Where is the outrage over Khosa’s death?
IT’S a funny world we live in, what with the outrage expressed by many at the death of George Floyd in the US.
The rioting in Manhattan with most of the shop windows having been boarded up after having been damaged etc, the jibes issued to President Donald Trump and his administration – this incident was by local police in Minnesota and not by any federal police force.
Yet, we now hear the call for this South African government to also state its outrage at Floyd’s death. Wow, some cheek we have!
On the flip side of the coin is our own scenario where recently we had the death of Collins Khosa allegedly caused by the SANDF and not the local police, which then makes it the direct responsibility of the Minister of Defence and the president of this country who have ultimate control of the troops. Remember we also have the outstanding issue of Marikana where no one has yet been charged and gone to jail for the many murders there!
If black lives matter, can someone please explain to the people of South Africa why no one has been jailed for the murder of all those killed at Marikana?
The same question should apply to those responsible for Khosa’s death.
Did the minister of defence clearly lay out to her general in charge what the army could and could not do and to what extent strong-arm tactics were to be used?
If this was done, then charge those responsible for murder just like the call being made against the police in Minnesota.
If she did not detail orders to her generals, then she should be charged and fired.
All those having a hand in Khosa’s death need to be tried in a court of law for murder, and go to jail.
The president in this case as commander-in-chief is ultimately responsible. In fact, this was a government department in control here not a local police force as in the US. The perpetrators involved here should be sued for millions.
Now people, where is all the outrage against Khosa’s death? Why has the black community in particular in South Africa gone all quiet? Yet they now want our government to express outrage to the USA’s government. Why are the Marikana deaths no longer news and how many of those involved are serving time for murder?
We seem to forget that our own country’s track record is nothing to be proud of, considering the Marikana deaths, the corruption by officials in our own government coupled with the theft of state assets.
The above scenario reminds one of the expression “those living in glass houses should never throw stones” – our government is in no position to throw stones.
GLEN CHRISTIE | Durban North