None of us are the stereotypes described here, yet most of us will recognise a bit of ourselves somewhere along the line.

Older generation returned expatriates

They are mostly Black, Indian and Coloured: former freedom fighters and returned political exiles. They are worldly, experienced and sophisticated – even if not formally educated. They are politicised and angry about white entitlement, bigotry, racism, condescension and lack of knowledge about the rest of society. They are intimately familiar with the plight of marginalised people

The international generation

They are the children of mostly Black former political exiles or they grew up, normally, in affluent areas in post-apartheid South Africa. They are sassy, well-educated, well-read and often well-travelled.  They are at ease engaging outside familiar racial and cultural boundaries and have diverse social circles. Many are leaving South Africa because of frustration with crime and discrimination, and in pursuit of better economic opportunities. They are annoyed by white condescension and the automatic assumption that being Black equates to poverty and lack of education. They may not understand the true depth of the plight of marginalised people in South Africa, because they did not grow up in it.

Those who stayed behind, but got educated in spite of apartheid

Black professionals – the lucky few who made up apartheid’s quota of Black people who were allowed to get an education. They are intimately familiar with the plight of their own people.  Most are supporting extended, marginalised families. Many are involved with volunteer work trying to make a difference through faith-based or community-based organisations. They are not necessarily politicised, are often accepting of the status quo and are eager to fit in with White people at work or church – not considering the loss of their own cultural identity in this process. Despite their qualifications, there is a self-imposed and historically imposed ‘glass ceiling’ beyond which many find it difficult to move – especially in the presence of White professionals.

Educated, young people of colour who were raised in South Africa

They are the new generation of young people who have had access to education and other post-apartheid opportunities.  Many of them rose out of terrible disadvantage to achieve their ambitions. They are intimately familiar with the plight of their own people and most are supporting extended families. They are positive, hopeful and want to help make a difference. Even if not completely at ease, they are eager to engage outside familiar racial and cultural boundaries – often at a loss of their own cultural identity. They are often not treated as professional equals by Whites in the workplace.

Emerging historically disadvantaged South Africans

They are mostly Black, skilled blue-collar workers and artisans, new to the South African workforce.  They often struggle to make ends meet. A large proportion of their salaries are for family maintenance responsibilities. Many are supporting extended families. They are very familiar with limited access to services. They are frustrated with unfulfilled promises made by NGOs and government departments. They are intimately familiar with the complex challenges faced by Black communities. They are willing to contribute in any way possible to help make things better for their people. On the whole, they have little decision-making power in the world of work. They want to move away from what has held them back in the past … desperately trying to hide the other reality in their lives: the reality not known or shared by White people. They often spend disproportionate amounts of money on clothes, shoes, handbags, jewellery, accessories and cars to keep up appearances. They sometimes have a sense of entitlement, a culture of ‘the world owes me.’ That world is the government – because of its promises – and especially White people – because of the history of apartheid and because White people are perceived as being rich.

Marginalised South Africans

The millions of poor South Africans who live lives of quiet desperation – who have given up hope of ever bridging the widening rift between rich and poor, educated and uneducated in South Africa. They are mostly Black and coloured, though increasing numbers of White people are becoming marginalised.  They are people of all ages in positions of domestic responsibility – including orphans left to fend for themselves and their siblings.  They are unemployed or employed in menial jobs, homeless or living in poverty in townships, city centres, abandoned buildings, building sites, informal settlements and rural areas.  They are affected by all the social ills associated with poverty and marginalisation, such as alcohol and substance abuse, illiteracy, malnutrition, prostitution and neglect. They have little access to information and are often unaware of the extent of social programming initiatives and other support services available to them. They are unable to participate in the formal economy for a variety of reasons, such as lack of education, lack of skills, transportation, money, confidence, know-how and, simply, lack of precedent.  Ill health, disability and old age may also prevent them from active participation. They are frustrated, sceptical and wary because of what they perceive as unfulfilled development promises made by the government.  They believe that the government doesn’t care about them. They are illiterate, semi-literate or literate, and mostly uneducated.  They have little disposable income and few prospects. Many are without hope.

