Throughout the colorful history of South Africa, various concepts and ideologies has been used to label, enforce, enslave and segregate. One such label, word is ‘hot-not‘  and ‘bastar‘, being of sound birth in the days of Jan van Riebeeck and his cronies, when they were unable to resist the alluring appeal of a fine native ass under an inviting African sky. And magically, as if some African voodoo played a part, the first coloured being of European and native Khoisan (Khoi-khoi and San) decent sprung forth from the Cape shores around the fortress. Growing defiance towards the British Empire and the discovery of gold in Transvaal and the Orange Free State, some European colonialists trekked through the length and breadth of South Africa, coming into close contact with the native blacks. Once again the African voodoo sang an enchanting lullaby under an African sky, yet again, another mix-breed being of European and native Black (Xhosa, Zulu, etc) decent – sprung forth from the Highveld and Lowveld earth.

As South Africa became an important vestige and halfway house of trade between Europe and Asia, Africa also suffered the grunt of the slave trade. Firstly, the exporting of Africans as slaves to the America’s. During these days blacks were reduced to commodities and slaves. Secondly, the importing of Malayans as cheap and forced labor – as the natives was seen as lazy, untrustworthy and ignorant (to the ways of the European colonialists). The chanting of some foreign religious mantra to the drums of the African plateau lingered again spawning another masala-mix of European and Malayan decent.

This inter-pollination of genes was not only confined to fornicating, forced or with permission, to the whim of the European colonialists with the natives or the Malayans, but between all people of different ethnicity and cultures visiting South African shores, fueling the growing numbers of an ethnic hybridization. Alas the number of the bastard offspring rose steadily; as these mix-breeds procreated among themselves naturally. Through the times and forces of urbanization, declining imperialism of the British Empire, the Boer war, the First and Second World Wars and the establishment of Boer Nationalism in South Africa, the mix breed grew significantly. In time and with certainty these more unique individuals, these half-breeds were scorned, scourged, discriminated and ineptly labeled, eventually marginalized. Offset with the introduction and legitimizing of apartheid by the national party in 1948 ‘Separate but equal‘ policy and further entrenched with the group areas act, segregation, re-classification as coloreds (kleurling) and forcible grouped together.

This term, concept and construct of colored was and still is very tenuous. Tenuous in the sense that the heritage of coloureds is shrouded in a veil of different languages, beliefs, cultures, prejudices, religious and social affiliations. Roughly this relates to the (in)visible hierarchy of imposed social class distinction between coloured people based on feature discrimination, economy, misplaced sense of class, religion/beliefs and ignorance; fostered and maintained by the Apartheid Republic. A social and people bigotry illuminated in the form of demeaning slurs as ‘hot-not’, ‘bushie‘, ‘gam‘ and ‘bastar‘ imposing a humanistic heresy that people are inferior to others.

A shared culture, defined as a shared heritage, tradition, socially entrenched customs, beliefs, language, and vision, between coloureds have been forged through the Union Years, the PACT years, the Apartheid years, the Equality years in the guise of a shared rejection, oppression, discrimination, poverty and escalating social issues like gangsterism, alcoholism, abuse and affirmative action. An unique feature of a coloured culture is that it is not based in conventional and traditional (Western, if you like) precepts, definition or description of culture. A broad definition of colored culture is based on a stereotype that coloured people are untrustworthy, lazy, drunkards, thieves, gangsters, murderers, drug peddlers, abusers, con artist, you name it still ring through the corridors of society.

The presumed nature and defined characteristics, ‘the commandments‘, of life as a coloured is based on stereotypical assertions maintained by political, social and economic exclusion. Either colored people have failed to rise above their conditions or circumstances created and maintained by the Apartheid government of which their identity as an insular group have be traumatized and is in state of paralysis or in denial; or the present government has failed to make significant contributions to alleviate the plight of the so called colored people; or the present government and coloured leadership has inadvertently embarked to maintain and sustain the racial landscape immorally legitimized by the Apartheid government; or simply we as people have failed to see and meet each as people. By law we are free and equal but still, in shackles and chains mentally. Servants and subordinates to the ‘Separate but equal’ Apartheid government premise.

