How apartheid killed Johannesburg's cycling culture

[popcorn_skollie]

Perhaps "Calling Apartheid" could be equal to Godwin's law in your above post.

 

Good point. Hitler and Nazism was so bad. That its almost globally agreed to be the most deplorable human injustice in modern history. And an ironic consequence of that is why its so cheap to use and by extension...inevitable. After which the rhetoric changes. And its perpetrator becomes a villain. 

 

By contrast though. While 'Calling Apartheid' might share much of the same paradigm.

And its use often ending in the same result. It also has this significant counterweight rooted in the current status quo. Making it not only cheap to use but also cheap to dismiss.

If today's government is in the habit of lining its own pockets. Which is not to be ignored.

Some folk would find that a far more plausible reason as to why the majority of the country remains in abject poverty. As opposed to blaming the government of yesteryear. In some circles the consequences of apartheid we live with today have become so overshadowed by this. That as an observation its legitimacy seems far more dilute than it should be.

 

Think of the feminist movement over the last century. Women who spent decades fighting tooth and nail for equal rights as men. Only for the recent emergence of feminazis to jump on the bandwagon, steal the spotlight and misrepresent them. 

 

https://youtu.be/AG7kGNGwYEQ

 

I love watching these old Schuster pranks. They are far more hilarious than any of the newer rainbow nation stuff. I link it here not for its comical content. But as a reminder that apartheid was real. And that it really wasn't that long ago. The clip is from 1989 to be exact.

If you watch the full movie you'd notice signs of the changing times. For instance. One of the Miss South Africa finalists was a black woman. But overall its hard to ignore the undertones of institutionalized racism beneath the humor. I look at that kid waving the AWB flags and wonder where he might be today. I wonder what his opinions are. Was he stuck in the middle? Mindlessly doing what he was told? Has he since grown up? Shaped his own values? Or is it not entirely possible, that as a middle aged white man living in the new South Africa. He watches the news and sees nothing but corruption. He worries about his kids growing up in a country that seems to vilify being white. And he reflects back thinking that what he grew up with couldn't possibly have been as bad as this.

[FirstV8]

Many facts and many inaccuracies but i dont want to delve into them . I started cycling to school at age  10 1n 1962 and remember if you didn't get to school at about  7.15am you did not get your bike into the bicycle shed to lock it .. Going home was a jol because we always raced home , many of us and believe you me there was many a time someone crashed on bends or trying to ramp up a pavement to take a short cut .As many whites that  rode bicycle you could double that for the black guys on bikes going or coming home from work . I stayed in Germiston ( Wychwood) close to Jules str.and there were typical general dealers one on each block that had a bicycle repair workshop and sold all spares . 

How apartheid killed Johannesburg's cycling culture .

Laziness and more convenient transport killed it . 

[IceCreamMan]

The only part of your post that I agree with is that I choose to follow what the author has written over your version of apartheid history.

 

Let me point out just some of the flaws in your earlier post to what you refer to as your "critical analysis" (if only to illustrate that I do attempt to read your posts slowly and with understanding).

 

Your idea that we were already a completely segregated society by the 1920's is wrong.

 

Group Areas Act was passed in 1950, not in 1923 as you claim (I can only guess that you are confusing it with another  act).

 

Orange Grove which you mentioned is also 10km away from another place called Sophiatown - where forced removals took place in the 1950's (actually based on an another act passed in 1954)

 

And in anyway, the comment about cyclists going past the Astra theatre is just an observation & introduction to the article, not the foundation for the author's research. So whether the cyclists in the photo came from Alexandra, Sophiatown or anywhere else does not prove or disprove anything.

 

You also mention things like the global phenomenon of the movement to cars & mass transport as if it would somehow refute the article when it is actually prominently stated in the article - hence my earlier question on if you actually read the article.

Look up native urban areas act of 1923 and be educated. Then do a bit of research and see that segregation and forcibly moving ppl was well underway by 1940. Alexandra was started before World War One this had been around for around 30 years come 1940. Soweto had already been created by 1940 and ppl already moved.

 

Funny that you mention Sophiatown which was around 10 miles away, a relatively small area and with the location of industry in jhb at the time I seriously doubt these cyclists were from Sophiatown but Alex. I believe the article alludes to that, maybe you missed that. Sophiatown also had a relatively small population too.

 

Funny how native is always construed to mean black whereas it’s actual definition is somewhat different.

