Crisis of Conscience: Voices From a Divided Nation

Letters to the editor

Bluster, betrayal and broken alliances

Dear Editor,

The expression “there’s honour among thieves” seems to have fallen out of favour, replaced by the more apt notion of “rogues falling out”.

Europe’s political bloc has finally decided it has had enough of Donald Trump – weary of his tariff threats, tired rhetoric and patronising lectures about American sacrifice versus European complacency. The applause and bluster from the Oval Office have worn thin.

At the same time, those who were totally, partially or “neutrally” complicit in Israel’s ongoing campaign – described by many as genocidal – now appear ready to cut off the very hand that once fed them, offering not so much nourishment as misinformation. They now profess a willingness to face the future alone.

Of course, “alone” is a relative term. Europe still walks alongside India, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden and several other fair-weather allies, all now presenting themselves as steadfast companions.

As a parent might say to a departing child: it will be a difficult journey. But go with God. | Ebrahim Essa Durban

KwaZulu-Natal’s name has meaning

By asserting that there is “historical justice” in removing the name “Natal” from the title of the province, the writer of the Daily News’ January 27 edition needs to understand the historical dimensions and context.

Whether one likes it or not, recorded history of our province began in 1497 when Vasco da Gama logged his observation of our shores. For the next 300 years various observations were noted by navigators and shipwrecked sailors along the Natal coast as it was charted.

Although 1400 is mooted as a possible early date when an Nguni presence may first have occurred in Natal, it is generally accepted that Khoisan ­occupation predated that by many centuries.

However, what needs to be acknowledged is that Natal has been the destination of three migratory groups: Africans, who migrated southwards from central Africa as a result of pastoral needs, internecine warfare and slavery; Europeans, who sought better living conditions and opportunities; Indians, initially as indentured labourers, but subsequently as settlers who saw more promising prospects here than in India.

So the assertion that the history of the province began with the formation of the Zulu is just plain wrong. In fact until 1818, when Shaka succeeded in expanding the Zulu by incorporating the Mthethwa and Nwandwe, tribes to which the Zulu had previously been subordinate, it cannot be claimed that the Zulu were shaping the region’s destiny.

Nobody denies the role of Shaka and his successors in forging the Zulu nation. But to assert that “the soul of the province” is derived exclusively from that achievement is autocratic and very much at odds with realities.It also ignores the preamble of the constitution which calls for “respect for those who have worked to build and develop our country.”

Just 200 years ago, at the height of Shaka’s reign, no means of written recording or wheeled transport existed to say nothing of engineering, mathematics or Christianity. Those benefits and countless others were brought by Europeans.

Nobody disputes the late King Zw­elithini’s feeling that the name Zulu carries “the weight of dignity and belonging.” What needs to be appreciated is that there are minority groups in KwaZulu Natal who also belong here and whose achievements have dignified the province. It is their right to be called ­Natalians because as minorities they are not Zulus. That is why the name “KwaZulu-­Natal” is correct and appropriate because it represents dignity, belonging and identity.

Besides sound reasons of history and heritage, there is absolutely nothing to be gained materially or economically from indulging in changing the name of the province.

For a province whose finances are in a mess and where governance is a term that was last appreciated in the 20th century, it’s a no-brainer to be considering a name change. | DR DUNCAN DU BOIS Bluff

Moral collapse in the ‘Rainbow Nation’

Dear Editor,

Our beloved “Rainbow Nation” is a land of extreme contrasts and deeply troubling contradictions.

We risk life and limb to rescue and preserve our endangered rhino population, yet in the same breath we brutally murder our wives and partners on a daily basis. We are an avowedly religious people, yet we routinely desecrate the core principles of our sacred scriptures. We claim to fear God, yet commit adultery without shame or remorse.

We profess love and respect for our elders, yet month after month we rob them of their government grants, depriving them of their only source of income. We rely on our mothers and grandparents for care, yet they are raped and sexually abused. We celebrate women on Valentine’s Day, only to mutilate them and bury them in shallow graves.

We proclaim innocence in our daily lives, yet lead double lives marked by theft, drug abuse and gossip – in total contradiction of what we preach. Every day we witness elites flaunting obscene wealth while abject poverty devastates the majority. We are a nation of staggering riches floating in a sea of desperate poverty, where many go to bed hungry each night.

We find comfort behind high walls and gated communities while the homeless seek shelter on cold pavements. We imprison people for petty crimes while politically connected individuals brazenly steal billions with impunity.

Time and again, we vote for those who have stolen our future, while generations languish in poverty. Under our justice system, stealing a loaf of bread can earn a prison sentence, yet murdering a spouse may result in a suspended sentence if one can afford an expensive lawyer. We struggle to educate ourselves, yet in moments of rage we burn down the very institutions we paid for.

Minor criminals are paraded in halls of shame, while those who loot billions are immortalised in halls of fame. The list of contradictions is endless. Rest assured, this artificial bubble cannot last forever – it will one day burst with devastating consequences.

Yours sincerely, | Farouk Araie Benoni

DAILY NEWS