₦airaland Forum

Dyonne:
You can open a business in Nigeria, pay a lawyer he'll do it for you.
You're welcome Minxie.

I would love to but the overall business environment isn't too friendly. I can see Nigerian businesses struggling, imagine how hard it will be for a foreign business. But I would really like to tap into Nigeria's tourism and hospitality industry though... aaaaah a girl can only dream...

jln115:
Don't the majority of coloureds vote for the DA? Just saying

Actually no, they voted for the DA because of Patricia De lille and what they promised at the time. And even then it wasn't many coloureds. maybe 50%. There are too many white people outnumbering us here Lol! I doubt so many coloureds would vote for them in the next election because I hear a lot of mumbling and outright dissatisfaction about the DA. I think whoever promises to give the land back in the Western Cape will get the vote Hahaha

YEBOmadiba:
You are right it's a free for all in SA, that's why the locals are fed up. You need to say these things coz no one is saying them in Nigeria. Even their leaders lie to them to cover their own mistakes. Their media is the worst when it comes to fake news in Africa and tell them hundreds of Nigerians were killed last year and burned alive, when just about 13 people died and most were south Africans.

Yeah the media is the worst! I'm really surprised when I read comments about how people are afraid to be killed in SA for being Nigerian. It's like they think we each walk with a gun and just shoot people at random when they "look" Nigerian. I think their government enjoys the fake news because it takes the attention away from their own screw ups. I'm also surprised at the propaganda being circulated by the government over-inflating their own achievements. And people just believe this.

YEBOmadiba:
U cracking me up! Just the sight of a butterfly is xenophobic to Nigerians. Everyone and the dog has their word on the tip of their tongues now.

Anyway, I wish u could open a business there in Nigeria, South African enterprise thrives there. You see the Nigerians are very lazy and their economy is buoyed by the white Lebanese and Chinese, their masters. Even loan institutions arr now calling the shots there - their government borrows everything from pencils to toothpicks.

Nigerians are now slaves in their own country. Just look at this photo, if the Chinese left their economy will collapse.

I won't call them lazy because I don't know their circumstances.
It is unfortunate that their government uses labour from China and Lebanon and wherever because I know many Nigerians are qualified to do those jobs. They must stand up to their government and demand answers to that problem. I think it's very disgusting that there are so many high paid expats when Nigeria has it's own citizens who are qualified in those fields.

What I mean with my business idea is that I have many small businesses ideas that have the potential to develop into bigger things. Especially in the tourism industry in Nigeria but I can't just access their market like a Nigerian can save money to open a small shop in SA. So our government needs to address this imbalance by either negotiating more access to their market or closing off access to our informal sector. It's only fair because an average South African doesn't have the means to open a business in Nigeria because it isn't legally allowed. Yet an average Nigerian can open an informal business in SA. So what I'm saying is that if Africa wants to unite, they can't expect unity to only come from one side. It takes an agreement that favors all parties and not just a few.

PS before people attack me for being xenophobic, i was pointing out situations on the ground by using Nigeria and South Africa as an example.

YEBOmadiba:
ISN'T THIS ALSO XENOPHOBIA?

I think the word "xenophobia" has been used so much in this place that it has lost it's meaning. These days if I see a butterfly I call it xenophobic. Don't worry about this. I now just yawn when I see it.

As for the general immigration policy on the African continent, i think countries should look inwards and ask themselves why their citizens are out there in other countries fighting to survive. Governments should be ashamed of themselves.

What I hate most is that everyone advocates for a United Africa but when it comes to actual borders, they keep it tightly monitored. When South Africa attempts to keep it monitored, it's wrong. I wish I can pack my bags and just move to Nigeria for a while but unfortunately the process is exhausting and expensive. I have many business ideas that would thrive in Lagos but the admin is just too much.

YEBOmadiba:
An orientation regime is needed in SA like we were chatting about the other time. There are just too many foreign cultures infiltrating SA society and causing tensions.

Just thinking, what are the negatives that African-Americans will bring to Africa in general ? West and East Coast gangs and pimping perhaps?

