As a white South African who chose to leave my country I have been following the story of Brandon Huntley with interest.  My guess is that Brandon had no idea that his asylum seeking would cause such a stir.   For anyone who hasn't been following this story I will sum it up.

Brandon Huntley who is 31 and from Cape Town told officials in Canada that he couldn't return to South Africa because he was being persecuted because of his skin colour.  He claims to have been the victim of 7 attacks - three of which were stabbings where he was taunted with names like 'settler' and 'white dog'.  He was granted asylum by a one-man immigration board on the grounds that his "fear of persecution by African South Africans was justified" (ie blacks).  Huntley's lawyer said he was granted asylum because the South African authorities were unable to protect their citizens.  He said that asylum was granted because of discrimination - not only over crime - but also because as a white man he would find it difficult to get a job.

This decision has infuriated the South African Government.  ANC spokesman Brian Sokutu, in a statement to the BBC said that the decision would "only serve to perpetuate racism" in South Africa.  He also said "We take this matter very seriously because it has something to do with tarnishing the image of the country." 

The South African's are keen to avoid bad press ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

William Davis, from the Canadian Immigration board ruled that Huntley ''was a victim because of his race rather than a victim of criminality'' and would ''stick out like a sore thumb due to his colour in any part of the country''.

 Davis also stated that Brandon Huntley's evidence showed ''a picture of indifference and inability or unwillingness'' from the South African Government to protect white citizens.

He added: ''Persecution of white South Africans by African South Africans is a common event today in South Africa.''

Brandon Huntley believes the SA government is "disgusted" with him for "telling it like it is"."I've opened people's eyes," he told the Ottowa Star on Tuesday.

The sad fact is that more and more people are finding it hard to live in South Africa. The South African government doesn't keep reliable emigration statistics but Some 800,000 out of a total white population of 5 million have left since 1995, by one estimation.   And they are not alone - blacks, coloreds (as people of mixed race are known in South Africa) and Indians are also expressing the desire to leave.   Violent crime is the main reason cited for people leaving the country.  The level of the violence is frightening.  South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world and the highest incidence of rape.  It is a sad fact that you cannot live there without constantly watching your back.  There are few places left in South Africa where you can freely take a walk without being vigilant.  In the affluent areas you won't find a house without great walls,  electric fences, dogs, high tech alarms etc.

My personal feeling is that there was perhaps an element of opportunism about Brandon Huntley's asylum application.  Although I don't doubt the fact that he was attacked that number of times.  I have many South African friends who have experienced similar multiple attacks. But the reality is that most of the victims of crime in South Africa are black.  The white population still retain a large proportion of the wealth and will therefore be victims of crime but it is less an issue of race.  South Africa has very high levels of unemployment with the large majority of its population living in absolute poverty.  These levels of poverty will of course lead to crime.  

Although President Zuma says he is committed to fighting crime it is coming a little bit too late for many people.  Crime statistics are not reported in South Africa.  The police force are poorly paid and don't have a good reputation.  Most of the white population and anyone else with any money will choose to hire a  private security firm to protect themselves and  their property.  I myself was the victim of 5 separate crimes when I lived in South Africa most recently and I only bothered to report them to the police when I wished to make an insurance claim.  There is certainly no expectation that anything will be done.

Then there is the policy of Affirmative Action which seeks to redress the imbalances of the past (and I am not arguing that they don't need to be redressed) but does indeed make many whites, like Brandon Huntley feel discriminated against.  It is true that for a growing number of white South Africans their employment opportunities are limited.  Many whites who have left the country will cite this worry for their own or their children's future as a reason.

Another problem which is not discussed much is the growing number of attacks on South Africa's white farmers, some of which do appear to be racially motivated.  Others are probably just opportunistic.  The end result though is a decrease in the number of white farmers leading to fears that the flight of the skilled farmers could lead to a Zimbabwe style agricultural collapse.

It makes me very sad personally that I don't feel safe to live in South Africa anymore.  But my decision to leave had everything to do with violent crime and wishing to keep my children safe and nothing to do with race.   The large majority of the black population of South Africa are law abiding decent people who don't have the option of living anywhere else.  But it should also be remembered that large numbers of the white population have lived in South Africa for many many generations and know no other home.  I think the case of Brandon Huntley is simply highlighting the crisis facing South Africa.

A brilliant film which looks the violence in South Africa in a totally non racist way is Tsotsi (2005) directed by Gavin Hood.  Highly recommended and spot on in its depiction of South Africa.

A book (and now a movie which I haven't seen yet) is J M Coetzee's Disgrace.  Coetzee was the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature in 2003.  Incidentally he also now lives in Australia.  The book Disgrace won the Booker prize in 1999.  As well as being a great work of literature it deals with post-Apartheid South Africa.  A bleak book with a lot to say.  Highly recommended.