Toto Konco, Gugulethu
I have a sense that the hype around Uyinene Mrwetyana (may her soul rest in peace) will die down in weeks to come and that life will return to normal – as is always the case.
However, we need to take stock of what has happened, remove all the emotions and apply our brains.
The quick reaction from most women attacking all men was an emotional response (granted – they were angry) and they were aiming at the wrong target.
In my view, there are two fundamental issues that we need to look at, here’s my synopsis.
Firstly what kind
of a society are we,
that breeds such monsters?
We really need to introspect and delve deep, asking some hard questions, with a view (once we have clarity) that we can then address the root cause, which will pave the way for corrective action to be implemented.
Let us start at Grade R if we have to, and talk to our boys – instilling good values in them – to respect not only women but life itself.
Secondly, we need to seriously call for a judicial overhaul. Our justice system appears to be on the side of the perpetrators.
We have talked about this in the taverns, taxis, funerals, churches etc.. just about at any gathering, people have been complaining about our courts.
Even the thugs know how to beat the system, and if you can afford a good lawyer, the common belief is that you can get away with murder in South Africa.
Our justice system, we feel it lacks justice, at least through the eyes of the many victims.
It is a combination of factors that leads to that.
The failure of our courts to effectively deal with administering justice has (at times) led to mob justice – where people are taking the law into their own hands.
These are the two fundamental areas
I feel we should tackle as soon as possible
and we need all
hands on deck – from civil society to government, business forums… a multi-party force that will convene and drive this process forward.
Time is of the essence.
Toto Konco works for a community organisation Mfesane but writes in his personal capacity.