South Africa: Inspiring new ways

Today we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our country’s democracy. But it is not just another anniversary, it is our 21^st anniversary. Of all the birthday’s the 21st is probably the most significant and as a person the 21 holds many meanings.

Our country has grown a lot and we have matured. We showed the world that we can indeed compete against the big boys and girls and we can stand bold on the podium with our gold medals, lift our winning trophy’s and host successful tournaments. Indeed South Africa: Inspiring new ways…

Normally the 21 is a symbol of adulthood and having matured, and what an ironic moment for our country following xenophobic attacks the past few days. Commemorating the 21^st anniversary of our democracy is an ideal opportunity to show our maturity, unite Africa and say #NoToXenophobia!

With our multi-ethnic society we are the 25th-largest country in the world by land area, and with close to 53 million people, we the world's 25th-most populous nation. Our beloved country is one of a few in Africa never to have had a coup d'état, with regular elections.

South Africa was the fifth country, the first (and only, as of January 2015) in Africa, the first in the southern hemisphere, the first republic, and the second outside Europe to legalise same-sex marriage.

Yes we have our challenges, and we not the perfect nation but South Africa’s pride is the motto in our Coat of Arms: Unity in Diversity.

Happy Birthday South Africa!

• Today also marks 15 years since the current Coat of Arms of South Africa was introduced: ǃke e: ǀxarra ǁke meaning "Diverse People Unite"

21 Years demands overnight

The ongoing unrest in Mbekweni on the eve of Freedom Day is not how the local community and the residents of Drakenstein should commemorate 21 years of democracy. 

In order to deliver we need not only reconciliation but we have to redress the past. Unfortunately correcting 300 years of oppression by wanting 21 years demands overnight is a challenge and practically impossible. What should not be a challenge and be possible is working with all the parties in reaching a solution, within the legal framework.

Electrifying informal settlements is not a long term solution, nor is it a safe one. Issuing statements and not listening to the cries of the protesters will not dry those tears.

Damaging of public and private property should be condemned and it creates more problems than solutions. Funds that could have been spent on a better future for our children must now be spent to correct the wrongs of a few.

By “Celebrating the Beginning of the Third Decade of our Freedom through Accelerating Radical Economic Transformation” we will have to take hands as South Africans, admit our weaknesses and use our strengths for all our opportunities to make our democracy work.

Residents of Mbekweni have been protesting the past few days demanding all informal settlements are electrified. Some say a promise that was made to them. An IDP meeting was disrupted Wednesday evening and on Thursday evening a municipal building vandalised and the local train station set alight with burning tyres placed on the tracks.

Ja, ek is bruin en trots daarop

Binnekort vier ons Vryheidsdag, een van die sleutelgebeure vir ons demokrasie, toe Suid-Afrikaners – ongeag ras – hul kruisie vir ’n demokrasie kon trek in 1994.

Onlangse gesprekke, debatte en opinies oor ras dwing my egter om 21 jaar in ons demokrasie te sê, klassifiseer my asseblief as Suid-Afrikaner.

Sowat ’n jaar gelede het ek via Twitter ’n munisipaliteit gekontak oor ’n diensleweringskwessie. Die verantwoordelike departementshoof het binne sekondes reageer en kort daarna die premier van die Wes-Kaap. Ek is met ’n antwoord op my navraag voorsien en om verskoning gevra vir die ongerief.

Op my dankie reageer iemand: “Earl is wit omdat sy probleem opgelos word. Swart inwoners word uit hul huise gesit en wittes onmiddellik gehelp.” 

Hierop moes ek vra: hoekom is my ras belangrik?  Ek is ’n Suid-Afrikaner en ras moet nie ’n saak wees nie.

’n Vriend van my vertel onlangs hoe hy geoordeel word en die lelike kommentaar wat gemaak word omdat hy en sy meisie nie dieselfde ras is nie. My woorde aan hom was, liefde ken alles en verdra alles. Ongelukkig is hy nie die eerste en enigste van my vriende wat met iemand van ’n ander ras uitgaan en daaroor geoordeel word nie.

