Stellenbosch is known as a “white monopoly capital” town as yours truly, Julius Malema, would say.

Begging to differ with the motormouth former ANC Youth League leader, in this case, is tantamount to justifying colonialism and its sequel, Apartheid, which left many non-white South Africans destitute and, subsequently, uneducated.

Pre-dominantly, whites occupy the leafy town houses. And, significantly, the town is outskirted and surrounded by various townships.  One would argue that top business moguls, such as Whitey Basson and deceased Anton Rupert, hail from Stellenbosch and , so this may be generic to white locals (because families such as these have created empires and employed their educated children and friends – and that’s the case).

I disagree with this notion. I could lay the facts bare for days on end, but I don’t want to fill negative energies to the readers. However, it’s common knowledge that there’s a great imbalance, and it’s well-documented but no decisive action taken.

The socio-economic intricacies and inequality among the multiple races that share this town and its respective places are quite clear from all its entrances to all the spots and places-to-be. The one race that is well off – as is in the rest of the country – is white people.

There are four African schools in this area, and none of theses have a single library or a science and/or computer lab.

I will stop there before I plague your mind with any further depression.

Postive Outlook

Nonetheless, there’s always a bright side. By and large, crime in this Town and its townships is a rarity.

I’m fortunate to have gone to more priviliged schools, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t see these things; that I wasn’t there; that I don’t know how it is. It’s quite surprising how people strive under these conditions. Unfortunately, the bright side doesn’t eclipse reality here.

Ealier in the article, I wrote about education. Let’s continue on that.

As a result of being one of the privileged few to have escaped the modern Bantu education system  – yes, this may be a little exaggaration, but your further argument won’t hold because I’m talking about book-less students here –  I immediately noticed the academic gap between students in the ilk of myself (and other priviliged ones)  and my ‘Bantu’ education counterparts. But, I’d keep it on the low because I come from a place that values people with a moral compass and sense of humility.

This makes it safe for me to say: the anger in black people hasn’t been articulated. An academic, and a mentor of mine, called ‘Juju’ a “stoodge”, much to the chagrin of the locals (where I live). Of course, they won’t understand because the very system they – and, as we’ve come to know, this generation of ‘black/Bantu’education – aren’t equipped to understand we can’t maketh another Steve Biko without education. But I digress.

I come from a place where our sisters wearing slippers and nighties during midday is a norm and trend. The root of the problem, of course, is unemployment, with a little lack of self-value. The brothers, on the other hand, sit in the corner asking for ‘5 Bob'(Which is now R5 in slang). Amazingly, on the weekend, the same brother will be semi-formal, sipping on the finest cognac known in the European diaspora.

The generalisation oughtn’t be frowned upon.

Colonialsim, Apartheid, Unemplyment, and ANC (Think critically, with your mind and not your skin)… How much more can the black brother take?