Church a time bomb?: News24: MyNews24: Letters

Eles 11/5/2009 7:40:53 AM

I would have to question why after all this time would the local authorities want to assist. 1) This is government's mess to start off with by their irresponsibility and sheer stupidity of opening the borders 2) Local authorities should have taken care of this situation from the start 3) why is it suddenly important to do this before the soccer? 4) if you are going to suspect anyone with regards to international funds I would bet my last rand it would be the local authorities wanting to get their grubby hands on international funds perhaps the good bishop in his wisdom realises this and won't let it happen?

JD 11/5/2009 7:40:56 AM

SA is swamped by people fleeing desperate situations in their countries, also since SA opened the borders with Zim tens of thousands refugees cross the border every day, I am all for helping these people however it must be done in a organised structured way, the Government should set up Refugee centres and camps to house these people and not leave it up to all the welfare organisations who in my opnion should focus on the destitute South Africans. At this stage the government is turning a blind eye because now it is not there problem. All other European copuntries has refugee camps where people are integrated in society, in the Netherlands they arte send to school to learn Dutch and other skills and then they are slowly integrated into society.

Dries 11/5/2009 7:55:22 AM

It seems you are taking issue with the ONLY person who seems to be doing something to help these people. What do you want him to do (1) solve the problems in Zim which has been made worse by Mandela’s, Mbeki’s, Motlante’s and Zuma’s regimes? (2) patrol the border effectively and repatriate illegal migrants (3) get the Dept of Home Affairs to care more about people inside South Africa (4) take over the police and start policing (5) divert the Metro Police bribe gatherers long enough to actually help? It seems you are worried that the plight of these poor people could ruin a couple of soccer matches, then you try and hide it under a false pretence of trying to help the government. I strongly doubt your claim that he only wants external help and refuses internal help, which makes you sound like an admirer of Mugabe. Why focus on the efforts of a white man trying to help?

POST MY COMMENTS PLEASE 11/5/2009 7:55:37 AM

I think Special Assisgnment ran an article of this Sunday night, I do stand corrected.

EXLOVER 11/5/2009 7:56:21 AM

Eles you are the one who is stupid. we have all nations here in SA from all over the world. but you only mention the ones from african countries.

Joeman 11/5/2009 7:57:03 AM

Don't get me wrong but Zimbabwe is not at war. Those illegal immigrants should go back to help re-build their country. what's the purpose of staying in the refuge camps busy producing more offsprings and expect the SA Gov to support them. We just allow everybody to live anywhere and our cities are becoming filty. Only foreigners with work permits should be allowed to stay longer in the country. In my neighbourhood, there are many Zim guys living here and doing nothing except housebreakings. Our country just gets a bad name due to the activities of foreign africans. I'm not xenophobic but something must be done as we can't accomodate the whole world in this tiny land.

Helen 11/5/2009 8:06:24 AM

It's so easy for everyone to point fingers at the Church, when in fact the SA government should have taken responsibility for these refugees right from the start.As so often happens, a good samaritan steps in to help where government has failed, and when they are overwhelmed, are blamed for all sorts of logistical problems. Why doesn't the press rather focus on the inefficient and corrupt government departments who earn fat salaries and drive fancy cars but wait until the situation gets beyond control before they actually do their jobs?

Lou 11/5/2009 8:07:25 AM

This problem is a result of the State's failure to tackle the refugee issue. It is also indicates to the underlying issues in African countries where these people simply do not have any chance of making a living. The time for tiptoeing around the issue is over. Not only do the refugees originate from dysfunctional states, they are placing a burden our our country. It is a sad state of affairs these poor people should be in this position. If we are talking about African solutions for Africa then the example set by our political leaders is even more tragic. For the people and by the people; that is the solution. In a participatory democracy what the Central Methodist Church is the right thing. The state's function in this is to involve the UN, the AU and itself in managing larger contributing factors to the problem: keeping our borders safe, sacntioning states where people are oppressed, engaging with political leaders of those states to sort out their issue and instill those principle into the way African states are governed that will lead to democracy, equity, freedom from oppression and prosperity. Mbeki was critisized for his stance on Zimbabwe but I've seen little change under the new regime in spite of all their empty promises.

