LETTERS: Thieves of any colour are a disgrace to the nation

As a white old-timer here in the land of my birth, South Africa, I have been the victim of more than 26 burglaries in the three different homes I have lived in over the last 30 years.
I have had a gun pressed against my temple whilst having to point out where my money and non-existent gun could be found. I’ve had my vehicle pinched and abandoned and a friend’s car hijacked in my driveway. I’ve had an upturned broken bottle placed on my car seat because I had foreseen the theft of my car radio and removed it before it could be stolen. I’ve had a lawn mower, outdoor furniture, garden implements and tools pinched which aren’t even included in my burglary statistics. I have come home to smashed windows and household items missing and found carving knives laid out for easy access in case I interrupted the scene. I’ve had the house ransacked whilst on holiday and then further items taken by the security guards placed there to keep it safe until my return. I’ve stopped the theft of my trailer and held up a trespasser on my property until the police arrived.
But through it all, because of our history, I have done my utmost to view it all in a non-jaundiced manner. I have soberly accepted that even as a middle class income earner, in the eyes of the destitute I am obscenely wealthy. I know that apartheid was and is a crime against humanity, and racism and xenophobia are abhorrent – and I know how the legislation of that time split families, humiliated parents, broke up homes and left fatherless and motherless children with appalling conditions to contend with in their upbringing and so-called education.
I know how it limited growth and opportunities to prosper and how it victimised, wrought havoc upon and destroyed the social life of millions of people denying them those opportunities that so easily fell into my lap and which I so took for granted in my contentment. And I also saw how children grew up not knowing the difference between right and wrong. And I have taken responsibility for my inaction all those years ago.
So as a person desperately trying to apply my Christian values to the circumstances I live in now, I have never viewed any of those incidents as being the work of people of a certain colour or from a certain country – but only as being the work of criminals, themselves sometimes victims of the broken and destitute backgrounds they come from.
Was I angry? Of course I was. Did I curse those who had so maliciously invaded my space? Of course I did. Was I fortunate that I was never injured? Of course I was. Did I lose things of sentimental value such a Comrades medal or never to be seen again, photographs? Yes I did.
Had someone I loved been injured or, worse still, raped or killed would I have been as non-jaundiced? I don’t know, but I would like to think I would have.
Do I treat all the people I see in my home town, in the streets and in conversation in the same manner irrespective of their colour? Yes I do. Do I carry around any grudges? No I don’t. Am I a racist? No, I definitely am not. Will I continue to try and build bridges and help the destitute and marginalised? Yes I will.
Have things changed much for the poor and unemployed in the areas around me since democracy came about? Not much. When I look at where I stay and where the poor stay, have things changed much in the last 25 years? No they haven’t. Am I historically, whether I like it or not, still one of the haves amongst countless numbers of have nots? Yes I am.
Would I still be asking myself these questions if this government and state-owned institutions and municipalities had from day one come down hard on corruption and bad eggs in their employ and executed their duties properly? Possibly not.
Will I accept the standard of leadership currently being displayed in this current government? No I will not. Will I vote for the opposition DA at this time? Yes I will. Would I vote for the ANC in the future? Yes I would – but only if I thought that they had the right leaders, those able to take this country forward, basing their decisions and legislation on that which is moral and just, racially equal and economically sound – then yes I would.
Would it matter what their colour was? No it bloody well wouldn’t.
So black people who haven’t yet done so, please take ownership of this democracy, select trustworthy Albert Luthuli-like leaders and stop tarring all of us whites with the same Sparrow brush. And white people who haven’t yet done so, stop complaining and start taking stock of and sharing and assisting in righting the wrongs of the past before managing the future.
Will these statements ruffle the feathers of those who enjoy having their feathers ruffled? I suppose they will.
Do I still love my country with its great diversity and despite all that is wrong with it? Yes I do.
And finally – criminals (especially you white collar criminals) – shame on you for shaming us all and impeding the development of our country and the healing that needs to happen. Whatever your colour, you’re a disgrace to this nation and your excuses and reasons for thieving and destroying property are not acceptable.
CLIFF HATT
Zinkwazi