On leaving South Africa, and why I will return
February 21st, 2009As a South African currently living in the United States, I have heard every response imaginable on my decision to (temporarily) leave South Africa. The responses range all the way from “you must be glad you got out of that dump” to “how can you abandon your country at this critical time?” – and everything in between. Recently the press has picked up on what has become known as the big “brain drain” out of South Africa. This week, Newsweek got into the game with an article sensationally called “Fleeing From South Africa“. I’d like to take a few moments to respond to this article – but please read it first for context.
First, I want to say that there lives a unique dichotomy within those of us who were born and raised in South Africa. Look, we get it. We get that the crime rate is astronomical, the politics are corrupt, and things just tend to not work the way it “should” according to First World standards. Yes, we get all that, but still we can’t emancipate ourselves from this flawed, breathtakingly beautiful country – and its open-hearted, ready-to-take-on-the-future people. And then I read paragraphs like this one in the Newsweek article, and I just shake my head – not because the facts are wrong, but because it misses the point so completely:
The primary driver for emigration among all groups, but especially whites, who still retain the majority of South Africa’s wealth, is fear of crime. With more than 50 killings a day, South Africa has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world. The same goes for rape—ranking the country alongside conflict zones such as Sierra Leone, Colombia and Afghanistan. Future Fact polling indicates that more than 95 percent of those eager to leave South Africa rate violent crime as the single most important factor affecting their thinking.
Yes, it sounds scary – and the facts are disturbing. But I’ve also recently seen a remarkable uprising of positivity in South Africa that I haven’t seen before. I’m increasingly seeing a “good riddance” attitude towards those who leave the country loudly and for negative reasons. A hope that all the complainers would leave already, so that those who would like to stay and build can get down to business without the distracting and annoying voices of the nay-sayers. I still remember a high school teacher who once asked me, “Do you want to ride the wave of a place that has already accomplished everything, or be a part of building something that has huge unmet potential?” I choose the latter.
I know what you’re thinking though – how can I be judgmental about this while I sit “safely” in another country. Sure, point taken. But I can say that my reasons for leaving had nothing to do with the crime rate or the politcal environment (Yep, I left to pursue a girl…). And I can also say that we will move back, we will definitely move back, and that I’m using my time here to develop skills I can use to help build the future of South Africa.
Why do we plan to go back? Because there’s no place like Africa. Chaos and beauty exist so close to each other, often within the same place and the same moment, and it creates an energy that you just cannot describe. Yes, it’s not for the faint-hearted, and the decision to live there, especially if you’ve lived somewhere else in the world for a while, is made for reasons that transcend the traditional Western values of consumerism and security.
You live in Africa because you can’t get it out of your blood. You live there because you are placed there to make a difference. You live there because you are compelled by the red earth and the redder sunsets to make a small contribution to the ongoing effort to save it from itself, to preserve both the chaos and the beauty so that it can co-exist in harmony. And you do it not for yourself, but for your children, and for generations to come. You live there because you believe that Africa is not the dark continent it is made out to be, that it cannot be written off, that it is too precious and too fragile and too robust, that the world is making a big mistake if it thinks African countries cannot be successful, peaceful democracies.
And so I’ve had several conversations with my country over the past few years. We’re still fighting with each other, my country and I, not quite coming to an agreement about my future there. But I’m ok with that for now. Because I know Africa will never retreat, never stop talking, never condemn me for taking so long to come back. Make no mistake — I know that Africa does not need me. But I need it, desperately. I need it to blow life into my calloused bones. And I need it because I was born there. I am an African.
And that is why I will return.
marcelle February 21st, 2009 at 11:13 pm
rian, you make me so proud.
I went cycling this morning (from Tete Mozambique), as the sun was rising over the Boabab trees and women carrying wood to their huts for the day.
I am as African as you. And you are still as much part of this place as you ever were. It is in your blood. And the call to be part of something we can build for the future is not an obligation or necessity, but a pursuit of love.
Hein February 22nd, 2009 at 1:51 am
What can I say, Rian. Uh, maybe this. Can you translate this in Afrikaans. I struggled a bit with all the big english words. Nee, boet. Dit rock, Ingels en al. As I was riding on my bike through the city this morning, while the day was breaking, I enjoyed the piece of quiet, only until the big truck almost ran over me. It was then, when I realized that this picture would have looked a lot better with no buildings and no streets. Just with the veld and the sun slowly rising. And maybe with a mountain or two.
Gerard February 22nd, 2009 at 9:23 am
I understand the feeling Rian. Sat next to some tourist yesterday here in Switzerland who started talking to each other about the great road-trip they’ve had in South Africa and they keep going back for more. Only those that’s been there understand why we miss the place, it’s people and everything that makes you feel alive and blessed.
Nigel February 22nd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Loved you article Rian…I live in Cape Town and have all my life. I have travelled widely and have on one or two occations thought about leaving. Its only recently that I started to realise why SA is such an amazing place, and I have become extreemly proud to be South African. I am emotional when I listen to the Soweto chior sing our national anthem and I realise, despite the problems, how far we have come and how much potential this country has. I now have a different attitude, and have joined the many people trying to make that little difference each day, because I know in my heart the time for this country to shine has come, and for us to show the world what we are capable of. For this we need all the help we can get, we need to change the worlds perception of us and most importantly, we need people like yourself to return with your skills.
