Make like a foreigner and leave

Discrimination in all its forms is in no way and form acceptable, but nothing makes my blood boil more than xenophobia and all the hostility it brings. This violation of human rights seems to be a common and disturbing phenomenon in South Africa, ironically. After many years of black Africans being systematically oppressed during apartheid, blacks still inflict upon others what was inflicted upon their race. I am not stating that they are the only perpetrators of xenophobia – xenophobia happens all around the world, by different races and to different races. Poor black on black xenophobic violence just seems more prevalent. I am simply stating that after the injustices that this country has faced, for blacks to practice the same cruelty that was imposed upon those before them, is just inhumane.

It seems to me that many South Africans forget that they are part of Africa. Africans share the same problems and South Africa is a developing country, just like the rest of the continent. The spate of xenophobic attacks that hit this country may be over but there are so many xenophobic incidents that go unnoticed. “Amakwerekwere” as foreigners are so insultingly called – and to me this is no different than calling a black a “kaffir” – are still beaten up, verbally abused and treated so unjustly by citizens and law enforcement forces alike, that I can’t stop to question what this world has come to. Being a foreigner myself, there are times when being associated with this country makes me sick.

Farewell Trans-fats; Hello Healthy Hearts

The South African Department of Health recently released a statement that they might be implementing legislation to decrease the amount of trans-fats in the average South African’s diet. Despite the shiny newness of the report, online media institutions have already jumped on the story.

The general reaction is that trans-fats are the devil; deep-fried, dripping with menacing grease, ready to clog our arteries. Most articles paint a pretty one-sided picture. Yes, they say, all of the facts align neatly… Yes, the government would be doing the right thing by implementing the policy… Yes, yes, that’s right…

Of the articles I’ve scanned I’m most impressed by Health24. It seems to be the only article where reporters actually stopped to question the matter, to get opinions and quotes. Some healthy scepticism is introduced as they consider obstacles in the implementation process and expand on the facts. It’s called balance. Journalists should really try it these days.

What really gets my goat, though, is the content of the article written by The Associated Press. Despite the brevity of the article, they still manage to bring HIV/AIDS into the matter, sneakily slipping it in there that we have “the highest total [of infection] of any country”. How off-putting and unnecessary. These, my fellow consumers, are the “trans-fats” of journalism; the unhealthy bits that we need to cut out. It’s a style of journalism with mass-produced stereotypes and worn statements reminiscent of fast-food. It’s cheap, it’s fast, and there’s something distinctly oily about it.