The More Things Change, The More They Remain The Same

Like many white South Africans before me I did my military service in the 1980’s, I was fortunate never to have been involved in combat and the closest I came to the border was the border between Johannesburg and Pretoria. Those were the days of the struggle and the Rooi Geware (The Red Danger as communism was then called). Once again I was fortunate not to be on patrol or ever having to come face to face with ‘the enemy’.

That was our country back in the 80’s, divided on racial and political grounds, a third force operating, the army in the townships, people living in fear of being branded a traitor, necklacing (setting someone on fire with a car tyre around their neck), beatings, stonings, intimidation, distrust of our leaders and general dissent throughout the country… the more things change, the more they remain the same.

Twenty years later Thabo Mbeki was sending the troops back into the townships, beatings, stabbings, burnings, rumours of a ‘third force’ and plenty of intimidation is back. People live in fear, distrust authority and find themselves once again divided. Today a song from Evita, the musical, goes something like this (with apologies to the authors)

Let’s hear it for the Rainbow Nation
It’s been an incredible success
We weren’t quite sure, we had a few doubts

Will South Africa win through?
But the answer is yes

And then a little later in the song the mood changes just a tad…

SA started well, no question, by chance
Shining like a sun through the post-war haze
A beautiful reminder of the care-free days
We nearly captured the world, we sure had the chance
But we suddenly seemed to lose interest
We looked tired

Face the facts, the Rainbow’s starting to fade
I don’t think we’ll make it to glory now

It wasn’t on the schedule anyhow

You’d better get out the flags and fix a parade
Some kind of coming home in triumph is required

Would South Africa win through?
And the answer is
Yes
And no
And yes
And no
And yes
No