The paradox was that the old Nat government established fairly close ties with Taiwan as a country but that all Chinese were still considered second class citizens. As they say, politics makes for strange bedfellows. Just goes to show how hypocritical the Nats actually were.
If you chat to many South Africans of Chinese origin, they are still a bit miffed by the past. Now of course, some are using their previously disadvantaged status to maximum effect.