Conflict and words leave mental scars on victims

ON JANUARY 4, 2016, Penny Sparrow, on Facebook, posted a remark about the state of Durban beaches with regards to black people’s behaviour.

She was convicted in an Umzinto Magistrate’s Court of criminal injuria, fined R5 000 and ordered to pay a further R150000 to the Adelaide and Oliver Tambo Foundation.

Times Live on August 7 last year reported that Mrs Sparrow’s daughter said her mother, with failing eyesight and deteriorating health, would probably die in hiding.

“Mom is in the twilight of her life and she can’t come home as she fears for her life (someone will take her out).” Her daughter can’t afford to put her mom in a home.

Mr Velaphi Khumalo, in January 2016, made remarks on Facebook calling on black people to do to the whites what Hitler did to the Jews.

Mr Khumalo was employed by the Gauteng Department of Sports. He was given a final written warning, ordered to make a public apology and to pay R30 000.

Major Mohlala of the SANDF was dismissed because of this statement on Facebook: “It’s now the white people’s turn.”

After the murder of Professor Kobus Naude, 76, the major stated that “he should have had his eyes and tongue cut out so that the faces of his attackers would be the last thing he would see”. During the same event, retired college Professor Braam van Wyk, 80, had his hands tied behind his back and was kicked in the face. Not a pretty sight.

Mrs Vicki Momberg was sentenced to an effective two years in prison for her racist tirade. On February 2016, Momberg was a victim of a smash and grab robbery. It is claimed she used the K-word 48 times. As a child I was taught “sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never hurt me”.

Now we have the biggest stirrer of the lot, Julius Malema, making remarks such as “not calling for killing of white people YET” but seeking the confiscation of land without compensation. He has now turned his attention to ethnic Asian South Africans.

Let us all bear in mind a tragic part of South Africa’s history, between January 13 and 15, 1949.

The Zulus attacked the Indian folk in Durban and the outcome was 87 African, 50 Indian, 1 White killed and 4 others whose identity could not be established, most probably burnt to death. Injured were 541 African, 503 Indian, 11 coloured, 32 white folk and of the injured 58 people died. Buildings destroyed were one factory, 58 stores, 247 dwellings. Buildings damaged were two factories, 652 stores and 1285 dwellings.

In closing, may I remind certain leaders it is easy to start a conflict but to stop it without leaving mental scars is very difficult.

Let us not forget the second Anglo-Boer war – October 11, 1899 to May 31, 1902 – which to this day leaves deep scars in South Africa between Afrikaans, English, black and white folks. CHARLES ROGERS

Montclair