SA a shadow of former Struggle dream

As a concerned South African, my conscience always tells me that our country is unsettled, and as I start looking around many questions come to mind.

Many times I ask myself what would happen if our Struggle heroes and heroines were to rise from the dead and see what is happening. They will be confronted with South Africans whose minds are conquered, captured, indoctrinated and ravaged with a syndrome of entitlement. SA is flooded with drugs, the killing of women and children, and comrades who were staunch supporters of the liberation struggle have turned the daggers against their former comrades. They will see children who are not taking education seriously, who are not respecting their elders or their biological parents.

They will be confronted with young men and women who have no interest in, nor love for their country.

South Africans are at war with themselves – the tragedy is that there is a loss of self-pride. The question remains: have we really lost our human dignity? It took decades to topple the evil apartheid system. However, instead of together as equals taking this beautiful country forward, we are fighting the politics of hungry stomachs, whereby comrades burn the house to kill a mouse. We have the politics of self-enrichment, tenderpreneurship, and a fragmented educational system. All I can ask is, may we please rise up and reclaim our dignity and our pride. May we please once again put more focus on the aspirations of the poorest of the poor, and be truthful to ourselves. The road towards total freedom is far from over as many comrades have paid the supreme price. Freedom was not free. Mayibuye iAfrica, Mayibuye ...

Sello Stephen Mapeka, Witsieshoek