God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

10/15/2019 • 2:32 pm Comments Off on No shame

No shame

In South Africa we all still deal with the complexity oft the past – nobody seriously can deny this even if the new dawn stretches back to 1994 starting with the first free elections. Society has such has learned through the Truth- and Reconciliation Commission a major part of the Apartheid but there was never a real leadership in healing society – and if I say society I mean all parts of it – everybody I encounter of any skin colour has a story to tell, everybody has wounds to show and everybody is waiting for some more healing and soothing of hurt endured.
What is indeed mind-boggling is the sort of entitlement, many especially from the ruling party, but also smaller ones like the EFF and others bring to the table of society. It seems that wounds of the past, even if they were those of the last generation, are reason enough to be entitled to any kind of compensation one wishes for. And looking at the looting of state coffers and stealing from the poor, looking at crashing the VBS bank and take away the savings of so many poor people, I somehow always have the feeling that shame is at miss. Watching people like Zandile Gumede currently, but also Dudzane Zuma, Julius Malema, Flyod Shivambu, Hlaudi Motsoeneng or Brian Molefe – and you can go on and on with names for hours to come , it is amazing to see the confidence they show almost being certain that they need not to be fearful and anxious of being caught.

This no-shame-show filters through society and it makes it easier on all levels simply to copy it and destroy even more fabric of society.  If South Africa really wants to stay course to a better future there must a change of hearts and minds also on this level. People must be able to feel what is right and wrong, they must be people leading by example, especially those who have positions of power in politics and economics. The value system, South Africa is still maintaining deep down in most of its ordinary citizens, the moral compass, which is not gone totally but hidden under a mountain of blunt entitlement must come to the forefront again. We need leader with a sense for shame and a sense of social responsibility governing their very action.

Filed under: General, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, South Africa, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

09/30/2019 • 4:57 pm Comments Off on Amnesty?!

Amnesty?!

There are a lot of foreigners in this country – South Africa is for most people fleeing violence and persecution in Africa a safe heaven of some sort – and obviously the borders are so porous that it is much easier to flee to South Africa than to Europe. This has not always been welcomed in the last years – the periodically xenophobic attacks, most recently in Pretoria and Johannesburg, show how sensitive the topic is and how fast the mood can change. Obviously there is a lot of politics involved – be it quite insensitive comments of the Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba, be it economic considerations because immigrants often work harder to achieve their dreams opposite the entitlement and despair of South Africans in the perspective neighborhoods; or be it simply jealousy and opportunism stretching to pure criminality.

There is definitely no question that a country has the right to control influx of foreigners and to secure the borders – but looking at the current situation where there is a mix of illegal immigrants, unwilling Home Affairs officials, corrupt border officials and so many small or bigger injustices in dealing with those knocking on South Africa’s door my solution would be besides looking in a fair manner at all sides of the story to give a period of grace, an amnesty to legalize all those who are now in the country.

It would not only remedy  the situation but also would give those politically in charge and the administration a fair overview to know who is in the country. It would stop the hiding and the stress of those trying to make a living and it would undermine the often corrupt relationship between foreigner, refugee and those officially in charge of keeping them in or out for a good reason.

Flanked by a strengthening of the policing of the border and an effective system to avoid a further undocumented influx from the rest of Africa this would be the first step to calm down the situation and to be fair to all concerned.  It would show grace and mercy, but also a clear cut line for the future. It would make the lives of hundred-thousands of human beings acknowledged and valued – and it would show the rest of the world that there is a way to show a mix of mercy and justice mitigating a difficult past in the last years.

 

Filed under: Africa, General, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, South Africa, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

09/18/2019 • 12:00 pm 1

#ImStaying

Recently the news from South Africa and out of South Africa becoming more and more scary – the brutal murders of several girls and women, the new crime statistics with an increase of murders adding with the high unemployment rate and all the other social and economical uncertainties to the impression that is is wise to pack your bag and leave the country.

Having one of the most beautiful landscapes of the world, hosting mainly friendly and helpful people, having a floral and animal world which is so special seems not to count anymore much in this scenario. Add the racist rants of Julius Malema and other so called or want to be called politicians, the playing with the constitution regarding land reform and the sheer endless stories of corruption and missing shame for the wrongdoings on the part of those who are in charge of this country.

But nevertheless: I just signed up to the Facebook group #Imstaying – even with my privilege of double citizenship I have decided for now to put all my energy into the future of this country – one South Africa for all should become more than a slogan but a reality in our lifetime – at least the beginning of it – like Moses, before dying, seeing the promised land from far.

Giving up on this idea would kill the dreams of all the young people, born free and born even more free from the next generation – it would betray the millions of people who put their hope in a better future, it would curtail the dreams of a non-racist possibility to live not only for South Africa, but for the rest of the world.  Let us not underestimate that indeed the mix of challenges here on the tip of Africa are a mirror for the world as such – even at times more complicated and intertwined than at other places. So there is the challenge of being not only the result of a peaceful Mandela moment in time but remaining the beacon of hope for the time to come.

