5.4 Opportunities and challenges faced by Chinese traders
5.4.2 Challenges
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„Black‟ people is due to the crimes, such as stealing, committed by “them”, where „black‟
people are stereotyped as thieves. Due to this they are likely to distrust people from any other
„race‟ groups. Due to the negative actions taken against them by South Africans a negative image is created which affects how they view South Africans. Tracy states that “you can‟t be friends with them” indicating that South Africans cannot be trusted. This gives an indication of how she views South Africans. Her view of South Africans is in relation to the negativity she experienced. The negativity South Africans exhibit towards Chinese might be brought about due to the Chinese establishing businesses in the country. In times of high unemployment the local population might be displeased at their circumstance and are likely to lash out on foreign businesses who they feel are stealing employment opportunities and resources from them or they are angered by foreigners being in a better economic position in relation to them (Crush, 2000; Vale, 2002; Nyar, 2001). Alden (2007:85) states that “many Africans are pointing out the possibility that the influx of Chinese migrants, coupled with the negative impact of employment practices and other acts viewed as discriminatory by local people could spark acts of xenophobia and racism” as seen in Lesotho in 1990. However, in South Africa xenophobia is directed towards African foreigners with rare cases of discrimination against Chinese or Europeans (Nyar, 2001).
Tracy reiterates that „China‟ is trying to assist South Africa by bringing affordable products to the country and without their help many South Africans would not be able to afford basic necessities provided by the Chinese at inexpensive prices. Tracy goes on to say that both sides need to be friendly in order to cooperate. It is therefore a challenge for her to live in a country that she views as prejudiced against Chinese.
Another challenge, as indicated above, is the issue of crime against the Chinese within their businesses and social environment. Some of the Chinese shopkeepers man the till themselves in fear of their workers stealing from them. Most Chinese shops I have entered either have someone to watch out for theft or they have surveillance cameras to monitor the behaviour of customers. This is taken very seriously by the Chinese traders. This leads to distrust of customers and people in general as they have to be more watchful and attentive of people around them. From observation it can be noted that respondents keep to themselves and only have basic interactions with their customers and workers. Issues of crime, distrust and prejudice prevent the Chinese from actively socializing with South Africans.
86 Not many Chinese have South African friends. This may also be due to the language barrier that exists. Participants indicate that it is a challenge to communicate with people and customers as they do not have adequate knowledge of the local languages spoken. For instance, although June speaks English she still argues that she cannot fully express herself or communicate on a deeper level with South Africans.
June: Um, like the young people, like another uncle his daughter born in South Africa so she is South African Chinese, so the language is okay, but like her father is lived in South Africa for twenty years but he can understand but for speak, speaking still got some problems. And like, me, only for easy, like talking, er, the weather, like the price it‟s ok but something else, sometime the video in the car.
S: The radio.
June: The radio in the car, sometimes it‟s difficult for me to understand.
It is a challenge for Chinese to understand the culture and society in which they live in as they do not understand the language spoken. It is also difficult to effectively conduct their business if they cannot communicate with their customers. Participants also indicate that the South African police and government also give them problems. Tracy indicates that government officials always come to her store and ask if she has followed the product regulations and if she and her workers have the correct documentation to be in South Africa.
This frustrates her as this occurs on a regular basis.
Tracy: Yah, you must have money and here is not easy for shop, because every day from every place government many different place will come and check you selling, you selling wrong or anybody wrong here.
S: So the government, people from the government came to the shop then.
Tracy: Yah, it‟s many times. Its checking everything, do you have original passport are your worker have passport are you selling anything like name brands like do you have licence to selling whatever, it‟s too much bother.
---- Justin: And sometime the police do something not right.
S: The police.
Justin: Um.
S: Like what sort of things do the police do?
Justin: For example, you see, the way you running business or what. Sometime the police is for customer but they say it‟s our fault. But not our fault. For example, I ask you something, if you buy the cup from the shop, Checkers or what, you pay alright, you just go outside, you broke it, you come here and exchange, they give you or not?
S: No.
Justin: No, but the police say you must give. (Inaudible) So this is nonsense. Even if the people stealing, you catch them and this security is for kick him nicely but the police come back and say that security is wrong. Lock up security, go away. So it was
87 me making the security don‟t like the people, don‟t like catch the criminals. So you see that is problem for the South Africa.
Although the Chinese do have a great economic opportunity to conduct business in South Africa as well as having an opportunity to study there are also some social barriers that they face. Issues of crime, trust, the enforcement of proper law by police and language hamper their business activities.