I live in Harkerville – near Knysna and Plett!

The Johannesburg and Sandton libraries have a good collection of history books written by Africans who experienced the other side of liberation history.

I can’t vouch for the lack of vested interest though …

Never quote me a website as a reference. There is too much money behind vested interests posting on the net.

Of course I don’t “remember” it! I was not in the military, and there was a blanket on media coverage.

My sources are the books “When a Crocodile Ate the Sun” and “The Great Betrayal”.

And yes, I might have got the city wrong. These were library books. I can’t afford to buy all the books I would like to.

Lyndall … there is an African saying that goes “Until the lion learns to speak hunting stories will glorify the hunter”. Therefore I will not blame you for your half-sided memories of that era.

To begin with there is no way Rhodesia could have attacked Harare. There was no city known as Harare at the time. The city now known as Harare was Salisbury – the capital of Rhodesia.

I think the story you are referring to is one of an attack on Lusaka, Zambia. One of many other attacks by Rhodesia and South Africa.

You say that the attacks were not on civilians. Who do you think lived in Makeni, Lusaka? There is no military base in Makeni. There has never ever been one. What about the raids on Swaziland?

The informatioon I gave you is common knowledge – the Uni Penn site is just one link to it

When I was at Varsity when anyone wanted to lie they said “This is information verified by The University of Pennsylvania”. It that a fake site? The information is NOT accurate. Definately schools and hospitals and civilians were not targeted. But remember the real battle was between Rhodesia and SA(seen as the free world) against Russia and Cuba(seen as the communist world). Blacks got caught up on both sides.

On one occassion Rhodesia warned the Harare zirport to keep their planes grounded as they were going to take out a “terrorist camp” by airstrike. The OAU was ALL in a hotel in Harare – and stayed indoors. They could have taken out the whole leadership of Africa in that strike by dropping a bomb on one hotel.

Jose
Thanks for info. Still Namibia is not SA.

I know I’m painting this with a thick brush and it doesn’t apply to everyone, but, I still need to make the point: they are here in desperation.

Let me ask you this Jarred, how many of these people that you’re telling to just sod off back to their country, how many have you spoken to? How many car guards, security guards, people selling things at flea markets.. have you stopped and spoken to: asking about their situation; asking why they’re here? Asking where they’re from, and what home is like and what their plan is? Can you name me 10 people that you know personally? Maybe 5?

I challenge you to this – come with me one day, and just listen to some stories…

I’m sick of the simplistic and unrealistic solutions from the representatives of academia. I honestly think, with all the learning and degrees and time spent pontificating, many have become fools. And not just normal fools, cold-hearted ones. You are out of touch with the world, living in your bubble, offering solutions from your arm chair… You’re just like me when I’m a spectator at a sport, I know exactly what the ref should call, I know exactly how that player should have passed… all while I sip my coke and bite into my hot dog… That’s fine when it’s entertainment, but not when it affects the very real lives of a suffering people.

My finger is pointing at you now Jarred, saying only this: how dare you.

And you others applauding this, shame on you.

This is a dark time in our history books, and I am ashamed to be a South African. To any foreigners in South Africa who are reading this, my prayers are with you and your families, as well as the innocent locals who are caught in the middle of this mess.

Jarred, Where are you going to run when there is war in South Africa? People who flee other countries do so for a reason. The reason is that most of them are starving to death every day.

Have you ever crossed Africa on foot to try and put food on your families table? I dont think so! I have met many of these people including some who crossed the Kruger park on foot and watched as there friends where eaten by lions trying to make this journey. Do you think these people do this for fun to get rich? You deserve to be ashamed of your comments in this post.

Your comments “To the foreigners, we need to send a clear message: go home and fix up your own countries.” are uninteresting and unintelligent.

Sorry thought leader but you just lost a reader!