Luvuyo Shaun Martins, Khayelitsha
Are we really chasing, beating, killing, looting our own flesh and blood brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children because they are from out of our geographic boundary – using the highly sophisticated name called xenophobia?
What kind of an animal are we – are we vicious beasts, monsters who have a quest for our fellow people’s blood simply because we want to continue to be “slaves”?
We claim that foreign nationals are taking our jobs, businesses, women, residential buildings, but I doubt this is true as no one has ever come forward with the proof of such allegations.
Why can’t we create jobs instead? South Africans must mentally free themselves from colonial and apartheid shackles so that they let go of self-hate behaviour.
I humbly appeal to all illegal foreign nationals, especially those who are engaging themselves in drug dealings, human trafficking, and illegal businesses, to refrain from those activities as they anger us.
Coming to senseless violent killings of women, children and elderly people that are on the rise in this country, I appeal to our government to consider amending section 35 (2)(c); (e) and (f) of the Bill of Rights in our democratic Constitution of 1996. Prison should be prison and not a hotel, and those found guilty to have committed crimes related to rape, murder, armed robbery and any form of abuse should be compelled to hard labour and without parole.
South Africans are peace-loving people and hence the majority are against the death penalty, but they want true justice. We are not creatures nor animals, but human beings whom are perceived to be God’s image.
South Africans should never allow these kinds of violence to happen again, especially during the Women’s Month (August) and Heritage Month (September), because it will be impossible for the country manage fostering social cohesion, national building and shared national identity.
Celebrating these months should only create a conducive environment for all people to embrace and celebrate what was bequeathed to us by our forebears.