Dad used to work as a waiter back then and Mum worked in a shoe factory, earning small salaries that could barely cover the household bills. We would often try to watch the neighbour’s TV through a small gap in the fence until we were spotted, and the door would slam in our faces. Some days, we found ourselves without electricity and had to study using a very small candle, and it was not due to load shedding.
Our parents always enforced that we get a good education as this would help us to get better jobs. Though, I often ponder whether this was really true, as my strong values got me to where I am now. Looking back, I see value in education, but I didn’t do well at school and still managed to become successful.
As far back as I can remember, South Africa was going through something called Apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination that was enforced from 1948 to the early 1990s. The term “apartheid” is an Afrikaans word meaning “apartness.” Racial classification determined where individuals could live, work, and receive education. Non-white individuals were required to carry passbooks that contained personal information and proof of permission to be in certain areas.
These were called Dompass, literally meaning the “stupid pass” or domestic passport. These laws restricted our movement and employment opportunities.
Once when I was about fourteen years old, I recall being beaten with a baton by a white Afrikaner policeman because I was in the city center after curfew. His baton was made of thick, hard plastic and could cause bruising or even more severe wounds, including bone fractures, nerve or muscle damage, and internal injuries. Luckily, my muscles took the impact.
Still, to this day, being an Indian in South Africa is extremely difficult as we are always in the middle and lose many benefits through various systems implemented by the government. As an Indian, it feels like we fell through the gaps in society and do not have access to the same opportunities. We are either not Black enough or not White enough. It’s a sad state of affairs, but we do our best to become successful.
Nothing will hold us back as we believe in our God-given potential.
How did I transform you may ask? I made the decision to become the best version of myself!
~Nolan Pillay~ My Website
