My wife and I have lived and worked in China for 12½ years. We were the Pastor couple of CIFC (Changchun International Fellowship Church) and worked at a couple of universities. Our students ranged from 1st year to PhD. At the same time we were involved in missions over Asia. Due to deterioration of my eyesight, we had to return to our beloved country. In my heart I was a Boer and will always stay a Boer. Boer to me means to be available and useful to humankind across the globe and to live according the example of Jesus Christ. Our lives were and are still colorful due to the grace of God. We never hesitate to go out when we hear His calling. Now back in South Africa, the bastion of current Christianity, we are so sad to observe the unforgiving trend among people of all ethnic groups and races, as well as the greed to have more, based on lies and unlawful practices. Prosperity opened the door for arrogance, and disrespect of the law and disrespect for life and others property. When I compare the arrogance among people and groups in South Africa, I cant find percentage wise any other country in the world that matches. We even find white Christians, black Christians and brown Christians, each with their own interpretation of Christianity to their own benefit. As Christians we have to make the difference. Coming to the big issues in politics, we have to be fair. Only the Sun, Khoi and Khoisan can claim to be the legal owners of South Africa by heritage. They have walked this land including other countries in Southern Africa long before any White or black people. As people began seeking new opportunities, black people moved downwards from mid Africa and forced mainly the Sun from their living territories. In the south the Khoi had also clashes with the Sun and in the Northern Cape Khoi and Sun even came to the point where they lived together and formed the KhoiSan. At the East coast the Nguni tribes moved downwards up to the current Mthatha (Umtata) to become the AmaXhoza. In the Kwa-Zulu/Natal region were many small Nguni tribes and under the wisdom of a man named Shaka Zulu between 1816-1823 these Nguni tribes were consolidated to become the Zulu nation, named after the central figure of Shaka Zulu who became the king. The Zulu became the mightiest military force in southern Africa, increasing their land holdings by force from about 260 square kilometers to 29785. For the first time these groups learned to cooperate and lived according to a certain code of conduct. This became the proud Zulu nation with their own traditions and land, named Zululand. Dingane was the next king followed by Mpande. When he died in 1872, Cetshwayo took over and fought the British who tried to take over their land that they’ve taken originally from the San and later from other smaller Nguni tribes. It does not mean there was all in all support from the newly founded Zulu nation after Shaka. Many joined and followed by fear. There were still smaller groups who didn’t want to cooperate. Some supported the British, others the Boers against Dingane after the attack at Bloodriver. A large group eventually broke away under Mzilikazi Khumalu a former officer of Shaka Zulu who formed the Matabele. They settled in the eMalahleni (Witbank) area and later the Pretoria area, from where they’ve terrorized smaller groups such as the Bapedi and the Tswana. The Boers in alliance with Sekwati of the Bapedi took the Mathabele on in numerous clashes until they’ve fled into Botswana and at last settled in today’s Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, that means “Place of the great massacre”. In the same way the Swazi, Basotho, AmaXoza, Bapedi, Venda, Tswana and other Barolongs came to existence. The black tribes were just well settled when the Hollanders, French, Germans and later the British arrived. With their arrival South Africa began to develop until the British came to put everyone under British rule. Under negotiation, and in some cases bought for cattle, agreements of settling on land were implemented. Where we are today, no one but the Sun, Khoi and Khoisan can claim that South Africa originally belongs to them. All people in South Africa settled by different settling arrangements, some by tribal intimidation, others by tribal war and some by agreements. Now we find that almost all of those who inherited land from their ancestors sold it. Most owners today have worked and bought their land. Yes it’s true that at a certain time some people were excluded from buying land in certain areas. No one of the big role players (black and white), except the yellow Sun, Khoi and KhoiSan can claim that this land belongs to them because of their ancestors. All the others’ ancestors came from other countries. So let us stop playing this game as if our land was taken by the whites. What we have to do is to work hard and buy what we want to have. If we don’t do that, our country will end up bankrupt as the current Zimbabwe. So many people in this country, some white and some black, became super rich by unlawful practices. That even includes hordes of so called “disadvantaged squatters”, but in the meantime they owe two to three houses in different locations over South Africa. As soon as they get a new government house to replace the squatter camp, they sell one of the others, rent it out to others, or let their extended families live there. Twenty years in a new democratic South Africa must bring us now to a new educated mature nation. We can learn from the Chinese. The one child policy, education and hard work brought them to the point that China can show muscle, became one of the richest countries in the world and taking lead in nearly every sector. The Chinese are laughing when they see the South African mess of strikes, corruption, violence, incompetent government, etc., because it means big business for them in the future as they take over Africa. I’ve been among the highest educated in China over 12½ years. Currently very few Chinese have a good word about South Africa except for our great tourism industry. They totally lost respect for the South African Government. Don’t let their smiles, gifts and hospitality fool you. As we come closer to the election date, think like an educated person. Don’t be fooled by empty promises. We daily observe poor administration by government, corruption, violence and deterioration in every sense of life. A few people, black and white, get richer and the masses get poorer. Help your neighbors, employees, parents and children to understand how important their vote is, and make a difference. Most of all as Christian, live the life of Jesus. Shalom.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Mar 2014 14:52:41 +0000
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