Listening to the silent majority

[59]

What we foreigners think we know about South Africa or what the true problems in this country are, stands in no relation whatsoever to the reality of South Africa in 1989. We carry in our heads images about this incredible mixture of peoples and races that bear no resemblance whatsoever to the realities in this land. It's the old story of minds already made up. Input that would threaten or perhaps even change the preconceived ideas about the ‘Boer Republic’ is simply banned and sabotaged. Bill Faure's Shaka Zulu was prevented from being shown on Dutch television under pressure from the anti-apartheid activists. At least, the Zulu epic was shown on American television in spite of the usual sabotage. I understand Bill Turner's tv conglomerate has just

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bought the rights for a repeat performance to us audiences. I told Simon Tebele, input editor of the sabc, that none of the beautiful black television programs from South Africa were ever shown in Holland.

‘That is very wrong,’ replied Simon. ‘We are here. We will not be shipped out, as were our brothers, the slaves, in the past. The point is, blacks and whites exist here together, are living here together. The government is finally shifting away from antiquated attitudes. Eventually, we will have achieved the right balance at last. This cannot happen overnight. We cannot possibly suddenly engineer an ideal solution to all our problems. It will be a protracted process of give and take, but we will get there. As you say, education is absolutely crucial at this stage of South African development. Everybody now wants to enter the educational process. There is a tremendous surge among blacks to be properly educated. Parents see other children become doctors, lawyers, engineers. They then ask themselves, how can I give my child a proper education? I have listened to parents saying, “I had rather forego everything else, so long as my child will first be educated”. That's the general trend. Parents want to feel that they have properly presented their children to the world.’

I asked whether black television was also presenting educational programs. He considered this a stupid question. ‘Of course,’ he retorted, ‘and I am not referring to programs from the secondary level onwards. I am speaking of programs beginning at the crèche level right up to matric. We try to inspire children and show the way to an acceptable and positive attitude towards life. We avoid presenting human existence in a negative way. We try to show blacks the right way, also on a personal level. I am input editor. It is my responsibility to deliver a constructive contribution to a new South African society, by showing fellow blacks a new way.’

Simon continued: ‘The sabc is indeed in the vanguard for peaceful co-existence for you and me.’ I asked slowly with meaningful reform. He surprised me with his reply, like other blacks had astonished me before. ‘You are right, reform is a bit too slow. But, on the other hand, if State President pw Botha were to announce officially, that apartheid was to be dead as of today, I would say, that the outcome of an all-too-sudden change would result in national disaster.’