'SA democracy is a nightmare'
"It's difficult to believe that people are pocketing so much money, and have so much privilege, while the masses suffer in shacks"
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu lambasted the government at a Cape Town publishing event, saying that democracy in the country had turned into a nightmare, the Beeld reported on Tuesday.
He was speaking on Monday night at the launch of struggle veteran Michael Lapsley’s book “Redeeming the Past”, which was attended by many high-ranking government officials, among them the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation and ANC Western Cape leader, Marius Fransman.
According to the newspaper, Tutu reportedly screamed at the government, and asked: “What the devil are you doing?”
The Archbishop became very emotional, and said he wished he could go to his grave knowing that the country was a good and peaceful one.
“But I ask myself, why were we in the struggle? The highest price was paid for freedom, but are we treating it as something precious?”
He said it was unacceptable that 18 years into democracy, school children had no textbooks, and that there was no accountability for these situations.
“It's difficult to believe that people are pocketing so much money, and have so much privilege, while the masses suffer in shacks,” he said.
He also criticised those who enriched themselves because the ministerial handbook allowed it.
“It’s legal, but is it moral?” he reportedly asked.
“Please, please, please, come to your senses.
“Marikana felt like a nightmare, but this is what our 2012 democracy has become,” he said.
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Comments
Mosquer
O ka botšiša gapeReport Abuse
kolobe
maybe malema should start his own party, anc in incapableReport Abuse
truthhurt
And yet we have days that are commemorated "Freedom day" which i dont celebrate, i dont know what freedom is, i have never experienced it.Some people would ague that my life would have been differant had the ANC not fought for the little freedom we have, the true is that some people are more free than others.
The question is how free do you feel as an individual?
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MommaC
Bish, take a holiday. Go visit with your friend the Dalai Lama and don't pick up a newspaper for a few weeks. I share your frustration but you are letting it get to you. We need you strong, healthy and with your perspectives in place.Report Abuse
VENDALIOUS
Tutu is a attention seeker just like Julius malimaReport Abuse
tumi85
Our government"ÁNC' don't know they are doing to south Africans but only corruptions that whats they graduated with PhDsReport Abuse
Chabella
Anything but the ANC !!Report Abuse
Chabella
we should all read this.www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=323736&sn=Detail&pid=71616
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star88
What is democracy ???Where is thee sait of all saints, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ???
During CODESA, Cyril Ramaphosa was the mouthpeace of Mandela and Roelf Meyer was the mouthpeace of De Klerk. We know that De Klerk still stands by the apartheid policies and in 2012 he went to the BBC and told the world that the homeland policy was the best policy. On the other hand, Ramaphosa (a black former unionist) gained massive profits and a lot of money from the investment in a Lonmin mines - fast foward to 2012 to the Marikana massacre.
Today, the Madelas live like royalty, on the blood of the many poor masses who still live in appaling conditions.
Thandiswa Mazwai said it in her hit song: "Zabalaza" as well as Letta Mbulu who said "Not yet uhuru"
Desmond Tutu, you are part of the problem - with all due respect!
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Sugaar
'SA democracy is a nightmare' under the ledership of showerhead a zuluuboy from ikandla.Report Abuse
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