 

Would be interesting to see what the stats were for bicycle usage in 1950, 1960, 1970 etc to get a real understanding.

 

Reckon 2 tone Jarmans usurped the bicycles place as a status symbol.

[Skubarra]

Look up native urban areas act of 1923 and be educated. 

 

Native Urban Act of 1923 and Group Areas Act of 1950 are 2 completely different things IceCreamMan - one was used for mass forced relocations the other not. Maybe I'm not the only one who should do a bit of research?

 

Yes Alexandra and Soweto were created before 1950. That doesn't mean they were the result of mass relocations or that all blacks lived exclusively there. Sophiatown had 60,000 residents so I guess "relative small area" is a relative term. And again, that one photo is not the foundation of the article so where exactly the people are cycling from is neither here nor there.

 

 

 

The group areas act was in 1923 a full 17 years before this alleged count in orange grove. 

 

[SwissVan]

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. I too have traveled Africa for business, and I have yet to come across an African country that is prospering and looking after it's people (apart from Botswana and Namibia). Rampant poverty, clearly distinct living zones, where the affluence and the abject poverty are even more clearly defined than here in SA. Was it all just us? Did the white man cause all of Africa's problems? Or is this sentiment of not caring, and destroying not a left over remnant of colonial rule, but rather an entrenched trait from generations and generations of doing the same thing?

 

Every time the plane lands in Cape Town, I feel like this is a different continent to Africa. People in SA (and I am mostly referring to the majority population) have NO IDEA what actual poverty looks like.

 

 

Sit down with a cuppa and have a break watching this

 

*Disclaimer, the video does not necessarily represent the views of the poster

 

[Mamil]

This ia not a valid rebuttal of dales statement.

 

The cost of apartheid is not quantifiable. Multigenerational systematic legalised oppression. That means your grandparents and everyone in their social circle and their parents and yours and everyone in their social circle and their parents were systematically denied freedom of movement, access to education, access to legal recourse, restricted to menial and semi skilled work etc and etc and etc.

 

Just think about that and the ramifications of that.

 

I'm not sure that I could be as forgiving and patient as those who lived under it's oppression have been.

 

AND the post aparrheid government has dropped the ball massively and I am furious about that but its nothing compared to where we've come from.

 

The scale of the damage of the new government is measured...in trillions....looting, self enriching etc. 

 

Could also have build a new 6 bar water feeds or even maintained the "1 stand pipe". Quality of life could've been made better for those who struggled under Apartheid.

[Mojoman]

This ia not a valid rebuttal of dales statement.

 

The cost of apartheid is not quantifiable. Multigenerational systematic legalised oppression. That means your grandparents and everyone in their social circle and their parents and yours and everyone in their social circle and their parents were systematically denied freedom of movement, access to education, access to legal recourse, restricted to menial and semi skilled work etc and etc and etc.

 

Just think about that and the ramifications of that.

 

I'm not sure that I could be as forgiving and patient as those who lived under it's oppression have been.

 

AND the post aparrheid government has dropped the ball massively and I am furious about that but its nothing compared to where we've come from.

 

And now we simply have Multigenerational systematic legalised thieving...

 

 

[Jof]

Ok white people.  Settle down.. Your squibble about apartheid  just makes me teary eyed. 

 

As a "native" and "survivor"  of apartheid , I feel obliged to give you a view from the inside out. .

 

We couldnt ride where we wanted to, unless you liked being called a hotnot or a kaffir if you rode in certain areas. Or even worse, chased out. Luckily after 94 some white people learned to bite their tongues.

 

It makes sense that the rule of that day curbed peoples enthusiasm to ride their bikes to commute to work and back or for leisurely pleasure. The system just was not built to encourage non whites to have free and humane lifes.There are  enough examples mentioned on this thread alone to understand what the fuss is about.. If you still don't, I'm not here to convince you otherwise.

 

I remember an incident where I ended up being humiliated while riding with my buddies in town. Needless to say, we avoided town and try to keep it in the kazi.We felt safer there.

I also know of non white cyclists not being recognized in those years for their talent and effectively being denied their national colours because of their colour. 

 

There are many similar stories in all spheres of life, that we can tell you of how apartheid affected us and its ongoing effects on today's generation of "natives"

 

And just like clockwork, in every audience there are those that believe "it wasn't that bad". You have NO idea how bad it was unless you were on the receiving end of it. I actually hope that you would take that notion to a coloured or black community and explain it to them since you so strongly believe in it..Point out all the good things colonialism brought. 

