There are bigger issues than the country’s name

What I also heard via the grapevine is that nobody is sure yet what these “wise owls” are proposing as a suitable name for our beautiful land. But change, they insist, must be implemented.

Well, personally, I have the least care in the world what our beloved Mzansi’s name is changed to.

“Afrique Kusini”, a combination of French and kiSwahili, meaning “South Africa”, would give the country a novel Mediterranean identity and romanticise its ugly past.

For all I care, calling South Africa by any other new name, including my preference, “Msholozia”, to harmonise and Africanise it, Mansi, with what the rest of the countries north of our border are called, will not change the South Africa I’ve grown to know as my home.

But before we can change the name of the country, I think we should all of us first strive to change the hardened attitudes of the few people who are bent on dragging this country down into a pit of lawlessness and criminality.

We are all exposed to the ravages of crime in our country. Fighting crime together should be our communities’ only priory right now.

Firstly let those who want to change the name of the country call for change in the way some men mistreat and abuse women and girl children in our communities. Let us all call for a change in the way families raise their young boys to be guides and protectors of their young sisters instead of being their abusers.

Let us call for less violence, promiscuity, sexual explicitness, gratification and nudity on our television screens in our living rooms. Let us call for change in the use of vulgar language we expose our children to on our radio stations and in newspapers and magazines. Let us go on and change the inappropriately worded and explicit newspaper posters on our street corners closer to our schools.

Let us first present a new image of ourselves as a nation before we even think of giving our beloved country a new name.

Can the taxi industry be our policemen?

Given their boundless energy, I believe, taxi drivers could help rid our townships of the current vicious scourge of vehicle hijacking that has reared its ugly head again after a lull of about two decades, leaving motorists’ nerves ragged.

Here is a group of people, who to my mind, have over the years become the eyes and ears of South African society in the townships.

They have even developed a unique sign language to communicate with their clients.

Remove from them the stigma of the recent savage crimes aimed at women at the hands of ruthless thugs masquerading as their colleagues and, I believe, taxi drivers are heck of nice guys.

Their daily job involves ferrying commuters in and out and up and down the streets of our townships, towns and cities, from dawn to dusk, and travelling long distances to far-away places, away from their homes and families.

I think these chaps could be amazing watchdogs. Most of their passengers are ordinary people going about their daily business. But, alas, among these ordinary taxi commuters, there are also unsavoury characters.

Although untrained in any form of police detective work, the fact of the matter is that most taxi drivers know more about crime and criminals and the subtle intricacies that make them tick than your average Hamanskraal Police Academy-trained cadet.

Shouldn’t the minister of police, Comrade Fikile “Mbax” Mbalula, consider an alliance with taxi drivers who work close to the ground?

Considering the devastation crime is causing our nation right now, I think he should.

I would if I were him.

Can the taxi industry be our policemen?

Given their enthusiastic robust energy, I believe, taxi drivers, could help rid our townships of the current vicious scourge of vehicle hi-jacking that has left the jagged nerves of vehicle owners on edge, since reared its ugly again after a lull of about two decades in the mid 80’s.

Here is a group of people, who in my mind have, over the years, become the eyes and ears of South African society in the townships. They have gone on to supplement their control of township life by developing a unique sign language to communicate with their own clients, the commuters in a language understood only by the two. Remove, from them the stigma of the recent brutal savage incidents suffered by several women in the hands of ruthless thugs masquerading as their colleagues, I still believe taxi drivers are a heck of nice guys.

Their daily job, ferrying commuters in and out and up and down the streets of our townships, towns, and cities from dawn to dusk and beyond, travelling long distance to far away distances, away from their homes and families. I think these chaps could be amazing watchdogs. Most of their passengers are ordinary people, merely going about their daily endeavours conducting their daily businesses and commuting in taxis from one point to another to achieve that life’s objectives. But, alas, among these ordinary taxi commuters, they ferry there are also unsavoury commuters that taxi drivers encounter everyday of their travelling life on our roads.

Although untrained in any form of police detective work, the fact of the matter is that most taxi drivers know more about crime and criminals and the subtle intricacies what make many of hem tick than many of your average Harmanskraal Police Academy trained cadet will ever know nor comprehend in her or his entire police officer’s career. The truth is only a lucky few will ever grow with the force and be able to learn the tricks criminals play with cops and society in their criminal games.

Shouldn’t the Minister of Police Comrade Fikile “Mbax” Mbalula consider an alliance with such a closely-grounded grass-root ally among taxi drivers?

Considering the devastated state the nation is over crime right now, I think he should.

I would if I were him.