Vestiges of old


                                 WHY ARE WE HERE AGAIN? AH YES DALIBHUNGA!


In Houghton, surrounded by the middle class and rich folks. Chanel, Paco Rabanne and Versace in the air. Smell of fresh new German sedans and suvs on them. Feeling rich myself I figure maybe I should change my surname to Rockerfeller, Oppenheimer or how about Kezner.

Pieces of broken champagne glass on the floor. Red and white wine and all kinds of fluids spilling.The noise is swelling, the buzz is electric,the mood is ambient,the theme should be affluence.

We at 107 central street by 15th avenue. Office and repository of the Great Nelson Mandela. Here to remember and honor an African colossal who parted with his final breath in 2013.

Heading back to town all I see is squalor and have-nots lining up the streets alongside piles of uncollected refuse. I'm thinking (albeit the foundation in 107 has shifted its primary focus to preserving the memory and history of Nelson Mandela) you could have a million of such charitable foundations but there are not going to bring about sustainable change. Its the social, economic and political systems that needs rectification. Till that is done it will always be a battle for a Black child to make it and the ever increasing wealth gap accompanied by  subsequent inequality shall perpetuate itself relentlessly.

So what is to become of charities and foundations, do they throw in the towel? Not necessarily, they can continue doing their work so as to ameliorate the conditions caused by the dysfunctionality of the prevailing economic, political and social systems.

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