Long way to freedom …
Of nuanced echoes of that epic of hope and struggles.
But where is freedom or coexistence? Where is dignity?
Where is development? Where is democracy? Where?
I hear the echoes of Mandela’s Long way to freedom.
I see the cunningness and stubbornness of Apartheid
in the antics of some of those claimants who allege
that they are fussing and fighting for the soul of Mzansi.
One begins to ask: Who said Apartheid was conquered?
How does the Mandela Day become a huge global
symbol that speaks of true freedom, love and sacrifice
in the African context when the same black Africans
from other African countries, are harassed in South Africa?
Afrophobics, make this thing make sense! Or else , it doesn’t.
What do you call a scenario where mobs
act outside of official law enforcement, plus
the justice system? It’s an anarchical situation.
This is a nation that was a massif of inequalities
and violence during the Apartheid era, with poor
blacks on the receiving end, forced to carry a pass.
They are asking for IDs or identification papers.
Heroes or villains? They are toyi-toying on the streets.
They claim to be looking for undocumented foreigners.
What type of foreigners, to be exact? Solely black ones!
Who are these protesters and pursuers of other blacks?
They are black, too. Oh, are you kidding me? No. I’m not.
Then, Apartheid pass laws are in full force in 2026. In SA.
There is a long way to freedom. It’s absurd and outrageous.
What if they find a documented African? They’ll very likely
victimize him or her, too. How? By foully telling him or her
that he or she’s taking their job. Is this the same South Africa
that other African nations sacrificed for during the Apartheid era?
Absolutely. Maybe they have conveniently forgotten. They tell us
to buzz off. Sometimes they say it’s history. They just want their nation
back. Who prevents them from taking it back? Certainly, not an African
from another African country. What came over them? Frustration? Oblivion?
The bitter truth is that souls are dealing with colonial symptoms and victims.
The protesters are taking the law into their own hands, which is criminal, too.
What is this practice called? It’s an act of vigilantism. It’s carried out
by ordinary citizens and happens outside of official law enforcement.
These afrophobic demonstrators are conscienceless and gutless hunters
and victimizers of other blacks from other African countries. They unlawfully
chase them out of their places of residence, apprehend, interrogate, threaten,
prevent or punish them in the name and belief that they are criminals. Shame!
What drives them to do such criminality as well? Several reasons and motives.
They are often stirred by an actual or alleged failure of national authorities.
Other factors are historical, political, economic, educational, ethical and mental.
Have the post-independence leaders been visionary and careful with the running
of the country, the management of the economy, the promotion and facilitation
of speedy structural changes that result in the empowerment and employment
of the previously disadvantaged groups and individuals? Levels of corruption
and crime? The socio-economic inequalities are still discernable and niggling.
Apartheid continues to thrive in several colours, shades, shapes, dimensions
and domains. It flourishes in the minds of some souls, in fact, many, hence,
the sporadic and sad eruptions of afrophobia, diffidence, violence and looting.
A false sense of patriotism and self-love is another echo of a colonized mindset.
