SINCE the dawn of democracy, many black people have moved to formerly white suburbs.
It is common for blacks to own houses in suburbs.
And white people no longer call the police when they see black people in former white areas.
The transition to move to the suburbs has not been without challenges for blacks - and for whites. Blacks mostly received a cold reception when they moved into former white areas. Some, if not most, were subjected to racism.
When they realised that they couldn't wish blacks away, some whites relocated to areas that were lily white. Change is not easy, I suppose.
Blacks who live in the suburbs have difficulty in practising their culture, especially when they need to slaughter animals.
Whites regard the slaughtering of animals for cultural practices as cruelty to animals.
This is an insult to black people's age old beliefs.
On the contrary, white people are yet to move to the townships in any significant numbers, which is understandable.
Townships are not good places for people to live in. Yet the apartheid government saw it fit to move black people there.
How cruel. And unfortunately, we cannot wish townships away.
But there are some whites who have moved to Kagiso in the West Rand about two years ago.
Their relocation from nearby Krugersdorp made headline news because people do not expect to see whites living in a township.
But unlike whites who have made life difficult for blacks in the suburbs, blacks have warmly welcomed white people to Chief Mogale in Kagiso.
We have made their stay comfortable and they feel at home. No, they are at home. Their children even go to local schools.
It was not easy for these white families to come and live in the area.
They initially resisted moving to Kagiso because they were afraid that they might be killed.
They were also concerned about crime. But nothing has happened to them and they are now part of the Kagiso community.
It has become normal to see white faces in our area. They board taxis with us and go to the local shops and malls freely.
This shows that black and white people can live together harmoniously. And this is how we should live as a nation.
Thabile Mange, by e-mail
Black, white living together
SINCE the dawn of democracy, many black people have moved to formerly white suburbs.
It is common for blacks to own houses in suburbs.
And white people no longer call the police when they see black people in former white areas.
The transition to move to the suburbs has not been without challenges for blacks - and for whites. Blacks mostly received a cold reception when they moved into former white areas. Some, if not most, were subjected to racism.
When they realised that they couldn't wish blacks away, some whites relocated to areas that were lily white. Change is not easy, I suppose.
Blacks who live in the suburbs have difficulty in practising their culture, especially when they need to slaughter animals.
Whites regard the slaughtering of animals for cultural practices as cruelty to animals.
This is an insult to black people's age old beliefs.
On the contrary, white people are yet to move to the townships in any significant numbers, which is understandable.
Townships are not good places for people to live in. Yet the apartheid government saw it fit to move black people there.
How cruel. And unfortunately, we cannot wish townships away.
But there are some whites who have moved to Kagiso in the West Rand about two years ago.
Their relocation from nearby Krugersdorp made headline news because people do not expect to see whites living in a township.
But unlike whites who have made life difficult for blacks in the suburbs, blacks have warmly welcomed white people to Chief Mogale in Kagiso.
We have made their stay comfortable and they feel at home. No, they are at home. Their children even go to local schools.
It was not easy for these white families to come and live in the area.
They initially resisted moving to Kagiso because they were afraid that they might be killed.
They were also concerned about crime. But nothing has happened to them and they are now part of the Kagiso community.
It has become normal to see white faces in our area. They board taxis with us and go to the local shops and malls freely.
This shows that black and white people can live together harmoniously. And this is how we should live as a nation.
Thabile Mange, by e-mail
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