Rian February 23rd, 2009 at 8:46 am
Thanks for all the comments, everyone. It is great to see South Africans all around the world (UK, Mozambique, Switzerland, and of course Cape Town!) still so closely connected to our roots. Yes Nigel, we need to get the word out!
Johan van der Merwe February 23rd, 2009 at 11:55 am
I’ve been in my share of places around the world and stayed for longer periods in Europe. I agree with you 100% Rian – Africa is home!
Gary Robertson February 24th, 2009 at 1:44 am
you should read the book “South Africans in London” – it’s very positive and unbiased; see http://www.saworld.co.za
Steve February 26th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
“Chaos and beauty exist so close to each other”. You are so lucky, having the chance to leave the chaos.
Rian, when will this “chaos” (mainly high levels of crime) ever go away? Are you waiting for that day?
The “ready-to-take-on-the-future” people cannot ever, ever do it on their own, they need the support of the government. The government must WANT skilled people to remain here. Enough said.
But you are right about one thing…we have the beauty.
John March 2nd, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Regardless of what anyone in the world says the USA is and will be the best place in the world to live.I know we have our problems and i believe 80% of this is because of illigal Immigration.I am an ex South African (1974) and visited there regularly twice a year..Now i no longer will put my life at risk..The place is dangerous..I can buy excellent Boerewors and biltong here in beverly hills and am only a 40 minute drive from scenery that replicates South Africa to a T.In fact we have a home that could be looking over Hartebeespoort Dam along with wild rabbits,ciodees and mountain Lions in our back yard..I am sorry but when it comes to South Africa there is a saying..(The party is over when the Fat lady sings).. .well the Fat lady is singing. My advice to all Young South Africans..Come up here now and work out your immigration status from here..Thats what the mexicans are doing and they are getting away with it,if i had a choice i prefer you guys coming up here illigally than these mexicans…..Alles van die beste ..John .PS Please stop telling me about the Beauty…Beauty means nothing if you have to cage yourself up in your home like a criminal.
Rian March 2nd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
I think I liked it a lot better when the commenters agreed with me
No just kidding – Steve and John, thanks for your comments. I’m guessing you found this from the link on Homecoming Revolution (where a healthy discussion seems to be going on that doesn’t have anything to do with my post any more…).
I completely understand your perspectives, and I’m not going to disagree with it. Like I said in my post – I get that it’s bad there. I guess I was trying to convey two thoughts:
1) There is a uniqueness (and, yes, a beauty) to South Africa and its people that I haven’t found anywhere else in the world (I’ve lived in Australia and the U.S., and spent considerable time in Europe as well).
2) You live in South Africa because you believe the rewards outweigh the risks. No one is denying the crime rates. But for some, it’s a risk they’re willing to take for the country they love. And they (we) continue to hope that things will get better, and that we can play a part in it.
I certainly don’t want to argue with you guys – you are of course entitled to your opinion on this. I’m just trying to explain a little further. Thanks for visiting!
Anelda Venter March 11th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Rian I am in the exact same position as you..only I was the girl..and was swept away by my American Prince(who is also a born South African) and brought to the States….we lived in OH for 5 yrs and then decided to move back to South Africa to start our own food business…here we are 3 months later and going strong….is it tough..is it hard having to lock yourself up….of course it is…but the amazing thing is to see the people of the country uniting and standing up against this rubbish together….im also a business consultant and its amazing to see a group of diverse south africans EMBRACING their differences and deciding to use that as a strength and as a stepping stone not a stumbling block…im so xcited about this election because i truly believe that a change is coming…did i love the States? whats not to love..its surely is ones of the greatest places in the world to live..but like Dorothy said in the wizard of oz…THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!!!!
Rian March 11th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Anelda – thanks for this inspiring story. It’s great to hear positive stories from people who moved back!
Annie Erickson March 13th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Hello, Rian. I stumbled across your blog and was impressed by this article. I have read all the comments as well. I’m in a unique position because I’m an American who emigrated to South Africa 18 months ago (you should hear the comments I get!). I understand the greatness and challenges of both countries.
The only thing I really want to say is this: Living in fear is a choice. There is violent crime everywhere. My hometown in California has the highest auto theft rate in the nation and is considered the “methamphetamine” capital of the country. It also has a serious problem with gangs and violence. But I never felt unsafe there. I don’t feel unsafe in Pretoria, either (and yes, I read the newspapers every day). I choose to NOT live my life in fear, and I choose to make the most of each day. It’s all about attitude. If a person lives in fear, he will miss the opportunities placed before him every day, and the chance to truly make a difference. I am proud to be in South Africa, even if I’m only a temporary resident.
