Oh boy have the Chinese been coming to South Africa!
First it was just debatable questions about Chinese business in Africa, and their preference of bringing their own migrant labor for major industries,
rather than employing locals.
Unlike Anglo-American industry, the Chinese have little time for local labor unrest.
Others complained about cheap Chinese goods invading the country, and essentially out-competing the local textile industries.
Somehow many Chinese goods are sold here illegally, and conservatively R2.6 billion has been lost on tax revenue by an unregulated industry.
Since 2006 however, the Chinese have been coming directly as migrants, setting up shop in every town or village.
While the 1994 population of Chinese/Taiwanese was about 20 000, they are now estimated to be 200 000-300 000 people.
Nobody even knows for sure, and neither the Chinese embassy nor SA home affairs seems to know how many there are, and how many are here legally.
Most of the new arrivals are from Fujian Province, and it seems many plan to return, and see little point in integrating.
Their idea of human rights seems quite different to ours, and we discuss how they abuse local workers, even in front of customers.
Even under apartheid I never directly saw anything as bad as this, and a reaction will come eventually.
Obviously they flout our local labor laws.
The ANC is big buddies with the People's Republic of China (and old ideological "Marxist" friends), so openly criticizing the new colonial masters is
politically incorrect.
Since 2008 the local Chinese are also considered "black", and hence affirmative action candidates, and candidates for Black Economic Empowerment
deals.
The new Chinese though care little for all this.
Local unions have curbed productivity and working hours, while the Chinese see no problem working 24 hours for little initial reward.
Government has made everything too expensive, so the Chinese traders manage to sell things (from textiles to illegal cigarettes) cheaply.
Too many South Africans are lazy and corrupt, and occupy positions they are not qualified for in the least, so who can blame the Chinese and their new
alternative markets?
It's a pity about our abalone, but thanks to the ANC many fishing villages have to survive by selling our endangered resources to the Triads.
So far government has downplayed brutal xenophobia by local blacks against mainly African foreigners, but I'm sure that if anyone had to mess with the
Chinese they'd call in the army.
www.noseweek.co.za...
Perhaps instead of moaning about the Chinese other societies should consider whether they have become too human rights and union based.
How many Westerners study after school to learn Mandarin or a Chinese language?
Many Chinese are learning English - so who will ultimately run global business?
Perhaps it's time to smack the Western/African politician, youth and worker back into shape.
No use having a moaning ethic instead of a work ethic, and by the time I wrote this a Chinese person will have sold goods or built something, and
slapped a few ditzy workers on the back of the head.
edit on 25-8-2013 by halfoldman because: (no reason given)