You're talking about South Africans who LEFT the country. By definition, they will be more "open" than those who stay behind. I'm talking about non-South Africans who came TO South Africans. Two different things. I'm not saying neighbouring countries were not "open" to South Africans, I'm saying that SA was obviously less "open" during the apartheid era.
this was in repsonse to ur post about how south africans feel their actions are justified because noone was there for them during apatheid, so my point was that the whole of africa was there, and when miriam makeba got back from an overseas tour she was denied entry into her own country so was forced into exile. while in exile she was helped by other black folk to continue what she was doing. there is no way black south africans can feel like black people werent there for them.
On the other hand, from what I've read, there were very few non South Africans Blacks during the apartheid days, and those who did go were (again, from what I read) were highly qualified, ie Doctors or Teachers, stuff like that. So no one that most local Blacks could see as competition. But maybe you have other more direct info than I do.
actually you will find this statement not be entirely true, someone mentioned domestic jobs that south africans wouldnt take, who you think was doing those jobs for little pay..thats right ..immigrants. immigrants did these jobs coz for them it was better than home, they could send food and money back home without worrying about rent and bills in south africa because most lived at work...something that cac bosses would have preffered eg 24 hr maid service and security of never worrying about being robbed etc
Nonetheless, I think it's safe to say tha there are more black immigrants now in SA than during the apartheid era, for reasons that I guess are obvious to everyone. It's not rocket science : more immigrants CAN lead to more xenophobia, and in this case it did. I don't understand why this seems to surprise some people here, it happens all the time all over the world. dont get me wrong, im not saying the numbers didnt go up but most people started leaving for greener pastures, those that stayed settled and used their savings to set up businesses. they opened phone shops,internet cafes and grocery stores among other businesses while south africans tried to capitalize on taking big business deals ''tenders or government contracts'' without experience of handling big money.most failed and lost all the money and contracts thats why they using the little fame they had to manipulate the uneducated into destroying other small businesses in hope of taking over and regaining their fame and riches. those that managed to handle their government contracts are driving sports cars and holidaying in mauritius etc and would do anything to keep that lifestyle...in 10 years time with all this type of corruption..south africa will be like zimbabwe.
