The Future of White Africans, Particularly South Africans and Namibians: Tackling Rhetoric and Looking to the Future
Every South African has a bright future in this country if we can only get rid of the ANC government and get a good leadership government. This statement is reflective of the ongoing political discourse in South Africa, although the focus here will be to explore the broader future prospects of White Africans, a term that is often debated and elucidated.
Defining White Africans and African Citizenship
It is important to note that there are no White Africans; instead, there are White people who have African citizenship. The term 'White Africans' is sometimes used to refer to White people born in Africa or with African citizenship, who do not fit the usual racial categorizations. However, using terms like 'White Arabs' is more accurate because some White people do indeed have African citizenship, similar to how some Arabs do.
Kwesi Prah's statement, ‘If everyone is African, then no one is African,' is profound in its simplicity. It highlights the difficulty in defining nationality and ethnicity, especially in a continent as diverse as Africa. If the people in Africa are not called 'blacks,' then referring to oneself as an 'African' but not as 'black' is contradictory. After all, the term 'black' has been officially abandoned by many post-colonial states in Africa, but African descent continues to be significant.
Addressing Persecution and Rhetoric
The constant rhetoric of white persecution, although maybe rooted in historical injustices, is indeed tiring. Yes, there are policies that can and should be addressed to make our beloved country better for everyone. The focus should be on moving forward constructively rather than dwelling on past hardships.
My point is that black people or the marginalized groups have had a persecuted lived experience under apartheid. Now life is hard and economically challenging for everyone. Before anyone counters with a tale of woe, it must be acknowledged that policies will and have benefited from the democratic process to alleviate some of these challenges.
Future Projections
Recently, I read some research suggesting that negative population growth will likely get the better of places like Europe and Japan, while Africa is set to triple in population over the next few decades. This rapid growth will create an unprecedented demand for skilled labor, helping to offset the aging populations in these countries. Places like Europe and Japan will import a significant portion of these skilled workers, and a noticeable proportion of them will be from the white population.
The white population in Southern Africa is already on a negative growth trajectory due to lower reproduction rates (below 2.4) and ongoing emigration. By 2060, the white population is likely to reduce to about 6% of the overall population in countries like South Africa, while Namibia might see a more modest drop to around 6% due to recent emigration patterns. Many White South Africans, including individuals like myself, have already moved to other countries like Namibia to seek better opportunities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the future for White Africans, particularly South Africans and Namibians, holds both challenges and opportunities. While the narrative of persecution might continue, a more pragmatic approach towards improvement and a focus on shared national interests can help move the country forward. The demographic shifts suggest that skilled white individuals will continue to play a significant role in the economic development of Southern Africa and could be key contributors to other nations in need of these skills.