Gatvol innie Kaap (fed up in the Cape)

OK, so I was a bit gatvol when I started this blog, hence the name.

South Africans will understand. The language... and the reasons...

For those in the dark, "Gatvol" is Afrikaans language for being fed-up.

"Kaapenaar" is Afrikaans for Capetonian, i.e. someone who lives in the Cape region of South Africa... that bit at the very bottom of the African map, around Cape Town city in the Western Cape province. Some would argue that the correct spelling is Kapenaar, but that does not look right to my eye...

Many Capetonians and South Africans in general are a bit "Gatvol" these days.

Rising crime, failing economy, housing shortages, job-losses, political uncertainty and many other aspects weigh heavily on our shoulders... but we remain hopeful.

We maintain a sense of humour in the face of crisis. Our colloquial languages and variations often the cause of mirth... not least are those Afrikaans words that we lovingly adopt into local English and some African languages.

OK, I'm not Afrikaans, I am an English Speaking white South African guy, but with an Afrikaner wife... I was born in Namaqualand, a predominantly Afrikaans speaking territory, where I grew up for the first 5 years of my life (we were only one English family among all Afrikaners).

I remember very little of that time, except for the "artificial memories" seeded by family stories and possible "folklore" from the telling and re-telling of the events and happenings from those hazy days.

For benefit of foreigners who often make this mistake, the Afrikaner people are not black African nations or tribes... they are in fact descendents of European immigrants from Holland, Germany, France, Belgium, etc. The suble difference in spelling ("k" vs "c") is often missed by other nations.

Africans = People of Africa (previously referred to indigenous nations, but nowadays encompassing all local people)

Afrikaans = a language spoken by:

Afrikaners = descendants of (mostly) European Imigrants before (and after) the Boer Wars, who speak Afrikaans as their home language.

Remember the Boer Wars [Wikipedia Link] between the South African Boers and British Empire?

Well those Boers (Afrikaans speaking farmers of European descent) have evolved into our modern day Afrikaner nation.

The historical friction between Afrikaners and English speaking white South Africans that lasted some generations, still evident as recent as 30 years ago, has mostly dissapeared and has evolved in the new generation into mutual respect and appreciation of each other's respective cultures and social contributions in our multi-cultural melting-pot of people of all colours and origins.

Today the line between the Afrikaner nation and English speaking white people has become blurred by time, inter-marriage and dual-language education. Almost all people in our country from European descent speak both English and Afrikaans, mostly fluently... except perhaps in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), jokingly known as "the last colonial outpost" of the British Empire where very little (if any) Afrikaans is spoken (except by visitors from other privinces).

Most African people in our country (indiginous nations from in or around Southern Africa) speak either English (KZN and Gauteng) or Afrikaans (Cape and Free State regions) or a bit of both, plus their own indiginous language. This melting-pot of many different languages has led to a newly developed language being created by the mines to facilitate communication between workers from many different nations, Fanogalo (pronounced Funny-Cal-Lore).

We have 11 official languages (a nightmare for official documentation) plus some non-official languages which are in regular use. See details at www.cyberserv.co.za/users/~jako/lang and a different take on the issue at www.sa-venues.com/sa_languages_and_culture.htm

In the past decade, South Africans of all colours, languages, origins and cultures have become proud to be part of a new emerging economy. We consider ourselves to be the "Rainbow Nation"!

However, this growth has not been without growing-pains. Our economy has been volatile, creating much uncertainty among all. Many have emigrated (and many have returned again).

Our political situation is in turmoil with the ruling party, the ANC, exhibiting a severe shortage of the experience and skills required to manage and run such a great country. They struggle to find their stance and balance, but are learning quickly. They have a few absolute gems though, such as Trevor Manual, Minister of Finance who has worked miracles in a difficult environment and has earnt the greatest respect from all and sundry.

We generaly hope for the best, but sometimes fear for the worst in the short term. We know things will get better in the longer term, however it is likely to first get a lot worse before that happens.

The caterpillar is in the cacoon, quietly developing and undergoing an amazing metamorphosis. We do not know when the beautiful butterfly will emerge or what other threat we shall face in the interim.

While we wait and wonder and hope, we oscillate between utter despair and sheer exuberance for the future. Much of the time we are just Gatvol! and that brings me back to my blog title.

I hope to post regular insights here about my own personal experiences in these dynamic and challenging times.

Walk with me along this exciting path of discovery.

Join me in discussing these issues.

I look forward to your comments and contributions.

Keith, the Gatvol Capetonian (but Occassional Optimist).