For once, take responsibility
When an atrocity happens on South African soil, on local streets, why do we point fingers at our neighbours?
DIPLOMACY, a word meaning, among others, the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the journey.
It is one of the top requirements of a head of state. It is also the means by which countries manage international relations, that’s why we have diplomats.
Unfortunately our head of state appears to ignore the niceties of appeasement and the art of being diplomatic.
In the aftermath of one of the most shameful episodes in post-apartheid South Africa, almost on a par with Marikana, the president of South Africa chose Freedom Day to lay part of the blame for the appalling violence perpetuated against migrants at the door of the victims’ home countries.
Speaking at the official celebration of 21 years of democracy in South Africa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Zuma asked what had prompted migrants to come to South Africa in the first place.
Claiming that South Africa was a safer country than those of our neighbours, Zuma was reported to have said: “As much as we have a problem, alleged to be xenophobic, our brother countries contribute to this.” He added that the governments of our neighbours needed to ask themselves why their citizens were running away. Running to a safer country ( where some of them have been burnt to death.)
Zuma’s claims came after a diplomatic furore which followed Nigeria withdrawing its envoys from South Africa in the wake of the violence and the killings.
Perhaps it is time to call Mac back from retirement or forbid the president from going off script and putting his foot in his mouth – again. People have died in our country, killed by South Africans on the rampage. There are hundred of people displaced, people who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their hard-earned possessions.
Many have gone home to their “complicit”countries while others remain in refugee camps in various parts of eThekwini and in Gauteng, living in conditions which certainly do not reflect the good life of South Africa.
What is evident though is that it appears that no matter what happens here, it is never our fault. Surely it is time to take responsibility for this shame, to say, “yes, it happened and, yes, we are deeply sorry.”
Freedom Day is not the time to be pointing fingers at others for our own barbarism. Freedom Day is when we celebrate the legacy of Mandela and others, celebrate our unity, celebrate how far we have come in 21 years. Stand up Mr President and admit it. Admit that this terrible event happened on your watch and nobody else is responsible for this. Maybe then we, as South Africans, will be forgiven.
