Since the beginning of the year, we have seen more rhino killed than days gone past, in fact nearly 2 a day.
Close on 2 600 people were murdered, which means there were probably 2 500 murderers added to the 150 000 odd, pool created during the past 10 years.
Around 22 000 women were raped, if popular statistics are to be believed. Probably 1 800 people were killed on our roads.
The odd R100 000 000, or more, was stolen or defrauded, countless cars were boosted, ditto for other items of value. It is unknown how many children and woman were beaten, how many people were assaulted by the police, how many teaching days were lost and how many millions of Rand down the drain as a result of train accidents.
The Lala Lulu sound bit placed the cherry on the cake and is a fair reflection of total ineptitude and ineffectiveness of government. Joining the hallelujah chorus in condemning OP, screaming about gender inequality, making speeches about murder violence and rape mean nothing when the jails are full, so the courts and no example are set by government.
Despite all positive sentiments expressed and the call to stop this and start that and working together and ubuntu and Kumbaya and laying on hands and apologies, precisely what has changed for the better during the post 10 years? A football game or two that left a legacy of fraud and debt?
The economic growth is half of what is required, thus all the salvation and largesse dispensed by our Lord and Saviour Zuma in terms of housing, water, electricity, social grants et al, buys votes, but not a job, a full stomach, health, wealth or happiness. Or even the pursuit thereof.
When a culture of entitlement is fuelled by anger, boredom, a feeling of no self worth, seeing others enriched and having to live for years on empty promises, without the government listening, then something has got to break.
As much as one abhors violence, mayhem, lawlessness, burning and looting, this feeling of revulsion is slowly, but surely, day by day, replaced with sympathy for the mother who has a chronically sick child as a result of a polluted water supply, and who takes the law in her own hands. For a protesting gogo that sees her grandchildren murdered, getting addicted, become pregnant, loitering around and joining gangs because they are not gainfully employed. For a 57 year old white man, together with a 22 year old black youth begging at a robot, both feeling the same chagrin when seeing arrogant waBenzi driving past.
We live in a world where instant gratification is not quick enough. Where FB, Twitter and Mxit keeps us in touch with friends and relatives across the country, but it takes forever to get to work, to school and usually in an unsafe manner. We are in a world where the population is exposed to progressive thinking and ideas via TV, Internet and other systems like social grant dispensing machines. But in contrast, rural dwellers are confused by leaders playing on their dark fears of ancestor wrath, not going to heaven and returning to the “African way.”
Confusion and fear generates anger, paving the way that the time has come to realize that the gravy train goes in circles. It is visible daily, and the way to stop people getting on is not to supply tickets to a selected few. The way to halt it is to put the brakes on and then dismantle it. The alternative is a derailment.
In fact, the question posed now, is exactly what we were faced with during apartheid. When is enough enough, and what is justified to make enough enough? When and what will it take for the government to start listening? How long before fear and ignorance stops buying votes?
Personally, I will not criticise again when images of burning, looting and chanting are shown in the media, and the odd stone come flying past.......
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