions. Many of us feel like we are sidelined and there is no room to belong. I believe BEE and AA has less to do with this than the fact that whites are not grnted an opportunity to actually contribute. I actually had an Indian colleague ask me about AA: "how can I support a system that effectively undermines my opportunity". I've joked that it is like Fordism: you can have any colour as long as it is black. There also seems to be an "our way or the high way" stance by the powers that be. On the other we do not really have a choice: if I can not participate in this country then I will leave. Sitting on the sideline is not an option. The majority of ANC supporters truely believe that the ANC is the only party that will deliver on the ideal of an equitable country. The majority of people who do not support the ANC believe the ANC can not deliver on anything. What you are effectively asking for is a state where equity is still the ideal, but you want the opportunity to participate in this on your terms. I feal the same. The first step towards that is to know and understand the basics of our constitution and, as importantly, why it was written like that. Until we do not have more anti-ANC who buy into the constitution we can forget about changing things.

if you voted "yes" in 1990 you got what you deserve. we got the government we deserved and we will get the zimbabwe we deserve. ag shame !!

I'm African my my family on all sides has been here since the early 1800's. We have no family in Europe they are all here in Africa. It annoys me when I get asked if I'm European or African considering I've never been to Europe. And my family has been here for 200 years.

ANC is did and is still doing well to teach some of you what it means to be equal,clearly there are still elements who doesn't want to let go of the evilness of racism.I suggest that you stop moaning and do what you think is right for your little whity tribe.

Thought-provoking article, Nic. I'm relieved that you didn't elicit the usually racist ranting. I'm a white, professional Afrikaans-speaking South African. I'm teaching my 2 daughters to be strong, self-assertive women. They've taught me Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika. I hope that they'll choose to learn Sotho/Zulu. This will help them more than the German my eurocentric mother made me learn. I've got great friends of all colours and nationalities. My oldest daughter first boyfriend was a black boy, whom she dumped because he was playing her. I'm sure she'll find a nice boyfriend, whatever his colour. (She's 9) My daughters will decide for themselves where they belong. I'm proudly South African.

Great article Cliff, it is a discussion my wife and I had regarding our 3 kids. I dont feel that my kids have much of a future in SA at all. This was one of the deciding factors for us moving to the UK. What really upsets me is that I was a manager and person who believed in the upliftment of previously disadvantaged people, I trained these people to be able to be promoted and walk with their heads held high knopwing they were able to do the job correct. I paid for my Father-In-Laws domestic workers son to go to a decent school, helped him get a bursary to attend university, paid for the books etc that he needed to get through this. He is now a successfull youg engineer working in PE. What did I get as a white male for this, my job lost as I was not a BEE compliant. When I managed to work myself back up again, robbed at gun point, cars stolen, life threatened. All I can say is thank God I have a British Passport and can get my family out before one of us ends up dead. SA is a beutifull country with amazing people, just wish the government realised this. Maybe then they would do something about it.

as long as white kids dont burn down universities - study hard - get good marks - get a degree - they will never be without jobs - black folks (even with bee) are making it really easy for us

I am in Canada with my kids. I don't worry about much...

Call yourself "white"...call yourself "black"...and immediately you become a racist...

Hello Zimbabwe To all the white South Africans thinking of leaving ask yourself one question! Is it going to get better? You know the answer, don't you?

Please people, before you dare to comment here go and study your history properly once and for all!! Then attempt to answer yourself the following: 1 Where do the black people of Africa (Sub -Sahara) originate from? 2. Which group of people originally came from Kafiristan in Pakistan? 3. Who did the first Portuguese people find in Africa? 4. Who did the first Dutch people find in Africa? 5. When and where did the first encounter between white people and Xhosas take place? 6. Who was responsible for the Difaqane? 7. What was role played by Msilikatse and Shaka in the Difaqane? 8. What was the role of the white settlers during and after the Difaqane? 9. Where is the proof that black people legally owned land south of the Limpopo? 10. What was the growth - figures for black people in the time of Apartheid - 1948 - 1966/1966-1994/1994 - present? 11. How many killings were committed by the "architects of apartheid"( 1948 - 1966 )and how many were committed by the terminators of apartheid (1966-1994)? 12. What is the growth - rate amongst black people at present?? Get these answers and return to reality please!!

You get what you voted for. So stop complaining and whinging!

Nobody belongs anywhere. Act responsibly wherever you are.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. ... little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

When the Boers took over from the Brits in 1948 they created jobs for their Afrikaner buddies in government. Now the same thing is happening. Thank God for it. Teach your children that they must be entrepreneurs. Teach them that is the best way. That is even the best way for the black and brown children. They also don't have jobs. In their communities they don't have money to advance themselves with a degree. They sit at home, or go to the streets. And what do they find there, drugs and gangsters. Stop feeling sorry for yourselves. You have the brains to work for yourselves. There are so many opportunities in this country, and all that you can think is sorry for yourselves and your children. Try growing up!!

Cliff interesting article

well said. Claiming someones intellect has anything to do with colour is ignorant. People should be placed in universities/jobs because they are qualified to do that job not because their skin is a certain colour. I realise most black children dont have access to a decent education and if our government stopped wasting money and focused on educating our youth I believe most people of all races would back them. It would only benefit the entire country.

Hey SCRUBZ...the problem is that blacks are achieving a much higher failure rate.....Africa is a prime example. Even with 'level playing fields" in the USA etc....black males have a huge failure rate with work, fatherhood etc. We can't generalize as some black males are streets ahead of many whites....i'm talking about the larger %.

I have two children, just starting their teens. I constantly worry about my girls, they have been told by their classmates that they are not African. Friends have sent their daughter to England to study medicine as the university told them they had filled the white quota, only blacks would be accepted, but if she was willing to wait she would probably get in because lots drop out. All South Africans want this country to succeed, regardless of colour, we all want the best for our children. I hope this does not mean my family will have to leave, because I love this country.

In a way, BEE has made alot of (clever) people think out the box! We all have to realise that in this country, highly educated or street wise, you can put you mind to anything and be successful. The potential is and has always been there. Oh, by the way, I'm a white guy in my early 30's and I have never thought of myself an anything other than South African.

