You would think, that after Apartheid, black people would know how it feels to have someone force their language on them. Instead, every second person you meet, is asking why you don't speak a South African vernacular language. Does it ever occur to any of them, that I have no interest in learning their languages, and that I have my own native language and culture to deal with. Why do people feel that I should speak their language just because I'm in their country? I'm suddenly judged, and told that I think I'm white because I choose to communicate in English.It's not just black people... Majority of my colleagues are Afrikaans. I'll initiate a conversation with one of them, and it will be entertaining for everyone, until one responds in Afrikaans, and suddenly, people "forget" that I don't understand Afrikaans. That's normally my cue to exit the conversation and return to my work. I've stopped bothering to ask them to translate. I figured, if they want me to be part of the conversation, they will speak in English.
It gets to me sometimes. The MD will call a board meeting, and a question that needs deliberation will be raised... then BAM... people are speaking in Afrikaans! Why call me into the meeting at all? I instantly pull out a diary and proceed with my armature caricature drawings of each of them. The worst is when one of them has the audacity to ask me why I don't learn Afrikaans.
My mental response, is that hundreds of children were killed by Afrikaner's when they marched against being taught in Afrikaans. It is therefore, because of them, that I have the right to decide if I want to speak or learn the language of oppression!
In light of the recent Xenophobic events that have taken place in Durban and in Johannesburg, the behavior of these South Africans doesn't shock me. They seek comfort from blaming foreigners for their circumstances. Mob psychology is also a huge contributing factor in these communities. They fool themselves into thinking they have an effective formula for justice, when in reality, they are all accomplices of criminal behavior.
There seems to be a notion, that Xenophobia is only exercised by uneducated, poverty stricken people, however, from my own experiences, I can deduce that even the most educated people say and do things that indicate they'd prefer an environment that excluded foreigners. You see this behavior mostly in the work an environment. When a foreigner gets the job, or the promotion, we are suddenly hated. Forgetting that we had an equal chance to attain the opportunity.
I applaud all the international companies that have temporarily or permanently ceased all business operations with South Africans. It is time for the world to show South Africa that it is not an island. Perhaps this will educate them of the importance of foreigners for the South African economy, and help them acquire respect for other people who are not their own.
