Students abuse rights bequeathed them

AS SOMEONE who has more than a tinge of empathy for the Fallists, allow me to add my two cents worth.

I am a 40-year-old citizen. The year was 1990, apartheid oppression was at its peak. I had never met, seen or heard of a certain Nelson Mandela, yet I was willing to fight, to die if needs be, for a cause worth sacrificing for.

We marched, as you do today. But our fight was never against civilians, not even white people, who owed their privilege to the robbery of our ancestors.

When we were beaten on our backs, we regarded it as a badge of honour. I still have the scars.

Burning cars and places of learning does not make you or anyone an activist. You, my country’s future, have become criminals.

I do agree, fees must fall, just not yet. But do you want a free tertiary pass while young black children still have to regard a tree’s shade as a classroom? Would you rob Peter to pay Paul? Eventually South Africans will overcome the inequalities forced upon us. You may not benefit from this, but I have accepted my generation won’t either.

We need to euthanise this culture of entitlement. We need to do it now.

Thousands like me were willing to sacrifice anything to ensure your rights, your freedom. We did not envisage the mob you have become.

We built this young democracy on sacrifice and courage. We had to, for we had little else.

The opportunities you have are much greater than we had, so use it, don’t burn it.

Good luck, your country needs you.