Comment by h2zizzle

You colonized them, monopolized their resources, and used the spoils to fuel an apartheid state with some of the highest levels of inequality humanity has ever seen.

It's really, really difficult to think of a set-up that's more economically-distortive on its face; a complete dislocation of labor productivity and sovereignty.

There's no possible way that the "devastation" began with the end of apartheid. It was built into the existing system. Geez. Black South Africans (and Zimbabweans!) are building a way out m of a hole dug for them by their colonizers, with the cheapo equipment that the global monetary apparatus will (predatorily) lend them.

I have no doubt that it was not an ideal place to be, psychologically, as a white man. Materially? Eh.