Mark Fish (soccer)-robbery
Eudy Simelane (soccer)-murdered
Vleis Visagie (rugby)-shot daughter after mistaking her for an intruder
Ryk Neethling (swimming)-robbery
Cameron van der Burgh (swimming)-robbery
Pat Symcox (cricket)-robbery
Ettiene Roets (cricket)-murdered
Andrew Hall (cricket)-shot during robbery
Louis Vorster (cricket)-murdered
Solly Tybillika (rugby)-murdered
Gerrie Germishuys (rugby)-shot during robbery
Jan Ellis (rugby)-shot during robbery
Richard Smith (boxing)-murdered
Mzukisi Sikali (boxing)-murdered
Chris Whiteboy (boxing)-murdered
Cassius Baloyi (boxing)-shot during robbery
Mpisekhaya Mbaduli (boxing)-murdered
Luvuyo Kazaka (boxing)-murdered
Khenja Tshabalala (boxing)-murdered
Corrie Sanders (boxing)-murdered
Karen Harmse (athletics)-shot during robbery
So that’s the tip of the iceberg. You, the South African public, represent the rest of the monolith. Your tragedies mostly go unnoticed, and many just have to keep going on despite having lost loved ones, or having been injured or maimed. I know that there are people out there who are decent and courageous, and try to make a difference in small ways. Their often random acts of kindness remain mostly undocumented. I experienced individual acts of generosity on visits to the Republic, and remember them because they were so rare. I’d like to mention those as real ambassadors for their country, not the imposters who cling to a delusion of mindless patriotism while they wave flags and spew hate.
The ambassadors did not belong to any particular group, nor did they actually achieve miracles. In many cases, they were simply doing their jobs with grace, dignity and compassion. This is the South Africa I would like to show the world! Alas, I am all too aware of how callous, indifferent and downright cruel so many folks are, especially to those less fortunate. This form of stupidity and low intelligence absolutely transcends the colour line, and was equally true under NP rule as it is under an ANC regime. Society must fundamentally change. It will not.
Today I would like to salute everyone who tried to do something good for their fellow human beings in South Africa, no matter how small. It might seem like the first part of this piece is unconnected to the second. Think about it though. No matter how big or small each of our lives are, we matter. And we matter especially when someone else shows us that humanity. If I may, can I also dedicate this to the innocent and the vulnerable in society, who suffer greatly from an injustice that they did not deserve. African Sky Blue, your children wait for the Dawn. All of them, white, brown and black.
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