For many a century the people of this country have been aggrieved by their very brothers. For many a century, my Black brothers have been used, abused and refused by my White brothers. We fought, we cried and we smiled, eventually. We looked upon elected leaders for guidance and all we got was more politics. We cried unto the international worlds for help and all we got were sanctions. All that we are had been lost on battlefields, as we tried to fender off our own brother from killing us, their own brothers.
We were introduced to the Western governance methods and we bought in, all for the love of peace, progress and care. As we now look back at the two decades of the end of war in our Mzansi, many new and old problems emerge and threaten to reverse the gains we have made. I refer to such incidents as the murdering of farmers and their employees, the exploitation of youth through labour brokers, the merciless conduct of our police service (which acts like a police force), the poor state of education for the poor people like me, the crippled public health system and many others.
Yet, with all these ills taking place, South Africans are chilling and behaving as though all is normal. We must reject the idea that a mediocre state of affairs in the labour force, in the schooling and public health system and other sectors, is normal and acceptable. We must realise that this is our country. We must wake from our slumber and take to the streets to work this land. I am appalled by the community that is ready to sit for a week when drainage pipes have burst just on their door-steps. I am even more livid to behold an recall how many parents absent themselves from matters relating to their children's education.
We sit and look throw our curtains when we hear screams and gunshots as the Somalian brothers, seeking refuge in our supposed warm country, are being robbed of the little money they try to make for their families, by our neighbours' sons, and at worst our own sons and brothers. We look upon each other with anger, jealousy and greed. We have lost sense of what democracy is, and what it means to us South Africans. Have we forgotten the day when we were called "swart gevaar"? Have we forgotten the principles of our revolution? I suspect so because we exhibit what I call "RDP mentality".
Apart from the good things we do for yourselves as individuals, the country is in dire need for a united South Africa. There must be an end to the killings, the raping, the exploitation, the stealing and such craze. A citizen-driven effort is required, so as to show strength against such poisons. As Gandhi said: "You must become the change you wish to see in the world", and it'a sad pity that a democratic South Africa is failing to educate the free children our forefather fought for?It is disgusting that political leaders enrich themselves, while in public office, at the peril of the poor people.
We should start posing questions as to why is it so that those who constitute a smaller percentage of the population hold the monopoly over our economy?
Are we cowards? Are we afraid to march to Luthuli House and The Union Buildings to demand that which is entitled to us? No we are not. Yet, it seems, we are too scared to stand up and call the neighbours when one neighbour is being robbed en route to work. We are afraid to going to the nearest clinic to lend a helping hand. What about the graduates who are unemployed? Why is are they being forgotten in the system. I was told recently that 600 000, give or take, graduates are currently unemployed. Why is this? Are there no areas in our community for these graduates to work? I doubt this very much.
On the other hand, we must also realise that the well-marketed concept of Ubuntu is irrelevant if it is not applied in a practical fashion.
We need to stand up and realise that volunteer work does more good for the recipient than the giver. As the scrolls suggest; "Blessed is the hand that gives than the one that receives". Let us be active citizens and realise that we are our own leaders. The Zumas and Zilles are political people and they will be excused for missing the point sometimes, even though this is often detrimental to the nation.
If you have unwanted clothes, go donate those, I promise you you will be surprised how many people need those. What of food? What of textbooks, magazines and other stuff needed by the people. I am sure that everybody knows someone in need yet not all of us are very happy to help. What have we become? To what end is this madness of carelessness.
I am bleeding.
Let's chat about it!
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