Africa’s tarnished jewel

GEOFF SIFRIN

We are located at the bottom of Africa, but is this an African or European country? What are its values? Given what’s happened, it can’t be business as usual.

Walk into a mall in Rosebank, and you could be in Europe, with the world’s favourite brand names and cars on the road. Restaurants are urbane and sophisticated.

The Nigerian novelist and journalist, Adaobi Tricia Obinne Nwaubani, whose book was named by the Washington Post as one of the best of 2009, says South Africa is a “genetically modified” African country, set in Africa but unlike the rest of the continent. Many Africans attribute its difference to the prevailing influence of the “Caucasians” in their midst, she says.

South Africa is a puzzle. After being admired by the world 25 years ago for peacefully achieving democracy, today it desperately apologises to Africa for its citizens’ violent xenophobia. It’s not enough for South Africans to hang their heads in shame. More is needed.

South Africa hosted the recent World Economic Forum in Cape Town, where participants discussed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement signed by 54 of Africa’s 55 countries. Finance Minister Tito Mboweni says it’s the most important post-colonial development in Africa, the world’s largest trade group since the formation of the World Trade Organisation, and expected to boost intra-African trade 52% by 2022.

Mboweni harshly condemns hostility towards foreigners, and says any African should be allowed to settle wherever they want. If Nigerians or Ethiopians want to live in South Africa, it should be open to them.

On the scourge of gender-based violence, the African National Congress Women’s League wants the country to consider chemical castration of men found guilty of rape. Yet, rape is not about sex, it’s about power and control. The call came in the wake of the rape and murder of 19-year-old University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana, who was killed by a 42-year-old post office employee two weeks ago.

The anger, fear and frustration has created a movement called #AmINext to give women a platform to share their feelings. The answer must be found in the inner corners of society – in families, schools, churches, homes, and social venues.

You could assume that the #AmINext movement is solely about young black women like Mrwetyana. But you would be wrong. Even the Jewish community, which places a high priority on looking after its own, isn’t immune. Gender-based violence often occurs behind the proverbial closed doors.

The harsh reality is that while South Africans broadly are a generous, warm-hearted people, their country has become a violent society for many.

South Africa has been on the edge for years, yet it has survived and prospered through each crisis. That’s why Nigerians and other Africans come here in droves.

Pessimists say it can’t go on like this, and must eventually stop working. Optimists, however, see huge opportunities here for people with the initiative to reinvent this gem.