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South Africans find a home in Canada

For almost 50 years, South Africa was ruled by apartheid — a brutal system of racial separation that kept the nation's black majority in poverty while a white minority held the wealth and power. As unrest grew, South Africa seemed destined for a bloodbath. Canada — like many nations — was slow to react but, by the 1980s, assumed a leading role in forcing economic sanctions against South Africa. Canadian business people, activists and clergy also played parts in bringing about all-race elections in 1994, and a surprisingly peaceful end to apartheid.

A black teacher marvels at white people washing their own dishes. A white architect adapts to a life without money or privilege. A "coloured" travel agent overcomes her fear of policemen. An Asian insurance salesman finds comfort among Canada's ethnic minorities. These are some of the stories that four South African emigrants tell CBC Radio's Identities. Though three of the four cannot give their names for fear of persecution, all discuss racism, longing, guilt and freedom.
• South Africa's emigration policies made leaving the country difficult for whites, and almost impossible for blacks. Most emigrants were forced to lie about their intentions, leaving their belongings and official papers behind. The wealthy whites that were permitted to leave the country could bring a maximum of $30,000 with them -- making selling homes and businesses impractical. Wages for most blacks were so low that the cost of transportation to countries like Canada was completely out of reach.

• Though many South Africans came to Canada during apartheid, Canada did not alter immigration laws to ease their passage. In 1961 Max Ferguson's Rawhide poked fun at John Diefenbaker for talking tough but not opening the doors to black immigration.

• In 1990, at the time Nelson Mandela was set free, there were an estimated 50,000 South Africans living in Canada. The majority were white, since it was difficult politically and economically for non-whites to emigrate.
• Mixed marriages were forbidden in South Africa under apartheid. In 1972, CBC Radio's Concern interviewed a mixed couple who lived together in secret for eight years and had two children before fleeing to Canada.

• In 1986 CBC Television's Newshour interviewed several South Africans living in Canada, including a professional ballet dancer who gave up a life of privilege, a white student escaping military service, a black man who fled South African police with his young son.

• In 2003 South Africa still had a major problem with emigration of educated, skilled workers, particularly among whites. According to a survey by the Southern African Migration Project, 73 per cent of men and 61 per cent of women had given "some" or "a great deal of thought" to emigrating. The major factors given were crime and lack of security.
Medium: Radio
Program: Identities
Broadcast Date: Nov. 19, 1973
Guest(s): John Bissell
Host: Luba Mermiktut
Reporter: Cheryl Freedman
Duration: 21:51

Last updated: December 10, 2012

Page consulted on December 10, 2012

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