South African People

The African people are an extremely interesting culture and South Africans are no different. Here the Zulu people who run the ANC (African National Congress) basically have run the country since the abolition of apartheid and the fall of the DeKlerk government.

Many here are very concerned because national elections are going on right now. The candidate for the Zulu party is Zuma. The president has been Mebeke, also a Zulu, for the last xx years. Zuma has been accused of taking bribes and corruption. Mebeke pushed to have a complete investigation of Zuma’s dealings which caused a split in the ANC and the removal of Mebeke as president.

The other day Zuma was taken to court to set a trial date with huge crowds outside the courthouse protesting. Of course the trial date was set to occur right after the election. So theoretically Zuma could become the president of South Africa and then pardon himself. Now people are questioning why Mebeke was removed from the presidency with no due process but the majority of the ANC wants to make sure Zuma gets a fair trial. Key figures like Desmond Tutu are talking about boycotting the election because they are disgusted with what is happening.

The white community is really concerned that the result could be a disaster for the country. If Zuma is tried and found guilty it could cause huge unrest within the country and violence between tribes. If Zuma is not made accountable for his actions then the graft and corruption will continue and could get worse. They only have to look north to Zimbabwe to see a democratically elected official, Megabe who turned into a tyrant and ruined the country.

The AIDs problem is not an epidemic, it is a pandemic problem. Early on the Africans wanted to believe that it was a white man’s disease but as more black people died it became apparent that it had to be addressed. Now to be diagnosed as HIV positive is like having leprosy, if your family or neighbors find out you are an outcast within the community, shunned by society. So naturally people are reluctant to be tested and when they test positive will deny their illness. When death occurs the family almost never admits that their relative died of AIDS, it is always for another reason, flu, tuberculosis or some other malady brought on by their depleted immunity.

The medical community has done amazing work with ARV’s in suppressing the illness caused by HIV but first people need to admit they could be infected, then get tested and then take the ARV’s on a regular schedule. If you skip your medication or don’t take the ARV drugs at exact same time everyday, the HIV becomes resistant to the drugs and the carrier begins to spread a drug resistant strain of the disease.

The African people are heavy believers in superstition and witchcraft. People believe strongly that illness or death can be caused by disappointing ancestors, having a spell put on you by another individual, tribal leader or medicine man.

Paul told us a story about an employee who came here from Zimbabwe. He was a great worker but the other African’s mocked him and made fun of him because of where he was from. One day he was threatened by someone who said he would die if he didn’t go back to his country.

The man started a downward spiral. Within a very short period of time he was unable to talk, then he couldn’t walk and finally he stopped eating. Paul took him to several doctors, including psychiatrists but nobody could find a physical malady. Paul was certain that if he didn’t do something quick this guy would die soon. As a last resort he loaded this man who was basically an invalid on an airplane back to Zimbabwe. Within a matter of weeks the man had totally recovered.

Funerals are big business here. We have been amazed with how many tombstone stores there are around the area. We were told when someone dies the family is expected to make a big show about the death. Everybody is invited to a wake/party that can last for days even though the family can’t afford appropriate shelter or food for their children. People believe that if they do not put on an appropriate funeral their ancestors could become displeased and it could result in their own death.