From Daily Maverick · Marius Oosthuizen · · 2m
Look up, South Africa: wounded, yes, but still breathing
South Africa faces violence, corruption and division, yet an opinion writer argues the nation's indomitable spirit refuses to surrender hope.
In brief
South Africa faces violence, corruption and division, yet an opinion writer argues the nation's indomitable spirit refuses to surrender hope. An opinion piece argues that despite recent violence, corruption and division in South Africa, the nation retains an indomitable spirit and future. Originally reported by Daily…
A pastor's words for hard times
A late pastor once said, "Breathe… if you are alive, you are winning!" The writer argues South Africa needs those words now, with hope as a life force.
“Breathe… if you are alive, you are winning!”
Women's bodies found in Gauteng
In September, a dozen women's bodies were found dumped in Gauteng. The discovery came after August was marked as Women's Month in South Africa.
Mass shootings and police corruption
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Twenty-seven people were killed in mass shootings. The Madlanga Commission exposed systemic corruption, and Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya was arrested on allegations including rape and trafficking.
Springboks victory overshadowed
The Springboks' September victory against the All Blacks was short-lived after it emerged that captain André Esterhuizen was found guilty in 2012 for using a racial slur.
Racial tensions and international pressure
White Afrikaner right-wingers and families of farm murder victims dominate airwaves about racial hatred and "white genocide" in South Africa, while Americans prepare sanctions.
Poetry of suffering and survival
The writer invokes poems by Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, Siza Nkosi Mokhele and Ingrid Jonker to frame South Africa's pain. Nelson Mandela read Jonker's "The Child is Not Dead" at Parliament's opening on May twenty-fourth, nineteen ninety-four.
South Africa is not dead
The writer tells South Africa: "You are wounded, but you are still breathing." Within the nation's spirit lies its future, and an indomitable spirit must overflow to fill its wounds.
“You are wounded, but you are still breathing.”
A call to look beyond darkness
The writer urges South Africa to look up and let its indomitable spirit overflow. Above the dark clouds is a rainbow, and the world must see the nation's many colours.
What to remember
An opinion piece argues that despite recent violence, corruption and division in South Africa, the nation retains an indomitable spirit and future.
