DENNIS PATHER
YOU’VE probably heard the old proverb - people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Simply put, it means you should not criticise other people for bad qualities in their character that you have yourself.
What brought the proverb to mind was the controversy that raged over the SABC staffer, Nobuntu Mkhize, who caused a mid-flight scare on Boxing Day (or Day of Goodwill) on a flight from Durban to Cape Town.
Several fellow passengers videoed her as she was seen throwing a tantrum after being refused to be served liquor. She argued with and shoved a flight attendant, flung a can of beverage at another and resisted being restrained by staff and passengers seated around her.
Like many of you, I was outraged and disgusted at her behaviour. From what we saw on video, she appeared unruly, rude and aggressive.
Even more frightening is that her tantrums could easily have resulted in possible risk to the safety and security of all on board that plane.
But, quite frankly, what disturbed me most was her racist abuse of the flight attendant Emmridge September, who was reportedly told: "You are a coloured from Mitchells Plain. All these gold rings but no degree. Right now, when we land, I'm going to take an Uber home. You don't even have a driver's licence. You dont even have a car."
That made my blood boil and I'm so relieved that the abusive passenger is to face charges of assault and crimen injuria.
As most South Africans strive to find each other after decades of enforced racial separation, a greater commitment is needed by all of us to speak out against racism wherever and whenever it raises its ugly head.
It doesn't matter whether it comes from the mouth of some rabble-rousing politician, a letter or article by some bigoted commentator, a tweet from a misguided bigot or even when you encounter crude racist jokes often peddled at pubs or after-dinner parties.
They are all inexcusable and have no place in a society struggling to achieve social cohesion.
And this is where the proverb about people living in glass houses becomes very relevant.
Just as much as we abhor Ms Mkhize's lack of goodwill on that Day of Goodwill, we too must guard against any behaviour that may cause insult and offence to fellow South Africans who happen to come from a community outside ours.
That's the lesson we should take away from that distressing episode.
Zama zamas, zola budds and spazas
What do zama zamas, zola budds and spaza shops have in common?
Well, apart from the fact that they are all part of the social, cultural and economic milieu of South African life as we know it today, they've also become the subject of major news headlines in recent times.
But for all the wrong reasons.
The reason they're so much in the news these days is because their activities have been largely unregulated or under-regulated for years, and we're now having to deal with the consequences, many of them costly and fatal.
Take the zama zamas, the illegal miners who occupy closed and disused mines in search of gold, coal, iron ore and manganese.
While government and mining companies were fast asleep, the number of zama zamas recruited to these mines has grown exponentially..
Following disturbing reports that many of the illegal miners have died through starvation and others have resorted to cannibalism to stay alive, there's now an acrimonious stand-off between government departments which want the zama zamas to surface on their own and human rights groups calling for the miners to be provided with food and humanitarian services.
All of this could have been avoided had government and mining companies ensured the old mines were securely shut.many years ago.
Our next focus is on minibus taxis, nicknamed zola budds by township residents for being as swift as the famed middle distance runner of the same name.
They are never out of the news, and at most times for the wrong reasons, often viewed synonymously with the country's appalling accident rate; wildcat strikes, turf wars over routes and illegal protests that gridlock our streets.
Surely, much of the taxi chaos you see today could have been avoided had government taken a firmer hand much earlier and ensured the industry was strictly regulated.
And finally, our concerns over food safety at spaza shops after the wave of food poisoning incidents could have been mitigated had the authorities acted many years ago to enforce compulsory licencing and inspections of such outlets.
Government departments need to act proactively.
Too often, they're guilty of trying to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Last stop
After all that serious stuff, here's something to lighten your spirits.
A group of 4 to 8 year olds was asked the question: "What does love mean?"
Well, of all the cute, hilarious and even profound responses was this little gem.
"Love is when Amma sees Appa smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Amitabh Bachchan."
Pather is a retired newspaper editor, author and columnist.
* From newsroom gofer to award-winning editor, join South African media legend Dennis Pather on a fascinating trip down memory lane in his captivating memoir, Copy Boy. This heart- warming journey takes you inside the newsroom, filled with laughter, hard-earned wisdom, and the power of family. As a special offer to readers of POST, you can now get a copy of Dennis Pather’s new book, COPY BOY, for just R100. Email him at kaydenpather@gmail.com
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.