Nonetheless the woman

Nonetheless the woman

It is said that they are the ones thinking in the country to say that they are.In their thinking capacity it is their corruptive husbands that have the say in the end and it is catapulted by them.In the say of their husbansd it is also to say they think they are so defined in role of apartheid. To say that they think they are in the insane mode of repsonsive behaviour to restore the country,and to the way it can be better. ffirmative action, BEE, BBBEE, or maybe even white privilege. For many white South Africans, these are terms that irritate them or they’re “sick of” hearing about. If you’re one of those people, then you probably think affirmative action is “unfair”. Before we dive into this, let’s look at why the Department of Labour says affirmative action is necessary. Affirmative action makes sure that qualified designated groups (black people, women and people with disabilities) have equal opportunities to get a job. With South Africa’s apartheid history being known to the entire world, one should easily be able to understand why programs like this are necessary, especially when it comes to education. As we’ve pointed out, however, this isn’t normally the case amongst white South Africans. So what do white people get wrong about transformation efforts in general? As a young white South African, I have grown up hearing about how “ridiculous” it is that “black people can get accepted to study medicine with 60% but my white daughter gets rejected by UCT with 75%”. You’ve probably heard similar claims like that over the years, maybe you’ve even made them yourself. So what aren’t you getting? Apartheid is long since over, “they should take the person with the highest marks now”. Well, no, they shouldn’t. Level playing field? Definitely not… Sifiso is a 17-year-old who lives in a rural Eastern Cape township, he lives in a shack as the sole breadwinner and guardian to his 9-year-old sister. Sifiso’s parents passed away when he was younger but he still manages to put food on the table for his sister and himself. He wakes up at 4am, makes breakfast for him and his sister and then gets her ready for school. He drops her off at school before walking a further 6kms to get to his own school. Sifiso’s school has no powerpoints, a shortage of textbooks and the teacher is often not there for some of his lessons. As the school day ends, he walks the 6km back home, picks up his sister and returns home to make lunch for her and himself. After lunch, it’s time for Sifiso to head to work unpacking boxes at the local spaza shop. Back from work in the evening and it’s time to cook dinner for the family, shower and get his sister ready for bed, all before he begins to work on his own homework and study at 9pm. Sifiso is desperate to get into Wits University and continues to study for his exams by candlelight till late into the night. He has had no parents to help him or pay for extra lessons. So what am I getting at here? Sifiso goes through the daily routine for the rest of his Matric year and still manages to get just over a 60% average. Sifiso’s 60% is more impressive and more deserving than any young white South African’s 75% or maybe even 80%. This may come across as controversial but it all comes down to the base at which both youngsters started from. Excellence versus white mediocrity There are millions of “Sifisos” living out the same and even more difficult lives. They started at the bottom of the ladder and have still managed to climb to the 10th (University entrance) step. Yes, not all white South Africans have extra classes and parents that help them. But if you are born white in South Africa, it means, at the very least, you are not born in a shack. Author, journalist and Talk Show host Eusebius Mckaiser describes this difference between what is “excellence” and what is really just “mediocrity” coming from white people. Mckaiser’s definition can be referred straight back to the “ladder” concept. Just by not being born in a shack and going to a township school, you already start on the 2nd step of the ladder. Not having to be the sole breadwinner in the family and play both the parent roles for your little sister day? The time and emotional energy that saves, starts you on the 4th step. We won’t even mention not having to walk 6m to school… It’s this difference in starting position that makes white persons “great” mark much more of a mediocre one when put in comparison. Yes, we white people have hardships and work exceptionally hard too, but all we’re asking for is a little more awareness next time you pass comment on school or university type affirmative action. No guilt, no blame, just a little bit of deep thinking. Affirmative Action Mythbuster Ok, if you’re angered by this article then you’ve probably also said a sentence like this before. “I don’t want a doctor operating on me who only knows 60% of his work!” As a 22-year-old white South African, this was also something I heard numerous times when getting into university was discussed. This isn’t me really busting a myth, again, it just comes down to actually thinking a bit. Any claim like the above is nothing short of ridiculous. Even if someone got into medical school with a 60% average in high school, anyone who wants to obtain the degree and become a doctor has to pass with the same strict requirements set by the university. Therefore, no, there will not be any doctors operating on you that only know 60% of their job. — So, next time you speak negatively about affirmative action, take a second to ask yourself: Are these programs really that unfair? TAGS affirmative action BBBEE BEE South Africans white privilege article class=”socialLocker”>