I am ashamed. Ashamed of being a South African. Ashamed of the behaviour of my countrymen. Ashamed of South Africans. Ashamed of South Africa. And every South African should be. Be ashamed.
I have never been ashamed of being a South African. Well, not since 1994 anyway. Before that - I was very ashamed. But for all the right reasons. We were fighting against the most corrupt and violent system in the world. Against Apartheid. Against oppression. Against discrimination. Against the violence they committed against our people. Against murdering the innocent. Against killing those who can’t protect themselves.
But now I am ashamed. For the first time since 1994. I am deeply ashamed. Because we are doing to others what the Apartheid regime did to our people. To us. And we are doing this to those who already suffer the most. Who have already suffered at the hands of their own people. Their corrupt and violent regimes. Their Apartheid regimes. And now we do it to them here in our own country. Against those who have been hunted down in their own country. And tried to find a bit of safety in the townships. In the streets. And you turned on them.
Like cowards. In numbers. Because you think you are so tough with your tyres and your matches. And your pangas and machetes. But you are cowards. Cowards. Because you kill from behind the safety of your numbers. Killing their dream. And killing my dream.
The dream is being shattered by a group of cowards. Bastards. Traitors. You don’t deserve to be called South African. You are not worth the dirt on our streets. You are not worth the spit on my shoes. You are dead to me. Dead to me.
You don’t do that. You don’t kill other people. You don’t murder them because you hate foreigners. Don’t blame the immigrants. You don’t blame them for being without a job. You don’t blame them for being without a house. You don’t blame them. You just don’t blame them. And you don’t take it out on them. Never.
Look in the mirror you bastards. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are worth it. Worth the breath that I take. Worth the words on this page. Because you are not. You are nothing. You are animals. Not even. You are nothing.
How you forget. How you forget how these same people housed our people when they were hunted down in South Africa. Zimbabwe. They housed you. They housed your people. Our people. When we were in exile. When we were hunted down like animals. And now you do it. Like Mugabe did it to them in their own home. You are no better than Mugabe. The mad one. You are no better.
You are no better than the perpetrators of Apartheid. You are no better than them. You are no better than the animals that did this to our people. Look at this picture and ask yourself. How are you better than the people that did this to our people? I tell you how. You are no better. You are no better than Craig Williamson. No better than Ferdi Barnard. You are Eugene de Kock.
You spit on our people who died at Sharpeville. You spit on the killing of the Guguleto 7. You spit on the deaths at the Bisho Massacre. You spit on the 27 years Madiba spent in jail for people like you. You spit on the murder of Biko. You spit on the memories of Braam Fischer. The memory of each and every South African who died and suffered for you to have freedom. Every mother. Every father. Every wife. Every husband. Every sisters. Every brother. Every child. You spit on their suffering.
No. You are not just as bad as those perpetrators of Apartheid. You are worse. Because you should know better. This has happened to you. How could you? How the hell could you?
You are dead to me. You are not South African. You are animals. You deserve nothing. You fight for your country. You don’t fight the oppressed. You don’t fight those who have suffered like our people have suffered. You comfort them and protect them. You don’t hunt them down and kill them. You are bastards. And you deserve nothing. Not a crumb of bread. Not a drop of water. Not an ounce of sympathy. Not an inch of understanding. Not a second of analysis. Nothing. Because you mean nothing.
You bastards. You traitors. You animals. The blood is on your hands. You are dead to me.
And my dreams are dead.
____________________________
Note to my government: Mbeki. Be the leader we need. Be the strong and just leader we need. Be a President in action and not only in name. Lead us. Right now. I have always stood up for you. Defended you. No more. Now is the time to show me why I believed in you. show me it wasn’t just empty words. Time to show what you are made of. The burden is on you right now. This is your hour. A defining moment in your Presidency. Will you fail or will you succeed? Show no mercy to these murderers. Be a leader. Lead. Zuma. Shut up and be the leader we need to know you are. Show us what we can expect. Have no sympathy. Because these dogs deserve no sympathy. None. But most of all. Protect those who are being hunted down. Hold them tight and tell them it will be okay. And make it okay. Because they are our flesh and blood. Not the bastards who are traitors to our country. Those who try and call themselves South Africans. They are dead to us. Show them they don’t deserve our great country. They are not South African.