"But am I to accept that my children are invested with some kind of advantage derived from Apartheid?" Nic, the answer is yes. The children of wealthy people are advantaged over the children of poor people. In the absence of rare calamities for the rich or rare rags-to-riches events for the poor, this endures for generations, even centuries. In the context of South Africa, Colonialism and then Apartheid were mainly, (not just "in part") responsible for whites being wealthy and blacks poor. Your children's priveledge is the fruit of Colonialism and Apartheid. By the way, to avaoid being parochial in a globalised world, Colonialism didn't only benefit white South Africans. All Europeans cashed in on the conquest and enslavement of non-European nations. So your children are equally as tainted as the Europeans that they'd run to if they decided they didn't "belong" here.

@annes:lets get it straight.the other african countries:it wasnt referred to as apartheid,but they were treated as badly if not worse.they were exploited.when u generalise, in an attempt to assign a purpose to each race you're creating divisions.and ur generalisations are unfounded.for one thing italians make good opera singers?what about the italians that are responsible for the strides in philosophy?literature?art?mathematics?these aren't "Exceptions" to the rule.they were the "AVERAGE" as you put it.you're so concerned with putting each race into a box.what about past african mathematicians?the ancient egyptians?yes,they were good @ general labour, as evident in their pyramids,but they achieved that through their expertise in mathematics.there again, thats not an exception.of course there will be people who are more competent/better etc. but your argument that that is defined by your race IS racist.you're assigning ability by race,which is what the founding fathers of all forms of discrimination across the globe did to justify their atrocious acts.and in ur experience with africans?honestly,how many africans have u had experience with,that u can comfortably and accurately form these opinions with?my old man is the only person i know who is a practising Lawyer, General PRactioner, Surgeon AND with an engierring degree.but he's the exception?and the rest of his family that also hold mulitple degrees/skills?EVERY single one of my "Black" friends is a professional of some sort,and damned good at what he/she does.anotherm 8 from varsity,who grew up in the townships,never laid eyes on a computer in his life till first year, took the department's science achievement award for highest marks in computer science.yes and he's black.and 2 answer ur last question:because your history is distored to suit the "white superior mentality".Fibonacci (greatst mathematician of all time) wrote in his book,about being taught the basis of his further works by AFRICANS.Sir Isaac Newton, in one of his writings acknowledges his work was massively influneced by AFRICAN mathematicians.so im sorry,your observation is in fact a racial insult,even though you may not know it.to tell me im more suited to manual labour,because you've decided on selective history, is quite ignorant.im sorry if it sounds like im attacking you-im not interested in doing that-but as long as you're concerned with boxing and labelling according to race,u start justifying to (un)sound minds malema's racist remarks and views on hardworking saffers who just want the same thing as any other hard working saffer.@steve:as said as it might be,what u said in fact rings true.@jr: true points,but black were murdered and oppresed by the british also,its just not spoken of as much.and ur last statement..perhaps longer than some, but definitely NOT most.

SIR: On Thursday October 1, 2009, the National Chairman of our great party Chief Bisi Akande; the Lagos State Chairman of the Party in Lagos, Chief Dele Ajomale; his wife; the representative of the Governor and my humble self left for South Africa to inaugurate the chapter of our party. Business finished on Saturday October 2 and 3, 2009 in both Pretoria and Johannesburg. We had Sunday October 4 to look around. It was my first visit to South Africa and what I saw stunned me. Am I in Africa or Europe? Am I in America? Is this another Singapore? Could this be true? Where was Nigeria when South Africa was putting all these structures in place? If the white man did all these in South Africa why were the Nelson Mandelas of this world complaining? If South Africans got their independence on a platter of gold the way Nigeria got hers in 1960, would there have been all these structures I am seeing here today? Impossible! From what I saw on ground in South Africa, it looked as if all the companies and industries all over the world are physically present there. Ah! Nigeria has been left behind. South Africa is the potential and undisputable leader in Africa. Thanks to the white South Africans. I came to the unhappy conclusion that the mosquitoes that drove the whites away from Nigeria in 1960 did a colossal and unmitigated damage to Nigerians. I again asked myself these questions: How many black Africans did the whites kill before surrendering power to them? How many Nigerians have been killed by Nigerian leaders since they took over power from the whites in 1960? Let us compare the figures. I am sure the supreme prize South Africans paid to have the South Africa I see today will be so infinitesimal compared with what our leaders have killed to remain in power in Nigeria. What I am saying is that God should have allowed the whites to tarry for at least more 30 years in Nigeria and we would have been better for it. Mandela survived 27 years in prison because the whiteman was a better person. He could not have survived 10 years in prison in Nigeria. My conclusion after seeing what I saw in South Africa is that the whites left Nigeria in a hurry, and that is why we are suffering today. Had the whites tarried in Nigeria, Nigeria would have been like South Africa today. I want the whites back in Nigeria! Joe Igbokwe, Lagos.

Here goes. For all those that argue in favour of BBBEE and AA, know this fact. Income inequality is now worse than it was in 1994. The gini coefficient a measure of income inequality has widened. Google the research for yourself. These policies have not failed and are only polarising society as Tembo mentioned above. These are bad policies period. As a business owner I rebel against this sort of policy not because I am racist, I have many black friends but because I hate being told what to do and being forced to adopt policies by politicians who have never started a small business or tried to run a small business which I was forced to start because I could not find the work I wanted in my field of experise precisely because I was overlooked on the basis of the colour of my skin.

Nigel ... have you ever lived in another country!?!?! I've been living in the UK for more than 10 years now and I am still a foreigner. Don't TELL your kid there is no future for him in SA, he could be the next Bill Gates of SA but you print negative thoughts in his head so he will never see the oppotunities that knocks on his door. What are you going to tell him, after a few years in another country where he genuinely don't belong and is maybe struggeling to make a success of his life??? Bring him up with rules and regulations that he will know what is right and wrong and he will be able to make his OWN decisions when he is older. The grass is NOT always greener on the other side !!! Now, you are probably asking why I am voicing my opinion when I live in another country ... it is because I miss my country /family/friends every minute of every day ... I did not run away, it started as a working holiday experience and then I got a very good job. I believe, for now, this is where God wants to use me. We go back to SA for a month+ every year and already bought property to go back permenantly. And another thing, I agree with another writer who said that racial hate is only kept alive by politicians ... all in SA come along just fine when everybody respects their neighbour and we are not forced to be the same bacause we are not! Whites have different believes amongst them and so have blacks, browns, green and yellow! I am not a racist at all but because I am white, that is the label around my neck. Let us all be what we feel comfortable to be! Biggest problem in SA is the criminals (ANY colour of skin), get rid of them and SA is the BEST IN THE WORLD!

