It takes part of my soul away when I read news reports from South Africa. I honestly look for the good news and it is so hard to find. It did my heart the world of good to hear about Jabu Thobela, a SA final year legal student, who flew for the first time in a plane, but came home from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with a gold medal from an international competition to judge top legal students. And then I turn the page and read about 1.6 million people -- more than one is seven -- who found themselves in casualty wards in Gautang over the past 18 months. I read about the series of horrific bus disasters in South Africa that claimed the lives of 31 people (including UK tourists) in separate accidents. I read about research that indicates 2.7 million South Africans are already infected with AIDS and 1,500 new cases are reported daily. There is the stomach turning case of a 24-year-old woman who was abducted and raped by a gang. Half her nose was burned away, she had 20 percent burns over her body and her upper lip was cut off. She is only one of 1.6 million rape cases that happen in South African every year. Only seven percent of those reported are ever prosecuted. Another mind-boggler is Judge Willem Heath's revelation that his special investigative unit will summon 40 magistrates and court officials in connection with alleged corruption. They are hijacking trains between towns and robbing them of millions. One of SA's the most prestigious boys' schools is now asking parents for permission to conduct random drug test on pupils. But the story that kicks me in the teeth is the report that funeral-goers started a 12-gun salute for an army lieutenant who killed seven military officers and a civilian in a murderous spree last month. Since when do you give a hero's send-off to a mass killer? And I don't care what colour he was. The salute was banned by the police and they acted by opening fire on the crowd injuring three. When the worms have munched their way to the core of human decency and respect in South Africa, then something is radically wrong. Colin D Webmaster: Colin Dedricks (C) Copyright '97 |