Grandpa, do they want to shoot us
2009-07-09
I REFER to the letter in Paarl Post of 2 July where Mr Moeketsi Mphulanyama expressed his shock at the picture on the front page of Paarl Post where a “white man” was pictured holding a gun and the fears it evoked. I understand his reaction and am not surprised that he was so upset - but the past is the past. We must take hands and live in harmony. Such photographs should rather not be published. Last year my granddaughter visited us for the weekend. She sat on my lap while I watched the Friday evening news on television. Like any young child she continually asked questions about the news events. When Mr Zuma (now our president) appeared singing his song “Umshini wami” (bring me my machine gun) she wanted to know what he meant. The next evening we were watching television again when the president of the ANC Youth League said “We are prepared to die for Zuma and we are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma”. The president of Cosatu said, “Because Jacob Zuma is one of us and he is our leader, for him we are prepared to lay down our lives and to shoot and kill.” My granddaughter grabbed me around the neck and said, “Grandpa, I am scared. I don’t like them. Are they going to shoot us?” Mr Mphulanyama, I don’t have answers for you or my granddaughter. She heard the threats, but fortunately she cannot read yet. All I can say to you is: AFRICA IS NOT FOR SISSIES. Best wishes.
A very concerned Neville Botha
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