
Zealots damage Islam
The United Ulama Council of South Africa condemns the massacre of innocent civilians at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi. The barbaric slaughter of innocent human lives can never be condoned under any kind of religious pretext.
This spurious religious validation of such murder can only be the work of grossly ignorant zealots. The Harakat al-Shabab al-Mujahideen, which has claimed responsibility, is doing a great disservice to Islam and to Muslims.
The attacks will only serve to fuel instability in an already volatile region. It is our conviction that these kinds of blood-letting acts of violence do not in any way advance the cause of Somalis, as claimed by al-Shabab. The fact remains that Kenya itself is home to millions of Muslims of East Africa and it is preposterous to assume that al-Shabab represents them.
Our thoughts are with the people of Kenya and the families of the victims killed. The physical and emotional trauma experienced by the families and friends of those affected is inestimable. The situation calls for calm and restraint, and it requires leaders from all faiths to unite and respond in a manner that will not advance the sectarian agenda of the perpetrators. We pray that the perpetrators of this attack are brought to book to answer for their transgression. – <em>Yusuf Patel, secretary general, United Ulama Council of South Africa </em>
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The reality of the Nairobi terror attack is too frightening and shocking to comprehend.
What a cowardly act on the part of the terrorists! What did the simple shoppers and shop workers do to deserve such a brutal massacre? There can be no justification for such inhumane acts of brutality against innocent civilians.
Today, it is the Kenyans. Tomorrow, it could be a reality in South Africa.
International terrorism is creeping into almost every country in the world. Even conservative Muslim countries are targets of radical and militant forces that will stop at nothing in the pursuit of their objectives.
What humans can commit such terrible atrocities against fellow human beings? And they try to justify their massacre by using the name of the God that they serve.
All peace-loving South Africans, irrespective of religion or race, must condemn the terror in Kenya. – Devan Kistnasamy Naicker, Durban
Wake up to pupil neglect
It is indeed horrendous that young people with these kinds of challenges should be subject to such neglect that the conditions are clearly not conducive to their basic needs, let alone an environment in which quality learning can take place (“Disabled pupils’ hostel of horror”, September 5).
Recent audits of South Africa’s special schools, especially residential ones, have shown that this scenario is not uncommon. It is precisely because these kinds of conditions can occur when pupils with disabilities are “housed” in separate institutions that the policy of inclusive education was adopted in 2001 after very thorough deliberation across the spectrum of those closely involved in educational provision, including parents. It is saddening to realise that, 12 years on, these kinds of conditions persist.
If South Africa is to continue to strive for improved education for all – especially those most vulnerable and in need of specialised support – then surely there is no doubt that serious implementation of an inclusive education system needs to be high up on the list of priorities. Indeed, 2013 was declared the “year of inclusive education”.
The department of education has been promoting and allocating funds to support the recommendations of White Paper 6’s gradual-implementation approach, but the responsibility for implementation lies largely with provincial departments. In the Western Cape, considerable effort has been made to develop the capacity of ordinary public schools to support the needs of pupils with disabilities, where possible.
Although, as Michele Droskie and Leigh Dunn testify, it can be a process that at times feels frustratingly slow and inadequate. Parents and professionals need to familiarise themselves with these developments and continue to advocate for the right to education for all children and be prepared to support local schools wherever possible to promote a supportive ethos, which in turn creates a will for improvement. It can only benefit all pupils in the long run.
Inclusive education is about learning environments that actively recognise and celebrate diversity; it is about schools that see their role as creating a South Africa whose future generations more positively acknowledge different strengths and needs than those of the past.
Meanwhile, special schools such as Setotolwane need to take this as a wake-up call. They remain a part of the wider education system and should be actively advocating for the pupils in their care.
Inclusive Education Western Cape is a nongovernmental organisation that promotes and supports positive models of inclusive education. We are also a member of the Right to Education for Children with Disabilities campaign, a national initiative calling for improved educational opportunities for children with disabilities. – Caroline Taylor, Inclusive Education Western Cape
Dam nearby, but no water for villages
Your article on the water problem in Mabeskraal is of huge interest to me. (“Parched village hung out to dry”, September 13). The water issue is a common phenomenon in most, if not all, the Moses Kotane villages.
It is sad that, 19 years after attaining our freedom, the government is unable to service a basic need of the residents of the villages.
Most of the villages in the Moses Kotane municipality do not know any service delivery, bar the tarred roads within villages, though the main roads to the villages are not tarred.
The villages of Mmatau, Khayakhulu, Letlhakeng, Montsana, Dwarsberg, Obakeng, Molatedi and others do not have water, even with Molatedi Dam nearby, which provides water to Botswana.
The only time our councillors are available is when they come with their political masters in black, air-conditioned cars to canvass for votes.
It would be interesting to know whether the chiefs of these villages, the Moses Kotane municipality and the ANC can explain what they are doing about this water problem. – T Leshwiti