The joy of banks...

I'm in the mood to vent today and it's aimed at banks. I went to Standard Bank on Friday to change my address and I had all the info and paperwork I needed to get it sorted out - FICA compliant and everything. Surely this should be a reasonably straightforward process. But it's not...

Unfortunately the young chap who helped me didn't notice that the address on the form I had didn't exaclty match the supporting document. Now I understand that these things have to be perfect, but surely checking that something like this is done porperly is the simplest thing to do. Back to the point... I then got a call yesterday to say that they noticed the discrepancy and that it needed to be sorted out. It was also mentioned that if I don't I run the risk of my accounts being frozen and whatever else. This was their mistake, or what?

I then decided to head over to Nedbank to find out about student loans. There I couldn't even get the right information out of one of the consultants. He gave me some information I believed to be incoreect (this was confirmed later when I went to a different branch) and even when I double-checked with him and rephrased my question he stuck to his guns...

Now I know that there are loads of jokes that do the rounds about lawyers being parasites and I think most of us have heard a few of these jokes over the years. But honestly, I'm of the opinion that banks should be given the prime spot amongst blood-sucking parasites. They look after our money, making a profit in the process and can't even make sure that the people on their staff know what they're talking about. I don't know if I'm the only one who sees it this way, but aren't the proceeds of our money being used to pay their salaries?

In the end, one thing's for sure and that is that when they're trying to get more money out of you they'll have all their ducks in a row... I'm done... for now...

Coloureds, Culture & Coconuts….

Originally written on Saturday, 28 February 2009…

In a previous entry on this blog (http://nomadiclessons.blogspot.com/2008/09/thoughts-on-rainbow-nation.html) as well as in another blog I write I briefly touched on my cultural/ethnic heritage and some of my thoughts on being a coloured South African (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloured).

But sometimes I have to ask the question, what is a coloured South African? And, I have to believe that I’m not the only one asking this question. The reality is that this cultural/ethnic label is a product of the apartheid and there is such diversity within this artificially constructed social group. When I lived in South America I was occasionally asked about my ethnic/racial heritage. I developed an answer that consisted of my saying that I was the ‘rainbow nation’ in one person. I am the descendant of slaves and slave owners, foreigners and natives. I know that at some point in my genealogical story I have native ancestry, as well as European ancestry. While that is true this is not the culture embraced by people with a similar story. What is our culture? Who are the people who arrived here as slaves from various places around the Indian Ocean? In broad terms we know who they were but we have lost contact with that culture, with that language. The late Taliep Peterson musically explored a similar question just before his death through his play Ghoema. But looking at Peterson’s rendering the reality is that while many accept this as a part of the general history there still exists a lack of comfort with elements of the story, nor is there a central unifying culture. This is hardly surprising considering the fact that in a sense this ‘cultural group’ is in reality an amalgamation of those who didn’t fit the black, white and Indian labels in the old regime. This is not a value judgement, after all if I were making a judgement it would be aimed at the person I see the mirror every morning too. So what is ‘coloured culture’? I’d suggest that nobody really knows, but rather that a collaged sense of culture and identity has been developed. So where does this leave us?

Because of my life experiences, as well as the fact that I almost entirely speak English, I’ve occasionally been referred to as a coconut – brown on the outside but white on the inside. This is an interesting concept though, especially since the ‘brown’ on the outside is at best not clearly defined and at worst unknown. So what does it mean to be coloured? I sometimes wonder what makes up our identity beyond homo sapien and South African. This is a complicated issue though and one for which there are no quick and easy resolutions. Some will undoubtedly suggest that I’m one of the few who is confused, but so be it… I welcome comments, criticisms and thoughts…

Tasty Vinaigrettes…

Vinaigrette is a mixture of vinegar (or sometimes citrus juice) and oil, often flavored with herbs, spices, and other ingredients… Commercial preparations are often emulsified with lecithin or similar additives, while fresh preparations can be more weakly emulsified with mustard or left as mixtures that will separate.

It’s been a while since I had anything to say on this page. Okay, truth be told I almost always have something to say but I’ve been a bit lazy when it comes to sitting down in front of my keyboard lately.

Recently I was chatting to someone about matters relating to reconciliation and specifically the challenges stemming from racial segregation. We spoke about South Africa’s history as well as the challenges of being a minority USA resident – she was born in Central America. We’ve both had experiences where we have been (and she still is) a part of student bodies that are, at least superficially, integrated. While there are at times still some prejudices, mistrust or other segregation by-products I’m not going to dwell on those right now.

