\ááâx
D 9 EB CL [tÑÑç axã lxtÜ ]tÇâtÜçBYxuÜâtÜç ECCL
SOUTHAFRICA
…
C ou n t r y o f C o n t r a s t s.
Johannesburg, South Africa
Seeing a small child playing in the streets of a slum in South Africa is an unforgettable site. The difference inlifestyle compared to that of a westerner is so great that it is hard to fully comprehend.Yet no matter the circumstances, a child is still a child. Many children in this world may not have the latest setof hi-priced sneakers—
in fact, some have no shoes at all!
- but children still manage to have fun at whatever state theyfind themselves. Wherever you go on this earth you can almost always witness the type of simple, exuberant joy thatbeams from the face of a child. But try to imagine the South African setting imprinted in the memory of any visitor:Tiny 8 x 8 ft shacks, cobbled together from rusty pieces of corrugated tin. Looking across these endless crammedgroupings of shacks, a splash of muted colors reflect from the pieces of metal and other materials that have beenscavenged and used to put together their meager existence. But the color that stands out the most is a lifeless brown—coming from the dusty, garbage-ridden dirt between the “homes” and the rusted metal roofs. Often, you will see itemson top of the tin holding it down—old car seats and other car parts, batteries, rusted out bed frames, and stones. Smokefills the air, rising from distant piles of burning garbage. There is no running water and often no electricity. Using a carbattery to power a television for a few hours each evening is considered a luxury. This is what millions call home.But
South Africa
is somewhat different from other African countries.
South Africa
is a land of stark contrast,having been to other parts of Africa and rural areas in those countries, it seems as if South Africa was an intertwining of typical African country with a modern western touch. Several contrasts particularly stand out.
South Africa
is a storyof great wealth and immense poverty—robust economies and faltering infrastructure—state-of-the-art and a widespreadepidemic of AIDS — Mercedes driving yuppies and endless intersections lined with beggars—peaceful gated commu-nities and rampant crime.It is described this way: “It’s an old truism that
South Africa
is a land of two realities. It has never been morethan a short drive from lush gardens and modern shopping malls to tin shanties and open sewers.” - What America is tothe world— so South Africa was to Africa. Now South Africa is rated as a 3rd world country.
Statistics speak for themselves
One visit to any African country cannot provide the full perspective, background and context needed tounderstand the conditions there. However, South Africa has been the subject of international news for years.In the early 1990’s and previously, the nation hit world news because of the system of apartheid and the drasticchange from it that followed. Then, as the years progressed, other news came from
South Africa
. Stories of violentcrime—rape, robbery, murder and mayhem, car-jacking, hi-jacking individuals in malls, shopping centers and at gasstations and banks are commonly reported.
Consider some of the latest facts:
1. On average, 50 people are killed each day in
Johannesburg,
the capital city, which is one of the most violent placeson earth outside a war zone.2. A staggering 150 women a day report being raped. One can only imagine the numbers who do not report thisatrocity. To place this statistic in a more vivid perspective, S.A. Police reports “one in four girls faces the prospectof being raped before the age of sixteen...” Or put another way, it is a fact that a woman born in South Africa hasa greater chance of being raped, than learning how to read.3. From 1992—2002 sexual violence against children has increased a staggering 400%. And baby rape is notuncommon and not a new phenomenon either !4. As of the year 2000, 50% of the 43 million South African citizens live below the poverty line.(Continued next issue) … … ...
Leave a Comment