Ek verstaan en respekteer ons land se geskiedkundige agtergrond, maar voel ten spite hiervan en ons jong demokrasie, moet ras nie die eerste ding wees wat in ons kop opkom nie. Ek twyfel of in enige ander land jy gevra gaan word wat jou ras is, jy sal liefs jou nasionaliteit gevra word.

Tog is dit bietjie selfsugtig om te argumenteer dat ras nie saak maak en nie belangrik is nie. Ek het al menigmaal gehoor hoe mense sê ek was eers te swart en nou is ek te wit, sommige noem my hotnot en andere ’n confused ras. Ek is bruin en trots daarop.

Het jy al ooit daaroor gewonder, as jy nie jy was nie, wie sou jy wees?

Groot word was dalk nie maklik nie, maar die realiteit is dat die lewe nie maklik is nie.

Dood, ongelukke, uitdagings, siekte, geloof, seksuele oriëntasie en liefde is maar ’n paar dinge wat nie vir ras vra nie, maar gebeur.

So mense kan my boesman en hotnot noem, dit is deel van my erfenis. As dit nie deel van my Skepper se plan was nie, sou hy my sekerlik nie so geskape het nie.

Soms gaan ons deur die lewe soos om deur ’n donkerkamer met onsekerheid te loop, maar sodra die lig aangaan, voel ons selfversekerd.

Hoekom skaam wees oor wie jy is, as jy na Sy ewebeeld geskape is.

Alles in die wêreld het ’n label, moet ek ook een hê?

Nes dood en liefde, sal die rassekaart maar gedurig voorkom, om dit te oorbrug moet ons erken en trots wees op wie ons is – insluitende ons erfenis. Ons moet verby ons verskille kyk en strewe na eenheid deur ons diversiteit.

Ja, ek is ’n bruin en trots daarop, maar klassifiseer my as ’n Suid-Afrikaner, want ek is deel van die One Tribe waarvan Vicky Sampson sing as sy sê “we were meant to be as one, one heart, one soul, one tribe under heaven, we are one

• Hierdie rubriek het oorspronklik op Donderdag 23 April 2015 in Paarl Post op bl.6 verskyn

The challenge is no match

Easter is about more than Easter eggs, pickle fish and hot cross buns, we all will enjoy – it’s a reminder for all, not just Christians that Jesus came to earth suffered and died on the cross for our sins. 
I commemorate Easter with John 16 v 16 – 33 with v 33 as reflection. 
Jesus Christ was arrested, stood trial, was condemned and crucified and soon his disciples would carry his message throughout the world. Jesus knew that they would be tested, tempted and followed, thus the final instruction, a warning and a promise.
If you read carefully you would notice Jesus told his disciples not that they would possibly cross trouble, he told them that they would encounter problems. They were hated and followed, some died because of what they believed.
Jesus told his disciples that they would suffer in the world, but despite this they should remain peaceful and keep faith.
Given the events the past week, it is important for us to note until Christ comes, Christians would always be in conflict with one another in this world.
Christians are unique with our type of loyalty, values, believes and lifestyles. We don’t compromise, and still every day enriches someone’s live, accepting Jesus as his creator.
Our actions as Christians don’t make us popular and we’ll also experience trouble; despite this we’ll have peace. Jesus tells us in the bible, he overcome it all for us.
Because we know and believe that our Lord overcome sin, death and all Satan’s temptations and attacks, we can look courage and prosperity in the eye to take on any challenge with a calm and powerful spirit.
As we celebrate Easter, we do so knowing there’s many challenges, but Christ comes and tell us no matter what your challenge, what ever is keeping you awake at night, what ever makes you doubt in him, whether its tomorrow’s bread money, the back pain that won’t go away, drugs that you don’t know how to stop, fear that you might be a pregnant and you only a teenager, or still looking for a job – have faith, believe – Christ has overcome it all...