EDITOR’S COMMENT
Of floods, fire, heroes and ubuntu As South Africa recovers from the recent floods and fires that ravaged large parts of the country, the distinction between its heroes and its villains has never been more visible to me. On one side of the divide are the victims and the heroes. On the other, the criminally opportunistic.
M
y heart aches for those who died, were injured, lost loved ones, their homes, their belongings. And it rages at those who could have, and should have, done more to prevent these tragedies. The people in high places, elected and/ or employed to ensure that their constituents’ fundamental rights are
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SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA APRIL 2022
safeguarded, but who failed them – yet again – with empty promises, jobs not properly done — or even done at all, corruption, theft… the list is long. At the same time, I am deeply moved by the acts of courage and ubuntu displayed by so many of its citizens. South Africa can hold its head high when it comes to per capita heroes. Aside from the trained
professionals, our heroes include regular folk who jumped into raging waters to help, fought their way through fire and smoke to save lives and property, who are collecting food and essentials for victims, raising funds, and getting their hands dirty as they help clean up.
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