ARE WE BETTER OFF OR NOT?

September 7 marks the 30th anniversary of the Bhisho massacre. For the benefit of those who do not know much about it, this took place on the road between Qonce and Bhisho, when 29 people were shot dead by the Ciskei soldiers under Brigadier Oupa Gqozo.

People lost their loved ones that day and many still carry both physical and emotional scars from that massacre, and many others.

Growing up in the 70s and 80s, we knew many stories of activists dying under mysterious circumstances and yet no-one “was to blame”, as the apartheid government used to say.

The Sanlam building in Gqeberha was notorious for this, activists would “jump” to their death there on a regular basis and some would succumb to their injuries from the torture they endured from the Security Branch. blame Yet the”official , as if those verdict people would simply be “no beat one is to themselves to death. Many families still do not know what happened to their loved ones who disappeared or died in mysterious circumstances during the apartheid years.

November 17 1985 holds a very significant and painful place in the history of Komani and its surrounding towns. This is the day the apartheid police opened fire on residents who had a meeting at Nonzwakazi Church in Mlungisi. When the dust had settled, 14 people lay dead, about 22 were injured and scores of others traumatised. These painful events highlight the fact that the democracy we are enjoying today did not come easily and peacefully. Blood was shed, lives were lost and others ruined. Judging by where we are today as a community, as a country and as a people, have we honoured those who fell and those who sacrificed their youth and their lives for this freedom by improving the lives of the oppressed and down trodden?

Do those in power care enough to bother themselves to do so? Do they stay awake at night trying to solve the many problems afflicting the poor of this country? Have they, tragically, gone numb and simply decided to pretend not to see the plight of the millions who put them in power?

Do they even think this is a priority or have some other concerns taken over their consciences and they are too busy with those, instead?

Has our democracy given birth to ravenous hyenas who only care about feeding on the carcass of what is left of South African society? I cannot answer those question but you and your fellow citizens can. All you have to do is to look around you and see whether there is a gap between what things could be and what they are.

How big is that gap and do you see any attempt by those in a position to do so to close that gap? In 2021 we had an opportunity to elect leaders and we did, so how is this going?

Did we vote in a way that benefits us now? Are you happy with your choice? In 2024 we will be given another opportunity to vote, but that is a topic for another day.