Go back to work

My heart goes out to Thobile Ntola (“Back to school after one year’s sick leave”, November 18).

One of the symptoms of depression is a feeling of helplessness and Ntola is clearly in the grip of helplessness.

He claims that he is depressed about “money being wasted by the government”. 

If he were not feeling so helpless and depressed, he would see that he is the cause of his own depression and do something about it.

For example, he could go back to work, and contribute to reducing poverty and inequality by educating the youth. 

I too am depressed about poverty, unemployment and inequality, but this doesn’t stop me from going to work (I am lucky enough to have a job).

These problems will all just get worse if we just give up. Ntola is part of the problem that South Africa faces.

He could be part of the solution if he could stop feeling so sorry for himself. As it is, he sets a very poor example to the children

in his school. We each have to take  responsibility for the state of the country.

We each make the world we live in.