Restore the dignity of humanity
IT is certainly hoped that the R120-million which is intended for the inauguration of the ANC president as well as the vast amounts of money (probably a few million monthly) on unnecessary TV stations could be spent creating employment, improving public infrastructure and on education, health and welfare instead. This would greatly improve the morale of society at large, and there would consequently be greatly reduced crime and evil.
I am appalled by MEC Pemmy Majodina reported in The Herald on Friday as saying society had failed by raising child criminals ("Society has failed by raising child criminals, MEC says"). This is not objective at all.
Such leaders must seriously look at the causes of this tragic trend in society. Frustration and anger is being caused by lack of work, inadequate housing with as many as 16 people living in a single small room (horror of horrors) and the resulting lack of quality of life is leading to chaotic frustration within society.
If we reflect back some 50 years ago, a man was the breadwinner for his entire family, and much order and dignity prevailed in the family unit because there was always bread on the table due to a liveable wage. This clearly shows that inflation and the interest system is causing severe frustration in people.
The situation is getting progressively worse and there does not seem to be any serious effort at genuinely rectifying the causes of community frustration so crime, theft and rape will not only continue, but also worsen and become more horrendous.
A leaf should be taken out of the book of former leaders in Islam who ensured they earned the lowest wage and that the needs of all of society, Muslim and non-Muslim, were met every day before the day was over.
This is but a dream unless the world will care to follow the example of present day Uruguayan President José Mujica, whose ruling policies, albeit highly controversial, are that he lives simply and rejects the perks of the presidency.
Mujica has refused to live at the presidential palace or have a motorcade. He lives in a one-bedroomed house on his wife's farm and drives a 1987 Volkswagen.
"There have been years when I would have been happy just to have a mattress," said Mujica, referring to his time in prison.
He donates more than 90% of his $12000 (R124720) per month salary to charity so he makes the same as the average citizen in Uruguay.
See the website http://www. commondreams.org/view/2014/05/15-1 Restoration of the dignity of humanity has to be the prime goal of all governments, but world leaders are obliged to comply with rulings to the contrary.
Rashid Abass, Malabar, Port Elizabeth