If you enjoyed this post, get free updates by RSS
Subscribe To Angry African
32 responses so far ↓
Keven Bennett // May 21, 2008 at 12:44 am
It’s sad to hear of these things going on. I’ve been reading about some of the attacks on immigrants and was waiting to see if you were going to comment on them.
This is not really too foreign to me. You remember I commented a few weeks ago about Republican political history from 1973 to 1995 being a period in which antigovernment, antiminority, and other types of terror were commited under the banner of Republican rhetoric.
During those times, a number of militias and cults operated, some practicing ‘lone wolfing’ of one or more members, who would then commit acts of terror supposedly independently of the organization they had membership in. Nichols, who helped Timothy McVeigh in bombing the ERM building, was lone wolfed by the Michigan Militia as I recall (someone give particulars?). Abortion clinics were bombed and doctors were assassinated. Occasionally, this still happens.
I am one of those who is against illegal immegration in the US, but I am VERY aware of the fine line between having an opinion and descending to the abyss like these killers have. I heard Mbeki had spoken out about it, and I hope he puts his money where his mouth is.
africanorchid // May 21, 2008 at 2:15 am
Thank you so much for writing this post! when I heard of the killings going on in South Africa, I felt sick. I thought of Rwanda, and Darfur. I thought of people who looked like my relatives back home taking machetes to their fellow men and women. I hope South Africa knows how much the rest of Africa loves them. I understand that when times get tough people will resort to horrific things, but I hope South Africa can rise above it. I feel much more at ease now, reading this. I just want you to know that I share your anger and your pain.
Michelle // May 21, 2008 at 4:08 am
There’s so much to say… and at the same time nothing at all. I am deeply ashamed and my heart is shattered!
Anti-immigration riots in South Africa « ZURI Z ZONE // May 21, 2008 at 5:18 am
[...] a South African’s reaction to the events taking into consideration the experience of Apartheid. Filed under: Politics [...]
Damian // May 21, 2008 at 6:30 am
Angry, I just heard a fella named Pat Craven from COSATU speaking to Al Jazeera (part 1, part 2). He also described the current situation as shameful.
Then a Ugandan bloke, Vincent Magombe, pointed out that South Africans should be looking after their African brothers and sisters just as other African nations looked after the ANC during the struggle.
There’s certainly a sense that there is a moral responsibility to do better than this, which is what I felt when reading this post, too. For an outside observer like me it is all very sad.
Saffer // May 21, 2008 at 11:27 am
President Mbeki has approved the deployment of the SANDF
Wonder if that is a good thing or not, R4 rifles dont fire rubber bullets.
Energy Engineer // May 21, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I just read “Time”. Who is killing immigrants, Your picture suggests you think it is the police? Time just said “people” are killing the immigrants. Aren’t the police helping?
Dave // May 21, 2008 at 8:57 pm
We are the Rainbow Nation full of Love and Peace Ha Ha.
This is not Xenophobia it’s RACISM . People singled out because they look different and then mudered in the most grusome fashion .
Come on Bono , Bob Geldof and others why don’t you get together and publicly condem this savagery just like you did when evil Whitey was in charge . Sing us a song Bono , why don’t you
When Me Hates Me « Ugandan Insomniac // May 22, 2008 at 12:30 am
[...] Angry African is ashamed. “Ashamed of being a South African. Ashamed of the behavior of my countrymen. Ashamed of South Africans. Ashamed of South Africa. And every South African should be. Be ashamed.” [...]
SanityFound // May 22, 2008 at 5:12 am
What is sad that Mbeki was hesitant to send in those “troops” because of how it would look to the world… pride got in the way of 40+ deaths, people being burnt alive, 16,000 displaced… pride.