 

And then those that think we should stop blaming apartheid... That's not your decision to make. We will decide when the drum is broken,of die ding is nou holrug gery. Your rights to apartheid has been revoked in 94 already...

 

Forward to today, Im just happy to be able to teach my kids the pleasure and freedom of cycling. And in general I'm just happy that they have freedom.

 

 

 Lekker trap

[Mamil]

Where was that sentiment when the wealth of the country was denied to 80 percent of the population?

 

 

And now we simply have Multigenerational systematic legalised thieving...[/size]

 

[MORNE]

Ok white people.  Settle down.. Your squibble about apartheid  just makes me teary eyed. 

 

As a "native" and "survivor"  of apartheid , I feel obliged to give you a view from the inside out. .

 

We couldnt ride where we wanted to, unless you liked being called a hotnot or a kaffir if you rode in certain areas. Or even worse, chased out. Luckily after 94 some white people learned to bite their tongues.

 

It makes sense that the rule of that day curbed peoples enthusiasm to ride their bikes to commute to work and back or for leisurely pleasure. The system just was not built to encourage non whites to have free and humane lifes.There are  enough examples mentioned on this thread alone to understand what the fuss is about.. If you still don't, I'm not here to convince you otherwise.

 

I remember an incident where I ended up being humiliated while riding with my buddies in town. Needless to say, we avoided town and try to keep it in the kazi.We felt safer there.

I also know of non white cyclists not being recognized in those years for their talent and effectively being denied their national colours because of their colour. 

 

There are many similar stories in all spheres of life, that we can tell you of how apartheid affected us and its ongoing effects on today's generation of "natives"

 

And just like clockwork, in every audience there are those that believe "it wasn't that bad". You have NO idea how bad it was unless you were on the receiving end of it. I actually hope that you would take that notion to a coloured or black community and explain it to them since you so strongly believe in it..Point out all the good things colonialism brought. 

 

And then those that think we should stop blaming apartheid... That's not your decision to make. We will decide when the drum is broken,of die ding is nou holrug gery. Your rights to apartheid has been revoked in 94 already...

 

Forward to today, Im just happy to be able to teach my kids the pleasure and freedom of cycling. And in general I'm just happy that they have freedom.

 

 

 Lekker trap

not everyone here is white 

oh and welcome...

[SwissVan]

Ok white people.  Settle down.. Your squibble about apartheid  just makes me teary eyed. 

 

As a "native" and "survivor"  of apartheid , I feel obliged to give you a view from the inside out. .

 

We couldnt ride where we wanted to, unless you liked being called a hotnot or a kaffir if you rode in certain areas. Or even worse, chased out. Luckily after 94 some white people learned to bite their tongues.

 

It makes sense that the rule of that day curbed peoples enthusiasm to ride their bikes to commute to work and back or for leisurely pleasure. The system just was not built to encourage non whites to have free and humane lifes.There are  enough examples mentioned on this thread alone to understand what the fuss is about.. If you still don't, I'm not here to convince you otherwise.

 

I remember an incident where I ended up being humiliated while riding with my buddies in town. Needless to say, we avoided town and try to keep it in the kazi.We felt safer there.

I also know of non white cyclists not being recognized in those years for their talent and effectively being denied their national colours because of their colour. 

 

There are many similar stories in all spheres of life, that we can tell you of how apartheid affected us and its ongoing effects on today's generation of "natives"

 

And just like clockwork, in every audience there are those that believe "it wasn't that bad". You have NO idea how bad it was unless you were on the receiving end of it. I actually hope that you would take that notion to a coloured or black community and explain it to them since you so strongly believe in it..Point out all the good things colonialism brought. 

 

And then those that think we should stop blaming apartheid... That's not your decision to make. We will decide when the drum is broken,of die ding is nou holrug gery. Your rights to apartheid has been revoked in 94 already...

 

Forward to today, Im just happy to be able to teach my kids the pleasure and freedom of cycling. And in general I'm just happy that they have freedom.

 

 

 Lekker trap

 

Lol it must be funny for you to watch a bunch of mostly whiteys preaching about apartheid

 

Can you expand on this " its ongoing effects on today's generation of "natives"

 

Thanks

[Mojoman]

Where was that sentiment when the wealth of the country was denied to 80 percent of the population?