Rob October 12th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Please – all S. Africans, you are welcome to come, the United States. We welcome you with open arms. My honest and frank belief is that actions speak louder than words, and where we place our selves is truly the reality of where we want to be given the current day reality. Sure, it’s nice to reminisce of days long since passed, but the reality is that if we look at ourselves honestly and we note that we are not in S. Africa then chances are it’s because we truly have chosen willfully to NOT be there at this time, and for some specific reason(s). Remembering that sanctuary of the good old days is fine, but in the meantime, we must live in the today, the here and now; whether that “here” be the States, UK, etc. let’s recognize that this is the reality in which we live.
EmJay March 12th, 2010 at 5:37 am
You have a beautiful wife and daughter Riaan.
Did you know SA has the highest rape stats in the world? Along with murder rates that compete with Afghanistan and Sierra Leone? How does your wife feel about that?
Do you want to live under a president that defends the ANC Youth League president after he chanted “kill the Boere” to university students. Those students stood by and cheered him on. We also had a politician saying it is ok that white people get robbed because the people are taking back what belongs to them.
How about being passed over for promotions because you are white? How about enduring racism in the work place?
SA has a great middle class society. However, 1 person supporting up to 3 other people is not sustainable. Service delivery is failing everywhere. You will be taxed according to a socialist state and you will get nothing in return.
I love SA but I am scared. If you think that black people are going to forgive and forget, you are putting too much faith in humanity. The blacks were oppressed for decades. Since the fall of apartheid, they are still living in the same squalor. Service delivery protests are on the rise and BEE is proving to be ineffective. The population in general is going to start getting even more restless. SA has 1 major political party, the ANC. There are absolutely no other alternatives and we are not seeing any emerging. With 1 party having so much power at its disposal and no real opponents, they don’t have any real reason to step up service delivery. SA is turning into a boiling pot.
I let my guard down once, and I got a gun pointed in my face. It was a hijacking. Every day I thank whoever was watching out for me that I was not in the car. Do you have any idea the sheer terror? I was not afraid of being shot. I was afraid I was going to be raped. Don’t do that to your family. My fiance and I have had gun pointed at us twice in a space of a year (in an affluent neighborhood). A friend of mine was robbed and the perps defecated in a box and left it in the middle of his living room.
SA has a lot of angry people and I think we are only starting to see the start of it.
For the sake of your children and children’s children, stay where you are. You have problems in the USA, granted, but those problems are not like those in SA. If the best reasons you can come up with to come back to SA are “there is a remarkable uprising of positivity” or “there is no place like Africa”, you are better off staying where you are.
Africa is in serious trouble. Don’t think SA is going to be any different in the long run.
cori March 18th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
AGREED i WAS RAPED IN SOUTH AFRICA AND NOW LIVE IN AUSTRALIA. CAN YOU BLAME ME. I AM LOOKING OUT FOR MY KIDS. PLEASE PLEASE AFRICA IS BEAUTIFUL WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE BUT THIS IS ABOUT SURVIVING. MY PARENTS HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND IT IS AN AWEFUL THING FOR A PARENT. YOUR CHILDREN ARE MORE PRECIOUS THAN LOTS OF MONEY. TAKE THEM TO A SAFER PLACE
Bernard May 31st, 2010 at 7:32 am
I just skimmed through everything – your post Rian, as well as the comments.
Seriously? “this is about surviving” Oh come on. I live in the cape and I can’t be any prouder.
I recently watched a documentary made in the late 1990s about SA, and especially about crime (it was about a special task force), and I really don’t recognise the world they portray. And it’s not because I’m tucked away safely either – I do see and live in the whole country, and all it’s diverse communities.
I’m really proud to associate myself with your blogpost, Rian. Sure, I’d love the infrastructure the US has (especially the telecommunications), and I don’t miss one The Daily Show, but Africa has something special. You can’t help but remember what life is really about.
P.S. Nice blog, Rian. Glad I stumbled upon it
David Lin June 7th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Hey guys, hey Riaan, hoe gaan dit? i have an unique story and a question? i am a taiwanese guy born in taiwan and immigrated to South Africa, i cant say if im more taiwanese or more south african, but i think i know more about South African History than taiwanese history, i speak afrikaans, top of the class as a kid HAHA, I have studied in the university of pretoria,after pretoria i studied in Switzerland, ive done my internships and have been in 14 countries, including USA England France etc. and quite ironically, i’ve never actually felt how i lived before i visited these places, i mean people shouldnt be denied by there freedom. but as a kid i was i was so unaware, protected.to tell you the truth i havent been robbed, by my parents have been, including a car, a truck, stolen money from our workers. And i agree Riaan South Africa just stunning, when i close my eyes and i see the golden fields just amazing
My dilemna is this, these few years ive been reluctant to stay in South Africa,my parents is one of the top distributors of clothing to Mr.Price, Jet and many clothing vendors.
however my parents have always expected me to carry on the business, most of my friends left south africa, amazingly half of my high school classmates. and i think id break my heart to tell my kids if i do in the future have kids, to look right look left, lock the amount of security doors,we have loads of guns at home, including bullet proof vests, because my father started off with delivery to vendors in central business districts, i really do admire my fathers courage, delivering boxes of clothing while tons of people walk around, ive also delivered a few times, even our employees are scared.
What do you guys think?? stay here in asia and get a job? or go back to south africa?