Citizens with some measure of patriotism in them hate seeing
their country grab the world headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Many South Africans are shocked and shamed by the current wave of
Black-on-Black violence directed at foreigners from other African countries.
Whatever the underlying socio-economic factors are, there is just
no justification for assaulting and killing foreigners; burning them and looting their
property. Such barbaric behaviour reminds us of the ferocious 'animal' within man, which
if let loose leaves a trail of havoc behind it.
There is general agreement in the country that criminal elements
are riding the wave (or did they create it?) of xenophobia for their own ends.
One of my poems is based on the very descriptive isiZulu
word for criminals - izinswelaboya. The meaning behind 'izinswelaboya' is that criminals
are in fact wild animals; all they lack are hairy skins.
Criminals might feel that being likened to animals is below their
dignity, but watching the current events I am afraid that animals might feel that being
likened to humans is below their dignity.
Amongst the many isiZulu proverbs that encourage treating
strangers well, the one that keeps coming back to me is "Unyawo alunampumulo."
Being told that the foot has no nose sounds somewhat funny but the truth behind this
proverb is a deep one.
Yes, one of the reasons we should treat strangers well is because
we do not know where our foot might take us one day. Our foot has no nose, so it has no
way of smelling out enemy territory. One day, our foot may take us into the area of
someone that we ill-treated before.
On Thursday South Africa's Public Protector, Mr Lawrence Mushwana,
reminded the citizens of this country that our national soccer team is due to play in
Nigeria in the coming weeks. He then asked us that after the cruel treatment
that some Nigerians were subjected to, what kind of reception do South Africans expect in
Nigeria.
As I pondered these things, it occurred to me that our foot may
not take us into the turf of someone we ill-treated before during our lifetime, but the
unavoidable truth is that one day it will land us before the throne of the Creator of all
creation, the Judge of judges and the King of kings.
Our limited human mind cannot begin to imagine what it will
be like to hear the Lord thunder,
"Verily
I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:40)
Have a blessed weekend.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