That orientation program should be introduced with the new immigration legislation. I think we should definitely accommodate refugees from conflict affected countries and they should undergo integration training while South Africans should undergo sensitivity training. Then I think we should allow a set of economic migrants but as long as permits are given before entering the country. That will avoid situations where foreigners find themselves destitute and jobless on the streets in SA. For example, a foreigner who already has a job upon entering the country will be less likely to venture into crime for survival than a foreigner who came to SA with very little information looking for some random job.

As for your other point:
Lol we already have that Hahahaha maybe more pimping... Lol but I doubt those small time gangs will leave their territory. Like the gangsters here in cape Town won't leave the country either. They won't stand a chance in the USA and vice versa. Lol can you imagine the combination though?

Austine1213:
#PutSouthAfricansFirst

Its on twitter growing strong

SA cannot allow anyone into the country at expense of poor south africans

I saw the tweets and people are right to want to put SA first. Working in China you can only do the job that you have a permit for. You can't even own a shop or something like that as a foreigner. If you work a part time job as a foreign student is China, it's against the law. You aren't allowed to do extra jobs either. Yet in SA, chinese citizens enjoy doing any type of work and business that they want.

The government needs to look into things like these. If they want to regulate small businesses for example, they have to regulate small foreign owned businesses too. BTW I rarely see health inspectors at those Pakistani shops where there are terrible health violations. There can't be two different sets of rules for locals and foreigners. Government needs to change its approach.

We can still pursue an African agenda while maintaining the rule of law. There's no need to overlook immigration laws and other bylaws all for the sake of this agenda. It's just creating more hostility.

Unfortunately the mere fact that South Africans suggest to be put first is taken to mean that we are xenophobic.

Austine1213:
Countries important people with critical skills, informal market should be left to local markets

Nigeria, kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, botswana etc all have legislation protecting local jobs

What good are Pakistanis bringin to the economy?
What good are nigerians bringin?
What are Zimbabweans bringing?
What are Tanzanians bringing?
What are Mozambicans bringing?

yes I agree there needs to be better implementation of the immigration laws and procedures. We therefore need to hold government accountable. Africa as a continent needs to address the issue of massive migration and displacement. It shouldn't be necessary for people to escape their homes to do small trade in another country.

YEBOmadiba:
Very true.

@bold, Talking about the rest of the world, I find that SA people also have qualms with Pakistanis in particular. Have u noticed this in Cape Town also? People always complain about Pakistani shops.

I don't know much about that though... I know people complain about the standards of their shops like they complain about Chinese shops too. People often complain about expired goods, dirty shops and overall lack of good basic hygiene. Also obviously the cultural differences as they are more conservative than us and way more judgemental. that's what I've observed

YEBOmadiba:
You shouldn't apologise for your thoughts, everyone counts. Plus you're right. Xenophobic attacks take place in poor neighborhoods for a reason - it's the fight for scarce resources. It's for that reason black middle class people and other races are less xenophobic. African-Americans are privileged in that regard because they are viewed as investors coming from a very wealthy country whereas other Africans come from poor countries.

I always make sure to point out that I mean no harm by what I say because misunderstandings can easily arise... especially when people don't hear the tone in another person's voice people might just mistake my words to be insulting.

I think the xenophobia issue will settle once the inequality is settled in SA. As long as people compete for resources, they will always fight each other. (that's realism there...and I'm not even a realist Hahaha)

Yet, investing more in education would solve the problem. South Africans lack an understanding of the rest of Africa because we weren't taught about the rest of Africa. We assume if you come from Africa that you are competing for resources while we forget that people from other continents are also competing with us for resources. It's gonna take a massive educational intervention.

Also, i get from the forum that many Africans have little understanding of racism... African Americans can help in that regard by waking Africa up to the injustices suffered elsewhere in the world.

YEBOmadiba:

This could actually work in your favour in the long run. They could add numbers to the coloured population and thereby give you guys more political clout. You can finally be freed from the evil clutches of Helen Zille and the DA and form your own thing

Hahaha this DA is totally incapable of understanding the coloured situation. They completely lost it.

But it's true, we could use the numbers to outnumber the white vote and maybe start something else.

Anyway, i wouldn't want African Americans to move to SA. Not because I don't like them but because I think they have every right to be in America. It drives me crazy when people suggest that African Americans should return to Africa. Like they don't belong in America. I have no problem against their investment and influence but I think they are right for standing up for themselves in America rather than moving to another place where they will most likely again struggle to be recognized. I like the fact that they aren't running away and that they are claiming what also belongs to them.

