Is the ANC beggaring South African whites?

[JCSkinner]

At long last, Jacob Zuma has acknowledged the massive rise in poverty among South Africa's white population.
After apartheid ended and the ANC came to power, many richer whites fled to the West, as we in Ireland are aware, since some came here. This, in conjunction with perspectives hanging over from the apartheid era, has led us in the West to generally conceive of South Africa's white population as privileged and rich.
And of course some are, as a quick walk around Joburg's Rosebank or Sandton would reveal.
But many are not, and poverty among the already poorer (usually rural Boer) whites has rocketed since the ANC came to power:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7524146.stm

The head of South Africa's governing African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, has said he is shocked and embarrassed about white poverty in the country.
Mr Zuma was speaking after visiting the Bethlehem township near the capital, Pretoria, where white families live without running water or electricity.
He said the high level of black poverty did not mean whites did not suffer too.
South Africa's Helping Hand says the number of homeless white people has increased by 58% since 2002.
A new report by the charity, which helps poor white communities, says more than 130,000 white people in South Africa are homeless.

Has the rainbow nation, and specifically the notoriously corrupt ANC, abandoned its white population to poverty?

[pai_da_mayra]

I don't think South Africa's whites have been beggared any more than other sections of the population; some sections of white society were bound to suffer with the changes that have occurred over the past 15 years. Overall, though, Mbeki's tenure has to be seen as a disappointment. While he has kept the show on the road economically, his refusal to deal properly with the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the worsening situation in Zimbabwe are huge black marks against him. The education system still leaves a lot to be desired, and South Africa has been enduring blackouts recently due to lack of investment in energy generation. A lot of problems to deal with for his successor.

[Goldwater]

It's an interesting question. There has long been a sizeable white working class population in SA, which often made up the backbone of the more right-wing Afrikaners. The descendents of the Conservative Party and others are found in the Freedom Front Plus, which ultimately wants a seperate Afrikaner homeland. In 2006, the FF+ picked up about 250,000 votes.

Much of the problems in today's SA arise from Thabo Mbeki's policies of 'Africanisation'. Mbeki, unlike his predecessor, remains a black nationalist who is indifferent to the suffering of a sizeable proportion of the white population. There are many reasons to be fearful of Zuma, but to his credit he does not appear (unlike the incumbent) to be uncomfortable around whites and Afrikaners. While his support is based on the hard-left of the ANC, the hope must be that he is pragmatic enough to realise that SA's development depends on them remaining the economic and financial stronghold of Africa, and that the white population are a vital component of this economic strength

[Breadan O'Connor]

It's an interesting question. There has long been a sizeable white working class population in SA, which often made up the backbone of the more right-wing Afrikaners. The descendents of the Conservative Party and others are found in the Freedom Front Plus, which ultimately wants a seperate Afrikaner homeland. In 2006, the FF+ picked up about 250,000 votes.

Much of the problems in today's SA arise from Thabo Mbeki's policies of 'Africanisation'. Mbeki, unlike his predecessor, remains a black nationalist who is indifferent to the suffering of a sizeable proportion of the white population. There are many reasons to be fearful of Zuma, but to his credit he does not appear (unlike the incumbent) to be uncomfortable around whites and Afrikaners. While his support is based on the hard-left of the ANC, the hope must be that he is pragmatic enough to realise that SA's development depends on them remaining the economic and financial stronghold of Africa, and that the white population are a vital component of this economic strength

In my fairly small local town (here in Ireland) I've noticed at least ten white people with the distinctive South African accent

I haven't talked to any of them but it seems to indicate that "white flight" is now happening.

[Catalpa]

I've met a few White South Africans over here too - decent people.

Fair play to Zuma for coming out on this - his remarks have certainly tempered my opinion of him. He also says he would only serve one term - if he keeps his word on that he will gain a lot of respect I think.

But South Africa while it has great potential alos has a lot of problems and the Jury's out on to whether it will emerge as an example or a warning to the rest of Africa.