In South Africa, when we think of shanty towns, our minds normally conjure up images of black people living in impoverished conditions. However, what many of us do not know is that there are actually white squatter camps that exist across the country.
In the documentary “South Africa’s Poor Whites: Apartheid Forgotten,” Reggie Yates takes us on a journey through the country’s largest white squatter camp- Coronation Park, located outside of Johannesburg.
During the apartheid era, the racist society existed to put South Africa’s white population in a privileged position. However, today, according to white charities, up to 400,000 of them live below the poverty line in small, make-shift camps. These figures, however, still remain hotly disputed.
The real question behind the headlines is whether these white South Africans are now being discriminated against by being on the wrong side of affirmative action. With apartheid gone, one would think that all racial groups would now be on an equal footing. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Through the documentary, Reggie Yates shows us the uncomfortable truth about what is really going on, and sheds much-needed light on such a pertinent issue. The documentary is a must-watch for anyone who is interested in learning more about South Africa’s complex history and the impact that it still has today.
Take the time to watch “South Africa’s Poor Whites: Apartheid Forgotten.” You will be left with a better understanding of the struggles faced by the country’s white population, and how far we still have to go to truly achieve racial equality in South Africa.
