We should be worried

I had to read The Times’ story three times and share it with my sister in order to digest and comprehend what I was reading.

The little boy’s name was Nqobile Majozi.

His mother, who was supposed to care for him, has given unsatisfactory explanations as to how Nqobile was killed.

But from the reading reports, two conclusions cross my mind:

n His mother was one of the looters in shop.

n A group of looters ran out of the shop, chased Nqobile’s mother and she fell on him.

The former sounds more believable to me.

She was there in the midst of it all when her baby was killed.

What these horrible incidents highlight is the concerning moral disregard for life that many seem to have shown.

What also disturbed me is hearing some psychology experts state that these acts highlight the high unemployment and poverty rate which many experience.

But I do not agree.

Those people who looted the shops cared only about getting their slice of the criminal pie.

I believe our society is decaying and many innocent people are victims in these circumstances.

We should be worried about the police who do not do their jobs in such circumstances, and we should be worried about the many innocent lives that are left in shambles because of the looting.

Justice Malala wrote a strong and emotional piece in The Times on Monday, and I would like to quote a few words from him.

“My first visit to Soweto was in the morning.

“I went back at about 6.30pm as the sun set over Soweto.

“My grandmother’s neighbours milled about their usual activities.

“It reminded me of something that gave me hope: we are not like the looters.

“We are a decent people, a peaceful people who carry the spirit of Ubuntu within us.

“We must not allow the looters to overwhelm and define us,” wrote Malala.