Shame! Same Difference, the Rot Lies in the Egg

By Malusi Letoaba

Same difference, the rot lies in the egg, is a narrative account of South African events before and after the abolishment of Apartheid. Apartheid is an Afrikaans word; lit. meaning 'separateness/apartness'. It was introduced by white South Africans (National Party) in 1948. In essence it called for people living in South Africa to be separated according to racial groups, making racism part of the law. By implication, the state encouraged white people's oppression of Africans, Coloureds and Asians living in South Africa. Collectively they were called black South Africans, and were excluded from all organs of state. This racist policy severely disadvantaged the majority of the black people, especially the African people.
The writer, throughout his early childhood, like in many other young black children, life was but normal. Many did not know what was on the other side of the colour bar. As a young boy growing in a black-only township, he knew no other life either than black life. So, he, like others had not experienced what was on the other side of the fence. His first face-to-face encounter with the hostilities and hard realities of the system of Apartheid started when he was a golf caddy. It is only then that he discovers that Apartheid was delineated into petty apartheid, which entailed the segregation of public facilities and social events, such as sports, beaches, parks and public toilets.

His eyes opened up to the realities of this country, when he was at high school. It was at the time in his life when he acquainted himself with South African politics and began questioning the status quo. What he began to understand was, black people hadn't only been subjected to Petty Apartheid, but they were also not allowed to vote, had no right to land ownership, they had inferior education under the banner of Bantu education, their mobility was restricted under the pass laws, and in the work-place, they could not hold any senior positions in relation to those held by white people. The latter was at the heart of 'job reservation' along the colour line. Top-most in the list were whites, Indians, coloureds and then Africans.
That period, the early sixties to mid-eighties, marked a period of social upheaval in South Africa. It was however lacking in leadership. Many black political organisation had been banned, and many black leaders had been in exile, or, like Mandela, were imprisoned for life on Robben Island. The height of the struggle for liberation took place in 1976 when he was a student. The year marks the students' uprising in South Africa, triggered by policies of the Apartheid government which forced black people to use Afrikaans as a means of instructions. A revolt against the system saw the system finally abolished in 1994. In the Aftermath, a new-all-inclusive government was then formed - a new generation was born. To the generation born post 1994, otherwise called, 'the born free generation', Apartheid remains but a word from the past.

What is the boom that let him to put pen to paper? "Grandpa, what is Apartheid?" This in the narrative kick-starts step by step connected sequence of events that lead to this authentic voice to express what he experienced, living in the Township of Tembisa, South Africa. However, he is disillusioned: the current government is lacking in sound leadership; there is utter lack of credible governance and accountability. Above all, economic legacy and social effects of Apartheid continue to be present till to day. To Mandela: The walk to freedom is not over yet, he alludes. What could have gone wrong

"I am not a professional writer, and English is not my first language for that matter, but I can't let go of the burning truth. It has to be said in a language that at least any one of us can read, English. My voice is a genuine voice of South Africa - a voice that must be heard."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GS1W7T64
• ISBN13: 9798233363191
• Release Date: April 2019
• Publisher: Malusi Letoaba
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"