Getting put in the box, not only limits an individual’s action but also paints them with the same brush as those who define the box. It’s a gripe highlighted in an email sent by a member of the Biznews community who wishes to remain anonymous. The email seeks an alternative discourse, that may need to be introduced forcefully, so that there’s a better understanding of the situation South Africa finds itself in. Words, most of South Africa may take to heart as the select few enrich themselves, while the masses are bypassed. – Stuart Lowman
From a Biznews community member who wishes to remain anonymous
The mainstream media directs our narratives, with many of us simply gasping at the regular onslaughts of the politically-driven agendas. Responding consumes our energy. But, I have been wondering if it is time for South Africans to be more proactive in more forcefully introducing alternative discourses. I believe that white South Africans have been disempowered in protecting ourselves as we feel guilt and shame about a past that many of us fought against (I certainly did during my teenage, student and other years of my life). The first democratic elections were enabled, so to speak, by the whites first having voted for democracy before the first truly democratic elections took place.
Further examples that upset me include: I have never stolen land and generations of my family have worked long and hard to purchase land, build houses, and gather resources (albeit from privileged backgrounds and circumstances). The ‘K word’ is abhorrent to all of us for very good reason: the word Mlungu is also abhorrent – to be referred to as the ‘scum of the ocean’ is unacceptable, but I never hear outcries about this. A sense of entitlement or demand were severely punished during my childhood. I worked two jobs while studying and had to take public transport and walk long distances to get to campus. From having grown up in a home where my parents worked hard and hardly ever took a day off, I grew to know about standard work ethics – I believe that this was one of the most important values that they taught me.
As a ‘lefty’ in the past, I am not unaware and am sympathetic to the harsh and dreadful circumstances that many people endure. When I think of Nkandla, all I can think of is the number of children requiring special educational facilities who are being deprived of basic rights. I do not think anyone wants a president to have no home, but it is the amount spent that needs to be forefronted, not so much the fact that he got a house. When I think of corruption and tenderpreneurs, I see the schools that do not yet have basic services or teachers in class on time, prepared to give interesting lessons. As an educated woman I do not really know what a million is, never mind hundreds of million. These quantities need to be converted to number of services that have been denied so as to enrich an individual/s.
