As much as I acknowledge that there was littering on the day of the funeral (May 17), I think the writer deliberately omitted to indicate that the place was brought back to its normal clean state by African people.
The family did not anticipate the numbers of people who came to pay their last respect to the deceased, hence there was no provision for refuse plastic bags. However the family ensured that the place was cleaned just the following morning.
Anybody who amongst the neighbouring streets got to clean his/her place did that out of his/her own good will otherwise there was a team in readiness to heed the call for cleaning up.
What bothers me most is that the report smacks of racism as it refers to the mourners being all African, which can be interpreted to mean that Africans behave despicably. I think it is about time we stop sensationalising issues but rather learn, understand and accept each other. African people according to their culture and their UBUNTU nature, support each other when there is a death and/or a funeral, and that is not going to change.
African people are now free to live in any area in this country and they have to be embraced as they have always embraced people of other nations whilst they were being discriminated against. The very African people are the ones who by the way, keep the neighbourhood within Winchester Hills clean because they earn a living out of cleaning and also appreciate a clean environment. I wish we could begin to understand the different backgrounds and environments which we all come from and also be aware of how those differences can stimulate certain behaviours. If we could do that there will be less pettiness. No nation will think it’s better than the other.
Regards
Theresa Mngomezulu
