My thoughts on the victims and Jub Jub

Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 14:49, by Khaya Dlanga

Yesterday a tragic incident happened. South African hip-hop artist Jub Jub allegedly killed four teenagers due to negligent driving. This was not mere negligent driving, he was drag racing in the middle of a township, in Soweto. Anyone who knows anything about the township is that there are always people walking or trying to cross the street. Always. You can’t drive fast there, let alone race. What makes this incident even worse is the alleged drinking and drug taking.

These six children woke up in the morning to go school, a stepping-stone to futures they had envisioned for themselves. Their parents said goodbye to them in the morning, maybe some didn’t get the chance to because they had already gone to work. No parent wants to bury a child – especially of school going age. The death of a child is not a mere interruption. It is the sudden death of promise.

Many of us are sitting on our high horses judging Jub Jub and his friend. We all have every right to be angered by what happened, angry even at Jub Jub. DH Lawrence said it best when he said, “Anger is just, and pity is just, but judgment is never just.” Four children died an unnecessary death. Four families that should have been making lunch boxes tomorrow are planning lunch for a funeral. People have the right to be angry.

“You do not define anyone with your judgment. You only define yourself as someone who needs to judge.” Wayne Dyer. I am not qualified to pass judgment. What I will state is what I know was wrong, facts. He was wrong to speed. Racing in the middle of the township in the middle of the day with children walking back home from school was irresponsible. All these things while under the influence of alcohol and drugs is insane. That we all agree on. Calling him names now I am not so sure because it could have happened to anyone. I doubt any of us can say Jub Jub and his friend are glad this happened.

Before you judge someone else remember that you too have done something you are ashamed of.

And in all this, let us remember that there are grieving families, our prayers and attention should focus on them instead, not on a celebrity.

This picture for me hurts the most. The bags are so innocuous, yet they tell a story.

Tags:

Accident Drunk driving Jub jub Mini cooper Protea Soweto Uncategorized

1 Comment:

Nonhlanhla writes:

Shame man. I still maintain that he might be a drug user… but he grew up in front of us and we all know that he has been rather a good boy and really he is no murderer. Kids get into mischief and that’s one thing that we all know… it is unfortunate that he was trying to have fun at the bad time…

It was stupid and there is no excuse about it. His sentence needs to be given a clear look… but after all that he needs to be given a chance to come out and serve the community. People unfortunately will not appreciate/accept that… but if these families can discuss on what needs to be really done… he can make a difference. We cannot really make him pay for what other celebrities have done and got away with. It’s his first offence… ow well, maybe major offence. And we want to punish him for the rest of South Africa? An example should be set… maybe a couple of years behind bars – but he has a role to play.
We should not overlook any crime done. Reality crime is a crime and one needs to promote it.

Obviously we should feel sorry for the families and what they have gone/going through (it still hurts me)… and GOD knows… it couldn’t have been their intentions to kill. It was being at a bad space… and he is in my prayers as much as I pray for these families. He needs to learn a lesson and never think that people get out easily on such… hence I hope they convict him fairly.

With us being judgemental, we are truly NOT helping!! At this pointing time he probably wishes he could have died in that accident as well… we unfortunately could never know why God spared him and his friends… the only thing I know, it was those kids time to go… it is unfortunate that they had to die so brutally. No one deserves that… yet I believe that if God wanted them to stay on… he could have given them a chance to live, like those other 2 still in hospital. And those that were hit in the same road but made it alive.

There’s a lesson to be learnt here by both the families of the deceased, the murderers, the community, the government, South Africa as a whole AND the Roads agency(SANRAL). The most dangerous places/roads, especially where pedestrians and kids use daily… need to be attended to ASAP. If that road is gonna be left for another day longer… it is not far from us as a country losing more lives and blame other people for it. THEY will also be there at the wrong time and will probably not make it alive or be crippled. AND THEN WHO DO WE BLAME??? This honestly – could happen to just about anyone…THINK SOUTH AFRICA - THINK!!!

March 12th, 2010 at 8:52 am

Khaya Dlanga

He likes to blog about South African politics and has written extensively on the sensitive issue of race in South Africa.

My thoughts on the victims and Jub Jub

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