My sentiments exactly. Now been away from SA for nearly a year. Pity is that being from Africa no matter your skin colour seems to be against you in the greener pastures. My 9 year old son is the fascination of his peers being a "white" african with shoes, clothes and some ability to read and write. We will be SA citizens for at least 5 years even if we never go back there. We carry a special non-citizen document (DOMPAS) which we had to pay for ...and we have to let the local authorities know if we change adress or employment all the time. I was 4th generation SA with very mixed blood....my son 5th....and I felt in my heart of hearts we did not belong there.....but I am still trying to work out where in the world we would "belong". At the end of the day one makes your own happiness if allowed to do so in a safe environment of non-personal interference.

Maybe I'm out of the loop but there is not one single mate of mine (or mate of a mate) that hasn't found a good job and is progressing nicely in his/her career. Not one. I'm a 27 year old white male. In fact friends that lost theirs jobs in the UK are coming back and finding jobs immediately.

Mine is a mixed marriage - neither my husband nor I would be welcome in the countries of our origin (remember the 1990's Croat-Bosnian-Serb war?). Our children do not belong there. They are born here. I believe in possibility of mutual respect and productive co-existence. As in any marriage, so all of us who love this country have to work on our differences. Many of us love this country. And, as we are learning about South Africa's past (we are recent immigrants) many people gave ther life for this country, and their children do deserve to call themselves South African, regrdless of the skin colour. Each generation has it's own battle to go through. SO, get a sunscreen and work on it!

Nic Boarain, yes, you and many like you in politics and commerce were the privileged white elite. Most whites actually weren't; especially if they were not interested in working in parastatels, etc. Many of us whites back then were raised by single mothers or really poor parents who were only slightly less exploited than the people of colour. We had to do the killing and dying in the military, etc, for people like you. There were no share schemes or handouts or nice jobs lifting us out of dire straits. The only, only thing I as an ordinary white can thank the apartheid government (in which you served) for is the education we received - that was excellent, and the only passport for those who wanted to improve their lot. I do not want to share your or your children's privileged space. And I and my son will go nowhere unless he chooses to do so himself; he with other kids across the divide WILL inherit the new South Africa - I and many others will ensure this.

I don't know what you're whinning about because white people still occupy the most of the senior positions in the workplace and the few black people in those posts are foreigners. Go to any tertiary institution and count the number of cars owned by the black students and count those owned by the white students. white people in this country are obviously doing A LOT better financially. The white people complaining about BEE and AA clearly don't understand the concept. And no, I'm not black

The comments on this article are really long and make it time consuming to read an entire entry. before I even completed the article I knew that somewhere along the line Julius Malema and the ANC would be brought up. It really is exhausting when the article asks about a child and his/her identity and the challenges a parent faces to explain it, and the comments move from proudly south african to screw the blacks who are less than us anyway and they'll run the country into the ground etc. As a black women I also have questions and expereinces of my own that I need to deal with everyday. I walk into a grocery store and the lady at the till says "please let that white lady pass you in the queue, if she complains i'll lose my job". everyday as an economist I have to be excellent, I have to prove that I'm worthy of the job despite my academic record and work history. Everyday I fight a new battle and every night I pray for the strength to judge people by their action and not as a race group. Its my country too and not my country only.

Tembo, I just want to say that if there were more people in our country that had your views, it would be a far better place, hopefully one day !

I don't know what you're whinning about because white people still occupy the most of the senior positions in the workplace and the few black people in those posts are foreigners. Go to any tertiary institution and count the number of cars owned by the black students and count those owned by the white students. white people in this country are obviously doing A LOT better financially. The white people complaining about BEE and AA clearly don't understand the concept. And no, I'm not black

Did you know that in Zulu culture, when someone is declared a witch, all her (and her family's) assets are handed over to the chief, after they have been killed? A person therefore has a better chance if survival if they are poor, as the community targets wealthy individuals. White South Africans have been branded as "witches" and THAT is why the ANC sees the assets that white people have EARNED as not belonging to them. The point of AA and BEE (and "crime") is to "redistribute" these assets to the masses.

The big sin of AA and BEE is very simple to understand: It have made me, who was never like that, a racist. Enough said.

@Tembo, Great comment, I truly hope every door in the world opens up for you, sounds like you deserve it. And don't ever let someone make you feel like you dont.

What about the other African countries that did not have Apartheid. Were they also prevented from studying engineering? The point that I'm trying to make is that different races have different skills & fields that they are good at. Italians make good opera singers, Jews are extremely good at business (and in my experience as a teacher in almost every other field), Germans good at science, Africans good at general labour. Why can’t we just focus on our special skills and forget to ALWAYS WANT TO COMPETE WITH SOMEBODY THAT IS OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE. There will always be someone more successful more competent more good-looking more witty than you. I teach my children to focus on their own talents and to develop those. In my experience the average African is not that good at analytical thinking (If course there will be exceptions but I’m referring to the AVERAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!). This is an OBSERVATION and NOT a racial insult. Africans are good with their hands in terms of general labour etc. Apartheid did not exist during the 1500 to 1900. Why then do I learn about Newton & Gauss that was famous mathematicians and NOT about !X!!G or Koi Shan people? Apartheid can’t be blamed for everything. This country belongs to ALL of us and I will not be told by ANYbody to leave.

This same issue sufficed in 10 000 BC. It will probably linger for the next 10 000 years. As for the writer of this article,You are currently situated in Dark Africa. Thats the same country where JM of ANCYL lives. It is your prerogative to leave the country in order to save your family's skin. Maybe one race per country is the answer to racial dominance.

