Over the past few months, I have come across an increasing number of posts about how South Africa belongs to, or is home to, a certain group of people. Where has this theory evolved from? As far as history records go, the indigenous people of South Africa are the Khoisan. Are these the same people still living here today?
Our country’s mindset has become so narrow-minded and bitter that we now take for granted—and deeply disrespect—everything our ancestors fought for together. Apartheid did not end because one group alone overthrew the white government; many people, including white South Africans, fought for the freedom of all races. The rights they fought for—basic human dignity, equality, access to education and healthcare, and fair job opportunities—are the very rights we now seem to undervalue. At universities, students protest by damaging the facilities and resources meant to support their education, even burning the classrooms our ancestors fought for us to enter. We study, secure good jobs, and then fail to provide the service expected of us, watching key departments in our country collapse while people pursue only personal gain. We fought long and hard for education, yet we now encourage children to disrespect teachers and take learning for granted. We have accepted a 30% pass rate—is that truly how little we believe we are capable of? South Africa should have a heritage we can be proud of, yet many South Africans seem unsure of what that heritage truly means. Heritage Day is not simply about enjoying a lekker braai with a few beers or glasses of wine.
It is easy to enjoy freedoms that others died for when you were born into them. This generation did not live through apartheid, and we cannot pretend to understand that experience fully. Yet we often use race as a weapon, while knowing little about what people truly endured during that time. To stand before thousands and claim ownership of a struggle you do not respect—one whose lessons you have not learned and whose values are greater than our egos—is deeply misguided. I will say it again: different groups of people achieved a free South Africa by standing together for a common purpose.
So, who truly belongs in this country? Those who carry South Africa in their hearts and live by respect, honesty, and integrity. They are the people who lead with empathy, offer a helping hand before a harsh word, and want everyone to share success—not only to enrich themselves. They honour the roles they serve, walk this soil with pride for every battle fought here, and choose unity across race and religion. They respect differences in beliefs, even when those beliefs do not match their own. South Africa belongs to all who can hear her cries through the privileges we enjoy today.
