There is, indeed, no limit to how far some people will go to get what they want in life. Whether it’s a job, a dream- home or even wealth. They just go for it.
As an ardent reader, I’ve read many inspiring stories of people who have triumphed over difficult circumstances to become what they have always wanted to be.
One such story is that of Soweto entrapaneur and property developer Richard Maponya. Maponya went from eking out a living as a stock taker at a clothing maker to owning a mall and a string of other bussineses.
Considering that he started his businesses at the height of the apartheid rule, it’s obvious that it wasn’t easy for him. But, he persevered and never gave up on his dream.
People like Maponya inspire some of us to never give up on our dreams. They make us believe as cliché goes, that “nothing is impossible”. They are a living proof that hard work does pay.
But be that as it may be, the culture of taking short cuts to get ahead prevails in our society. Ours is fast becoming a “get rich quick” society, where most people seem to aspire to be overnight millionaires.
It is really no wonder that bogus prophets and traditional healers outnumber the upright ones in our communities. In us they have a niche market. Our laziness, ignorance and naivety helps put food on their tables. Our society has become their play ground.
I would like to believe that we have all, at least once, read or heard a story about someone who fell victim of a con artist.
The story of a Grahamstown man who was conned out of thousands of rand by a bogus prophet fits perfectly well into this category. The bogus prophet promised to make this poor family man rich. Overly excited by the thought of becoming a millionaire, he gave the bogus prophet all the money he had. The prophet vanished with his money, living him broke, depressed and suicidal.
These are the sad stories of the kind of society that we have become. A society which no longer believes in hard work and perseverance. A society of “get rich quick schemes”, fake prophets and coach potatoes who aspire to be overnight millionaires without raising a finger.
It is a known fact that millions of South Africans live below the bread line, and that the unemployment rate has reached a crisis level. But, is this a good enough reason for our society glorify laziness and ignorance? I don’t think so.
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