THE Bible teaches us to first fix our own backyard, before we get concerned about the state of our neighbour’s backyard.
For years we as South Africans have been analysing Zimbabwe and the leadership in that country.
We have had a number of debates where we would constantly ask why Zimbabweans continue voting for a man they do not like.
Ironically we are now caught in the same spider web.
We continue voting a man in power, yet he shows complete disregard and disrespect for the citizens of this country.
I am fully aware that some of my writings do not put me in the good books of the current leadership, however I am equally aware that there are people within the ruling party who are intelligent enough to know that I mean well.
When asked why he took part in the killing of Julius Caesar, Brutus’s reply was: “Not that I loved Caesar any less, but because I loved Rome more”.
So, by the same token I would say not that I love ANC any less but because I love South Africa more.
Steve Biko in his collection of writings noted that: “Black South Africans are tired of standing on the touchline as spectators; they want to get in the field and play”.
We are being given a chance to cross the touchline and take part in the game as players, and what do we do? We are denying ourselves that and enjoying the comfort of being spectators.
We are being bullied and told that we are free and we should be grateful for what we have.
Well, I do not know if this is what people sacrificed their lives for, or if this is what people spent years in prison for, or if this is what families were broken for.
Today we complain about this, tomorrow we shall complain about that and the next day we shall gather in the public areas to vote our bullies back into power once more.
Is this really for the love of Rome or is it for our sentimental attachment to Caesar? Or can we not differentiate between the two?
Perhaps you and I need to be re-educated on values and morals. We are being taken for granted and treated with so much disrespect it’s not even funny. When the Rev Tiyo Soga wrote Lizalise Idinga Lakho he said (with tears running down his cheeks), Bona izwe lakowethu uxolel’ izono zalo. Ungayithobi ingqumbo yakho luze luf’ usapho lwakho, (Watch over our nation and forgive our sins. Cast not your wrath upon us lest our people die).
Time has come for us as South Africans to sing that song louder and this time with tears running down our cheeks, because we have allowed one of us to take advantage of all of us.
Mzwakhe Mbuli in his poem entitled Why tricks and not solutions wrote: “If at all the God of the Poor Deprived and Oppressed cannot punish Pretoria, My God owes special apology to the ancient people of Babylon, Egypt, Sodom and Gomorrah”.
The same can be said about the current regime, for although we are told that we are free, not all of us can claim to be enjoying the fruits of our struggle. We are living in a country where the government preaches equality and practises its opposite.
In his book Animal Farm, George Orwell stated: “All animals are equal, but there are those who are more equal than others”.
Are we in an Animal Farm?
Are we all equal?
Or are there those who are more equal than others?
In closing I would like to quote one of the late American freedom fighters, Malcolm X, during his visit to Ghana, addressing university students.
He said: “I have more respect for South African (apartheid) government, for they preach inequality and practise inequality. America on the other side preaches equality and practises inequality.”
Where does the current South African government fit?
Yes, we are like the America of Malcolm X’s time.
However we must not break and stop fighting because of the challenges we are facing, instead we need to charge forward and be even stronger than before.
In his resignation speech President Thabo Mbeki said: “To everyone, and responding to these messages, I would like to say that gloom and despondency have never defeated adversity. Trying times need courage and resilience. Our strength as a people is not tested during the best of times. As we said before, we should never become despondent because the weather is bad nor should we turn triumphalist because the sun shines.”
Professor Siyabulela (Sia) Botha is a frequent letter writer to the Daily Dispatch
Insight: Free but not enjoying fruits of our struggle
For years we as South Africans have been analysing Zimbabwe and the leadership in that country.
We have had a number of debates where we would constantly ask why Zimbabweans continue voting for a man they do not like.
Ironically we are now caught in the same spider web.
We continue voting a man in power, yet he shows complete disregard and disrespect for the citizens of this country.
I am fully aware that some of my writings do not put me in the good books of the current leadership, however I am equally aware that there are people within the ruling party who are intelligent enough to know that I mean well.
When asked why he took part in the killing of Julius Caesar, Brutus’s reply was: “Not that I loved Caesar any less, but because I loved Rome more”.
So, by the same token I would say not that I love ANC any less but because I love South Africa more.
Steve Biko in his collection of writings noted that: “Black South Africans are tired of standing on the touchline as spectators; they want to get in the field and play”.
We are being given a chance to cross the touchline and take part in the game as players, and what do we do? We are denying ourselves that and enjoying the comfort of being spectators.
We are being bullied and told that we are free and we should be grateful for what we have.
Well, I do not know if this is what people sacrificed their lives for, or if this is what people spent years in prison for, or if this is what families were broken for.
Today we complain about this, tomorrow we shall complain about that and the next day we shall gather in the public areas to vote our bullies back into power once more.
Is this really for the love of Rome or is it for our sentimental attachment to Caesar? Or can we not differentiate between the two?
Perhaps you and I need to be re-educated on values and morals. We are being taken for granted and treated with so much disrespect it’s not even funny. When the Rev Tiyo Soga wrote Lizalise Idinga Lakho he said (with tears running down his cheeks), Bona izwe lakowethu uxolel’ izono zalo. Ungayithobi ingqumbo yakho luze luf’ usapho lwakho, (Watch over our nation and forgive our sins. Cast not your wrath upon us lest our people die).
Time has come for us as South Africans to sing that song louder and this time with tears running down our cheeks, because we have allowed one of us to take advantage of all of us.
Mzwakhe Mbuli in his poem entitled Why tricks and not solutions wrote: “If at all the God of the Poor Deprived and Oppressed cannot punish Pretoria, My God owes special apology to the ancient people of Babylon, Egypt, Sodom and Gomorrah”.
The same can be said about the current regime, for although we are told that we are free, not all of us can claim to be enjoying the fruits of our struggle. We are living in a country where the government preaches equality and practises its opposite.
In his book Animal Farm, George Orwell stated: “All animals are equal, but there are those who are more equal than others”.
Are we in an Animal Farm?
Are we all equal?
Or are there those who are more equal than others?
In closing I would like to quote one of the late American freedom fighters, Malcolm X, during his visit to Ghana, addressing university students.
He said: “I have more respect for South African (apartheid) government, for they preach inequality and practise inequality. America on the other side preaches equality and practises inequality.”
Where does the current South African government fit?
Yes, we are like the America of Malcolm X’s time.
However we must not break and stop fighting because of the challenges we are facing, instead we need to charge forward and be even stronger than before.
In his resignation speech President Thabo Mbeki said: “To everyone, and responding to these messages, I would like to say that gloom and despondency have never defeated adversity. Trying times need courage and resilience. Our strength as a people is not tested during the best of times. As we said before, we should never become despondent because the weather is bad nor should we turn triumphalist because the sun shines.”
Professor Siyabulela (Sia) Botha is a frequent letter writer to the Daily Dispatch
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