For this to happen we have to acknowledge the dark of the past on all sides of society – history is never purely black and white and we have to find a new language to avoid the fiction of race for  future generations.  We have to square the circle – an almost Sisyphean  task against the odds of hurt and pain, and feelings of revenge and all sorts of compensation in an infinite loop. Being hurt and being able to heal, being disappointed but able to produce hope, being human and at the same time outgrowing what we thought is possible in our lifetime and with our abilities.

Dreaming big – not letting go – focusing on what is really worth it – not giving into despair – that are the points of reference when it is said: #ImStaying

Filed under: Africa, General, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, South Africa, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , ,

09/03/2019 • 8:35 am Comments Off on Desperation meets incompetence

Desperation meets incompetence

xeno
Picture: copyright: Spotlight Jesuit Institute South Africa

“Mr President how should we react ? What about you ? In just over 48 hours a boxing champ shot dead , a UCT student raped and killed , a child kidnapped from school , stores in Malvern & Jeppe looted and burned , 607 Patients at Baragwanath wait up to 9 months for an MRI scan.”

This twitter from Ashraf Garda yesterday describes the situation and questions most South Africans have in our days – while a new dawn was promised and people started to believe it, the reality kicks in that a new dawn also needs new people. Moving forward and having the incompetence, the corruption, the ideology of yesterday as part of the deal will never work as also Zimbabwe shows in an very intense way.
But South Africa would not be South Africa if there is not a twist to the story: While some journalists paint a bleak picture for the foreign press and undermine tourism which counts as one of the most important income sector of the country the truth is that tourists are very seldom even get in touch with all the murder, violence and lack of service delivery. It seems that two movies are playing out for the time being and only those who paint with broad strokes are not able to see it. And contribute to the downfall of society even more as jobs are lost.

Keeping people in work and creating new jobs, bolstering the tax base, strengthening the service delivery record of government on all spheres are the fundamental requirements if this country is destined not to fallen prey to despair and chaos. Creating more and more situations where role models and success stories counter the hopelessness and despair of the ordinary people is needed. And of course government must play its part: Shelving the madness of an NHI , stopping to run behind a socialistic tainted ideology which has been proven to fail a long time ago, retiring with honor all those whose only credential are struggle stories from the past, putting whatever money is left in infrastructure, education and health and last but not least partner with reliable NGO’s and civil society organization to turn the tide. I know this is a lot asked in our situation where it seems that the corrupt political elite’s ethic filters down to the streets of our major cities.

And it will only work if the president of this country – instead of traveling the world and talking nicely – shows leadership, stops the cabal of the Zupta fractions in it’s track, reassures the nation not with talk but the right action in showing that honesty, hard work and dedication to the well-being of society are at the forefront of public service. Healing also starts when justice is served, as slow as it may be in a democracy – but those implicated at the Zondo commission must have their day in court so that people see that indeed everybody is equal in front of the law.

Desperation of the poor meets the incompetence of many in government, incapacitated by a strong ideology – the good news is: this is not a physical law but a status to be overcome by using common sense and the yearning of most people in this country for a better future for all. It’s possible or as a Nike advertising states: Just do it! And please: don’t blame foreigners for your own sins and lack of action and planing…

 

Filed under: Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, South Africa, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

08/28/2019 • 3:42 pm Comments Off on Greta and the voice of the church

Greta and the voice of the church

Listening to the debates about the now famous Greta – all the questions asked and criticism voiced, praises sung – I certainly have formed my own opinion but what really get me thoughtful is a complete other question I am asking myself: The hype around a topic which the Roman Catholic Church has on her agenda since ages – 1.2 billion faithful of this denomination were not able to make it a headline worldwide over decades. Why? Since ages the church is looking into the question of environment and protection of the creation.

Is it because of the social media possibilities alone? The means in our days to put your energy and dreams in tweets, Instagram, Facebook and other means of internet communication – triggering so the worldwide hype? Even if the real consequences of such a hype is still questionable – in Germany the amount of people flying is increasing despite protesting on a Friday for the future – the question remains: Why were 1.2 billion Catholics not able to bring a topic to the forefront?

Or is it that most Catholics did not care – that all the information, booklets, declaration of bishops and popes have no real voice anymore – maybe heard, but immediately put aside as impractical or far away from reality?

Or was it too prophetic – too early to really catch the eye of the public and those in charge of society and politics?

Whatever it is – I find it amazing how little impact a billion strong community has on essential questions of human mankind in our lifetime – and it seems to me so different from the old times where church was minting questions and values in a way, which lingers even today almost genetically in people. I sense changes we still not have realized with all the consequences for our institutions, for our life and that of our societies.

There is more to reflect …  signs of the times…

Filed under: Catholic Church, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , ,

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