South Africa already has a billion problems

I think the issue of whether the ordinary South African cares or feels a sense of obligation to support and create awareness around the One Billion Rising campaign is limited by there already being far too many social ills in South Africa today.

It’s as if the populace has “crisis fatigue” – from the Marikana massacre, to Aids, to corruption, to the failing education and health sectors, it all seems to wear down the average citizen.

There may be a sense of apathy and malaise bought on by all these issues – which is a horrible indictment and I would not condone it because society should be driven to act when an injustice is done.

But in reality, the importance of One Billion Rising has to contend with how more people drive around with red plastic rhino horns on their car’s grills in a popular campaign that gets far more support.

As a father to a six-month-old girl, I know I need to bring my daughter up in a future society that is less tragic and foreboding than the one we currently live in.

- Themba A Sibeko via email