Listening to statements such as, “If those receiving grants vote for the opposition are stealing from the government,” or “Nkandla articles: White people’s lies,” I cannot help but think about the danger of blacks being bitter about white people.
While black people do not seek to oppress a black man in any way, he seeks revenge because of the bitterness based on what happened in the past. According to him, a white man is still racist – he is still the oppressor. To realise this fact 20 years later, is painful to write about. However, this is where we are.
It is inexcusable to accept oppression by a black man while pointing fingers at a white man. Although life has improved since 1994, we cannot accept the government ‘taking’ money which was allocated for service delivery to build a house for the president.
A piece by Tshepiso Msimanga, ‘Vuka mntu o mnyama Vuka (wake up black man, wake up)’ highlighted how a black man is blinded by the past. This piece reads, “Vuka mntu o mnyama Vuka, when you are still finding yourself living in a shack after registering for an RDP house over 12 years ago and it’s still a pipe dream.
“This while officials who are cadres own two or three of the houses you were supposed to be occupying.”
To the black man I say, do not be blinded by the darkness of the past while a future filled with possibility waits. Oppression does not have colour, whether you are oppressed by a white man or black man, it makes no difference… your right to dignity is taken away.
We need to realise, Tata Madiba did not seek revenge; instead he reached out to the same government which kept him in prison for 27 years. He chose to forgive, and not just preach forgiveness because it was nice a speech… His actions are what we should aspire to do on a daily basis.
“Vuka mntu o mnyama Vuka when you find yourself living in a shack, while the President spends a quarter of a billion rands of taxpayers money on his private residence.”
This previous statement should help a black man realise, oppression is oppression, do not be blinded by colour… rather listen to a voice of reason and realise the future South Africa… a future filled with possibility.
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