Feature Article

 

 

Life during apartheid-South Africa: A survivor’s story.

(By: Kamogelo Tselane, 2 Sep 2022). GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA.

Mary Monyai, 64, is one of the people who suffered oppression during the apartheid era in South Africa from 1948 to 1994 by being discriminated against, due to being black.

Apartheid first began in 1948 in South Africa, as a guideline which governed the association between the white population and the black population.

It controlled how people lived, where they lived, what kind of occupations they had and others, based on their race. Black and Indian people were the groups mostly affected by the dictation of apartheid.

They were discriminated against, treated as minority groups, and racially segregated.

The black majority firstly had zero or poor access to education.

They were not allowed to vote or to partake in any decision-making, even when it came to issues that affected them.

Monyai shared her experiences under the apartheid laws, as well as her lifestyle now in the post-apartheid South Africa:

The National Party whose owner was Daniel F. Malan were the founders of apartheid.

Supported by the Group Areas Act of 1950, they placed people in different residential areas as well as business institutions based on their racial group.

Black, Indian, and coloured people were placed in informal settlements and townships like Soweto.

Mary Monyai spent her teenage years and adulthood in one place which is the Soweto township, in the Gauteng province.

She recalled her and her family not being allowed to leave the township, “we never bought anything new because we were not even allowed to be in town unless if you were a maid working for a white boss” she said.

Monyai stated that in 1965 when she was only 17 years old, her mother introduced her to her own white lady who was her boss in town.

Monyai was to help her mother with her daily work of cleaning, washing the laundry and other work commitments she had.

She opened up about a certain incident that took place while she was working there as a helper.

“I broke a glass by mistake while I was washing the dishes one day, and I paid for it” she said.

She narrated how her boss made her clean the broken glass pieces with her bare hands, while she insulted her using racist terms and derogatory statements.

Due to feeling helpless, she stayed for the job even after the incident. Out of fear that if she reported it, the boss would make her seem like a liar.

“Nobody was going to believe me over a white woman, so I stayed, plus my family needed the money” Monyai said.

While people like Mary Monyai and others lived in hardships everyday of their lives, life was normal for the minority of the country.

She shared how being a black person during all those years felt scary because they did not have much control over their lives.

They were given lesser to no opportunities at all, lack of education and poor education like the Bantu Education Act.

In 1994 and a few years prior, activists like the late Nelson Mandela and Steven Bantu Biko strived for change and equal rights for all.

They went against the forces and oppression of apartheid.

In 1994 and afterwards, South Africa became a democratic country where people are treated equally regardless of race.

Opportunities became better for all, non-white groups were allowed to vote for the first time ever.

Public universities allowed any person who is a South African citizen to apply for any qualification of their choice.

South Africa was reintroduced as ‘the rainbow nation’.

Monyai gave insight into the changes that have changed her life for good.

According to her, the post-apartheid South Africa became a second chance for her and those who her previously oppressed.

“Living in the apartheid-era was difficult and there was minimal freedom for people like me” she said.

She continued and added “today, I can freely go to any establishment and buy any product I desire”.

Monyai expressed her gratefulness for the freedom she has in her life today.

She also appreciates the fact that her grandchildren have better opportunities unlike she did.

Comparing the apartheid-era and the post-apartheid era, Mary holds that the current South Africa is better.

She also opened up about how she does not hold any grudge about the past.

She claimed, “I do not condone what hardships I had to face in my life, but if it was not for those experiences then I would not be able to notice the rights and freedom I possess currently”.

Monyai hopes that South Africa will become an even better nation for all in the future.