By Fanzo Skhova
07/06/2016
Every once in a while we all receive that gift we cherish a little more than others. We protect, keep safe and in splendid condition such a gift.
Before I get taken away, my sincere prayers go to the victims and families of those who perished in Kanana, Hammanskraal two weeks or so ago. Violence is bad, death is worse!
No insensitivity intended but frankly, had the Red Ants read their Bible before they entered Kanana, they would have known better not to suggest by any conduct, a dispossession exercise. A quick visit to the first Testament, interestingly, the very first book, you will encounter Genesis 17 v 8.
“And, I will give to you and your offspring after you the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possessions…” I guess you could say MEC Paul Mashatile read his Bible. In one testimonial beamed of television news, residents hoisted a letter signed by a councillor for the City of Tshwane municipality thereby officially allocating the land to the community in dispute. The councillor, was indeed validating the Biblical undertaking that the land shall be theirs to possess.
“The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirits returns to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12 v 7 tells us so. A deep and critical reading of this verse indicts many of us who confiscate, price very high or deny people access to land in any manner. What we learn here is that people and the ground are one. So any deliberate and confrontational attempt to split people from the ground is unBiblical in as much as it may constitute a sin. Small wonder the community of Kanana resisted with vigour the attempt to remove them from that land. They were powered by at least two justifications. That the land was bestowed upon them by God and that they and the ground are organically connected. That which is natural cannot be undone by an artificial deed.
The invasion of Kanana further fuelled already smouldering fires directed at the political skin of Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Sputla Ramokgopa and the ANC he leads. It is a publicly documented secret that the call for him to quit especially the ANC leadership position peaked so much a new leader was elected to take up the position held by Ramokgopa. I have no ties with Ramokgopa but I am aware he is a university graduate. That alone immediately position him favourably as a civil individual also capable of knowing that a political position and or a resultant deployment are not in their nature, permanent offerings. It is for this reason that we experience conferences to elect leadership every four or five years. This arrangement is also embodied in the constitution of the country. It is the least of my expectation the Executive Mayor will live by the loosely translated meaning of his last name thereby develop a “thick skin” by resisting change.
I am confident that the Tshwane’s number One will graciously step down when the time for him to do so is upon us. Similarly, I trust that the Red Ants and those who instruct them to separate dust from the ground it came from, will henceforth do the Biblically appropriate thing – give land to the people and do not remove from the land those who already live it. People come from the ground. People and the ground are naturally one. I know no one who possesses the ability to put apart that which God put together unless if they have offered an alternative.
Skhova
The views expressed in this article are not necesarily those of Moretele Times.