As a country, we're sitting here on the eve of Human Rights Day, 35 years after the events of March 21st 1960 when anti-apartheid demonstrators in Sharpeville were gunned down by police.
It seems, as humanity as a whole, we're unable to learn from history. I remember our English and History Teacher from grade 7, pointing out this flaw in the human condition and thus inspiring us to dig deeper and look forward to envision what we could change as we got older.
Today, we braced for impact as we awaited the massive strike: with memories of what went down in 2021 when the country was almost brought to its knees by looting and strike action that turned extremely violent in what was dubbed The Zuma Riots.
Bridges we'd built between our diverse people collapsed, while simultaneously, new ones were formed as we joined together in the public sector and in our private capacities to rebuild and recover what was destroyed.
As a South African, I ponder where we've come from and our past speckled with hope and tainted by loss and atrocities and I wonder where it is that we keep going wrong.
I think we don't fully comprehend the power we hold in our diversity and what we could achieve, if only we could work to build up this beautiful nation instead of consistently dehumanising each other to justify our agendas.
As we all sit precariously on fences, not sure which side we're on, perhaps we should realise that our fences are connected and together we form a fortress, a safe haven, a homeland and our country.
Surely there is still hope?
Surely we can still build this rainbow nation if we can learn to stop hating each other and work together?
If only we could.....
Mamela (Listen) @jasperdick and @clairemobey
Your Father died a Poor Man, my friend
He struggled to survive
They said it would get better, in the end
But the jobs did not arrive
Mamela, my brother
Can you feel the anger that burns within you?
They've let us down
They say that they will help you today
But you will not forget
They've made you the same promise before
They have not kept it yet
Mamela, my brother
Can you feel the anger that burns within you?
They let us down.
They tell us lies, don't believe them
If they won't lead us, the. We don't need them
We can fix it, if we work together
Don't let them make us, hate each other
Mamela, my brother
Can you feel the anger that burns within you?
They let us down.
Recorded live at The Cottage Club, ironically, during loadshedding. Special thanks to Bill Knight, Amanda Risi and our phenomenal audience that made this evening not just possible, but magical. Candles and all.