We must free our minds

Luvuyo Shaun Martins, Khayelitsha

Are we really chasing, beating, killing, looting our own flesh-and blood brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children because they are from another country?

What kind of an animal are we – are we vicious beasts, monsters who have a quest for our fellow people’s blood simply because we want to continue to be “slaves”?

We claim that foreign nationals are taking our jobs, businesses, women, residential buildings, but I doubt this is true, as no one has ever come forward with the proof of such allegations.

Why can’t we create jobs instead? South Africans must mentally free themselves from colonial and apartheid shackles so that they let go of self-hate behaviour.

I humbly appeal to all illegal foreign nationals, especially those who are engaging themselves in drug dealings, human trafficking, and illegal businesses, to refrain from those activities as they anger us.

As for the senseless violent killings of women, children and elderly people that are on the rise in this country, I appeal to our government to consider amending section 35 (2)(c); (e) and (f) of the Bill of Rights in our democratic constitution of 1996.

Prison should be prison and not a hotel, and those found guilty of rape, murder, armed robbery and any form of abuse should be compelled to hard labour without parole.

South Africans are peace-loving people and hence the majority are against the death penalty, but they want true justice.

We are not creatures or animals but human beings supposedly created in God’s image.

South Africans should never allow these kinds of violence to happen again, especially during the Women’s Month (August) and Heritage Month (September), Celebrating these months should only create a conducive environment for all people to embrace and celebrate what was bequeathed to us by our forebears.