POLOKWANE – Living in a world where diversity and unity is encouraged, some people are still uncomfortable with what isn’t considered the ‘norm’.
Interracial couples have increased in South Africa but people still consider it unheard of.
It is not common to see an interracial couple in Polokwane, but there are several couples in the city.
Sticking with the theme of love, Review sat down with an interracial couple, living in Polokwane, to talk about the challenges they face.
Please note, the names of the couple have been changed.
Harry and Bianca (*) proved that South Africa is indeed a rainbow nation when they fell in love, even though they are from different races. Harry is a white man and Bianca a coloured woman.
“We met early in 2014 through a lift club. A mutual friend set up the lift club,” explains Bianca.
She says they were friends for two years before they became a couple.
They explain that their parents do not have a problem with the fact that they are from different races and neither do their friends.
“We’ve noticed that friends of our friends are usually the ones with a problem. They will make comments to show they don’t approve of our relationship,” says Harry.
Bianca says that she experiences funny looks from other women towards her, especially in shopping malls. She says that even though it happens in Johannesburg as well, it is not as bad as it is in Polokwane. She says older people will look at them and then look away smiling.
“Interracial relationships are still quite new to Polokwane. If people see people from different races together, they stare. People like to gossip. For us there is not much of a difference in terms of religion as we share the same religion. We do see the colour in each other, but it does not make any difference to us,” says Harry.
They both agree that one positive thing about dating someone from another race is that they get to know each other’s traditions.
“To make a relationship like this work there has to be communication and you have to be open about your feelings towards each other. Don’t act on insults from other people,” says Harry.
Bianca agrees by saying “Be bold and be proud. Focus on yourself and remember you are not there to please other people.”
(*) Not their real names
