Today a black government rules a multi-racial country where white and blacks have equal rights. The separate beaches, the park seats reserved for whites only, the separate counters for blacks and whites in government buildings, the segregated coaches on trains, and the orderly white enclaves from which blacks were banned except as servants, are all gone (Hughes, 2007). Our interesting history is helping us to get more tourists everyday.

However, the harmony for which our freedom fighters desired is not yet collectively visible. There is still a lot of anger and deep wounds caused by the Apartheid system. We hope the brutality and horrors of the Apartheid years will be healed after the recent racial quarrels amongst political leaders. Anger and emotional confrontations are all part of the healing process and hopefully after the clashes all parties will reconcile.

Regardless of all the negative forces, there is so much to celebrate in this country. We are the first African country to host the Soccer World Cup; we should put our differences aside and welcome the world with love and peace.

We have so much to celebrate as a diverse nation, and our diversity is the source of our creativity. This creativity has allowed us to produce so many national idols, including four Nobel Peace Prize winners that include international icons and members of the Elders - Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. There are countless others like Miriam Makeba, the first South African to win a Grammy award and more famous internationally, and Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actress Charlize Theron. Another was Mahatma Gandhi, who said that although he was born in India, he was made in South Africa. To read more, click here.

 South African Economic development

South Africa is the receiver of a flow of emigration from economically injured countries like Zimbabwe, as well as from others. The citizens of less wealthy African countries flock to South Africa as a centre of attraction and richness. Our economy has experienced the longest sustained period of growth, which has only just started to downturn.

In a Gallup International survey on attitudes about the future, South Africans were the eighth most optimistic people in the world at the end of 2005.

Furthermore, talking about optimistic, we are living in a country that is vibrant, challenging, frustrating, beautiful, and above all hopeful. Certainly, we are facing challenges like crime and identity crisis, like any other country. Converting negativity into hopefulness can be very powerful. If people have a positive view of the future, they will deal with the present with confidence and willpower. Positive thinking is productive thinking.

If you look around, you will find convincing reasons to be positive about the future of this extraordinary country. The groundwork has been skilfully laid and the development of South Africa is steadily on track.

There are important factors that will ensure that we can be expecting some great successes from our economy over the next few years. Some of these are:

• South African wines win international awards every year and we have the longest wine route in the world.
• Nelson Mandela, an international icon of forgiveness, tolerance, and humanity.
• The Kruger Park has the most innovative management of a national park anywhere in the world - and is the world's most profitable game park.
• South African Breweries is the fourth largest brewer in the world and produces over 50% of China's beer!
• Mercedes Benz C Class, BMW 3 Series, and VW Golf/Jetta: All their right-hand drive vehicles are produced in South Africa.
• Didata grew from a local IT service provider into a huge, global networking company with branches in 36 countries.
• The Cape Peninsula has more species of plants per hectare than any other area of the world.
• Magnificent highways.
• Warm, friendly, vibrant rainbow people.
• The world's most progressive Constitution.
• South African inventions: Kreepy Kraulies, Mrs Ball's chutney and biltong.
• The world's best looking population. The list is endless.

However, we need to focus less on the negative things in our country and more on the positive things that surround us. Celebrate South Africa with us!

Lundy (2008) adds that frequently criticizing our country can only do harm for you personally, your happiness and well-being and for the country that you know from the bottom of your heart that you love.

To learn more about positive thinking, click here:

Last Update: 22 April 2010