Best wishes to all
PRAYERFUL best wishes to all South Africans, overseas and local associates and families for a lovely festive season, including a blessed Christmas and a successful New Year. This will be the second festive period that we will be in lockdown.
With the successful local government elections held on November 1, it is hoped that the new councils and councillors will work in unison and make good on their many promises so that the new year will result in good governance, clean administration and above all, successful service delivery per constitutional mandate.
In this way, many persons and families, primarily those previously disadvantaged, will now be able to enjoy the real benefits of democracy and have their lives uplifted.
Despite the ongoing challenges, including the new Omicron variant, it is hoped that people will engender laudable values of community upliftment and caring for others, especially the needy and the less fortunate. Selfishness and wealth creation for self-enrichment alone must be shunned and the spirit of Ubuntu must prevail.
In all our fun and merriment, please be kind, patient and considerate and remember those who cannot or will not be on holiday or celebrating due to diverse factors such as illness, poverty, bereavement or being called on to be on duty as an essential service.
Gender-based violence, hatred, anger, racism, pettiness and intolerance must end.
Thank you to all who have made great sacrifices during the lockdown to care for patients and the elderly and who have also brought tangible relief to the needy by way of food and other necessities. Well done to the numerous individuals, philanthropists and pertinent organisations for caring for others. Please keep up such commendable actions.
May those who are ill, especially with dreaded diseases, be restored to good health and those that mourn, find comfort and peace. Crime, corruption, fraud, looting and other misdeeds must cease and offenders must be apprehended, tried and sent to jail. Enough is enough! Incompetent politicians and employees, especially in public service, must be removed from office/dismissed.
Let us continue to be responsible, especially in observing basic Covid-19 protocols, and be safe. Please vaccinate as there is abundant proof of the efficacy and effectiveness of available Covid vaccines.
Happy holidays and safe travels. May peace, love, goodwill, harmony, co-operation and justice abound, noting that per Isaiah 9:9 (Bible): “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”.
Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrica – God bless South Africa, our beloved country.