EASTER is one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. At this time a year ago, a man who was the same age as Jesus was at the time of his crucifixion also became a martyr when he was publicly murdered for demanding water for his community.
We must never forget Andries Tatane. His murder should be catapulted to a modern Christ who died demanding the most basic of needs for the people.
Just like the Romans and Pharisees of Jesus's time, the authorities chose to kill him instead of listening to the voice of the people, pleading for a better life for all. Service to others is the hallmark of greatness.
The question must still be asked: why did Tatane die? In answering this question, we have to go beyond the police men who pulled the trigger and place full responsibility for the execution of Tatane at the doorstep of the ANCgovernment.
The people asked for water; government sent in the police. The ANC government killed Tatane, just like the Roman authorities murdered Jesus. Just like the NP killed Steve Biko.
In this time of great reflection on the Cross, we live in a country amid the most shocking abuse of the gospel to serve priests who, like politicians, prey on the sick, weak, neglected and the abandoned.
The Church has become a loud proclaimer of the goodness of heaven if you pay the pastor well.
It's time to return to liberation theology.
If religion has to be relevant, it has to speak to the conditions of the people in the here and now, otherwise it becomes a drug to take our eyes away from evil happening right in front of us.
Jesus wielded the whip against injustice. A new gospel is needed which will not blame the poor for the poverty, but show that suffering on earth is created by elites who usurp the power given to them by the people.
It can't be in God's plan that South Africa is endowed with the highest concentration of minerals on earth but the people are poor and our leaders parcel to each other the wealth of the nation.
This Easter, Pastor Xola Skhosana of the Way of Life Church will lead the annual "Welcome to Hell: SA Townships" march in the dusty streets of Cape Town townships.
The sub-theme of this year's march is "all whites are refugees", a response to the racist insult by Helen Zille.
We have seen the brutality of poverty turning people to shocking violence against each other in Cape Town townships, such as the ongoing burning of individuals. Responsibility for the hellish township life must be placed at the doorstep of the DA inWestern Cape.
This Easter let's pay homage to Andries Tatane by not just praying but also take a stand against injustice and join the voices that say, "Let it be a law that all politicians and public servants must use publicservices."
It's only in this way that quality services can be extended to the people.
- The march will start at 9am on Saturday, April 7, at NY 108 Gugulethu.
Let's pay homage to Tatane this Easter and stand against injustice
EASTER is one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. At this time a year ago, a man who was the same age as Jesus was at the time of his crucifixion also became a martyr when he was publicly murdered for demanding water for his community.
We must never forget Andries Tatane. His murder should be catapulted to a modern Christ who died demanding the most basic of needs for the people.
Just like the Romans and Pharisees of Jesus's time, the authorities chose to kill him instead of listening to the voice of the people, pleading for a better life for all. Service to others is the hallmark of greatness.
The question must still be asked: why did Tatane die? In answering this question, we have to go beyond the police men who pulled the trigger and place full responsibility for the execution of Tatane at the doorstep of the ANCgovernment.
The people asked for water; government sent in the police. The ANC government killed Tatane, just like the Roman authorities murdered Jesus. Just like the NP killed Steve Biko.
In this time of great reflection on the Cross, we live in a country amid the most shocking abuse of the gospel to serve priests who, like politicians, prey on the sick, weak, neglected and the abandoned.
The Church has become a loud proclaimer of the goodness of heaven if you pay the pastor well.
It's time to return to liberation theology.
If religion has to be relevant, it has to speak to the conditions of the people in the here and now, otherwise it becomes a drug to take our eyes away from evil happening right in front of us.
Jesus wielded the whip against injustice. A new gospel is needed which will not blame the poor for the poverty, but show that suffering on earth is created by elites who usurp the power given to them by the people.
It can't be in God's plan that South Africa is endowed with the highest concentration of minerals on earth but the people are poor and our leaders parcel to each other the wealth of the nation.
This Easter, Pastor Xola Skhosana of the Way of Life Church will lead the annual "Welcome to Hell: SA Townships" march in the dusty streets of Cape Town townships.
The sub-theme of this year's march is "all whites are refugees", a response to the racist insult by Helen Zille.
We have seen the brutality of poverty turning people to shocking violence against each other in Cape Town townships, such as the ongoing burning of individuals. Responsibility for the hellish township life must be placed at the doorstep of the DA inWestern Cape.
This Easter let's pay homage to Andries Tatane by not just praying but also take a stand against injustice and join the voices that say, "Let it be a law that all politicians and public servants must use publicservices."
It's only in this way that quality services can be extended to the people.
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