Opinion Keep South Africans from migrating by providing scarce skills Cyril Ramaphosa jokes about wanting to tie white people to trees, but citizens of all colours need to feel valued BL PREMIUM

South Africans are constantly looking for ways to participate in the development of the country, for avenues to affirm their belonging as valuable citizens. However, for many it seems as though the odds are not in their favour.

Earlier this year President Cyril Ramaphosa was reported to have said that he wanted to tie white people to trees — in a desperate attempt to illustrate that he does not want whites to leave SA. It may also have been an attempt to reassure white South Africans that they have a place and a role to play in today’s SA, that the country and its economy can benefit from their skills and expertise. All well-meaning, I assume, but this tongue-in-cheek statement was spoken out of turn.