R4 rifles? I don’t know where I stand on that one after seeing these images The truth - The Times Photo Story I felt so sick, disgusted and shame - I have lost all respect for this government… more so after hearing that Zuma was quoted at saying the immigrants deserve to go ( Xenophobia Q&A )
The media in my books are also pathetic, a friend in the UK told me that the BBC was implying its the whites against the africans again…??? Lost respect for the good ol’ beeb as well
As for the emails doing the rounds congratulating the attackers for a good job well done and “its about time that someone did something about the scum coming into SA” … and then they wonder… *shrug*
AA Thanks for a great post, your words reflect how I feel, pure disgust - wish more of SA could be like you, cared enough.
Mama 22 // May 22, 2008 at 3:21 pm
from SA - I share your anger.
Why, however, is it only NOW that the international community is taking notice of the violence and crime in this country? We have averaged 19,000 - 21,000 murders, per annum, for the past 10 years. Babies of a couple months old are raped. Robberies, hi-jackings and assault are common. TERRIFYING official crime statistics are on the SAPS website - remember that not all crimes, especially rapes, are reported. We live in constant fear behind locked doors. Our children are growing up not being able to walk down the street. We can’t trust anyone for fear of being “the next victim”. NOTHING is normal here. We are so desensitised to violence that we say “Whew, they’re lucky” when someone is hi-jacked or assaulted because they weren’t gruesomely murdered or gang-raped. The population is a nervous wreck - our mental health bill is going to be astronomical. We have been, and currently are, living amongst SAVAGES who care NOTHING for human life.
Sammi // May 23, 2008 at 1:42 am
Finally! A voice crying out in anger at the right targets. Emotionally charged as it should be against the real perpetrators. Our lame presidency feeding themselves fat in their arrogance and unwillingness to admit their people’s problems. Too wealthy and cloaked in safety to care.
The bastards killing innocent hard-working folk are the lazy ones who ran riot anyhow for years. Once again I applaud your anger directed at the right cause.
When are we going to realize we live in the 21st century and beheadings and killings in the name of power belonged to the 12th/13th centuries.
AA we need you back here to help your people. When you are on the ground, you will understand what mama 22 is saying.
ENOUGH NOW! Lets join hands and stand united as ALL SOUTH AFRICANS against this
genocide. Come home AA and come and help your people - lets bury the ghosts of the past. I had to when the Brits were responsible for my great grandparents dying in concentration camps.
COME HOME…..WE NEED YOU!
SA Citizen // May 23, 2008 at 2:23 am
Before you guys believe that it is white South africans imposing these attacks, as BBC very irrisponsibly quotes, I challenge you to come here to SA for a good few months and experience our lives (as Mama 22 accurately states above) and experience the crime and ALL the events that dont get to reach you abroad.
It is absolutely embarrassing, horrific and frustrating that any government can be so inefficient and corrupt as ours is! I cannot believe that foreign governments will even enter into dealing with these failing “leaders”.
What Crisis // May 23, 2008 at 7:00 am
Hi AngryAfrican
You want to petition Mbeki?
There’s no Aids crisis
There is no crime crisis
There is no unemployment problem
There is no problem in Zimbabwe
There is no corruption in government
There is no Xenophobia
Maybe you can complete this list……………….
Music doesnt know xenophobia | Peak People: An Inside Look // May 23, 2008 at 7:05 am
[...] xenophobia that is flashing up all over the country. There are many blogs that have voiced their disgust, anger and sadness – and I feel that we all need to support the people that live in the [...]
SanityFound // May 23, 2008 at 7:38 am
I sit here in my home in Somerset West, army and police choppers are flying overhead every couple of minutes, sirens are going… it has started in Cape Town now… is there hope? That is all I ask all of you, I never thought I’d see this again.
robert saint amour // May 23, 2008 at 5:53 pm
it is time for it to be said and for the world to put this nation of misfit leaders in perspective
Mama 22 // May 24, 2008 at 1:10 am
I urge you AA, to please use whatever skills and means you have at your disposal to assist us in making positive change in this country.
