Comments on: ‘Mandela can make a bomb from a spoon’

By: Laeti

Laeti — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:12:48 +0000

Your writings give me hope for the future of our beloved country – I believe there are more of your calibre out there that will be part of our future. Thank you!!

By: Fishtheangel

Fishtheangel — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:54:20 +0000

“incarcerated for fighting for his right to fight for the right to be a free man” ease up on the spleef mfanakuthi

By: Kanam Junior

Kanam Junior — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:07:00 +0000

Nice piece, Khaya. Again, you have delivered.
Been a while since I read about such moving stories of the past. I have the horrible feeling that they are fading off. Which would be a pity, since they are one of the most powerful stories the world has heard about South Africa, and this am speaking from experience.
Keep spreading your words, brother. Come to think about it, the worst that could happen is Julius accusing you of forging his signature.

Kanam.

By: MLH

MLH — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:49:50 +0000

I think you are quite right. Nelson Mandela gave white people back our self-respect. I think he had a bit of help from De Klerk, who I also admire for going against the grain of the then ruling party.

When I dropped my son at varsity this morning, I saw a security guard standing with his firearm raised and asked whether the nearby bank that used to be there, was still operating. His reply: ‘No, this campus has 24-hour armed guards because they target white students, made me feel sick and I remembered why I give him a lift, instead of letting him walk or ride by bike.

I hope black people realise that some of their own may have lost their self-respect despite Mandela’s courage and common decency!

By: Athi

Athi — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:29:52 +0000

LOL! Owu mchana – this took me back – I thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece, but it also reminded me that, as a people we must never let the sacrifices of those who came before us be forgotten. It could not have been all for nothing.

By: mOcho

mOcho — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:05:32 +0000

If Khaya’s piece is OK, damn man, I can hardly wait to read some of Panchetta’s.

Like WTF man?

By: Thandinkosi Sibisi

Thandinkosi Sibisi — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:20:54 +0000

This piece reminds me of how I gradually came to know about “race” and “racism” /”racial discrimination”

Lesson 1: I must have been about seven years old when I overheard my parents saying “abelungu bayasicindezela” which can be translated as “the whites are oppressing us”.I am now 58 years old and this incident occured in the late 50s .This evoked images of white fellow throwing me onto the ground , pinning me to the ground and strangling me.This seemed at odds with the few white people I knew [ a doctor in a local hospital for example as well as white priests and nuns since I grew up in a catholic mission]. These were rather nice people , hardly the kind that would throw you on the floor and strangle you!I did not dare ask my parents to explain as children were not supposed to eavesdrop on adults.As I gradually matured I came to know what they meant.

Lesson 2 I think I must have been about 11 or 12. I was in town and needed the services of Durban post office.I wondered why blacks were forming a long queue at a shabby back office.The whites on the other hand were using neat and spacious office at the front entrance of the post office.I decided to enter the spacious front office………..You can fill in the details…….Suffice to say that I learned to use the back office next time!

By: Panchetta

Panchetta — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:00:11 +0000

Sorry Khaya, but I have to temper some of the praise with the comment that your writing is OK. Nothing special, but keep at it.

By: Gillian Faichnie

Gillian Faichnie — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:14:04 +0000

What a beautifully written piece, thanks Khaya, you made me laugh, that bit about being chosen first for football was brilliant.

I am a bit older than you, a whitey who left the country because I couldn’t stand it anymore, only to come back on holiday because I understood something was about to happen here, can’t remember how I knew. Anyway, I had the good fortune to be in Cape Town on that day and I hitchhiked to the grand parade. There are no words to describe the emotions – the moment when we saw his face for the first time and heard his voice – thinking about it still brings tears to my eyes. What a man, what a moment.

I came back to SA because he asked me to.

By: shailendra sham

shailendra sham — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:54:28 +0000

Absolutely wonderful post Khaya.. Many thanks for sharing that in such a beautiful way:-)..and Amore Mia too..