I was actually thinking back on my experiences at high school and one of my college experiences and I likened those student bodies to a vinaigrette type salad dressing. The reason for this is that while the ingredients don’t dissolve they combine to form something new that none of the elements could manage on its own. Vinegar, oil, spices and herbs can combine to transform a simple salad but it takes a bit of shaking, stirring or mixing to get all the ingredients to work together. So what happens when everyone leaves the campus? Well from I experience I’d say that this would be like no longer shaking or stirring the mixture. They oil and vinegar separate, the pepper possibly sinks to the bottom and perhaps some of the herbs will float, or vice versa. I’ve seen this happen where friendships/connections across cultures are only superficial that once the whisk (the campus experience) is removed we tend to separate and return to what is familiar.

Is this a good thing? Is it natural? Is it just the ways things are (supposed to be)? Is there then any point to mixing things up in the first place? How do we maintain the flavour of the vinaigrette? I have my own thoughts and/or answers to some of these and perhaps in another entry I’ll delve into some of them, but for now I thought I’d make this observation. That’s all… What do you think?

Mail me at: nomadiclessons@gmail.com

Changes for our fledgling democracy…

So, what important thing could Zuma and his supporters have done for democracy in South Africa? Well, according to some reports we may see a split in the ANC as a result of Mbeki’s removal from office, with one report stating that Mbeki’s mother is in support of the idea to form a new political party.

While, others may not share my view on this I think this is a great thing for our fledgling democracy and something that I have expected and hope for over the past few years. To date there has not been any serious opposition to the ANC on a national level and that could be the very thing it needs to hold it accountable for its actions or lack thereof. Furthermore, with the more than two-thirds of votes cast in any election (as it achieved in the last election) the ANC has the power to make changes to the constitution – a power that fortunately it has not acted on so far. These are my reasons for hoping for a split and potentially a stronger opposition.

My main reason for expecting this spilt was simple. The bloc of voters supporting the ANC is huge (nearly 70% of votes cast in the last election) and the differences post-1994 experiences within this bloc is vast. On the one end of the scale there are those who have become millionaires through various means (occasionally with the assistance political contacts and the benefits of Black Economic Empowerment) while on the other end of the scale there are those who as yet do not have basic necessities such as running water. How does anybody hold such a disparate group of people together under one banner and maintain South Africa’s position and good name on the world stage? I would say it’s a/n (near) impossible task.

I’m realistic though and I know that any significant change or shift in power could likely arrive coupled with unrest and violence – something South Africa has seen all too often and which nobody needs to face again.

PS: I neither support Zuma nor Mbeki, but I feel that change was inevitable and necessary...

More thoughts on the “Rainbow Nation” …

In a previous entry I expanded on my South African roots and view, mentioning that I would have more to say at some later point. Well, I think the events of the past few weeks resulting in President Thabo Mbeki's resignation make this a good time to say something – these are my views, perspectives and thoughts as a (global) nomad born in South Africa. Forgive me for quoting a movie but there’s a line in the recent Batman film that goes as follows: “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain”. I would say that this can be said of numerous leaders, heroes and freedom-fighters throughout history including Mbeki. There is so much being said and written about the current state of affairs that I’m going to stick to two thoughts (after all I’m not much more than an interested observer).

Without excusing any of the questionable actions his has taken over the course of his years in office I will say that at least to some degree he was almost doom to fail. After the Mandela years (a transition period) I believe there were at least some expectations of the promised RDP getting into full-swing under Mbeki – but how do you turn around over three centuries of oppression in just a few years? Call me a cynic, but I doubt that anyone would have been able to match the expectations of the people with the resources available. Theoretically one could say that someone might have been able to a better job, but Mbeki was the man at the helm. So he was bound to disappoint on some level and yes he has been accused of not doing enough to turn poverty around – personally I’d be interesting to hear ways in which poverty may have been successfully eradicated or at least lessened in this short space of time. I really would like to hear these opinions, if there are any because I’m trying to understand this whole arena a bit better.

Another criticism of Mbeki is that he has been too much of a thinker (as you can see from the cartoon at the beginning of this entry). At the very least I have to wonder if the very experiences that prepared and enabled him to lead the nation and the ANC (such as his life and education abroad), also did irrevocable damage to his connection with the populace – a major advantage Zuma has over him. In the end Mbeki appears to have failed his party because they believe he didn’t do the job he needed to do (or was that just an excuse to get him out of the way). This is a complex issue and one that the most informed and educated people will struggle to summarise in a few paragraphs, but these are my thoughts. One other thing that comes to mind is that in removing Mbeki from office Zuma and his supporters may have inadvertently done something important for democracy in South Africa – something that I have been expecting for a few years now… more about that in my next entry!

