When it became known that two men, who both spread God’s Word and preach peace and harmony, had been robbed on the same day while travelling through Welkom, it struck a nerve indeed.
This kind of news, albeit small and local, seriously dents one’s faith in humanity.
Why would some lowlife target two men whose only aim is to preach peace and stability, while spreading God’s Word?
Travelling a bit further in the circle of existence, we question the deaths on the R30 Road between Bothaville and Allanridge. The stretch of gravel where the road was lifted is not even 100 m long, yet more than 19 lives have been lost since January.
In Lejweleputswa we are plagued by violent and continual crimes, which include countless cases of rape, murder, kidnapping and an escalation in gender-based violence.
If this is not enough for sensory overload, the war in the Ukraine (as of Friday more than 3,72 million Ukranians had been displaced) is taking place in front of our eyes.
The devastation and destruction we cannot begin to comprehend. Entire cities are being razed with a couple of missiles.
Then there are the ongoing civil wars in Afghanistan (there were 30 936 confirmed fatalities in 2020 alone), Yemen (140 000 fatalities so far) and Ethiopia (more than 50 000 documented casualties to date).
At home the petrol price has skyrocketed and bread, flour and oil are fast becoming luxury commodities.
We watch the world at war with fascination, and horror, and count ourselves lucky if there is water in the tap and electricity to light the way.
