If you read the history of Southern Africa, there has always been wars and arguments over land and resources, the Mfecane lasted 25 years and resulted in an almost complete depopulation of large areas of land.
Then the missionaries came and further fomented and ingrained the tribal identity/hate in the region to the point that we now have smaller tribes of a much bigger variety.
Whether along the traditional ethnic, linguistic, racial or the newer political or trade union lines; we still have the same tribal mentality which was fucked up beyond repair by the silver-tongued missionaries.
I blame them for their misguided attempts at stamping out the traditional beliefs and the results that we are still experiencing.
I cannot be bothered to look up the verse, but you know the one: 'If you are not with us, you are against us.'
This ridiculous black and white mentality has been taught so that it is no longer a sin to take up arms and kill those that oppose you in any way. That is why we have fights and arguments, violent strikes and killings.
Coupled with the traditional tribal beliefs, is it any wonder that people get murdered?
In Marikana the police were opposed to the strikers, they instantly became enemies due to this stupid and idiotic 'us versus them' mentality. The strikes that turn violent do so for exactly this same reason. Once opposed, even if you are in the wrong, you have to retaliate.
Without a huge, concerted effort to recognise and accept differences, I doubt that we will make any headway and the killings will continue.
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