YEBOmadiba:
In America if u are mixed race you are Black, full stop. So when those who are mixed race arrive in SA there's an identity crisis because they are not black enough.

But even the darker ones still face some stigma because of the language issues and suspicion as illustrated by the OP. But they have the famous American culture as some currency that works in their favour. So I also think they will be better accommodated than foreigners from the rest of the continent. That's just the simple truth however off it seems.

Good point. I guess they are more accepted in SA because people don't see them as competing for the same little resources. South Africans generally think African Americans are better off financially whereas they believe other Africans aren't. So I think that could be why they are more accommodating to African Americans. Plus the positive contributions by African Americans despite their challenges is something that most South Africans look up to.
These are just my theories though. I'm no expert

YEBOmadiba:
There are already alot of them in SA and they are settling in fine. Many though complain about not being black enough, especially if they are mixed race. In America they are Black, in SA they are kallits. So some segregation continues on that level too.

Really? I didn't know they weren't seen as not black enough. But I do know that that is what sparked the term "coloured". During colonialism and apartheid most coloured people weren't really accepted by either side. Black people weren't oppressive or anything like that but they did draw a clear distinction between black and mixed. And the whites just called us bastards and exploited us.

Also, culturally coloured people and African Americans have a lot in common. This can often be understood to mean that we don't have a culture. Especially because it isn't written down in books or recorded by any means. I know that coloured people will be accommodating to African Americans because I can speak from experience so I can only give my opinion on that.

But I barely notice those who are here because they blend in so well Lol ! I have to listen to their accents first. But I would definitely welcome more African American investment and influence in SA.

I doubt it will be the same case now. Back then, black people knew very little about others so there was obviously resentment but now we have more knowledge and understanding. And considering that we are striving for the same goals more or less, African Americans will be welcomed in SA.

It will be interesting to see the two sides mix though. I've interacted with many African Americans in SA and they've been mostly open-minded. It will be interesting to see how the not so open-minded African Americans will be welcomed by the not so open-minded South Africans. Obviously there will always be these kind of people on both sides

TMKsouth:
Its funny how tribalist and homophobic they are but cry about xenophobia in SA. Isn't that hypocrisy?

I blame Nigerian media. Have you seen the fake news in here? Damn and people actually believe that we are killing Nigerians left right and centre.

The fake news combined with the intolerant attitude of many people is just a recipe for disaster. I'm sorry but the level of tribalism and homophobia in Nigeria is higher than the levels of xenophobia in SA or anywhere else in the world. And the tribalism is being exploited by their government who just use it as a diversion tactic. I really worry about this because it's just gonna create more conflict

MrSensor:
if you are OK you should know that penis goes inside a vagina.

But if there is something wrong with you, you will do a penis to anus.

1. lots of things go into and come out of a vagina

2. don't people do penis to anus anyway? last time I checked, that was a thing for everyone to try

Lol hehehe now we are getting graphic. let me stop

TMKsouth:
Then don't go there, simple as that.

See this intolerance?

You know, when I was in school we had countless lessons on tolerance. We were taught that you don't have to like something but for the sake of peace, you tolerate it as long as it doesn't infringe on your rights. I think this is a lesson we need to teach the rest of Africa.

MrSensor:
can you differentiate a person who sleeps with Same-sex person and a person who do it with animals? Same-sex and animals is same thing.

As for terrorism and people fighting each other, don't worry. This is a men's world and men must fight to infinity.

I don't know how to answer that because nobody can tell who anybody sleeps with unless they see them sleeping with that person... so no, i can't tell them apart. the same way I can't tell apart someone who is gay and someone who is not. Also having sex with an animal is disgusting. it's clearly against the will of the animal... animal abuse and rape right there!

Anyway, did you just say terrorism is okay because it's a man's world? So it's okay to kill, kidnap and rape people while causing terror and chaos along the way because it's just how it is in a "man's world"?

But if I decide to be in a relationship with another woman, the world must get rid of this evil? haibo no wonder this continent is in this state! Now I've heard it all... Lol

MrSensor:
all nonsense such as Same-sex marriage and devil worshipping, Xenophobia, etc started under his leadership. Now the Church of Satan is erecting it's branches there.

