The reports from South Africa about the continuing violence against immigrants come as no surprise.
As a student in post-apartheid South Africa from 1998 to 2000, the derogatory term “Kwerekwere” was often heard.
Kwerekwere refers to anyone who is not from South Africa and speaks none of the country’s dozen or so official languages.
You are a Kwerekwere because when you speak the South Africans do not understand what you are saying, so to them you are a sounding gong making unintelligible sounds “kwerekwere”.
My 28-year old sister began her journey from Johannesburg on Friday with her six-week old baby fearing that she would be killed.
The trip from Johannesburg to our home in Gwanda, Matabeleland would have taken her about 12 hours, but it took her 48 hours.
Needless to say, that was the worst time of our lives as I kept calling her to check if she was alright. I barely slept as I was calling and sending encouraging text messages.
She says they were forced to use backroads to avoid the police as well as the mob roadblocks.
When I talked to her on Monday she was still dazed saying she was not sure which was the worse evil, the mobs in Johannesburg or the hunger and political volatility in Zimbabwe.
I am yet to talk to my mother as I don’t have the emotional stamina to deal with her sobbing because her youngest son remained behind in Johannesburg.
He said he wants to wait for a couple of days and see whether the situation improves.
Smouldering Class Relations Finally Ignites into Inferno
Posted in The WIP Talk, Uncategorized
A 28-year old woman makes the decision to flee South Africa’s violence with a six-week old baby to return to a completely unstable Zimbabwe. To have to make such a decision is so terrible. Snjobo, thank you for this blog. You make the violence we’ve read about this week in South Africa so palpable. What a sad story to wake up to this morning. I really hope this situation improves and that everyone in your family remains safe, both in South Africa and in Zimbabwe.
eye witness accounts of what is happening in situations of severe hostility is so valuable, so important to those of us who are mere observeres, living in other parts of the world.
I am glad to hear that your sister is safe. We need to hear your voice, wherever you are.
Thank you
I, too, appreciate the first hand accounts. We know more what things are like when we hear the details. I am horrified by your choices and astounded at the way all of you respond to these untenable situations.
Though I am not today sending you text messages and calling at regular intervals, I am holding you, your family, and your country in my thoughts.