I entered the job market in 99, well after BEE and AA was implemented, and I have a wonderfull career, so does my husband and all the other white boys I know. I have been overseen for promotion in favour of a black person, but rather than just blaming BEE I considered the option that she was in fact better than me. I used this to improve myself and next time the job opens up, it will be mine. I'll be sure to teach my kids that the only thing that could ever stand in your way is not facing responsibillity and playing the blame (BEE) game.

I like the way you feel your apartheid education made you advantaged. I happen to agree with you, the education system we grew up with was great, and that to a large degree made us successfull. Look at the education system today, an absolute joke, and for what purpose?

I am not from ZA my husband is and I am of European decent, so I can be perceived a white person. Honestly, I still don’t know a single white person with qualification and high education in this country being jobless. My kid is four, blond with blue eyes and he loves this country and his rainbow friends, I do feel your concern sometimes but I do believe that this new generations will be in a better place than us

"It's sad that people, I'm talking about white people, like generalising about BEE and it's effect against them." You're complaining about generalisations, and there you go generalising about whites. Well done.

As someone who since 1994 has (under duress) had to apply strict AA rules and vastly different cut off scores on psychometric tests while selecting people, I hope Nic will be so gracious when his son who studied hard gets declined for one of a hand full places at varsity so that someone with a lot less determination, potential and will power can take his place based on the colour of his skin alone. If you can give up your kids future like that Nic, I salute you.

Gees, I'm a white Afrikaans guy born in the 80s and I'm also looking for all the land and money my parent were supposed to give me. I don't know of a single family memeber of friend that ever received any land or loads of money or anything? The only land I have is a 1500m2 piece, where I build a 400m2 house on. The only reason I have money for this, is because I spend 7 studying after school (paid by working at restaurants), not spending my time burning down universities and rioting &talking about racial issues on sites like these. The point is that focus must be changed to move forward. Black people shouldn't think everyone owes them. Afrikaans people were murdered and opressed by the Brittish during the war, which is much worse than apartheid, we moved on and don't hold all these grudges against them. When some fools use the word "raped" on this site, it just shows the severe hate they have, who knows why, but I also don't care. While you are moaning about 20 years ago, I'm having a braai and beer at home, thinking about the future! As a final thought, most white South Africans have been in Africa much longer than most African tribes moving down from the north. Who is more South African....

I had a black horse and a white one too. they loved eachother. They woudl sit nipping eachothers backs for ages. I have a black cat and a white cat and they only fight for affection. I have seen grey birds, white birds etc all flying together. Its only in the human race that we somehow think that skin colour is so important.

tc, i agree with you- my family has been here since the 1600's-really-i have no idea how many generations that may be- and i did not have any financial help from anyone in achieving my 2 degrees and other qualifications. who then benefited from that which are held against us every hour of every day?certainly not me.i love this country-its in my bones and in my blood. i am most certainly not a european. but every day i long to go elsewhere where sanity prevails.-where first generation illegal immigrants are not forcing the true contributors to this country out of their own home-here it certainly doesnt.if i could go to the states tomorrow, i would. but unlike the true europeans living here-i hold no euro passport, or ancestoral visas.there is no way out of here for a 13-generation-in african-"european".

Good one! But on the other side... BEE is not only against the white people of south africa... If I am white, my kids will have to live and accept that this is not really a country where they belong because they are white. If I am colored, my kids will have to live and accept that they are a product of history and not really have a place in South Africa... If I am black, my kids have to accept that only certain black people are part of the elite and they will stay slaves because other people we voted for, must have all the shine and glory because they were done wrong to in the apartheid era... I live the same life I did in the apartheid era... I am not one of the chosen few in government, that are allowed to pick the rotten fruits of the apartheid downfall... The South African Government make me think of something that is so heavily in the news every day... Zimbabwe... I think its time for us, as TRUE SOUTH AFRICANS, to take back OUR land... Skin color has got NOTHING to do with it... I AM A BORN SOUTH AFRICAN AND PROUD OF IT! Just a pity some damn idiots got a clever plan to govern our country with lies, theft and deception!

when in our our lifetime are we going to refer ourselves as human beings and not labelled by the colour of our skin,we all have the same organs and if needing some form of transplant certainly dont worry about the colour,cheers bothers and sisters

This a dilema even if your kids are adults. Two young professional adult daughers with great careers - but they have to go for the sake of my grandsons. I will never hang the same "guilt" noose around their necks that my in-laws did when we tried to emigrate in 1994. We stayed because of them and of course, now they are long deceased. With Africa's history, even in 1994, I knew we had to go to keep the family together. Now 15 years later, my kids will go but feel we are too old to go, effectively breaking up the family that I tried to keep together by leaving when we were ALL young enough. At the time, even my brother said to me "what are you thinking, look how wonderful Zimbabwe is" Famous last words before the lights went out

Lovely article, my view is that we have to at some point put a cap on it...will your kids' kids still be subject to the same and their kids too? No they should not, you ont he other have grounds to feel-bad about the history of this nation, a part of it that you reffered to, cos you benefited-perhaps-igonrantley i say-believed to an extended in-up for correction. Kids had nothing to do with...the question of belonging, no one should ever answer for them, they will have to endure the ills of life to make thier own decision, if they feel they dont then they dont, if they feel they do, then trust me they right at home. lovely article and all comments were imformed-relative to the fact that we all have our views.

Tembo, I feel you.

I am a white male and I deny ever benefiting from apartheid. My father was a labourer. For many years I went to school without shoes, simply because I did not have shoes. our family never had a car. I never participated in a sport because we could not afford it. Yes I worked hard at school and went to varsity, paying my way with loans. I worked for five years to repay my study debt. I now find myself in corporate environement. I consider myself to be excellent in my priofession. Yet, I am being discrimated against because of the colour of my skin. I am being reminded every day that I am less welcome in this country because I am white. Like an idiot I am sticking around because of my family and parents who cannot leave this country. I am also stickung around because my family has been in this country for 13 generations, probably more than many of our black MPs. I hate AA. I hate BEE. I have lost every grain of my patriotism. Yet, strangely enough, I have beautiful an loyal friends acros the colour devide. I will be prepared to die for those friends if necessary. But I will not wink an eye for this country its politics and all its crap. I will not even try to explain my attitude to myself or anybody else.

Nic, find something else to write about! So your children will grow up with a positive attitude.