Below are links to a few articles on recent developments:

"Mbeki failed South Africa, says UK paper"

"It's unfair and unjust - Mbeki"

"Mbeki down but not out"

"Mbeki appeal not far-fetched: expert"

Thoughts on the “Rainbow Nation”…

As I’ve said previously (in a different blog) coming from South Africa (RSA) travelling through South America means that I’m a rare thing. When I say where I’m from people are often really surprised, although this is at least in part because they sometimes assume I’m Brazilian based on my complexion etc (and my not-at-all-that-fluent Spanish). Additionally, based on my time here I’d say that I’m rare amongst the few South Africans traversing this continent in that I’m not white. As a result I’m often asked my opinions on the state of South Africa, its leaders and the future of the nation – I usually get the impression that the majority of (but not all) white South Africans people come across around the world have similar negative feelings about the state the country is in. So I thought I’d offer a few thoughts on “The Rainbow Nation” – although just a few, with some more to come at a later stage…

Two topics that come up in conversation quite often are affirmative action (AA) and the current state president Thabo Mbeki (more on him later). One of the questions that often get asked is if AA isn’t simply the old policy flipped around, so now it’s the white who are being discriminated against? I can understand this thinking, although the reality is that I believe you have to take the demographic and economic realities into account. Firstly, those who suffered under the apartheid policies and now (in theory) benefit from AA are by far the largest population group in the country, yet they are still the poorest in terms of income and wealth per capita. Additionally, those who don’t benefit from AA are on average still better off economically although there are definitely exceptions. So while some have the idea that we should move forward with an equal playing-field, I’d say that there is no equal playing field with some concerted reconstruction. I guess I look at it from my perspective as a coloured person (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coloured). While my parents and those before them were discriminated against under apartheid policies they did not suffer as much as black South Africans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_(people)#South_Africa). So what’s my point?

At college I met a Tswana guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tswana) who had the same level of education I had (ie: university qualified) and had a similar number of years work experience. Some would say were their no AA in place we would be entering the work-place on the same footing with the same opportunities, but this is no the case. My family’s better economic status and history (due to a combination of the more favourable treatment received by coloured people during apartheid and my father’s hard-work) resulted in my having a better network of contacts that he has – and sometimes it is who you know that counts. Additionally, I had the advantage of things often taken for granted such as more comfortable living conditions and my own car (potentially also products of the different treatment under apartheid). So these are the things I take into account. I know I have been fortunate and I know there are those who still suffer in different ways because of RSA’s past and the challenges of the present. These are my reflections…

Don't panic!!

So I came across something a bit more positive regarding South Africa in the past day or so. Apparently an internal email sent by a Managing Director to the staff members at his company earlier this year has been turned into a book. The aim of the book it seems is to encourage South Africans about their country and get them to focus on what is good and not just the bad news that sells newspapers.

I just read the contents of the email (use the address at the bottom of this entry to read it) and while the message is really simple it is also true. I guess some people might then say “well, why are you wondering around the world instead of helping to rebuild South Africa?” The truth is that I am where I need to be right now and one day I will return, but it’s encouraging to that the kind of zealous ignorance displayed in the videos I mentioned in my previous entry is not as prevalent as that South African might imply. Anyway, so take a look at what the email and the book etc are all about and make up your own mind about South Africa’s future.

http://www.iburst.co.za/default.aspx?link=new_latest_news&blogs=100

Who is to blame?

I am a South African guy – I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned that before – but I have not lived there for a while. I’ve been living in a few different countries and I have not only been learning about the world around me, but also a bit more about myself. So, recently I have been watching a few videos on www.youtube.com regarding the state of the nation in South Africa (RSA), where we have been and the progress (or lack thereof) that has been made in recent years.

Saying that these videos have been ‘eye-opening’ would not be the truth because there aren’t any significantly new ideas or opinions coming out of these videos. What I do find interesting is to see this kind of ‘dialogue’ actually taking place in some forum – these issues aren’t regularly discussed in everyday life, although perhaps in some circles such as university classes. Some of the videos I’ve been watching have names such as “South Africa: What about White People” or “South Africa: The Racist Capital of the World”. Quite honestly I’m not sure what to say about any of this at the moment (there’s so much to say that I’m not sure where to start). One thing though is that I see RSA as being a microcosm of the issues at play in the world at large - know what I mean? Anyway, that’s all I’m going to say for now… One thing I do notice is that there is a bit of a blame-game going on here at least from one side of the dialogue…

PS: I’ve included the address of some videos below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHPKhVmgtJM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GLVdgA1jJU