SA owes ancient people chance of a better future
IN THE 20 years of our democracy and freedom, there are many issues still be to be resolved – and the isolation of the Khoisan people is one that must be attended to by our government. It is terrible that these ancient people of our nation have not been in the plan or on top of the government agenda. They have not been liberated, empowered and built proper housing, or health and educational facilities in their rural communities.
There is enormous dissimilarity between them and our people in our townships, villages and suburbs. They live in atrocious conditions in the bush. Their children grow up less skilled than ours. They won’t fit into our hi-tech society. They will be in the dark like their ancestors, who we always ignored.
The Khoisan have an astonishing knowledge of African healing. They have powerful organic medicine which I believe, if well researched, can heal many diseases that Western methods can’t cure, and this can have a positive impact on our economy.
I know that they are very traditional and very proud of their roots and I am not saying, let us change their ways. But they must be engaged and consulted. I want them to enjoy the fruits of our freedom – they deserve it.
I have a dream and it could be possible – a vision of a Khoisan president, minister or a notable leader in an influential field. But that won’t happen if we don’t unleash their talents. Africa belongs to all who live in it, so our resources must be enjoyed by all. — Lonwabo Busakwe, via e-mail historic transfer of wealth from the public to the rapacious bankers. You have exhibited cold indifference, save for empty rhetorical platitudes, to the most serious job crisis since the depression, which has devastated especially African-American communities, and left millions destitute.
Please explain in your speech to the young people at the University of Johannesburg the rationale for a former teacher of law to grant himself the right to secretly kill his own citizens and anyone else the corporate-industrial police state deems a “terrorist”, and express some remorse for the thousands of women and children that you have killed and injured in drone strikes.
You’ve continued aiding and abetting the Zionist enterprise against the Palestinians, helping Israel.
You, the son of a Kenyan father, are no different from the bantustan leaders we had in SA, and no amount of lyrical gymnastics will change the facts of your presidency. — Andile Lungisa, president, Pan African Youth Union
INSTEAD of giving Obama the cold shoulder, South Africans need to join President Jacob Zuma in his call to warmly welcome him. Many people tend to take advantage of our past political struggle to pursue their own interests. For example, we are quite aware of the challenges and adversity facing the people of Palestine, but our solidarity with Palestinians should have bounds and limits. It must not destabilise and compromise our already fragile economy. Whether we like or not, SA does need America.
If the conveners of the Obama demonstrations were genuine in their claims of aligning themselves with oppressed people, they should have raised their voices when Christians were being slaughtered in South Sudan and Darfur but the thunder of noise then was very silent. SA, being a predominantly Christian country, needs to have a clear identity and understand issues affecting its people. Christians in particular should disassociate themselves from the planned demonstrations. — Sikhanyiso Tonise, Port St Johns