True - the hatred present in these forums is not there in my real life. We are getting on with it. Black zulu kids surf with white and indian kids in Durbs now. That little scene alone was enough for me to keep loving and believing in our spectacular country. White boys and girls belong here, and by the way, this is a democracy and a growing one at that. Dont let the haters chip away at it...

All whites and blacks born and bred in Africa find themselves here due to an "accident of birth". I did not ask my forefathers to come here, neither did my grandfather nor did my father. None of us asked to be born "white" that is just the way it is. But I know I do not belong here. As a so called white I know that I will never be accepted as a true African by my "black" bretheren. I know it from their racist behaviour towards me, I know it from the way they look and behave when I am in their company. I must say not all of them, just the majority. I so wish I could go to a place that I could call home and feel at home because I know that as long as I live in Africa I will never be welcomed here as an African even though it is the only home I know.

Some white people make it sound as if life is easy for a black person especially a graduate. If you look around and the statistics agree there are more white people employed than there are not, black graduates struggle to get jobs as well and no its got nothing to do with merit. Your children belong where they want to belong if they want to make Africa or Europe for that matter their home then should. As for people who want to leave this country you are not unique, there are 7mil people across the world who want to move to another country according to a recent survey published yesterday on news24. So make your choice and move on

South Africa is part of this planet called earth and whether you like it or not we simply borrowing it while we alive, when we die it stays where it is and the next generation borrows it for awhile. No one person on this planet can claim any portion of Earth as solely theirs. They did not get permission from Mother Nature to own this piece of land. Like animal migration, human migration takes place all the time and we have every right to go where we want when we want. And you don't have the right to tell me I don't belong in a certain spot. South Africa is my home, deal with it.

A few years ago I worked in the USA, the one evening a dude (American) asked me where I am from. I said proudly, South African. He laughed and asked me again. This time I said firmly - South African. He did not believe me, and laughed at me. I felt deeply saddened by the idea that people can't understand that I DO NOT want to say that I am form European decent. I love this country and would not call myself anything else. I get a tear in my eye when I think of a perfect and peacefull South Africa. I would love to embrace all cultures of the wider RSA, but with politicians fueling the race hatred - and nobody monitoring the racism from parliament how can my generation succeed? Where are the morals of society going, when nobody can curb the racist political leader comments?

This is directed to Ash. You obviously bitter and twisted and seriously misinformed. I am white and my family have a very long history of anti-apartheid activity. We often went without my father being home because he was either in jail or been sought after by the apartheid police, he would go hide out in Nongoma, Ulundi, Nqutu and other areas. As a white guy I was just lucky to be born white in South Africa, I didn't ask to be born white I just was, I was born in 1971 and was only able to vote in 1989, but unfortunately during that time I was in the SADF fighting a war that I certainly didn't want but hey as a white South African I had no choice, it was forced on us. When I did get to vote I voted for the party that was the most liberal at the time, that was soon followed by the referedum where the new white generation showed the old white generation the door. In fact a landslide victory of 68% of the 82% turnout. We voted apartheid out the window and rightly so. Should we suffer the sins of our farthers? Depends who you refering to, if you imply ALL white people then you have absolutely no clue just how many white people fought against Apartheid, that will never be made public because it does not'serve those who don't want you to know. To point fingers at white people in general and accuse them of apartheid is foolish and ignorant, and you wonder why we react so strongly and angrily because your accussations are unfounded and insulting - as much as black people in this country being called stupid and uneducated - so if you don't like being refered to as inferior and uneducated them may I suggest you stop pointing fingers at white people and blaming them for apartheid because when you do so trust me the feelings are mutual, especially the young whites. Are they still benefiting from apartheid, maybe but to assume every white is is just foolish and down right ignorant. You say stop stirring racialism, please reread your comments and ask yourself who is the racist...

John and the others,your son will get a job like others,AA doesnt mean that whites are excluded,its aim is to balance this notion that other race is better than the other like the way apartheid did,what apartheid did was cruel,why are you guys keep on defending apartheid?a lot of whites didnt race their voice back then in apartheid,i knw we cant all be equal as far as money,qualifications etc is concerned but atleast theres no boudries as to where one should live.

To Nic - thank you for writing your article. As a young dad (my first-born is two years old and the second is on the way), I do worry every day about much of what you have written about. Thank you for giving my thoughts and feelings a voice, of sorts. I come from a VERY privileged background with access to just about every benifit I could have asked. I never had to ask. Like most of my peers, I was largely oblivious to the incredibly fortunate position I had simply inherited by virtue of family background. At 24 though, having been retrenched as a result of my employing company deciding to sell itself, I was suddenly (and remarkably) quite unemployable. That was 10 years ago. I took the opportunity to join my (then) girlfriend's fledgling business and help her to build it, creating my own path and choosing my own battlefield. We have been very lucky and fortunate in that the business has grown incredibly well. From a small, two-man operation, we now employee 36 people and export our goods to 34 countries. Along the way, we have had two car-jackings, multiple break-ins, a few assaults and some other stuff thrown on top but we could NEVER have done what we have done in another country for a variety of reasons. I believe that irrespective of background, it is precisely because of what makes us all South African ) as individuals (i.e. our culture, our character and our incredible diversity) that we have the most amazing opportunity here to at least believe in a possible future and do our best to make that future happen. This is how I choose to live, how I stay hopeful for my children and it is also what I hope I will be able to teach them once they are old enough to understand. It may not be without its hazards and frustrations, but I firmly believe SA is actually ‘alive with possibility.’

Stop crying and whinging folks, you cry about your 8 year old boy's future in SA. Who said that AA and BEE will last forever. As soon as the imbalance of the past has been balanced then they will be done away with. We did not take the control of this country to make the so-called white man to suffer like you always wanted us to, but we want to make sure that the wealth of this country is distribted equally to all the citizens of the republic. Look and African child suffered for so many decades under the oppression of the white minority where we were treated like dogs in our own country, so with you just 15 years you feel like centuries. At least you have the freedom of expression under the democratic regime which we did not have under the oppressive one.

