Allow me to introduce you to two heroes of South Africa.
The first is Irene Grootboom, 39, who brought an application to the Constitutional Court eight years ago asking government to provide housing for 510 children and 290 adults living in terrible conditions in Wallacedene informal settlement. Irene died last Wednesday, still living in a shack in Wallacedene.
The second hero is Ramatuku Maphutha, of indeterminate age, the deputy national secretary of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association. On Monday, according to the Cape Times, Maphuta said this: "We are going to make sure that Zuma becomes the next president of this country, no matter what. No Zuma, no country."
Irene Grootboom's application was successful, although in the incredibly slow world of our government, success is a relative term. News24 tells us that "Justice Zakeria Yacoob ruled that the constitution obliged the state to act positively to lessen the plight 'of the hundreds of thousands of people living in deplorable conditions throughout the country.'"
According to The Argus, the judgment "declared that the state was obliged to devise and implement 'a comprehensive and co-ordinated programme to realise the right of access to adequate housing.'"
Irene Grootboom died "sick and tired" of being on the housing list: "I was supposed to get a house but I'm still in a shack with my sister-in-law and her three children. They keep promising us. I'm sick and tired of the whole thing."
Ramatuku Maphutha believes that the allegations (made in the Sunday Times), that Jacob Zuma received R2m of a R30m arms deal bribe, should not be investigated. "No. Why? This thing has been done by the enemies of Zuma. They should just be dismissed. We cannot allow it."
Similarities
Let's consider the similarities between these two heroes. Irene Grootboom asked of the Constitution that it provide the basic conditions of life and human dignity to her community, and the government pissed on her. Ramatuku Maphutha pisses on our Constitution, and the government will reward him when his beloved Zuma comes to power.
Irene Grootboom laboured through the courts to get justice for her community, but it seems it was a hollow justice. Her funeral is on Saturday.
Maphutha is deploying "platoons" of MK soldiers across the country "to make sure the judge does not make an arrogant decision." He appears to believe that the justice system can be intimidated into bending the law to suit his "army" of veterans. He seems to have learnt a few tricks from Robert Mugabe, but hopefully we've learnt a few tricks as well. If his fascist tactics prevail, our country's funeral will be soon.
The only differences between Maphutha and Hitler Hunzvi, the leader of the Zimbabwean War Veterans Association, is that at least Hitler had the right brand message, and at least he's dead. Maphutha, alas, is alive.
Irene Grootboom is described as a Constitutional Rights Activist. Ramatuku Maphutha could be described as a Constitutional Rights Terrorist.
Social historians often ponder the question, when does a terrorist become a freedom fighter? Well, I can tell you when a freedom fighter becomes a terrorist. - NEWS24
The first is Irene Grootboom, 39, who brought an application to the Constitutional Court eight years ago asking government to provide housing for 510 children and 290 adults living in terrible conditions in Wallacedene informal settlement. Irene died last Wednesday, still living in a shack in Wallacedene.
The second hero is Ramatuku Maphutha, of indeterminate age, the deputy national secretary of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association. On Monday, according to the Cape Times, Maphuta said this: "We are going to make sure that Zuma becomes the next president of this country, no matter what. No Zuma, no country."
Irene Grootboom's application was successful, although in the incredibly slow world of our government, success is a relative term. News24 tells us that "Justice Zakeria Yacoob ruled that the constitution obliged the state to act positively to lessen the plight 'of the hundreds of thousands of people living in deplorable conditions throughout the country.'"
According to The Argus, the judgment "declared that the state was obliged to devise and implement 'a comprehensive and co-ordinated programme to realise the right of access to adequate housing.'"
Irene Grootboom died "sick and tired" of being on the housing list: "I was supposed to get a house but I'm still in a shack with my sister-in-law and her three children. They keep promising us. I'm sick and tired of the whole thing."
Ramatuku Maphutha believes that the allegations (made in the Sunday Times), that Jacob Zuma received R2m of a R30m arms deal bribe, should not be investigated. "No. Why? This thing has been done by the enemies of Zuma. They should just be dismissed. We cannot allow it."
Similarities
Let's consider the similarities between these two heroes. Irene Grootboom asked of the Constitution that it provide the basic conditions of life and human dignity to her community, and the government pissed on her. Ramatuku Maphutha pisses on our Constitution, and the government will reward him when his beloved Zuma comes to power.
Irene Grootboom laboured through the courts to get justice for her community, but it seems it was a hollow justice. Her funeral is on Saturday.
Maphutha is deploying "platoons" of MK soldiers across the country "to make sure the judge does not make an arrogant decision." He appears to believe that the justice system can be intimidated into bending the law to suit his "army" of veterans. He seems to have learnt a few tricks from Robert Mugabe, but hopefully we've learnt a few tricks as well. If his fascist tactics prevail, our country's funeral will be soon.
The only differences between Maphutha and Hitler Hunzvi, the leader of the Zimbabwean War Veterans Association, is that at least Hitler had the right brand message, and at least he's dead. Maphutha, alas, is alive.
Irene Grootboom is described as a Constitutional Rights Activist. Ramatuku Maphutha could be described as a Constitutional Rights Terrorist.
Social historians often ponder the question, when does a terrorist become a freedom fighter? Well, I can tell you when a freedom fighter becomes a terrorist. - NEWS24
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