5.4 Results
5.4.3 In-Group Favouritism
101 We like the buildings (at Cotswold), but we would like them here (in Embo)
We have freedom
But if you are living there and you don’t have work you won’t be supported (helped). You can’t live there without money
I am not happy but there is nothing I can do about it because I don’t have money. I have accepted it
There was a positive ‘spin’ to some of the respondents’ responses as they pointed to potential employment opportunities in gated communities. Work was seen as important to more of the younger respondents. Work brings resources and makes life ‘easier’. Additionally gated communities are perceived as limited in terms of space and hinder independence.
As long as you have work, life is easy I can afford to be here (Embo)
It seems like it is unfair. Some disadvantaged people look at this and think it might be unfair – but other people see it as a good thing because it ‘produces work’
The people go there by foot or by vehicle and they get work there.
The young people go and work there
We are just surviving, we are not worrying (paying attention to) about what we don’t have.
I don’t have a problem (with them) because I can’t afford to be there. They haven’t got any space, here I have space
102 We have community in Embo
Even if you don’t have a job (in Embo) you will be looked after and you will be supported.
People will help, neighbours will help (in Embo) if you are unemployed. If you need food
We help the people in Embo. If people are hungry we feed them, there is a feeding scheme here every week, and it is Abambo Community project. We help them, we buy stuff for them
especially the elderly. We do bible studies with them on Tues and on Sat we go into the houses, we pray for them. We go around on foot. We buy rice and cooking oil, and go with their children and distribute the food. People thank us, sometimes we eat together. We find out who needs food. We meet with the people.
When people are sick she has nursed them, and at this house she helps with the project. She wants people to be well. They get clothes and support people with clothes and food. She loves to worship as well here.
We are free we can get together and we worship nicely here
My head and heart are right when I worship. I live well with the people around me.
Respondents reflected on why they prefer to live in Embo, as opposed to the gated estates close by. They expressed disbelief and in some cases disdain for the lack of community in gated estates because as far as they can tell there is none. They query who on earth would like to live like that. This particular issue seemed to really puzzle many of the respondents. They recognised what people in gated estates are lacking in terms of community, and were quite clear that even though they may not have money, they don’t want to live like that.
Maybe it is good for them, maybe they have money and we don’t have money. But community they don’t have, and this we have. We have Ubuntu (humanity, community)
But we have Ubuntu, they don’t have a community In my heart I like to live where I live now
People in gated communities were perceived to be living their own self-centred lives behind closed doors, oblivious to the needs of their neighbours. They don’t even know their neighbours names! This is certainly an anathema to respondents from Embo.
I wouldn’t like to live there because they don’t have community, Ubuntu, they don’t have that, they do not know their neighbours by name they just greet them and then they close their doors
103 No No I don’t want to live like that!
It is bad to have those big walls because then you can’t ask for help if you need help It is easy to visit people here
For Embo respondents it is actually ‘unhealthy’ to live separately from your neighbour. You need to be able to visit at will, greet and know your neighbours. It is healthy to live in close community.
It is not the black people’s way / custom to live like that. I want to live where I can fellowship with my neighbour. It is healthy to live close with your neighbour
I want to see my neighbours and greet them I want to see other people and be able to visit them
It’s not nice because we as black people we believe in visiting our neighbours If you stay there you can’t go to your neighbour to ask for sugar
No way, you can’t do that, there’s not much of Ubuntu there
Amidst much hilarity (but no perceived animosity) the elderly ladies and gents found the concept of ‘communing’ with frogs on the Cotswold Estate quite unbelievable. This was with reference to the water course and the ponds on the golf course. They referred to people on the estate as living in an ‘endongeni’ (a hole in isiZulu).
They only have community with the frogs They can have their frogs and their songs!
The respondents indicated how unpleasant it would be to live in a gated estate – especially with regards to having no contact with your neighbours, possibly for years. This was an alien concept to them and definitely not one to aspire to. There was an undercurrent of shame for
‘them’ (in gated communities), that they choose to live this way. Although respondents accepted it, they seemed to find this way of life quite shocking. They seemed to feel sorry for the people in gated communities trapped behind their walls.
104 No I wouldn’t like to live there
It’s horrible to live there
You can’t lima there (plough there)
The big walls, no – it is truth you can live there for 10 years and not speak to your neighbour, and not know them! There is no ubuntu there.
When they go out and in, their neighbours don’t know if they have come or gone or where they are. They come and go and no-one knows where anyone is. The children come and go (with surprise)