Wake up.

Okay I gotta say something... don't you think it's a little bit odd that South Africa doesn't have a problem with religious extremism and terrorism while you who are shouting here about a Satanic church and LGBTQ rights are surrounded by such religious problems?

I'm not insulting you or anything but out of 100 problems, you pick something as insignificant as a satanic religion and gay rights? How does that in any way cause harm to your existence?

I think in Africa we need to get our priorities straight...

RuudVanNisteroy:
I remembered the first time I littered when I moved to the Netherlands and was scolded by my teacher. I made sure I always found the nearest waste bin to dispose of any waste.

I agree when you said there needs to be some kind of re-orientation. It is common in some countries to dispose of waste wherever you deem fit.
If you don't re-orient migrants on the core norms and values of South Africa you can't get angry at them if they don't abide them.

Unfortunately most South Africans don't know much about other African countries so they don't know that there is a difference in how things are done. They just assume that foreigners litter on purpose or drive kak on purpose.

Also, we react the same way to foreigners as we do to our own people. Like one day in the train this guy was sexually harassing this other colored girl. I feared for his life Lol because everyone knows you don't piss off a girl from the flats. And that girl was hardcore. Even the other South African guys had to calm down the situation out of fear that he might get hurt Lol ! Point is that that girl wanted to beat his ass up the same way she wouldve done if it was a South African guy. Anyway, these type of things may seem hostile to foreigners but it's actually just the way we are. We easily get angry when people don't act a certain way especially in public. I tell many foreigners to not get offended when people are a little rough because we are like that, very straight forward and we get to the point... sometimes a bit too harshly...

TMKsouth:
Standing in a queue is also something Nigerians struggle with in SA. Or being loud. That infuriates people! Blocking traffic with your car is also very inconsiderate.

People can't come here talking sh1t about South Africans, be they gay or anything else, that's for us to sort out - so disrespect wont be tolerated.

I'm actually also yearning to get involved in community service and I've noticed I've got a soft spot for the elderly and the poor. But I just never get to doing it.

Lol the differences are actually very funny. I have a friend who just threw whatever wrapper he had on the ground or out the window and after exploding with rage, i later had a talk with him about it and I told him that it will piss people off. My other friend kept wearing long jeans and t-shirts in summer and it was over 40 degrees every day. It took her quite long to learn that here we wear what the weather demands. Wearing shorts and a bikini top is completely normal. When she eventually left SA after getting her degree, she had a whole new wardrobe Lol !

You should get involved, it's very rewarding

I want to take some classes when I move back to SA in 2021. does this place have a website? What level do they start at and what are the packages and payment details?

TMKsouth:
Yes, we're holding back but it's difficult with these ones. We're not cut from the same cloth. Common sense is not that common. Best of luck with holding it in - can't wait to see you explode, it's just a matter of time !

Nooooooooooooooo! Lol I work with 25 five year olds, in a foreign country thats basically an upside down version of South Africa and they can barely understand me. Do you understand the level of patience it takes? Let's hope my patience will be enough for NL

TMKsouth:
I sympathize with you there. There's half truths and exaggeration in what they're saying. But to be honest, you have to ask why Joburg is the dirtiest whilst also the city with the highest foreign population. Most people don't feel a sense of entitlement to the city so they don't treat it like their home. So SA people look at the state of other African cities and begin joining the dots.

Personally, I think the SA government needs indoctrination schools where people are taught SA ethics like not littering. Hong Kong does it with people from mainland China. There's a lot of misunderstanding between locals and foreigners in SA that leads to these tensions.

Actually that's not such a bad idea. I've also thought about it. There are several places dedicated to such orientation programs but unfortunately they aren't enough. I've noticed that there's a big difference between how we do things in SA and how people do it elsewhere and many foreigners struggle to adjust. They need some help to adjust to the new society. It's very unfair of us to just expect them to know how things work. Like people get so furious when someone just gets out of his/her car in the middle of the street to go buy something at a shop. Unfortunately many foreigners don't know that it pisses South Africans off. If you wanna piss people off, be a kak driver. So then obviously there's anger and frustration.