POST MY COMMENTS PLEASE 11/5/2009 8:09:38 AM

Special Assignment ran a documentary of this Sunday night and interviewed Bishop Verryn as well. As JD 11/5/2009 7:40:56 AM said can Government not set up a Refugee centre for these people, and they are coming into the country by the thousands.

HN 11/5/2009 8:17:15 AM

Agree with Joeman, this is exactly why we que up in banks (previous blog), have problems with services, crime, poverty, disease, beggars at robots with little kids etc. this country cannot cope with all of these refugees as they drain our resources and society.

Cynical@author 11/5/2009 8:23:10 AM

Listen pal, the reason why we have this problem in the first place is that your (yes YOUR) government has allowed all these illegal parasites to stream into our once-great country, to add to the strain on our fast-diminishing resources. I agree that these parasites should be accommodated - in forced labour camps.

glen 11/5/2009 8:25:18 AM

This subject raises many questions about the ANC goverment 1] Its inability to sort out Mugabe 2] It inability to sort out local municipality's 3] Its own desire to spend millions on cars and party's 4] It is clear that the ANC and Mugabe think along the same lines, I ONLY CARE ABOUT MYSELF.

bri 11/5/2009 8:32:10 AM

We can not even help our own people? Same thing is going to happen in SA. Then what?....The root of the problem needs to be sorted out instead of just treating the symptoms. This is Africa's down fall, they live for now and never prepare for the future. Saddly Africa will always be the underdog eating the world's scraps and never be and independant respectable country because it's people don't have its best interests at heart and are always looking for handouts.

AJ 11/5/2009 8:40:14 AM

Instead of pleading with the bishop, rather ask the SA Government to take the ILLEGAL 'immigrants', throw them on the back of a truck and dump them in Borrowdale, Harare (preferably outside Mugabe's gates) - he can feed them.

MarkH 11/5/2009 8:40:52 AM

Since when did this become our problem?
These people are all alliens in our country where unemployment is at an all-time time high, the economy has crashed, SAfricans are starving, homeless and hopeless and the infrastructure is falling down. Send them home and they can "democratically" improve their own countries. Problem solved!

JT 11/5/2009 8:45:42 AM

Do people still believe?

POST MY COMMENTS PLEASE 11/5/2009 8:48:23 AM

I watched the documentary and realised that there was so much Bishop Verryn could do, these people had flooded the church and were even sleeping on the stairs, and it is not like they can find work here, children were being interviewed that said their parents had died and it took them days to reach Beit Bridge, so if the borders are open this is going to happen daily even as we sit and comment on it. Why has the government not stepped in to assist?????? And to Zizo "how much more do you want the Bishop to do he is doing all he can at the moment?"

bj 11/5/2009 8:50:01 AM

Whilst your offer to help is admirable, wherre do you draw the line. SA and rich countries in general cannot help everyone and nor should they to be honest. There must be aline drawn in the sand where enough is enough. Rather help the poor in SA before even considering the poor from other countries. The problem will only get worsee as the popultation increases in Africa. Maybe not what you want to hear but that is the reality - not everyone can be helped its just not practical.

H @ Zizo 11/5/2009 8:50:01 AM

Sorry buddy with referrence to your previous comments on this forum I dont think your intentions are as pure as what you are portraying it to be. Why should we help the govt to help, it is their Job. It appears to me that your ANC loyalty is in question comrade.

Gpurscreepers 11/5/2009 8:55:10 AM

Step 1: Open the borders to anyone and everyone who wants to come over.

Step 2: Scratch your head and pass the begging bowl around when it bites you in the bum.

Well thought out plan there guys. Now I know why you earn what you do.

Glock 22 11/5/2009 8:55:48 AM

Where you not the one who said Cadre MAugabe is doing a great job in ZIM ? So what are these people doing here if its going so well in Zim ? Why are all the people from africa coming to SA if their country's are managed so well by their great african leaders? Local people should learn from this. Will they ? I doubt it not until we in the same situation. Where is julias malema ? If the ancyl is so in to help africans why dont they assist these people ?Did you hear what the one lady said on special assignment? The White people comes here and gives us food and blankets! Yes the racist settlers went and helped them.