This government is riddled with corruption. They continue to fail and disappoint the people and are allowed to get away with it.
Our judiciary system has long since failed. The crime is out of control and there are NO consequences - the solution seems to be to get rid of the best crime fighting unit in the country - the Scorpions. Intl media attention appears to be reserved for white-on-black incidents… why are they not highlighting the plight of the thousands of people who are being violated on a daily basis.
Not only are our people getting slaughtered, they are being violated by their “brothers” at a horrifying rate. Our fathers, husbands, brothers, sons, mothers, sisters and daughters are victims of gruesome rape (many whilst in police custody).
Just this week a man was not given the prescribed life sentence for the rape of an 8 year old because the judge says he apologised and did not use violence… please… this is unacceptable… what message does this send out?
News on News24, South Africa is like an introduction to the house of horrors, and these are only small examples of what is really going on.
We need help. We need pressure on our government. We need real leaders who lead by example. We need a corrupt-free and crime-free country…. please do whatever you can to help us…
Views on the Weakly News XI « Angry African on the Loose // May 24, 2008 at 11:18 am
[...] My Journey: An Accidental Activist ← Terror in South Africa and the end of a dream… [...]
Laura // May 25, 2008 at 4:16 am
It is really very scary, very shocking. One of the images that sticks with me is of people looting a Somalian owned shop - they weren’t thugs or criminals, they were pretty normal people. Lots of middle aged ladies. Gone completely crazy.
Another image is of the Pakistani businessman choking back tears, saying that he lost everything, and it just doens’t make sense.
And of course the more brutal… mobs outside police stations. Police, violence.
I think a good thing that has come out of this very terrible situation is that people are waking up to the fact that this is a real problem. And that people are really taking up the call to help too.
We did a collection on our campus yesterday and it less than a day collected what must be a whole bakkie full of blankets, clothes and other goods and over R7000 for relief work in Gauteng. And it was humbling to see how people responded by giving so generously.
Andre // May 25, 2008 at 9:09 am
1. Energy Engineer. Yes. The policeman is killing the burning man with a fire-extinguisher. Y’know, in a post discussing such an emotionally charged issue, perhaps you should just be quiet, heh?
2. Angry African. Well said, Sir. I thank you for verbalising, so passionately and so eloquently, what many of us feel. I could only agree more, if your words were penned from here, *in* South Africa.
angryafrican // May 25, 2008 at 1:37 pm
@Keven - I am also against illegal immigration. And like you said, there are better ways to deal with this.
@africanorchid - We should be better than this. We should all be better than this. It is our own people.
@Michelle - You an me both. I hang my head in shame the same way I did back under Apartheid.
@Damain - I know Pat. He’s a good guy. I know the majority of South Africans are ashamed. Because we do love our brothers and sisters from our continent.
@Saffer - I know. The gun is not a nice thing to use. But sometimes we have to protect the abused in a way that we don’t like.
@Energy Engineer - No, didn’t mean to imply that at all. Wanted to show the guy was burned by the mob. The policeman is trying to help.
@Dave - Well, xenophobia is a form of racism. I give you that. But don’t make it a black-white debate. It’s a violence debate. Nothing to do with the similarly evil Apartheid.
@SanityFound - The only place we get truth? Amongst ourselves I guess…
@Mama 22 - I guess people pay attention because so much crime can be “understood”. But when people are burned in the streets. Well. You just can’t justify that.
@Sammi - Thanks for that. Like you say, we must direct our anger at the right people. Not black or white, but at the savages who do this and call themselves South African. They are not.
@SA Citizen - I won’t try to justify anything the government does. And I feel your anger.
@What Crisis - …
@SanityFound - I lived just up the road, in Stellenbosch, and heard from family and friends it is in Khayamandi as well.
@robert saint amour - I am an ANC supporter. But I am also getting sick and tired of it being a leaderless and headless has-been party.
