Respect for elderly and ubuntu is still alive in East London
MY MOTHER, Joan Sparg, is nearly 78 and struggles to walk or stand without her walker. This does not deter her from getting on with things. She was at Tecoma Post Office (everyone ALWAYS whines about the poor Post Office) but she had a fabulous experience of efficiency, humanity and respect for the elderly. I think it’s worth sharing. See below — Kim van Kets
“I VISITED Tecoma Post Office on April 13 to post a parcel to a friend overseas. The three tellers were all busy and there was a short queue so I seated myself (gratefully) on a chair to await my turn. Soon the gentleman teller (and I use the term deliberately) appeared to be free as his customer had departed. I went forward and he very politely asked me to wait a few moments longer as he was still processing documents. Just then the next teller became free and a young woman standing behind me went forward.
My gentleman teller called to his newly free colleague asking her to assist me first as I was first in the queue and he could clearly see I was battling to stand. The lady teller immediately attended to me with great efficiency and patience. I asked him a number of questions about costs and various options for sending a parcel abroad.
The young woman in the queue behind me was obviously annoyed and displeased that I had been helped ahead of her and her bad attitude was noticed by all three tellers.
When she left the tellers all commented disapprovingly to each other about her bad attitude and lack of courtesy or respect for the elderly. None of the tellers knew that I understood their Xhosa discussion perfectly, having grown up in the rural areas.
I left the Post Office feeling encouraged and uplifted, not because justice was done or because I saved a few minutes of my time or even because of the wonderful efficiency of the tellers, but because humanity, kindness and ubuntu are alive and well at Tecoma Post Office. And if it's alive and well there, it’s alive and well elsewhere in East London and South Africa. — Joan Sparg, Berea Gardens, East London
A galling attitude
I AM surprised by the muted public response to your report on the alleged cowardly and sadistic assaults on Hope Shepherd. That a frail and defenceless woman appears to have been systematically subjected to such inhumane treatment makes the blood boil.
What is particularly galling is that, although she seems to have suffered repeated injuries over a period of time, the management of the Lily Kirchmann Complex blithely accepted that these were entirely accidental. If the family were sufficiently alarmed so as to install a hidden camera, why did the management not show the same concern? One wonders how many other “accidental injuries” have occurred. — Derrick Fellows, Port Alfred
Don’t distort history
IT IS curious that in the programme of Xhosa coronation there are lectures for Phalo and Tshiwo but none for Tshawe, founder of the royal lineage.
Even the Nhlapo commission confirmed him.
Tshiwo’s mother was Sizakwana and his father not known; and Phalo, son of Libela, of amaLeta clan, not Tshawe.
The two imposters were vigorously promoted by colonial and apartheid regimes totally distorting Xhosa history.
There was at no stage an amalgamation of the clans of amaGcaleka with amaTshawe.
Why do they pretend to be amaTshawe? Who promoted them – Mdange who installed Phalo was no king.
Reporting on the memorial service of Xolilizwe, in January 2006, your reporter Lulamile Feni, claimed “Sigcawu, was the direct descendant of king Xhosa”.
This was pure propaganda and astonishing – where did he get his facts?
We know Xolilizwe was not even a descendant of his predecessor Zwelidumile, hence the embarrassing public protestation by NomaXhosa, Zwelidumile’s daughter.
The nation of Xhosa is being held to ransom by these illegal imposters who were appointed to bolster apartheid policy of separate development.
The democratic government should not countenance distortion of history of over 15 million Xhosas under their watch. — Mthobeli Balfour, via e-mail
Unions should help
ONE of our greatest challenges in the developing world is a lack of decent housing. Yet the lack of affordable housing is beginning to take a toll in the political and social landscapes in Britain and Australia too.
South Africa's housing prices are also becoming virtually extortionate. It is increasingly a global trend that new job market entrants find it harder and harder to afford rent or purchase a house.
As time passes it is becoming clearer that housing is not homely in this world of ours. We need to change the way we do things by making housing more affordable for those people who work hard.
Given that South Africa is heavily unionised workers' unions might be able to help organise for a more equitable housing policy. — Sonwabo Mazinyo, via e-mail
Africa’s irony
THE repeated drownings in the Mediterranean [of refugees fleeing Libya and Eritrea] refer.
The African way is to vote for a party which is devoid of white males, which practices socialism, is corrupt and steals and wastes billions.
Then when the system collapses, they pay smugglers $3 000 (R36 000) to escape by boat to capitalist Europe – which is run by white males. — Naushad Omar, East London
NOTE TO WRITERS