A recent attempt to speak with locals in the neighborhood where a Gqeberha woman once lived, Rowallan Park, before leaving for the U.S. under refugee status—has shed light on what some describe as an “abnormal” way of life in the area.
The suburb, dotted with neighborhood watch signs and “Extreme 24-hour armed response security” warnings, paints a picture of a community living under constant threat and vigilance. Observers argue that such extreme measures indicate a deeply unsettled environment.
The heavy security presence suggests residents feel unsafe, raising questions about the broader societal conditions driving such precautions.
Another striking change in the region is the city’s renaming from Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha—a Xhosa-derived name that many find difficult to pronounce. The shift has been seen by some as symbolic of the larger ‘transformations’ while the move unsettled many residents.
The woman at the center of the story, along with her three children, was among 49 South Africans recently accepted into the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The program, initiated under an executive order by President Donald Trump, offers refuge to minorities, including Afrikaners, who claim racial persecution in South Africa. And let us not forget so called “transformation” where confiscation of land without compensation by the government looms. In addition there are more than 140 race based laws in the job market which makes life much harder for the white minority of South Africa.
Despite efforts to gather more details, neighbors in the quiet, tree-lined suburb were hesitant to speak on record. Some confirmed the woman’s departure but quickly shut down further discussion, while others outright refused to engage.
The reluctance to talk underscores a tense atmosphere in the community—one where fear and suspicion linger behind high walls and guarded gates. As more South Africans explore the U.S. refugee program, the silence in neighborhoods like this one speaks volumes about the unspoken realities of life in some parts of the country.
Regardless living in such a place where you have to have neigbourhood watches, security company warnings and constant security vigilance is completely abnormal.
Opinion piece