@annes:that is blatant racist.first,ure suggesting that whites dont employ based on colour?2nd,ur saying africans dont make competent engineers?why must the black student be top of his class,but the white be average?(you didnt say the latter,but then i ask are u suggesting that all white engineers were the top of their class?)i wish u wuld conduct some rudimentary form of research.basic research.just an iota.you would realise how incredibly factless and insulting your comment is.ill hav u know,i beat most of my school mates,varsity mates as well as work colleagues on most of the speheres of my career.(programming-and i majored in maths and science)i remember having to give training to the people who in your words are "light years ahead in our development than Africans".have u any idea how bloody hard it was for me 2 get work?and the result of struggling 2 find work,is i ended up with a couple of degrees&diplomas 2 fill the time.the only reaosn i got my first job,was to fill "Black quota".so lets be honest:its had nothing, and its got nothing to do with who's best for the job.if that were the case, many of me and my friends who got passed up,would have been employed because of our records,not because of our skin colour.so many of my nonblack friends from my generation couldnt fathom why i was struggling,wen they were/are walking into fantastic positions with less qualifications/experience.ur views are racially motivated(that you might not know it,doesn't make it less so).fact is,my entire life iv had 2 work harder @everything 2 prove im capable of competing in the same arena,striclty because i am black.and that hasnt stopped because of bee/aa.all thats done is give white people a new platform 2 say:"you see, we told you!"if we fail.and in the words of one of my best mates father (who is white)before i started my own company:"you are allowed to fail.there is a misconception here and on this continent,that black ppl are not allowed 2 fail,because then you "prove whites right".what no one talks about though,is all the whites who do fail,and keep @ it,but no one sees that as negative,or wrong." @author:ur kids definitely belong here,despite what chops such as malema say.its going 2 take more ppl who want to see sa move forward,to step up and vocalise that.but they hesitate,out of fear.its the children who get told in backhanded fashion:ure superior to blacks,because your'e white,that are going to have an incredible hard time growing up here,and frankly,as much as i hate saying this (As it puts me albeit minimally in the same camp as malema) they should leave.bee/aa shouldnt be applied as it is now.but yes i believe its neccessary.to the extent of when your children join the workforce?BEE no, AA i unfortunately think so.but on the whole interesting article,which unfortunately derived the wrong debate in this comment section(me included.. :( )

We live in a global economy where the countries who can offer their citizens a good quality of life, employment, security, healthcare and other services will attract the best and brightest. When citizens feel that their country is not offering them these things, the good ones leave and those left behind; the unskilled, the old, the poor and the sick will be left to sink with the ship. Is that what we want for SA?

Point to ponder : WHY does the present ANC led government apply racist/apartheid policies regarding Identity books/passports ??? Why does it mention (by code) that you are white,black etc..... I thought we are ALL part of the rainbow nation, ID books should only say we are ALL South Africans & should not indicate colour whatsover - nothing else ! We are God's creations & cannot help for the colour of our skin, but people like Julius Malema LIKES keeping racism alive with his hate speech against whites - WHY ??

Yes it works both ways, our kids, if we didn't continuly interfere would all grow up as South Africans not based on colour. However try and explain to a child why he didn't make the provincial swimming team, or rugby team or what ever else team when he came in second place. The first place gets in regardless of colour, the remaining places are made up of people of colour regardless of where they came. This unfortunately is stirring the pot in the younger generations and questions are being asked as to why this is so. There are other area's of sport as well that practice this. So actually it's reversed plain and simple, and the younger generation are getting their noses rubbed in it. At the end of it all when my kids finish school they will make there own mind up. Quite frankly I'm sick of both sides who only see colour no one sees the person for whom they are! until all are equal nothing will change, its nothing to do with colour it's all to do with the have's and the have nots. rich and poor etc.

Anne, ek dink jy is 'n domkop. It was the apartheid system which prevented us from doing the courses such as your engineering. Our potential as blacks was limited by the apartheid education. It the 80s blacks were not allowed to enrol for courses such as engineering without the permission of your minister of education then. Another thing is you learn all your courses in Afrikaans, which is your vernecular which gives you an unfair advantage over blacks who has to learn and write exams in English. I believe I would be fair to say Blacks are more intelligent than you.

My poor little boy, he also wonders where he came from - even though his great-great-great-great-Grandad arrived in SA in 1659. 350 years of South African blood in his veins but he's still a foreigner. Where should he go too?

I am white male, I work a 13 hr day, I did not get the job because i am white or my dad new somebody, i got it on merrit 7 techies started out, 6 black 1 white... the other 6 are missing and evrytime there was work or after hours..... could not be found anywhere... makes you wonder, Secondly how am i resp. for what happened in the 80's I was in bloody diapers, I am not sorry and atelast the bloddy country had roads as well as medical health care

Ash you just exposed yourself as being a blatant racist. "Raped the country", at least the country is not a human being that will carry emotional scars. Ash you just confirmed to me that you are indeed a 'ágtergeblewene' (a left behind). You will always be left behind with intellect, good manners, civilisation and all things connected to intellect and logical thinking skills. Actually you chose the correct name to place your comments under (Ash). It's correct because it refers to the state that your brain currently is in. We as Europeans has nothing to be ashamed of and everything to be thankful for. Our nation W O R K E D for everything. We did not get it from stealing or receiving free jobs from the government. We WORKED. Something that you and many others know nothing of. So please get back to your grave and stop exposing your stupidity to the whole world by making foolish comments. LEFT BEHIND.....

It is unfortunate that your children has to bear the brunt of their fathers, but the inequalities of the past has to be addressed and balanced.It's just that they were born of the parents who who were advantaged by the system of the past, but as time goes and when all the imbalances has been balanced all will be normal just be patient and endure like we africans did for so many decades.I rest my case

I will not say much about the BEE that you hate so much, as a black person - I have never benefited from it and no one in my family has ever benefited from it. It's sad that people, I'm talking about white people, like generalising about BEE and it's effect against them.I went to school, was a top student amongst black and white kids; went on to tertiary and again was top student amongst black and white students. I am one of the hardest working people in my company today but after 9 years in this industry and a proven record of success, I still need to work 3 times harder to prove that I am no fake and I am still the only black female face just like in all previous companies I've worked for.Now life would be a lot more difficult for me if I focused all my attention on racial issues, the past and current injustices even though they get flaunted in my face everyday. I have a daughter and to be honest with you, I would love for her not to grow up in a country where on top of all the really serious issues like crime, poverty, corruption etc, she would be reminded that she's black and black people are lesser human beings. I'd hate it if she grew up to be reminded that the parents of her white friends are racists (just because they're white) and they supported apartheid (again just because they're white). This kind of generalising is what destroys us as human beings and using it to teach the next generation is really not going to solve anything.Now I just need to find a place for my daughter where she doesn't have to think she is a lesser human or that she's disadvantaged in any way.Just like her grandparents (my parents) and her parents, she will never allow herself to be affected by politics and she will rise above anyone who makes her feel like a worthless person just because of her race, she will not see any person's race but their heart and I will do everything in my power to keep her away from working in the corporate environment.