>> Ross Rayners

So, what does it mean to live as a colored or if you like in South Africa? It meant to be subjected and cajoled to the bitter taste of Afrikaner racism. It meant to live in a society martyred by hypocrisy in a state of identity psychosis. It meant an exposure to a social bigotry, a social insecurity underpinned by ignorance, fear and vulnerability. Out of this, certain perceptions and stereotypes, called ‘Colored’ naissanced, still lived today. This nuisance evolved and over time became known as the Colored Commandments or Gam Gedagtes:

* I believe that I am the best in the street where I live. Anyone who lives in a bigger house, drives a better car or whose kids attends a more expensive school is liable to receive some unfair treatment, harassment or verbal slurs from me. I believe that I am better than anyone else, and the minute that I see another colored excel, I will suppress, oppress and undermine their achievements. Even my own children.

* I believe that when I am in need, then the neighbor is obliged to give me whatever I need (like sugar, rice or even a few rands), otherwise that neighbor is not fit to be regarded as a friend or acquaintance.

* I believe that I am compelled to obtain new possessions as determined by the rate at which my neighbors or work colleagues acquire new possessions. I am entitled to have the loudest musical system, the biggest satellite dish and the most expensive clothes on the market (all clothes should be designer-labeled). Should I not be able to afford this, I am entitled to sink my heavy ass into debts that I know I will not be able to pay.

* I believe that I have the right to afford my children education on the basis that I can boast about their achievements like it was my own. I retain the right to assess scholastic progress better than the drunken teacher. Education has not worked for me; so it will work for them as long their education do not surpass mine, as I made them. My children will work for me once they have completed their studies. My children are not to think for themselves.

* I believe that I may call black people ‘kaffirs’, white people ‘whities’; asians ‘coolies’ and other coloreds ‘hotnot’, ‘gam’ or if you like. In addition, I believe that I am better than anybody is and nobody may address me as any of the above because it is politically incorrect to label me as such. Such slander is a direct violation of my basic human rights but not yours.

* I believe that all white and black people are racist. I believe that I am racially tolerant by not allowing my children to play with black children because black people slaughter animals in their yards and believe in the tokolosh. I reserve the right to protect my children against the onslaughts of the white man’s way of living, allowing their offspring economic freedom. I believe, in addition, that my child should never be independent of me otherwise I have not been a good parent.

* I believe that I am not African. I am born on the South African continent. My narrow-mindedness is more than a vice and it does indeed surpass my intellect, don’t you forget that.

* I believe that my social constitution and laws are governed by what people think of me. The perception of what other people will say determines what I believe. A proud draadsitter.

* I believe that the government owes me a house and an education due to the inequities of the past. Why should I work for what I want, as my drinking time will be cut in half and besides, the government owes me.

* I believe that all other religions are an abomination of my religion and belief in God. May they have a happy journey to hell, God bless them. My authority should not be questioned because I have the Church by my side. At least I am saved.

* I believe that once I get elected to office or any committee, as it is due to me, I will turn my back on those idiots that elected me for that position. As long as I earn a good salary, I will not do anything to uplift my community, I don’t owe them anything.

Breaching any of the commandments will afford you extra-special names like ‘coconut’, ‘traitor’ or even ‘gatkruiper’. A first offence, in most cases, will be forgiven. After that, any act shall be scrutinized and deemed suspicious. You are warned. The truth or validity of the colored commandments depends on you.

Although there are plenty of talented people in colored communities, advancement are hampered by in-fighting, bigotry and blind recourse in the colored commandments. Frankly I do not belief or adhere to The Colored Commandments, as it is nothing but perceptions and stereotypes born out of a people that were not allowed to develop their own identity. It was stunted. Now is the time for change.

Let us change the way we look at life and ourselves. Let us have Colored Gedagtes.

>> Ross Rayners <<