Top Three Myths About South Africa
By Deon Terblanche
There are so many myths about South Africa. Here are the three I’ve heard the most:
Myth #1:
Since South Africa is in Africa, wild animals like lions and elephants are therefore walking around in the streets.
The place to find a herd of elephants visiting a watering hole is in the Umfolozi-Hluhluwa Game Park in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province.
No, like most civilizations we managed more than 300 years or so ago to build our first cities and put some walls around ourselves.
Travelers through the savannah and brushlands are more likely to see a gift stand with carved wooden animals.
Like tourists, we have to go to our zoos and parks to see the animals.
Myth #2
Every person in South Africa is black, except for the few white racists that still manage to hang around somehow.
Wearing rarely-seen Zulu ceremonial dress gets these rickshaw drivers in Durban more tips from tourists, who are expecting an exotic African experience.
Actually, South Africa is not called the rainbow nation for nothing. We have a very diverse nation that is made up of many different groups and cultures. This includes everything from black people to caucasians to asians and everything in-between.
In a more relaxed setting, locals aren't nearly so exotic. Here, playing music at an herbal medicine stall at Durban's open-air market.
In fact, we have 11 official languages in South Africa. We believe it’s our diversity that makes us strong.
Myth #3:
South Africa is a third world country.
Yes and no.
Picturesque setting, but this shantytown outside of Capetown has no electricity or running water.
South Africa has a very strong business sector in the formal economy, a sophisticated financial system with great banks, an extended road network, good universities, modern cities and all the other things one might find in any developed country.
Durban, with highrise hotels and condos, is often compared to San Diego.
Unfortunately, as a result of our apartheid past, many of our citizens are still living just on or below the “bread line,” which means South Africa also has a large third world component. This is similar to what one would find in India, Brazil, Russia and many other emerging economies. One of our government’s stated aims is to address this situation to create a better life for all South Africans.
Deon Terblanche is the ninth generation of Terblanches born and raised in Africa, and he considers himself as African as the big five and kwaito music. Lawyer jokes encouraged his departure from the big city, corporate law, and structured finance. He now enjoys a sea view from his office at a real estate group called Terblanche Total Property Solutions. Follow him on Twitter @TerblancheProp.
Photography by New Orleans-based Contributing Editor Mike Perlstein. He can be reached at perl@loyno.edu.
About time someone told the truth about our beautiful country, instead of some expats running it down. Well done!
Deon, you should have been a journalist. Quite frankly this is very true and an eye-opener.
Great stuff!