I AM WAITING FOR THE DAY WHEN ALL CITIZENS OF RSA REFER TO THEMSELVES AS THE SOUTH AFRICAN RACE. THEY SHARE RESOURCES EQUALLY AND NOT CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO MELANIN VOLUME IN THEIR SKIN PIGMENTS. THAT DAY WE SHALL SEE WHEN ALL THOSE PASSING THE APARTHEID LEGACY TO THEIR OFFSPRINGS CEASE TO EXIST. OUR FORE FATHE'S BLOOD SEEMS TO HAVE SPILT IN VAIN. I WAS TOUGHT THAT SEEING COLOUR CAN ONLY BRING PREJUDICE. SEEING NO COLOUR BRINGS PEACE & PROSPERITY. (To this day i am told to stick to my race when seen with my wife)

VERY interesting article....... and I believe represents the opinion and concerns of the majority. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing our black brothers & sisters succeed in the new SA. It gives one the sense of completion....... as though the battle has been won. However, it really does ruin it all when we ready about the curruption where the BEE / AA system has been taken advantage of!! There is no need for hatred though....... we can save that for Mugabe!!

White people in South Africa are forced to become more effiecient, better qualified, harder working, more professional and multi skilled because it is the only way they can rise above BEE. Conclusion...BEE is empowering white people even more than it is blacks. See the other side of the coin and smile.

@John To answer your question: As long as it takes.

If this is what you tell your children you should be ashamed of your self you were probably one of the people on the Apartheid team and by saying what you have i feel no pity for you when people rob and steal from you as you more than proud to be light years away from the underprivleaged infact you should go light years away from earth i hope your house gets broken into and your become poor so that you will no what lights years me DOOOS "I always tell my children that we have nothing to be ashamed of and that we are light years ahead in our development than Africans. BEE is racism to the nth degree."

I'm not white and have a mix and mash of genetic material that's not African. Sometimes I also wonder if I belong here. When we travel people are always asking where we are from. If we say South Africa they ask where our ancestors are from and we have a vague idea of the different strands but generally prefer not to explore any of it. Since we were born here this is where we want to make our contribution and enjoy our lives. My son will have to compete with everyone else's for the same resources and it will all come down to his own efforts and hard work. This is the reality around the world and part of my responsibility is to help him do his best and accept this reality. The new generation have less baggage. We just have to make sure we don't pass ours on to them.

Yeah right its obvious that jesse is still gaining from what apartheid thieves reaped as you have all the riches your father left you and you know for a fact that the scale hasnt balanced yet because majority of the rich are white who gained that status from Raping the country during aprtheid times its clearly visible and WHITE PEOPLE ARE WAY MORE RACIST THAN THE BLACKS.Im Indian who grew up in apartheid and was a teenager in 1994 i can tell you for a fact your children are still reaping the benefits apratheid left behind and people like me worked beyond all obstacles to achieve what we have so yeah is you wont accept that you and your children are still benefitting from apartheid then maybe you should take em and leave else keep quiet and stop causing racial stirs

Most people would want to see Black people progress. But if progress means that they will have to change their culture from collectivist to individualist, will they accept this. Will they accept that they are not their brother's keeper? The culture of Ubuntu is a whole lot more damaging than history. You can't have it both ways. If you wanna be a commie, collectivist, socialist, unionist and the rest, then you will never be free.

Were you top of your class? Did the white engineers fail their degree? You get a position based on competency. This should be THE ONE AND ONLY criteria. Africans are not that good at engineering and it might have been that there were other better qualified people to chose from. Why do people always make this a race issue. Africans have other skills and should focus on their own unique strengths. Why always blame whites for "not wanting to see Africans progress"? Life is survival of the fittest. Study hard in a direction that you have a natural ability for. I have years of teaching experience and can vow to the fact that some races are just better at analytical thinking than others.

Like steminibos above, I am 6th generation South African. My kids are 7th generation. We are not entitled to any other passport. I am too old to go anywhere, but my kids must go if they can find a home based on education, skills or marraige. Jesse - dont worry about hurting the feeelings of black readers. They just want you out of here regardless.

If course your children belong here!! This country is just as much ours as it is the for the Africans. The sun should shine for all of us because we helped develop this country to what it is today. I'm so sick of programs shown on the SABC that only shows poor African people. What about poor European people living in SA? Me and my family have a right to live here and beware if anyone tell me otherwise. But I do understand what you wrote in your article. Europeans feel unwelcome in their own country SA due to the big racism experienced from the African side. We should be proud of our skin colour and all our great achievements. I always tell my children that we have nothing to be ashamed of and that we are light years ahead in our development than Africans. BEE is racism to the nth degree.

This is article is so divisive-i m black engineer en skilled & got my job through AA,i ve been looking for a job and coudint get one but my white couterparts that i went to school with were already working,so-tell you what NIC,whites dont wanna see blacks progress,if one is white and is a manager is ok but when black,he/she cant be trained,all they ask is we shall see if he succeeds,

Yes they have reaped advantages from apartheid because as you admitted, you did. You will therefore be able to provide more for them than most black parents that grew up in your generation. And when they grow up you can let them go. Black kids though will need to take care of their families because of the sacrifices their families have had to make. Admittedly I am speaking generally here.

I did get my first work opportunity because I am black and I'm greatful. Without that chance I might not have been able to prove myself and have the good career that I have now. I have many friends of all races, both male and female. We struggle for the same things, we might have different obstacles but we forge ahead together. I say your boys belong wherever they want to be... nobody said life was fair or easy, for anybody.

