There is no doubt that race is a fragile and touchy topic in South Africa. Not because people are fragile and touchy but because of the history and current reality in South Africa where the majority of black people do not have access to many of SA’s privileges. Stereotypes often make their rounds and they are counterproductive to nation building.
However, when this old SABC advert resurfaced it got us wondering: would this advert be pulled off the TV screens in the South Africa of 2015? It probably would still result in complaints from the public: complaints from whites who claim that not all whites see blacks who live in townships in this way, and complaints from blacks that the whites living in Soweto are perpetuating racial stereotypes. Always in these kinds of videos, questions are raised about the creators – where do they live? And are they aware of the stereotypes they are perpetuating?
Here it is: Mzansi re-imagined – the suburbs full of affluent black people and whites living in the vibey township that is world famous. Is it outdated, is it silly, or does it succeed in making a point? More than 800,000 people have had a look already. You decide.
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