@Mama 22 - We all need to do something to take our country back. Back to the vision Madiba had. And take ownership of his vision. How? I don’t know, but we can make it work as we go along.
@Laura - See Mama 22. This is what I am talking about. People like Laura refusing to give up and reaching out. I am honoured to have you even read my blog.
@Andre - It’s not easy to sit over here and comment. It feels like I should be quiet. But my heart is there. Even if I can’t be there.
SA Citizen // May 26, 2008 at 2:08 am
… and where on this earth do you hear of a person with a criminal case pending being put up for presidential election and the case being continually postponed and the accused trying to find every possible loophole to have the trial rejected and evidence with-held from the courts?! It is absolutely ridiculous and absurd! Just goes to show that the justice system in this country is totally back to front! That is the reason SA will become another failing african country under the rule of another Robert Mugabe style president and these racist/ genocide/xenophobic attacks will continue as it has for the last 2 years (even with/without international publicity) Justice is inefficient and unoperational in this country! Proof too that nothing this government does contains any logic!
kelli // May 26, 2008 at 6:49 am
my heart goes out to SA, my heart goes out to all who suffer at the hands of another. What is it that drives us to behave so cruelly to each other and to our beautiful world, what have we created for our children.
Love to you and other expats like you AA
angryafrican // May 26, 2008 at 1:06 pm
@SA Citizen - I don’t like Zuma. As you might know from a previous post of mine. But I also don’t agree with your view that we will become another African state. In fact, I wouldn’t mind us becoming a bit more like Mozambique or Senegal or Botswana or Zambia. Peaceful…
@kelli - Thanks Kelli. We so easily forget what we will leave behind for our children.
SA Citizen // May 27, 2008 at 2:40 am
Those countries may be peaceful now, but they have all had their fair share of war/violence/terrorism etc. They were destroyed (Mozambique had a civil war) and are now trying to rebuild back up to where they were before anarchy broke out. That explains why SA is the refugee country for so many African immigrants. Zimbabwe was the bread basket of Africa before Mugabe took over and look what it is now. You may disagree, but with our government having no accountability or taking no responsibility for the failures or occurrences here, they can only run this country into the ground!
angryafrican // May 27, 2008 at 7:30 am
@SA Citizen - No. Not all of them. Zambia? More Swiss than Switzerland. Never been in a war, internal or external. And all countries go through war and internal violence. Except maybe Zambia and Switzerland.
Lynch mobs in South Africa « Orion Spur // May 31, 2008 at 2:49 pm
[...] Angry African on the Loose: Terror in South Africa and the end of a dream [...]
Nikita // June 24, 2008 at 11:22 am
Excellent post…Well said Dave….and to What Crisis…I agree with your list 100% and we can add tons of more…and to Angry African man…you have the guts, I like it…high time somebody tells them straight away what they are!! Thank you for your post…keep going and yes, we are in desperate need of a LEADER and not a COWARD!!
Keven Bennett // June 24, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I think the point made about SA looking after it’s African brothers is a very good point.
A lot of people want us here in the US to do something about it, and I can understand the sentiment, but I really think it is time for Mbeki to take up for the people of Zimbabwe.
Our country is only so large, and we have a lot of problems of our own to solve, so maybe this would be a good time.
The Chin has no clue. He’d fold like a house of cards if he heard that SA might take him out of power.
I honestly can’t say that my suggestion is the best suggestion, but Mbeki has been much too close to Magube.
It’s time to get rid of that joker and give Morgan T. a chance, plus it would be a shame if Biti were put to death while the whole world watched.
Keven Bennett // June 25, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Couple new developements, but no sign the Chin is giving in.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1818029,00.html
I did give me some insight into the political workings of SA.
But, riddle me the:
WHO the HELL had the stupidity to name Bright Matonga ‘Bright’?
Nevermind, I know the answer. She’s not to blame, anyway…
Keven Bennett // June 26, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Biti’s ‘free on bail’ BTW.
Looks like the Chin might be feeling a bit ‘o heat…
Leave a Comment