Some Reflections On South Africa 40 Years After My Arrival

 

    Yesterday was a day to reflect on what has happened in the 40 years since the Swissair flight from Zurich dropped me in South Africa. The airport was called Jan Smuts Airport. It is now called Oliver R. Tambo International Airport.

    I found myself finally in Africa. I had dreamed of coming here since I was a university student with a dear college friend from Zimbabwe named Mutizwa Chirunga. I saw no jungles or wild animals. Johannesburg is a lot like Denver. It is 6000 feet above sea level. Even 40 years ago it was amazingly modern. I had no hotel reservations. I sighted a shuttle with a familiar name-Holiday Inn. I got on and was taken to the hotel that still exists to this day. I checked in and rested. That night I went down to the hotel dining room. Ironically it was called "The Confederate Room." I met two incredible British people named Graham and Sue Harris. We became fast friends.

     Early 1981 was a heddy time for South Africa economically. Gold went to $800 US per ounce. One South African Rand equaled $1.00 US. (As of this morning you would need 14.25 South African Rand to buy a dollar.) It was also a sad time when Apartheid was still in place. Africans and Indians were hit with terrible discrimination. Chinese, on the other hand, were called "Honorary Whites" and treated decently.

    After five days in the hotel, I rented a room in the home of a wealthy woman architect in the upscale suburb of Northcliff. Her name is Barbara Broadhurst. We stayed friends for many years afterwards.

     I worked at an insurance brokerage named Price Forbes Federale Volkas. I had an Audi company car with all expenses paid. I lived the life of white privilege with servants in the house, etc.

     I soon learned that all was not well in this seeming "paradise." South Africa was engaged in its own Vietnam war in Angola and Southwest Africa (later Namibia) The six o'clock news often contained reports of young men killed "on the border."

       Fear and unease permeated the air. South Africans believed a scenario about the Soviets taking over South Africa. In their minds, a large fleet of Russian Navy ships would appear off the coast of South Africa. The Soviet equivalent of the US Marine Corps would storm ashore. Russian aircraft armed with nuclear warheads would circle overhead. An ultimatum would be given: "Surrender or face nuclear annihilation."

      The US and Europe would view these events as deeply disturbing. They would not come to South Africa's defense because they would not see it worth starting World War III. All would be lost.

        I soon found a life with a different party every night. It was,as the old saying goes: "Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may die!" If a man met a woman and did not try to take her to bed on the first date, his sexual orientation was questioned. Under the puritanical laws and attitudes was a wild sexuality. Everyone, South Africans know how to party and have fun!!!

        Let us fast forward 40 years. South Africa survived the difficult transition to black majority rule. It has some economic and political problems. The crime rate is high. It is surviving and viable. My old employer is still going strong. It is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange as Price Forbes (Pty) Limited. My company Waltradecc is still active in South Africa. All the old buildings that I knew well are still around. My beloved Indian restaurant The Curry Tavern is long gone. Anna you and I still have an investment presence in South Africa. It is good to have a story with a somewhat happy ending.