After 20 years of the ANC making sure the education system is dysfunctional, it is now reported that the graduation ratio of Black to White is 1:1. Big deal.
[As an aside: For the benefit of this equation, what Coloured, Chinese, Indian and People of any other shades were classified as, is unknown. It is also unknown how it is determined what the exact colour of a student is. Secret pencil tests at schools? Clandestine governmental testing of DNA? -Hallo class, today we will demonstrate an alternative use for ear buds? Classification based on parental colouring? –Your daddy is eggshell white and your mommy is sort of sensuous chocolate, so you must be... uhm, nearly coloured.
This issue is now even more ridiculous than during apartheid; and will have worse consequences!
Fact is that most of today’s youth are exposed to people of other shades of pigmentation. That was one the purposes of the struggle, was it not?]
Theoretically, anyone in South Africa, under 30 years of age should not have been exposed to hardcore Apartheid. (Leave the ‘legacy of apartheid’ theme to the blame throwers, for the moment). The memories of apartheid are kept alive as much as possible to serve political purposes.
+/-34% of the population is unemployed. (OK well, you pick any number between 25 and 50, if you like). There are obviously unemployed graduates as well.
The size and racial makeup of the criminal element of the population is unknown, but it is a fact that murder, rape, robbery and any other crime that you can think of, are rife. Hunger is touted as the base reason, but idleness, laziness and greed sounds like players as well.
For the youth of today, (defined as under 36 in SA, and making up the largest percentage of the groups described above), instant gratification is way too slow and needs a bit of prompting. For some, gaining quick, urgent attention of a grievance is resorting to the old and trusted time-honoured march, with attendant looting, plundering, stoning and the odd fire or two.
The lifestyle of the government of today however, equates to the worst sins of apartheid. This cannot be hidden forever. Nor can promises made and aspirations kindled be hushed, or suppressed. Mama Pandora’s warehouse is full of boxes, all on special. They have reached their due by date and are so keen to go, they are opening themselves!
Some of the population that soubriquet these people as barbaric or filth, are the same ones that condemn the ANC/Government. On the other hand the ANC set these traditions of mayhem as a manner of communicating and making a point. They refined it to an art with their tyres and their matches.
Should one be surprised then when the population is chastised for not remembering their roots, they remember only 30%, (defined as a pass rate)? And that these are examples as set in the past, like the protest march and the “non-member” violence? What other methods should these people use when authorities do not listen, or are too ignorant or uneducated or fabricate asinine reasons, not to listen?
Remember about 16 years ago? Sarafina and R14 million spent? Where is the ex minister today? (Google it). Who can remember that fiasco?
But the immediate anger sparked by hunger and poverty does not care about dancing instead of having it off with someone. That comes later when the adrenaline is gone and the testosterone is still high. Besides dancing is part of the bloody march anyhow. And is the purpose not to screw the oppressor or the rich or the whoever or whatever the march is against?
The remake of the 1976 reality show has been launched and the ANC would be wise to start working at making this country work, rather than looking back, (instead of at the entertainment), and being amazed about their achievements. (Well perhaps they should, seeing there are so few achievements.)
Rubber bullets, water cannon and see-thru shields vs. detention without trial, sharp ammunition, censorship, search without warrants, curfews and a state of emergency? The former appears ineffective and the latter did not work either.
Anyone for honesty, transparency, effectiveness, skills, non-racial laws, less bling with more begin (and finish) and doing the right thing? Sitting in a circle reciting Kumbaya, standing together, being loud and proud, handing out food parcels, making patriotic speeches and telling the world all is A-OK while ministers are threatening businessmen, will not save us from ourselves. (Nor the Rand from doing Zim-Dollar imitations).
Perhaps governance as envisioned in ’94? As an alternative to the present?.......
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