MarkH 11/5/2009 9:04:16 AM

Why is it so hard for the author and others to understand economics 101 when the evidence is all around staring then in the faces?
We have a finite number of tax payers and a, seemingly, infinite number of dependants. This is unsustainable, obviously, and until a balance can once more be created we are going downhill, fast.
All these alliens come from countries north of us where democracy has been in place for decades and it's their right, nay their responsibility, to go back home and democratically insist that their candidates govern their countries the way they want them governed.
We cannot help them without going down the same hole and it's about time everybody understands this. You cannot help others until you yourself are in a position to do so and we aren't. Read the financial news, see what the economists are saying about SA's problems first before embarking on suicidal liberal policies that won't work until the fundamental problems are first solved. In other words - get real!

ChapStick 11/5/2009 9:05:06 AM

Zizo, this is just one example of the fruits of the ANC government who you always defend on this forum. I assume you therefore voted for the ANC. Your problem bub...you deal with it. John Q Taxpayer is all out of handouts.

Badger 11/5/2009 9:07:12 AM

@ JT, I have recently become RE-BORN and it is GREAT. Yes people DO STILL BELIEVE !!!!

Zonzo 11/5/2009 9:07:47 AM

ROBERT MUGABE & company are having a time of their lives... ... ... He is laughing at SA and the stupid Mandela/Mbeki/Zuma/ANC and the lot!

Sis!!!

Thuli 11/5/2009 9:08:07 AM

Firstly I think the Goverment should change the migration process,I also hear that If a foreigner gives birth in S.A,the child becomes a South African,I stand to be corrected if that is not the truth.Thers also our Military that is surely taking us down,by letting the illegal immigrants flood the country....I'm not a prejudice at all,but I think some Foreigners must go back to their land....Thers War,Violence in their countries but I don't buy that anymore.....It is within them to make good decisions and get rid (Vote out) of PREDATORS like GADAFFI,MUGABE...

Thuli 11/5/2009 9:17:36 AM

.....I feel like saying SOUTH AFRICA is for SOUTH AFRICANS....Our Goverment has a lot to deal with,thers still Millions of S.A citizens that are in need....and with our neighbours dragging us down,that will be a mission impossible...

GeorGe 11/5/2009 9:17:44 AM

I think everybody is missing the whole problem saga at the church - blame must be put on this enept government who has opened its border to ea and every piece of trash - all in the name of other African countries having sheltered the freedom fighters who we now have as pathetic government employees/ministers who are ripping/stealing this country to the brink of bankruptcy !! So there! Next we'll have another xenophobic attack - no, we won't call it racist attacks because only white people are in that category? Right? Poliodonkey - what do you say to this??

POST MY COMMENTS PLEASE 11/5/2009 9:18:01 AM

Glock 22 11/5/2009 8:55:48 AM....I watched the article and I am in agreement with your comment that is exactly what these kids were saying. To Zizo in case you missed the documentary and quoting "Tuesday 3 November 2009, SABC 3, 21H30 The Special Assignment team spent time on the streets of Johannesburg speaking to child refugees. With the Zimbabwe economy in tatters, the stream of migrants coming over the Limpopo in search of a normal life continues. However a new phenomenon is that more and more children arrive in South Africa without an accompanying adult." these kids are coming into the country without adult supervision, have you looked at every robot, have you seen how many street kids are out there, again we ask "how much more do you want Bishop Verryn to do, he is already playing his part???????"

JaNee 11/5/2009 9:33:55 AM

Only 8 of our 52 border posts are manned. I feel it is better to control the influx of people and it will be cheaper to find a political solution (LOL) in their own countries. Our country are sucked try by the foreigners.

Kapstok 11/5/2009 9:35:56 AM

Easy, deport them - every last one! Only Zimbawians can save Zim, maybe it is time the 3 - 5 million Zimbos should go back to Zim and fight for their country instead of chillin at church camp in central Joburg.

Mtima 11/5/2009 9:45:14 AM

@Thuli true, SA belong to all SAfrican, what we are currently witnessing will result in another xenophobic attacks as the poor will always fight over those scarce available survival resources, watch this space...

@ Zizo 11/5/2009 9:50:59 AM

You supports mugabe , So you help these people. I dont support mugabe and what he is doing so I wont help these people. I hope this is an eye opener for you anc lovers.I dont see any anc comrade assiting any of he's african brothers. NO they leave it for the white man as always. Willem Griesel

JaNee 11/5/2009 10:32:51 AM

Too many holes in the dyke. No fingers to stop the influx. Good governance is the same as running a good business and the current government (business) cannot coupe. You need really dedicated and "flikse" officials.

