Lessons we can learn from the Skielik shootings
Posted on November 23rd, 2008 by Richard Catto 2,553 views
On January 14 2008, South Africa was shocked by the random shootings of 11 ordinary (black) people in the Skielik settlement near Swartruggens. Johann Nel, a 17 year old white Afrikaner, was sentenced on Friday November 21 2008 to 176 years in prison for shooting his fellow South Africans, whose “crime” was being black.
Dr Irma Labuschagne, a forensic criminologist, testified at his trial in mitigation of his sentence, saying “I don’t think even he knows [why he did it].” I find that to be a disengenuous statement. I think it’s clear why he did it – he formed a deep and implacable hatred of black people, and from an early age too. Previously, at age 14, Johann Nel had shot at Petros Mabe, later testifying that he thought Mabe was a baboon. In hindsight it seems highly likely that this was a lie Nel told the court. Nel most likely knew full well that he was shooting at a black person and what is true is that Nel thinks of black people as being baboons.
What is very sad to me, is to read comments online of obviously white Afrikaans people defending Nel’s actions and justifying them by saying that black criminals routinely murder white people with no consequences. That is false, but it seems many white Afrikaners have decided that in their reality black South Africans get a free pass to kill white South Africans. Nothing could be further from the truth and they would quickly disabuse themselves of this racist and false notion by paying more attention to events which are reported in the media. They could also sit in on trials and witness for themselves black criminals being sentenced to long sentences for murder, rape, armed robbery etc.
No-one of any colour in South Africa is given a free pass to commit crimes against others. That is the truth of the matter and anything other than this truth is mere racist propaganda.
However, it is this ongoing racist propaganda, circulated amongst certain white South Africans that led to the deep disatisfaction and hate that spurred Johann Nel to commit his acts of murder in the first place.
At his trial, Labuschagne listed a number of criminal events that impacted Nel that she feels helped shape his views on black people. Essentially, the crimes perpetrated on members of his family and friends helped Nel decide that black South Africans were the problem and his personal enemy. Killing all black people was his way to solve the problem of crime against his (white) community.
It would perhaps be more forgiveable if Nel had taken the time and trouble to investigate and identify the actual people responsible for these crimes and execute them instead of random people who had nothing to do with the crimes that had touched his life. But this is the shortcut that racists take – they brand everyone with hate, instead of clinically targetting those responsible.
Tags: Johann Nel, Skielik shootings
Filed under Crime, Racism, racists | 5 Comments »
“Fuck off, you bloody kaffir!” the white racist bitch said
Posted on December 12th, 2007 by Richard Catto 8,381 views
So this past weekend some 41 year old white "lady" from Sea Point told a fellow South African who happened to be black to "fuck off, you bloody kaffir!" because he dared to get in her way on an escalator at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
The V&A security people intervened and suggested to the woman that she apologise but she declined their invitation so they took her to the Table Bay police station where she was arrested for crimen injuria. She paid a R150 admission of guilt fine and was released. Case closed and the cops refuse to indentify her. So we don’t know this racist white bitch’s name. Why the fuck not!?
I have some questions for you, dear reader. Please indulge me your answers to the following:
- In your opinion, should she have been arrested for cursing someone out at all?
- Is the fine appropriate for what she did?
- Should her name be published or not?
You tell me what you think, and I’ll come up with an opinion in due course. Deal? 
Source:
IOL – fuck off you bloody kaffir
Tags: crimen injuria, kaffir, V&A waterfront
Filed under Fuck off kaffir, Racism | 61 Comments »
Why I wrote my “bad to the bone racist scum” white South African article
Posted on October 25th, 2007 by Richard Catto 1,777 views
I linked to my friend, Guy McLaren’s web site yesterday, calling him "bad to the bone racist scum" and got called a politically correct bonehead in return, which I guess is pretty mild compared to what I called him. So, to clarify, I was being over the top for effect. McLaren hardly qualifies as racist scum, he’s more of a closet, weekend warrior type of racist, and only if he remembered to dry clean his AWB khakis during the week.
One thing, though, is that I was right about white people expecting me to side with the interests of white people.
I don’t think it does white people any good to be seen to be favoured over other races. That’s why when Spur has a competition and all the winners are white, that fuels dissatisfaction amongst black people.
Same applies to sports’ teams. It’s now apparent that many black people are unhappy that so many Springbok rugby players are white.
"If you haven’t been called a kaffir you haven’t been playing in South Africa."
"Most rugby players in South Africa are black – as are around 80 per cent of the population – but the Springbok team photo is unmistakably pale, with only two coloured players in tonight’s starting XV."
So I happen to think that they have a good point. I’m not going to side with whites just because I am white. Transformation in South African sport MUST happen. It is not optional.
You know, so far, white people in SA have been lucky. We’ve had ANC governments which have not outrightly persecuted whites. That might change, though, especially if frustration boils over. That’s basically what happened in Zimbabwe with the land grab.
Black Zimbabweans lost patience with white Zimbabweans, because they felt they were enjoying less success than the whites.
I don’t think black people are impressed with whites who say that they had nothing to do with Apartheid, especially those whites who served in the Apartheid security forces.
Really, I think the best approach is to just admit that we played our part and apologise for that. I think white South Africans need to make an apology to black South Africans for being responsible in whole or in part for Apartheid.
I also think that white South Africans need to stand against favouritism and racial inequities wherever they may encounter them. That is the reason why I have zoned in on Spur’s racially biased competition, and also on the Springbok rugby team. It’s good that South Africa won the Rugby World Cup, but it would have been better still if the racial demographics of the players were not so skewed in favour of white players.
White South Africans need to realise that it’s not okay for us to racially dominate anything anywhere anymore. It’s just not okay.
Tags: Apartheid, kaffir, racial bias, Rugby World Cup, Springbok Rugby team, white favouritism
Filed under Apartheid, Racism, White South Africans | 13 Comments »