We definitely need government to assist refugees and others to learn their rights, the by-laws and cultures in SA. Also, there are some outright homophobic foreigners here who have no problem publicly shaming the LGBTQ community and it doesn't go well with locals. So I agree with you, we need programs. I actually want to volunteer at one here in Cape Town. If you have free time or anyone interested, you should look up these centres and give a helping hand.

ololo12:
Forgot to add. I’ll start learning Mandarin at Wits. Language next year. China is the future

Good luck and have fun! I was hoping to start this year but 2020 is just no good. Lol

ololo12:
Ni Hao! That’s cool. China is where it is at hehehe! My only grouse with China, is how they mistreated Africans folks over the pandemic. It was very sad, I guess it was an isolated incident which took place in the African community in Guangzhou. Outside that, I think China is a nice place. Would love to visit someday and go to the Wing Chun martial school in Hubei province. That’s the birth place of Wing Chun Kung fu. Do you speak mandarin? Are you by chance into martial art ??

Nope I don't speak the lingo although I've caught on to it pretty easily. Also I don't do martial arts although I decided I want to do it this year Lol covid19 clearly thought otherwise.

In terms of the xenophobia in China, it wasn't limited to black Africans. My colleagues kept complaining about horrible treatment by locals during the outbreak. They were all different races and from different countries. Anyway, the Chinese were led to believe that covid 19 is a foreign virus so they assumed all foreigners have it.
otherwise, they are actually very nice people who are eager to learn about Africans. Unfortunately there are a number of illegal people in China. They don't like illegals. This includes illegals from Ukraine and Russia. I think in Guangzhou the people tend to be more intolerant becomes there are more illegal Africans. I'm not saying that some Chinese aren't racist, but the actual racist ones are very few. And consider things from their perspective: their first exposure to black people was very recently but unfortunately there are many black people trading illegally in their zones. So they get upset over that.

Otherwise, I've gotten a warm reception in China because there are so many South African teachers Lol ! And it's good marketing for SA because I've been approached by so many Chinese asking me for recommendations for vacations in SA

ololo12:
How you mean you stuck in SA?? You don’t live in Mzansi, no? Shame!

I work in China. My contract ends next year and Im counting down the last few months because I want to finish up there and come home for a while. It's been fun but there's really no place like home Im in SA now though, i managed to escape China in early February

ololo12:
Hahaha! I worship at a color church in Florida area. Most of the folks there still think it’s a hoax. It’s crazy how this pandemic has affected peoples lifestyle and whatnot. You think things will return to normalcy by December?? Gosh people are tired and a lot of folks are getting depressed.

I'm stuck in SA so I really wish it would end soon. December is way too far man. By then I will be immune Lol

ololo12:
That’s impossible asking color folks to give up drinking & smoking, especially “shisha”. Hell naawww! Ain’t no way color folks are giving that up. It is what it is. Heck, some people believe the whole Coronavirus thing is a hoax. And I don’t blame them either.

Lol no my people believe it's real, they just don't care. If you die, you die and we move on. So I make extra effort to stay away from people Lol I've extended my own level 5 lockdown For the first time I'm staying away from my own people hahahaha

suremanpatriot:
covid case is high where people smoke alot places lik italy,europe,usa etcSTOP SMOKING NOW!

lol telling my people to stop drinking and smoking is like talking to a wall. believe me, I've tried.

Fact is, the people are just incapable of staying away from each other. They have to go to each other's houses to "kuier". I actually felt sorry for my people when the lockdown began. They couldn't last a day Lol

TMKsouth:
Dont waste your sympathy on non-entities like this godless character that can't even use Google. He just uses it for porn and scamming.
You're too nice Minxie - you remind me of myself when I first started out here. But I quickly learnt you can't reason politely with pompous people who are nonetheless very envious of SA. That's why they single out black SA for insults while white SA business robs them senseless on their own homesoil in Nigeria.

Yeah but if I reply with whatever I actually want to say, they wouldn't understand half of the words So I'm spicing it up by being nice for a change We must mos behave in other people's homes. you know mos

TMKsouth:
Lol "kallits"

Gosh, the alcohol factor, I'd forgotten about it.

And two weeks ago people still gathered to play in the snow. I tell you, it's like "lockdown" is a foreign concept.