Jeremy Clarkson implies that we, who live in Johannesburg, are a bunch of fools. What’s with Joburgers? We moan about the crime, razor wire our homes, alarm our gardens… He, the car man, says things are not half bad here. ‘All warm and comfy’, he thinks.
“Honestly? Johannesburg is Milton Keynes with thunderstorms. You go out. You have a lovely ostrich. You drink some delicious wine and you walk back to your hotel, all warm and comfy. It’s the least frightening place on earth. So why does every single person there wrap themselves up in razor wire and fit their cars with flame-throwers and speak of how many times they’ve been killed that day? What are they trying to prove?”
Idjit.
The reason, he says, we tarnish our city is that we want to save the lions in Kruger Park from refugees - “At present, it’s estimated that there are 2,000 lions in the Kruger National Park and studies suggest 90% have feline Aids. Some vets suggest the epidemic was started by lions eating the lungs of diseased buffalos. But there are growing claims from experts in the field that, actually, refugees are the biggest problem.”
What a thumbsuck of a theory! Or is it a joke? A really bad one.
In case, you too had forgotten about crime in Joburg, go here to read the latest crime statistics for Gauteng.
5 Opinion(s):
Why has one man caused so much ire on this blog?
Is it really fair to say that anyone who says anything good about South Africa is insulting those who are the victims of horrific crimes??
What foreigners (like myself) think about South Africa is a huge factor in the country's success, and they do have the right to their opinions. While I think JC was insensitive in some ways, I can relate to his story about the AK47. Every day I am told that 'anyone' can but an illegal gun or SA driving licence. I always reply- in all sincerity! - yes, please, I need those things! but then it turns out they really don't know where to get them.
The implicit criticism of South Africans that you may be reading, that they are a bunch of whiners who talk about how much crime is committed against them, is not meant with any disrespect, it is just a stereotype of white SAfricans, that is true or false in varying degrees. Why be insulted by it?
Horrible, disgusting crimes are committed here every few seconds. fact. Do you really think any ANY person in the world disputes that?
@ Viking, it has struck a raw nerve for one reason: the man downplayed the seriousness of the crime situation in South Africa and as a foreigner who does not live in SA or have family or friends in SA and therefore does not have to worry about crime it is impudent and insensitive of him to mock us who live these very real fears every single day.
It is also disrespectful to us as South Africans and to the victims of crime who require the facts of crime be recorded. What Clarkson did was in effect help the ANC as well.
It isn't just this blog that has gone ballistic on the man, the articles you see are from The Times and other good writers who are also aghast at the stupidity of the man's comments. I could post another 20 articles from different sources all saying the same thing.
Can I just jump in here again for an opinion as well? Ok.
Viking,
"Is it really fair to say that anyone who says anything good about South Africa is insulting those who are the victims of horrific crimes??"
Like Doberman said, the man downplayed the seriousness of the crime situation in South Africa.
Also, I remembered when my former Scottish in-laws and relatives came over to SA every few years and thought the place is just too swell. Exchange rate, weather, etc etc. In their eyes the place was exotic and amazing, no matter how dangerous it was for us, and this made me not a little annoyed. I saw them ignoring my warnings about safety whilest they toured around like it were the apartheid years.
We are used to this.
We are used to the world having a rosy coloured view of SA.
The lovely rainbow nation with the sweet old kind Mandela. Blah blah blah.
"Why be insulted by it?"
Because it tells the world LIES! Lies lies lies of what a wonderful tourist destination SA is and basically saying the whites must be over-reacting....
Hmmmm. Viking, ever been held up at gun-point in your house by a crew of blacks? Lost a family member due to some black idiot?
I think not.
"Do you really think any ANY person in the world disputes that?"
Yes. Jeremy Clarkson obviously did. And the guy should really know because he spent some days there as a VIP with security. Oh yes, he should really judge sensitive issues that make people EMIGRATE.
"What foreigners (like myself) think about South Africa is a huge factor in the country's success, and they do have the right to their opinions."
Yes, foreigners can have their opinions. Sure. But saying that what foreigners think about SA is a "huge factor in the country's success", is really nonsense! Come on!
You know what is REALLY a huge factor in the country's success??
A miracle that stops the ANC running that country further into the ground, like it did so since 94. The country WAS successful before 94. And bra Zuma will take it to brand new lows. Foreigners and tourists positive opinions, won't do the trick, I'm afraid...
So, again, those little lovely humourous comments by Mr Clarkson is basically a big kiss to the ANC and just another slap in the face of white South Africans, aka, us.
alright - point taken Doberman!
@Liezel
point well taken, don't worry!
"Hmmmm. Viking, ever been held up at gun-point in your house by a crew of blacks? Lost a family member due to some black idiot? "
Everyone I know in SA has lost a friend or family member to violence. My house was broken into by (probably armed) thugs - by a miracle I wasn't there. In response I have majorly increased security. I am paranoid when driving at night. I have, in fact, had more guns pointed at me in Ireland than in SA, but I have been lucky. But I have contributed to my own luck by taking precautions. I refuse to live in fear, but I want to be aware of the risks, and in that, you are correct in what you write. As I said in another post, I wish I had had access to this blog before I moved to SA, because the rosy picture that was painted for me before I arrived, deceived me into not taking those precautions until after my life was put at risk.
I do think that anyone stupid enough to read Jeremy Claskson as a guide to life in SA probably deserves all they get though!
Just one more thing -
"Yes, foreigners can have their opinions. Sure. But saying that what foreigners think about SA is a "huge factor in the country's success", is really nonsense! Come on!"
come on, indeed, what international investors (and even tourists) think is vitally important for any country's success, not least South Africa. Do you remember what happened to the Rand when JZ was announced as ANC president? I do, I was trying to buy Euros at the time. It happened again when some union leader baboon said that any merger involving British company Vodaphone with a SA company amounted to "imperialism". It's about confidence in the market, and when some ANC loon makes some Orwellian statement like "legislating patriotism", investors run for the hills and your BMW costs 20% more to run :)
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