>>4909018 (pb)

Published on 25 January 2019

An open letter of apology to all South Africans

• by Herman Mashaba, Mayor of Johannesburg

The last 25 years have been a life sentence for the citizens of our democracy. For the role I played, albeit unknowingly, I offer my most profuse apology, writes Herman Mashaba

Dear citizens of my beloved South Africa,

I write to apologise humbly and profusely to you.

Before I explain my apology, perhaps a little context.

In 1994 I was excited. I had watched the potential of my country barely survive under the heel of the oppressive apartheid government.

I, like many, believed there would be an explosion of potential in our country. I expected to witness entrepreneurs and small business owners flourish under our hard won freedoms.

We had witnessed how an oppressive government had been defeated by the people of our country. It was a magical moment.

With this belief, I voted for the ANC in 1994 and 1999.

For this, I offer my most profound apology.

In my defence, and others like me, I could not have known that I would have contributed to the birth of one of the greatest criminal movements of all time – the ANC of today.

Because with my vote, and many of yours, the ANC has changed from that organisation in which I had placed all my hopes, dreams and aspirations for my country to the criminal enterprise it is today.

25 years into democracy, our beloved country is toiling under the weight of failure, corruption and lawlessness. Our government has been proven to be for sale, auctioned to the highest bidders for beer, whisky, meat and bags of cash.

25 years into democracy, we may as well not have borders in our country. People, drugs and counterfeit goods enter our country without encountering law enforcement. While many are good people, some are criminals, drug dealers and they walk rings around our broken criminal justice system.

25 years into our democracy, the ranks of the unemployed have swelled to nearly 10 million people who cannot have the dignity of providing for their families. In many communities, a young person now has a greater prospect of becoming a drug addict or prisoner, than an accountant or lawyer.

25 years into our democracy, it is our law-abiding citizens who live in fear and the criminals who roam our streets without concern that they will ever face justice.

The reality is that the last 25 years have been a life sentence for the citizens of our democracy. For the role I played, albeit unknowingly, I offer my most profuse apology.

I believe it is time for people who have voted for the ANC in their lives, to come forward and recognise that their votes have been used in a concerted effort to destroy our country.

https://www.news24.com/Columnists/Herman_Mashaba/an-open-letter-of-apology-to-all-south-africans-20190125