A storm of biblical proportions
TO THE BackChatter NM, Westville, who praised the ‘virtues’ of Colonialism but left out the vices, let’s remind you that civilisation would have existed in South Africa and progressed with or without the British empire.
China is a world super power without the British.
Germany progressed without the British.
Seoul progressed without the British.
Japan progressed without the British.
Singapore progressed after the British left.
In China, English means zero to the one billion-plus people.
Colonialism brought nothing less than misery to Africa, India and China (remember how the British flooded China with opium to trade for their tea, and the Opium Wars?). Is this progress? Remember how Africans were mowed down with the Gatling Gun in the wars in Africa?
And yet Helen Zille has the audacity to say that the holocaust is different to Colonialism.
Sasol, freeways, Adidas/ Puma, Volkswagen, Hugo Boss were all products of the Nazi era.
Has anyone ever praised Hitler, the barbaric murderer, for this?
What about the Anglo Boer wars and scorched earth and concentration camps?
Colonialism did not deliver democracy to South Africa, but it took an Afrikaner, FW de Klerk, who had the wisdom and common sense after his back was against the wall.
Colonialism only served a narrow elite of people who could not find employment in their countries and went to the colonies to exploit, amass and plunder with no consequences or thought for the local inhabitants.
It took centuries and massive political uprisings to get the freedom and equality we all enjoy today. MUHAMMAD OMAR
Durban North MOTHER Nature did a complete somersault, unleashing all her fury on the Cape.
Just a few days ago the Cape was in the grip of a crippling drought. It cried out for rain as the rivers and dams dried up, bringing it to its knees.
Now gale- force winds, thunder and lightning, heavy downpours, snow and freezing temperatures have wreaked havoc, bringing death and destruction to the province (Mop up after storms lash coast, Daily News, June 8).
Not far from the Mother City, raging fires fuelled by strong winds closed the N2, engulfed the picturesque town of Knysna, gutted homes and killed four people, including a family of three. How mad can the weather be?
As always, it’s the poor who bear the brunt of these storms. In summer they lose their meagre possessions as fires raze their shacks to the ground; in winter they get flooded out. Life can be harsh to the poor.
It’s at times like these that people open their hearts to the destitute.
The Cape Town municipality, Brand SA and NGOs such as Gift of the Givers are providing food and shelter to the storm victims.
But where are the big politicians who like to make their appearance felt at funerals?
You think they would leave the comfort of their mansions, get into their luxury vehicles and squelch about in the storm-ravaged areas?
Or would they part with fat pay cheques and hand out a donation to the needy and homeless? Not a hope.
The Cape is truly living up to its notorious name, dreaded by sailors of bygone times, as the Cape of Storms.
But I wonder if it is not suffering the same fate as Sodom and Gomorrah in biblical times when the Heavens rained down fire and brimstone for their sinful ways. T MARKANDAN
Silverglen