The takers

People who have become wealthy by questionable means. They are more concerned with what they can take from the system than what they can give to it. There is little regard for ethics or culture. They behave ostentatiously and often spend exorbitant amounts of money on booze and bling. Making money seems to be a game of how best to cheat the system, not of hard work and integrity.

Old-school historically advantaged people

Mostly White South Africans who believe, deep down, that the ending of apartheid was a mistake. They used to blame the victims of poverty for lack of incentive, lack of willpower, laziness, stupidity and all the stereotypes that are attached to people who are marginalised – until their own joined the ranks of the poor. Now they blame the government. They see no connection between crime and the fact that economic inequality is higher in South Africa than anywhere else in the world.  They believe in their intrinsic intellectual superiority and they look down on other races. They believe that they earned what they have because of their hard work and contributions to the world. They rarely consider the enormous benefit and advantage bestowed upon them and their families by the years of white affirmative action during apartheid. They have access to quality employment, health care, services, information and opportunities. Their jobs are protected by a circle of their own: like-minded family, friends and colleagues. They live lives of privilege and entitlement.  They have stereotypical ideas of what Black people are like and expect Blacks who want to associate with them to conform to their norms of behaviour, dress, speech and culture. They would find it inconceivable to visit a township, let alone an informal settlement and believe, on some level, that people who live in poverty deserve what they get, because of their inability to rise above their circumstances.  They see no connection between the policies of the past and Black poverty now.  They want Black people to ‘move on’ because apartheid is over, after all. They see no connection between the low and discriminatory wages they pay the people who support them in maintaining their lifestyle, and the difficulties those people experience in rising above their circumstances. They are negatively critical of the government and regard many of its policies as unfair, ill-advised assaults on their way of life. They and their children are negative about prospects in South Africa and invariably believe that the situation is hopeless. Leaving the country is perpetually an option.

Liberal historically advantaged people

White South Africans who believe that apartheid was an iniquity that marred our economic development, scarred a lot of people, divided a nation, and left us with horrible problems. They are saddened by the past and want to see our country change and heal. They are mostly educated and have access to quality employment, health care, ample services and information, and participate actively in the formal economy. They may be affluent or not, but they live lives of relative privilege because they know no other way of living. They mix freely with educated people of colour who fit into their socio-economic group. Yet, they are mostly unaware of what life is like for those who are truly marginalised as a result of the racial policies of the past. They are critical, but positive about prospects in South Africa. They would like to help make a difference – but they are unsure about how to get involved beyond mixing with people of colour who fit into their world.

Historically advantaged blue-collar South Africans

White blue-collar workers and artisans who took for granted the affirmative protections afforded them by apartheid, who now have to compete for jobs and services against people who were previously excluded from meaningful participation in the formal economy. Many struggle to make ends meet. A large proportion of their salaries go towards family responsibilities. Many, but not all, are now supporting unemployed members of their family. Many are resentful of Black people taking ‘their’ jobs.  They still have a say at their places of work because of the ease of interaction in a world still dominated by unspoken white rules.

Kind White people who never questioned the status quo

White South Africans who were born into apartheid but didn’t necessarily consider themselves superior – just different. They never questioned why Black people live in poverty on one side of town, while White people lived in decent houses and sent their children to school on the other side of town. They never made the connection between the policies of apartheid and the way things were. They have a hard time redefining themselves and making sense of the guilt that comes with awareness of what has really happened here.

The unclassifiables

A large group of South Africans (and foreigners) that transcends stereotypical categories. This group is comprised of people from all economic and racial backgrounds … ordinary people who believe that a better world is possible. Many are involved in social transformation work … in government departments, international and local aid organisations and charities, and in community and faith-based projects. Also in this group, are many of the younger generation who have had the privilege of discovering the common humanity of people from all races with whom they went to school. They don’t know about the pain and division caused by apartheid and they frankly don’t care. They just want to get on with their lives and participate in a world that works. They don’t want to be punished for the sins of their fathers or be branded by their labels.