I have never been one to believe in “King and Country,” or “Volk en Vaderland,” or “A Better Life for All,” or such nonsense. Brainwashing doesn’t “take” on me.
At the memorial service of Mozambican Emmanuel Sithole (aka Josias), who was viciously murdered in the xenophobic violence, Graça Machel said: “Today I want to make it clear and loud. I am a South African. I am a Mozambican, Zambian, Zimbabwean, Malawian; I’m Swazi, Sotho, and Tswana.”
To which I say: “Poppycock!” (I would have said: “Bullshit,” Sakkie, but decorum prevents me from doing so.)
Personally, I don’t care what nationality ANYONE is “clear and loud” about. You could be a member of the Korowai of Papua, Indonesia, or one of the Mashco-Piro tribe from the arse end of nowhere – I don’t care.
What I do care about, is how you conduct yourself in your home, community, and the country of your birth.
I grew up in a home where we, as children, were fed copious amounts of morality, integrity, discipline, consideration, respect, and trust. And lots of love.
We were never told that we were “South African,” or “African,” or “Mozambican, Zambian, Zimbabwean, Malawian, Swazi, Sotho, or Tswana.”
We were simply told that we were humans.
But here’s the catch: What we were told, was that we were “civilised” humans – something that has obviously NEVER been explained to the rioting, looting, burning, destroying, murdering, xenophobic savages who roam the streets of this godforsaken country.
What I find truly amazing, is how anyone, who has gone on a rampage down the streets of our townships or cities – burning, looting, and destroying – can expect me to respect them as fellow human beings, the following day.
I do not wish to be associated with these riotous, undisciplined, uncivilised, uneducated, dregs of society. Graça Machel is welcome to them. They are her people. They certainly do not make me proud to live in this country. Or to call them “compatriots.”
I wish to state catta-gorrie-cally that I distance myself from these South Africans (or Mozambicans, Zambians, Zimbabweans, Malawians, Swazis, Sothos, or Tswanas, or whatever).
I am not one of them.
I am civilised. A civilised human being. One who doesn’t throw poo at poor defenceless statues.
That’s all.