 

 

Same place it is now....

[Robbie Stewart]

Sit down with a cuppa and have a break watching this

 

*Disclaimer, the video does not necessarily represent the views of the poster

 

 

And you can see what this pastor is talking about when you go into Africa proper. 

[Mamil]

Replies in your text 

 

Ok white people.  Settle down.. Your squibble about apartheid  just makes me teary eyed. 

 

As a "native" and "survivor"  of apartheid , I feel obliged to give you a view from the inside out. .

 

Ja I do wonder about that - white people talking about what apartheid was like and I know there is a view that says whites should just shut up about it because we didn't live on the receiving end of it's criminality.

 

We couldnt ride where we wanted to, unless you liked being called a hotnot or a kaffir if you rode in certain areas. Or even worse, chased out. Luckily after 94 some white people learned to bite their tongues.

 

The closest thing I experience to this is the fear I feel about riding in dangerous crime hot spots and that's not even close to the level you are talking about. As a child and adolescent I witnessed these insults and I knew schoolboys who would boast about their aggressive encounters with black people. If I examine my feelings when I read your post and remember these people and incidents I feel shame even though I never did any of these things I still feel somehow implicated in them. I've thought about these feelings a lot and I have many ideas about their origins. It's too simple to just say white guilt - it's more complex than that. Maybe this feeling is what gets a lot of white people defensive in talk about apartheid. 

 

It makes sense that the rule of that day curbed peoples enthusiasm to ride their bikes to commute to work and back or for leisurely pleasure. The system just was not built to encourage non whites to have free and humane lifes.There are  enough examples mentioned on this thread alone to understand what the fuss is about.. If you still don't, I'm not here to convince you otherwise.

 

Agreed. It's not up to black people to tell us what it was like - particularly because largely we don't want to know. 

 

I remember an incident where I ended up being humiliated while riding with my buddies in town. Needless to say, we avoided town and try to keep it in the kazi.We felt safer there.

I also know of non white cyclists not being recognized in those years for their talent and effectively being denied their national colours because of their colour. 

 

There are many similar stories in all spheres of life, that we can tell you of how apartheid affected us and its ongoing effects on today's generation of "natives"

 

And just like clockwork, in every audience there are those that believe "it wasn't that bad". You have NO idea how bad it was unless you were on the receiving end of it. I actually hope that you would take that notion to a coloured or black community and explain it to them since you so strongly believe in it..Point out all the good things colonialism brought. 

 

No when there are black people around we tend to keep our mouths shut - but when you leave the room and it's just the whites around you should hear some of the things that are still said. 

 

And then those that think we should stop blaming apartheid... That's not your decision to make. We will decide when the drum is broken,of die ding is nou holrug gery. Your rights to apartheid has been revoked in 94 already...

 

Forward to today, Im just happy to be able to teach my kids the pleasure and freedom of cycling. And in general I'm just happy that they have freedom.

 

 

 Lekker trap

 

Lekker trap to all of us and welcome to the hub.

[Mamil]

Funny that -  considering how few of us said the theft was wrong at the time. Of course back then if you did say so you would be put in jail without a trial, banned, house arrest, murdered etcetera.

 

Same place it is now....

[BigDL]

Is there perhaps a timeline that we need to adhere to for Apartheid blamists to be tolerated?

Because, I mean, it's been a while. Accountability for what the post apartheid government failed to achieve seems to be non-existent.

 

But alas, I grew up very sheltered, and I surely did not need a law to change for me to "suddenly" treat all humans with respect and dignity.

I will not apologise for that which I did not do. I was not of voting age in or prior to 1994. I acknowledge how terrible apartheid was, how conscription and the business that was the SANDF was the worst possible way to ensure a way to get money into the country "around" sanctions.

 

Asking me to be apologetic for apartheid, purely because I am white, and was born before 1994, is like asking me to be apologetic on behalf of a murderer, purely because he is male, and lives in JHB.

Not a case of blaming you or me for apartheid, but recognising that, by doing what it did, apartheid created a legacy that will likely take centuries to undo. That is not excusing what the current excuse for a government is doing.

 

Apartheid was the crime that will keep on giving. The worst thing that the Nationalists did was to not properly educate vast numbers of the population, thus creating an ongoing challenge for generations to come.