“Before the end of apartheid, South Africa was becoming a first world nation.”

OMG! You must be six!

South Arica used to be a first world nation. Then apartheid hit in 1948, and I remember people starting to leave South Africa. My parents considered leaving in 1958. I recall that South Africa was considered the richest country in the world, that we paid ZAR0.75 for $1. When I went to school, we learnt pounds, shillings, and pence, because that used to be the South African currency. When we became a Republic in 1961 (I think), we changed to rands.

I recall the days my late mother joined the Black Sash, of Sir Edmund Hillary coming to South Africa and my parents attending the reception for him. I recall many things.

I recall the days we could go shopping in the local Garlicks and buy world class goods with our money. I grew up wearing the most expensive international brands. I remember the days when we had a mail delivery in the morning and a mail delivery in the afternoon. I remember leaving South Africa in the early 70s and when I came back, Soweto had happened, and the country was different.

I remember the Rand being devalued twice, and suddenly, my expensive brand of shoes was no longer available. I remember sanctions in 1979 and South Africa slowly became bankrupt. We had sanctions busting, paying massive amounts of money for oil, and slowly people left South Africa and international business left South Africa.

I recall reading in the 80s that by that time, nearly one third of South Africans had left the country since 1948. We became the pariah of the world. From being considered a high status country, we were nothing.

I recall how apartheid destroyed South Africa. Blacks were no longer allowed to be educated to the same level as white people. I recall the movement of entire suburbs to far out in the country, the creation of the homelands. I recall the assassination of Hendrik Verwoerd.

So, sorry to break it to you, but South Africa was very much considered a first world country, along the same lines as Australia and Canada, but apartheid destroyed us. We did not produce goods in those days anymore than we do today. Our raw metals were exported even in those times. We did not export finished products. Our diamonds went to Amsterdam to be cut. However, once countries would no longer deal with us, it was the end of the glory days. We no longer got good prices for anything. We had to pay two to three times for everything we bought. And nobody would buy goods from South Africa – that was sanctions.

By the time Mandela took over, South Africa was bankrupt. That was part of the reason that apartheid finally went.

And, no. there is absolutely no chance left for South Africa. Or America. Or the UK. They're done.