Why the homeless traffic pointsmen make me really sad

There are moments where loadshedding makes me mad, not many, I prefer to look for the good. And my goodness is there so much good about living in South Africa. But when I hear the incessant hum of the neighbour’s generator, I do stop to think of the millions of people who aren’t eating tonight, or aren’t doing their homework, or are living in fear in a completely pitch-black environment. No inverters, solar systems or generators to lean on.

And then sometimes I think proudly of what resilient, tough, people we are as South Africans. That we make a bloody plan and not much can exterminate our hope and our smiles.

Sometimes I even giggle to myself at the irony of the young people who direct traffic at our intersections, most of whom, have probably never owned or even driven a car before, standing directing millions of rands’ worth of fancy SUVs at major intersections in the economic hub of Africa.

But then the other day I realised how incredibly diligently these youngsters take these self-appointed, unsalaried, jobs of directing traffic. They put so much energy and effort into keeping these intersections flowing. I watch them sweating and so focused on the job at hand. And they bloody nailing it! No gratitude, no pay cheque, no dignity. And I realise how robbed our men and women are of the pride of having a job. These guys want to work. They are choosing to work. They don’t want to sit on street corners, begging for change. Being ignored from behind tinted windows. They want more. They deserve more. We all do. My heart aches.

If yours does too? The only damn thing that’s possible to do really to institute change is to go out and vote for change at the next elections. Talk to colleagues, debate, educate and let’s all with respect try and make change happen democratically.

I was debating at a family lunch over the weekend whether it was morally correct to talk about politics with people we work with, with people who work in our homes and gardens and schools and businesses. And I am of the opinion that YES… it is. What everyone decides to mark X next to, is still completely private and personal. But having the hard conversations, discussing what is possible, what is wrong, what is right? YES. We must.