I fought against Apartheid. Had comrades fallen besides me. Now I am told I don't belong here. One of my ancestors is native African, what a joke. I am not Black Enough in SA, a white women who arguably had lots more privelages than me is considered more disadvantaged than I was, This thing is so flawed, I could write a book on why BEE will not, has not and will never work, the least of which is the fact that we did Not Fight rot BEE, We Fought for Equality of All Humans in a Free South Africa, what we got Was Elites with 750's and Armani Suites and Multi Billionares who once stood for Economic Equality the likes of Cyril R Unionist turned Self Enricher!!

Excuse me John but WHAT "sins of his fathers" do you refer to? ALL blacks in SA is BAD, murderers and corrupt because of a few in power? The same argument apply where a FEW, understand? FEW, white people had the power to implement and maintain apartheid but that don't means that ALL whites "Sinned". MANY was not even aware of what was going on with many others also actively fighted against apartheid (NP). Millions of white africans cannot feel guilty because of a few hundred.

Well said. You have summed up my views perfectly. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that we have a black nationalist government in power and they will remain there indefinitely (or certainly for my life time) and their view of the world is shaped by this black nationalist paradigm. The place of the whites in this paradigm is to be relegated to and remain on the fringes. This is the reality despite what some liberal thinkers in SA may believe. So the question is what is the place of the white person in SA? Well, simply put you either make your place (own business,acquire skills in shortage areas like engineering, accounting,sciences that make you indispensible in the workplace) and do not rely on government for much - live in a bubble some may say - or emigrate to a country where you will not be discriminated against on the basis of you skin's history.

I dont agree with Gabbie. There is a place where you belong, amongst your own culture and with similarly minded people. The world is in conflict because of the clash of cultures. Africa is the best example because of colonial borders that have no regard for ethnical or cultural uniqueness.

My 18 year old has just finished his first year at univercity and allready he has decided that he wil leave RSA for somewhere where he has freedom and an equal chance to compete. Kids are not stupid, even they watch the news, see things happening around them and make decisions like this. it's sad to konw, but this is reality for white kids in RSA

I am the very proud father of a 14 year old son, I am the son a very beautful country, South Africa. Whilst my son has his father, I have had to realise that I have become an orphan.....I recently had the horrible task of telling my son some home truths.......that we need to understand that he has no future whatsoever in the country that he views as home.....he cannot understand why he will not be accepted and able to make a life here.....I will miss him when he eventually leaves to make his life in a country that will judge him purely for who he is.... Cry the Beloved Country....what a horrific waste.

Broad based BEE should focus on building the foundation for the nations future, not depriving willing students or workers the opportunity to work or learn or the redistribution of wealth. Discrimination of any sort should have no place in SA, the mistakes of the past should not be repeated, but it will take generations for SA to completely get over this. Hopefully with each generation some healing will take place. However we are 15 years down the line & it is ironic that some members of the younger generation, that were not directly exposed to Apartheid, are intent on taking us backward, opening past wounds, wounds that Nelson Mandela started to heal, it is indeed unfortunate that someone like Malema is being afforded so much influence over our precious nation that so desperately needs reconciliation & healing. My children have Dutch passports & as much as I would love them to grow up in this beautiful country, I fear that they will prejudiced & discriminated against in the future. Only time will tell, but im not overly optimistic that the people of SA have the capacity or willingness to create a free & fair environment for my kids.

Well written. I am a 43yr old white male, graduate, this week I responded to an add for a job, only to be asked: Are you previously disadvantaged? What does that mean, I asked, am I white, yes according to you, I regard myself as a nice light brown, is this important I asked? sorry, you cannot apply? what is this but pure racial discrimination, or apartheid by just another name BEE, not merit, but colour of my skin... sad, sad, today I posted my CV for a job in the middle east, and I will keep looking till I find another country that might need my skills and not my colour... my family tree goes back to 1703 in Cape Town...thats 306 years ago..what will the financial and tax implication be in the long run be, if you cannot add value because of this discrimination. My kids will not be subject to this, they will have no option but to leave - ethnic cleansing only done in a way that you wont notice, farm murders 2000plus - 1 000 000 living in other countries, we are a people without a country - the ANC uses the Malema's of SA to drive this cleansing excercise, but mark my words, it will turn violent at some stage, as the unfulfilled promises will lead to anger and frustration, the ANC is not interested in a non-racial SA, they are interested in a non-white SA, since Mbeki this country has become obsessed with race, read Animal Farm and you will understand.....

I have 4 boys, I love SA, but left for their sake 9 y ago, they now in NZ and happy as can be, and I miss SA. I think the major wealth gap vs black elite and the masses in squatter camps, although nothing to do with white boys, will impact directly on their futures as friction between the rich and poor will only increase in years to come, and I fear only violence from the poor will bring the power and money drunk elite to their senses, and white boys are going to get caught up in the crossfire. Maybe you think I am negative, but reality is sometimes negative, and my respons is not to ignore reality.

Well written article, Nic. I grapple with the same issues with my son and daughters. The funny thing is the ranting on these forums is not present in my "across colour" relationships, and I think you will find the same. Often the ranting helps people work through their issues, as we all have to do. We are only responsible for what we can control and I find keeping myself focussed on those good relationships helps. I feel our nation is going through a terrible, hormonal, teenage phase and we hope and pray (with faith), and work towards, a unity in our nation that we want for our kids.

Then you could say that all the Africans in Amerida and UK must come back to Africa, and all the Americans in UK must go back to America and vice versa...there will be an entire shifting of the world to get everyone "back to where they belong". I am a white South African, I belong here, my skin is white but has no problem handling the sun....My ancestors were in South Africa before the first house was built, my forefathers fought for this country, their blood is in the soil...I belong here and i am not going anywhere. I am so tired of this debate of who belongs where, really...the world belongs to all of us and we have full right to live exactly where we want to!

This article mirrors my own feelings exactly. I have an 18 year old son who loves this country. He will go to University for four years starting next year. When he enters the job market he will find out the reality of BBBEE. It is nothing but discrimination against him - for how long must he suffer the sins of his fathers?