Why should I care?

by sarahdlamini

The tragedy of South Africa today. The auditor general discovers that 30 billion was wasted on corruption. Obviously this is the tip of the iceberg. Textbooks destined for classrooms discarded in rivers. An MEC of one of the poorest provinces spends R53 000 out of the government coffers in 10 weeks on takeaway & doesn’t even bother to be repentant when exposed. Rather she argues with the justification, “how else was I going to eat?”.

But do you know what for me is the real tragedy? The silence. Sure at the occasional Braai we all have a big moan about wasted potential, how the poor are the ones really suffering and then. Inevitably. The conversation moves to; Nothing will ever change. The ruling party will never be voted out. The vast majority of South Africans will keep voting the same way because they accept the corruption. Whistle blowers will always be squashed.

Somehow you see we get away with not caring. Once we’ve had an appropriate rant in whatever social arena we return to the comfort of our reality & forget. We forget the ones who cannot forget.

We forget the young teenage mother weeping in the rural district hospital over her baby who is gasping his last because the incubator is not working. Tender gone bad. We forget the 4 year old walking home from school hit by a truck because there is no sidewalk for him to walk on. Tender gone bad. We forget the 21 year old boy who has failed matric for a third time because his teacher spent most of the year drunk. Corrupt officials turn a blind eye. And so do we. We forget the old Gogo trying to prepare bottles for her orphaned grandchild, no electricity no running water despite the councillors empty promises. Corrupt officials turn a blind eye. And so do we. We forget the clinics without basic medications. We forget the classrooms without teachers.

We forget because we can.

But Jesus does not. He does not forget. He came to set the downtrodden and oppressed free. He gave a voice to the voiceless. He considered those who most chose to ignore or forget. Tax collectors, prostitutes, beggars and slaves. I desire to see His Kingdom coming on earth. And where his kingdom comes there is freedom, peace, order, justice and mercy. And that is why we have to care. That is why we have to raise or voices. Our voices filled with hope and secure in authority.

This post is part of a synchroblog to shine a light on corruption. Please join me, Micah Challenge South Africa, and others in the Exposed2013 Campaign. We are making a difference together.

Read what others are writing with me:

Arthur Stewart – http://differentchurch.wordpress.com

Wendy Lewin – Fighting Corruption – Passionate but Absolutely Clueless http://fromtheouterlimb.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/fighting-corruption-passionate-but-absolutely-clueless/

Duncan Scott – The Exposed 2013 Campaign: Religion Shining a Light on Corruption
http://duncanscottza.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/exposed-2013/

Brett Anderson – Shining a Light on Corruption…it’s time for the ants to rise
http://brettfish.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/exposed-2013-shining-a-light-on-corruption-its-time-for-the-ants-to-rise/