Another winter of shame in South Africa

Published on News24

I hate winter in South Africa! In the last winter, South Africa covered itself in shame. Foreign Africans ran for dear life, the barbarians that reside in the south had decided that they had no place at the southern tip of Africa. It was a winter of shame, the whole world watched as we mauled them like animals, stole from them and set them alight. The winter mornings of that year were dominated by hatred and confusion, how quickly had the children of Mandela turned into monsters, unbelief!

Politicians cried third force, the head of the state equivocated, what had just happened was just too much to bear. However, the emotional outpour grew in leaps and bounds as some were touched and quickened to action, signalling hope. Some South Africans sought to project another image, a brighter side of the rainbow. Surely, we are a better people than that they said. Temporary shelters were erected, food parcels were dispatched. The winter sunset drew down the curtain to this episode. But South Africans had indeed discovered their darker selves, but we sought to move on, never again!

Just over a year later, another winter season has come upon us; the demon of hatred has once again reared its ugly head. Once again, the barbarians have returned to their favourite pastime, lynching the foreigners. As the cold winter season blows its chilly winds, South Africans have shot to the international headlines, Xenophobia attacks have flared up in South African townships. This time, the new guy in charge is firmer, he steers away from the third force rhetoric; he condemns the new attacks without reservation. However, like his predecessor he fails to tackles the evil source that gives life to the demonic monster, poor services delivery or should we say failed service delivery.

It is another dark winter season, but South Africa is getting used to it. This is our forte, we will simply brush it under the carpet yet again; we will quickly forget that it has come to life in two consecutive winters. You see, talking about the failing service delivery could unravel some inconvenient truths about the failures of those who rule, it could threaten the livelihood of those elites that continue to flourish, and it could force us to look into the mirror, it is too much a thought to bear. We will rather not confront the reality that those that we have overwhelmingly voted into power for the past decade and half are perhaps the ones lie at the centre of our self-hatred. Let sleeping dog lie! A nation on cowards I say.

But we have a short collective vision; surely winter is bound to come again! We forget that at the next winter, we will be the centre of the universe; the game of billions will be played in this part of Africa! When the monster rears its ugly head again, it will be the chilliest winters of all. Perhaps then South Africa will be forced to talk to itself; maybe the damaging service delivery protests will achieve their maximum impact, the world will be at our gates! I wish those in power had an ear, all those protesting are simply begging to be heard. Beware, they will not be shy to embarrass the rest of the country if that is what it takes to be heard, to see change they have been promised. Winter is a terrible time in South Africa.