Three lead headlines involving names have coerced this letter: “Big Brother Gatsha, he’s gonna watch ya” (February 22) disgusting at the most; “The muzzling of Madiba” March 1 endearing; “King of cockroaches” [King Goodwill Zwelithini), January 2001 terrible!
I note that it has become an acceptable habit for the M&G to “nothingfy” what is of value to native Africans, in general, and of Zulu cultural decorum, in particular. However, I am inclined to give the newspaper the benefit of the doubt it probably lacks informed sensitivity when it comes to these issues.
It is also likely that many of the victims of these non-decorous tendencies think it is better to apply a benign neglect attitude while this benign neglect is not helping in educating those who need this enlightenment the most. The end result is that such insensitivity unnecessarily aggrieves and alienates, unwittingly, the M&G from a big chunk of South Africans.
African courtesy does not allow an elder to be called by his or her first name on a public platform. This is considered an act of belittling the subject. Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi is an esteemed figure to millions of South Africans and is a respected husband, father and grandfather to a host of people. Like our former President Rolihlahla Mandela, a great grand-dad.
Everybody today knows that to use “Madiba” is an act of endearment. Everyone should today be knowing that to use “Gatsha” is a provocative act that only aggrieves one who is popularly referred to as “Shenge”.
An anagram of “name” explicitly defines what it is. A “name” must “mean”. Mean what? It must carry a “dearness” essence endearment to the subject.
In South African native tongues there is one conceptual word for calling somebody or a thing. It is “biza” or “bitsa”, which, also translates to “dear” or “expensive”.
This “Gatsha” insensitivity may be based on psycho-linguistics of Euro-ethnological dynamics where first-name vocatives imply cordiality.
The headline used for Inkosi Buthelezi’s letter of protest “Many people have suffered and died for calling me Gatsha” (March 1 to 7) is no exaggeration. To people, who revered the prince, it was intolerable to let a person get away after uttering the name. The usage of the name rewinds memories to the days of dehumanised brutality, for the whole episodic lifestyle then could, in a nutshell, be shorthanded as “One utterance of Gatsha, one bullet!” It was considered an epitome of “making him weigh lesser” “eya” and thus “eyisa” to despise.
The media have to remember that it is sometimes better to lessen suffering and increase Ubuntu. Khaba Mkhize, Johannesburg
Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s infantile poutings are really starting to rankle (Letters, March 1). As a public figure, he should perforce accept whatever is said of him with a dash of humour and grace. If facts are wrong, by all means correct them. But most importantly, he should learn to shut the critics up by damn hard work, acting professionally, and gasp results. I for one am sick of his whining. Grow up, man! If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. WL Mason, Johannesburg