WHITES living in traditionally coloured areas of East London enjoy social acceptance and feel less constrained and judged.
But their love relationships, like any, are filled with hills and dales.
This perspective was gained from three whites interviewed this week.
Last week Census 2011 released municipal and community data showing an exodus of whites from some suburbs, but also had a few whites popping up in former coloured and black areas.
Buffalo Flats, with 15741 coloureds and 5676 black Africans, is now home to 51 whites – 40 more than in 2001.
Lay pastor Mrs Marcell Mbambe, 58, of Duncan Village, says she is the only white person living there. The daughter of a Simonstown navy captain, her 2006 marriage to a local, now-retired police captain, did not last – but her love of the Duncan Village community endured.
Living alone in the home he bought her, she says God and the community are looking after her.
“I am a prayer warrior. I don’t have an income, but God answers my prayers.”
There was some friction with locals, which she suspects was linked to her separation.
A youth once tore down her fence shouting: “One settler one bullet!” and an elderly couple tried to occupy her home, but neighbours “beat them off”.
“I love the people of Duncan Village. In their poverty they show kindness and love.
“White people need to show more compassion and consideration of the extreme rejection black people have been through. They have suffered. They are still in pain.”
But the most constant refrain she hears from her neighbourhood is: “How are you? Are you OK?”
Robin and Tessa Fairhurst are blissfully happy in their Buffalo Flats home .
Surrounded by her large family, they spoke of how their love ended Cambridge- born and educated Robin’s drug-fuelled post-school partying.
Tessa, 26, was hurt by her teenage romance with a white boy at Grens Hoerskool after his parents disapproved of her race and the boy grew distant.
Robin had to work hard to prove that his intentions were honourable and his commitment enduring, she said.
He said: “I had to get past her aunt, who needed to know who this white boy was in the neighbourhood wanting to use her ‘daughter’. But we just grew together,” he said.
The aunt, Telrita Jacobs, said: “Robin really looks after Tessa. I love him.”
Robin relishes the embrace of Tessa’s family, and though his mother was initially not keen, she came round.
The couple’s wedding was a glamorous event.
His family were there, but not long enough to be in the family wedding photograph.
He said: “I feel more relaxed here. The white community looks at how you dress and what you earn. The coloured community is not bothered by that. If you are a nice person, they get on with you.”
A white man who married and moved from West Bank to a coloured area agreed.
The man, who asked not to be named due to marital problems, said: “There are many white men and women walking the streets and they are very happy.” —
Whites find happiness in coloured areas
But their love relationships, like any, are filled with hills and dales.
This perspective was gained from three whites interviewed this week.
Last week Census 2011 released municipal and community data showing an exodus of whites from some suburbs, but also had a few whites popping up in former coloured and black areas.
Buffalo Flats, with 15741 coloureds and 5676 black Africans, is now home to 51 whites – 40 more than in 2001.
Lay pastor Mrs Marcell Mbambe, 58, of Duncan Village, says she is the only white person living there. The daughter of a Simonstown navy captain, her 2006 marriage to a local, now-retired police captain, did not last – but her love of the Duncan Village community endured.
Living alone in the home he bought her, she says God and the community are looking after her.
“I am a prayer warrior. I don’t have an income, but God answers my prayers.”
There was some friction with locals, which she suspects was linked to her separation.
A youth once tore down her fence shouting: “One settler one bullet!” and an elderly couple tried to occupy her home, but neighbours “beat them off”.
“I love the people of Duncan Village. In their poverty they show kindness and love.
“White people need to show more compassion and consideration of the extreme rejection black people have been through. They have suffered. They are still in pain.”
But the most constant refrain she hears from her neighbourhood is: “How are you? Are you OK?”
Robin and Tessa Fairhurst are blissfully happy in their Buffalo Flats home .
Surrounded by her large family, they spoke of how their love ended Cambridge- born and educated Robin’s drug-fuelled post-school partying.
Tessa, 26, was hurt by her teenage romance with a white boy at Grens Hoerskool after his parents disapproved of her race and the boy grew distant.
Robin had to work hard to prove that his intentions were honourable and his commitment enduring, she said.
He said: “I had to get past her aunt, who needed to know who this white boy was in the neighbourhood wanting to use her ‘daughter’. But we just grew together,” he said.
The aunt, Telrita Jacobs, said: “Robin really looks after Tessa. I love him.”
Robin relishes the embrace of Tessa’s family, and though his mother was initially not keen, she came round.
The couple’s wedding was a glamorous event.
His family were there, but not long enough to be in the family wedding photograph.
He said: “I feel more relaxed here. The white community looks at how you dress and what you earn. The coloured community is not bothered by that. If you are a nice person, they get on with you.”
A white man who married and moved from West Bank to a coloured area agreed.
The man, who asked not to be named due to marital problems, said: “There are many white men and women walking the streets and they are very happy.” —
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