In a race to try to understand ourselves
IT MAY be named Joburger, but the Facebook page has become a national and international place of safety for South Africans to get to know each other.
Benoni-born Gerhardus Louwrence van Niekerk, 24, started the Facebook phenomenon Joburger from his couch back in 2016. In just three short years, he managed to grow it to an impressive following of more than 200 000 people.
The idea is to spread positivity, particularly around race in South Africa and South Africans of different races, genders, cities, sexual orientations and social standings have a platform where they can engage in taboo conversations.
Van Niekerk said the topics around race garner the most reaction and comments from those who visit the Facebook page.
These topics are often from different races asking each other questions they have always wanted to know the answers to, or telling other races what they love about each other.
Here are some of the most popular comments from these posts.
Joburger: All races… What is it about black people that you love? Marlene Martino:
1. They are just naturally born survivors and make things happen no matter what.
2. They value education and many of them put their children through varsity and good schools regardless of the little salary they earn.
3. Their support for one another during funerals and weddings.
4. Damn their love for music and those dancing moves.
5. Sense of fashion.
Anneke Janse van Rensburg: Their ability to know which taxi goes where. Jacques Coetzer: Your commitment to your culture and beliefs. Although it differs greatly from mine, I admire it. Also your ability to sing. I love it when our nanny walks around the house humming or singing to my boy. It brings a sense of calm to our house. It’s truly beautiful.
Joburger: All races… What is it about white people that you love? Nozipho Mkhize: In the office, you’re so professional. Take your work so seriously and got no time to gossip about your colleagues and always mind your own business.
Wonderful manners. Don’t care about clothing labels. Very responsible and wise money spenders.
Ka’bz Karabo Thelele: I want to say something good but when I think of the aircon, eish.
Pretty Thembi Mahlangu-Mnguni: I love how they still walk around holding hands even after 50 years of being married.
Kagiso Ndlovu: I like their ‘be rich but look simple’ approach.
Joburger: All races… What is it about coloured people that you love?
Websta Mgijima: I love how Tupperware is worth more than gold. Dinah Mosome Makhubalo: They are the best R&B music compilers of note... Whenever I get into a taxi driven by a coloured oke, neh, and he’s playing such great music I feel like asking him if I can organise a memory stick so he can dala for me.
Senzo Mkize: I love the sense of community and how they stand up for themselves. Buhle Santiago Mafani: The passion behind the way they say voetsek.
Joburger: Ask Joburgers something
you’ve always wanted to know. Mabuyi Ndlela: Is it true that Alexandra rats eat cats, change tyres and hijack cars?
Rosebud Emmerencia Buthelezi: Is it true that in Joburg CBD you hide your phone under your tongue because of the mugging.
Crystal Pretorius: Why are you always in a hurry... What’s chasing you?
Joburger: Ask Durbanites something you’ve always wanted to know.
Silindelo Dlomo: On behalf of my Durban black people, gold/silver teeth are to us what a tattoo is to white people. The reason we prefer gold teeth is because they are easily removable, unlike a tattoo. We were told when you have these things you don’t go to heaven.
Amandla Amish Mini: Please tell me how to make a good bunny chow, and is it true there is a big city with shops operating 24 hours. People from my hood come there for buying stuff for selling, even my granny brought me inkomazi.