Kapstok 11/5/2009 10:34:28 AM

Viva quite diplomacy, viva hunger, viva land redistribution, viva torture – well done ANC, not content steal and corrupt everything you can get your dirty little hands on you assisted in destroying an entire country.

Maybe for your next amazing act of supreme stupidity and mediocrity chief moron malema can destroy mining in SA.

Paul Bethke 11/5/2009 10:37:55 AM

The purpose of the Church is to call people to repent—that means to stop violating the laws of God.

This place seems to be a den of robbers.

Blessed are the pure in heart NOT the poor who steal and rape.

They are illegas breaking the law they must be removed it is a health hazard.

POST MY COMMENTS PLEASE 11/5/2009 10:40:03 AM

Next thing they will want to tax us further to feed these illegal immigrants.

"My assumption is that there is something to lose for the Bishop if he lets go. We need to accommodate these people before the big sporting event takes place next year." and put them where may we ask, South Africans are still waiting for houses to be built to accommodate them now you want the government to house these illegal immigrants before the 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And stop pushing the burden onto Bishop Verryn he has already done enough for these people what more do you want him to do, the same way the crawled under the fence should be the same way they return. Who is taking care of these children that have entered the country without adult supervision????

fedup 11/5/2009 10:41:43 AM

SOLUTION: SHUT DOWN THAT CHURCH AND SEND EVERY SINGLE ONF THEM HOME, GATHER THE ILLEGAL CHINESE AND WHITES WHILST THEIR AT IT!!!!! i still believe that theres something HUGE thats going with this Bishop that will come out very soon, theres some shady dealings going on here. and please spare me the whole divine crap about bishops cause we all know what they get up to with kids and nuns

Pangea 11/5/2009 11:32:11 AM

Speak to your government, they created this mess in the first place. This happens if you pop up a dictator and open your borders.

kolobe 11/5/2009 11:41:40 AM

that church must be moved to zim

blah 11/5/2009 11:47:40 AM

So how do you think giving illegal immigrants more free stuff is going to fix the overcrowding problem?

dhv 11/5/2009 11:52:46 AM

@ fedup - you want whites and chinese people to leave SA, then how would Africans beg for money from foreign countries? Sanctions against SA would destroy this country. You need us.

@kolobe 11/5/2009 12:08:01 PM

The church did not create the problem our government did, so why must the church be moved to Zim when the whole of Zim is in SA!!!!!!! Why dont we just move Zim here after all SA is a free for all country

BrEnt 11/5/2009 1:13:15 PM

The church isnt the time bomb. The country is a ticking time bomb with all the immagrants. This country's infrastructure cant support our own citizens yet we still let them in. We have all heard the term bottleneck. Xenophobic uprisings will happen again. Tick Tick! Somehow I also think there is a reason that the ANC opened the borders and its not out of goodwill to the Zims. Watch this space!

Jordan 11/5/2009 1:35:32 PM

There's no one in Zim to farm so there's no food...so there's no exports...so there's no money...same's gonna happen here, I guess.

NiCcI 11/5/2009 1:46:48 PM

@Zizo (AUTHOR) - Good grief. The one moment you literally praise our government and the next you want us to help them. If they want to allow the illegal immigrants into our country, then they can care for them without my help!!!

MACK 11/5/2009 2:56:12 PM

Zizo ,do you know the story of Frankenstein's monster ? go figure....

Jay 11/5/2009 3:18:00 PM

When I saw who the author was, I did not even bother to read and scrolled right down to add.
zizo, your political, racial drivel you spill on these forums does not warrant me to read you crap blog!!

Anti-Illegal Immigrants 11/6/2009 1:26:19 AM

I think these people should be rounded up and deported back their own countries. There are alot of South Africans living in poverty and are homeless etc. that the church can help if they really want to help the needy. South Africa for South Africans!

@zizo@everyone 11/6/2009 2:22:17 AM

Zizo is not what he seems. He will post incoherent comments only to fuel the anger we feel. He is not genuine in his comments. He wants us to believe he is something that he is not.

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Church a time bomb?

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