Lest we forget the brutal atrocities of the apartheid era
THE painful revelations at the Imam Haron inquest are a solemn and painful reminder of the brutal atrocities of the previous rulers.
The testimony of apartheid era police officers is a litany of lies that history has torn to shreds.
We as a nation must remember him for his dedication to free South Africa of oppression and express our admiration and the deepest respect for his courage and steadfastness to give his life for the cause of righteousness, justice and equity.
His death will serve to remind generations of our countrymen of a generous and fearless personality, and of a life of nobility and patriotism, service and sacrifice.
Those who hounded and killed him have changed the course of South Africa.
What they will probably get is his near deification in the hallowed halls of martyrdom and the certainty that he will be an even greater political icon in death than he was in life.
He was a true patriot.
Only by connecting with our past can we understand why we are on the course we are on.
Only by refreshing our patriotism and staying vigilant can we keep our country on this course.
Only by understanding what we have, why we have it, why so many sacrificed their lives, and what responsibilities came with it, can we ensure we will serve them, ourselves, and our children.
We will remember Imam Haron for his contribution to the very institutions of our democracy which we inhabit every day.
The legacy of our quest for freedom is inscribed in our history in the blood of our heroes, like Imam Haron. FAROUK ARAIE | Gauteng