A photographer has captured a day at the beach, a collection of moments captured another side of our beautiful country. One that we all can be proud of.
Two weeks ago Bridgette Erdey spent some time on the North Coast Beaches of KwaZulu Natal. What she found was that the beaches painted a diverse and colourful picture.
She released a photo series showcasing another side of South Africa… she calls it “Not in my South Africa”.
There was nothing special about this particular Saturday. The sun was out, and so were locals and tourists alike. In days past the scene would have been unheard of. But not in my South Africa!
In my South Africa, dress code on the beach makes no difference… as long as you are enjoying yourself.
In my South Africa, the waves don’t care what you look like… they come at you with a force, waiting to hear your shrieks of delight.
In my South Africa there is a place in the sun for you whether you want to spend it exploring the rock pools, reading a novel or watching the passers by.
A day on the beach showed me that the average Joe gets along with the next man just fine! That our differences are what make us unique. That there is space for everyone, and that acceptance, love for your neighbour and a smile go a long way.
Acceptance is a choice. Love is a choice. I chose to stand up against racism and xenophobia and I challenge you to do the same. An average day, out of season, on a beautiful beach, showed me a very different story to the newspaper headlines. Division may still rear it’s ugly head but we can choose to say “Not in my South Africa!”