Mandela called a devil by a street protester

Nelson Madiba Mandela

As South Africa and the rest of the world celebrated Mandela’s birthday and put in their sixty seven minutes worth of good deeds, out here in Welkom, South Africa, one man had a different idea. Were I not a first hand eye witness, I might not have believed what I saw. I will therefore desist from taking offence if you should choose not to believe me.

Marching into the city centre was a dreadlocked black man, dressed in a black robe, black trousers and walking bare footed. Around his dreadlocks, was a bandana decorated in Rastafarian colours. Before you query what on earth I am on about and what bare footed Rastafarians have to do with Mandela, read on esteemed reader!

This unshod character was on a one man march, trudging on the tar as effortlessly as if he had shoes on, while he held up a placard on which was painted the words, “Happy Birthday Devil!” Although I did not ask him who this devil is, I did not need to be a nuclear physicist to make a logical conclusion. Why the shock, some of you may ask? I am not naive enough to think that everyone adores Mandela, and I am aware that even among some black South Africans, a minority exists that believes that his role in the country’s struggle is over elevated and underplays the role of other revolutionaries. Others believe that he is bordering on being a human idol and that he risks being propelled into a religious cult figure by his supporters. Some websites have made unsubstantiated claims that he is linked to secret societies such as freemasonry.  Needless to say, there are also many of his former political foes who will never do cartwheels out of love for Madiba.

Despite having this knowledge of what exists on the other side of the Mandela coin, it still remains a weird sight to observe someone making so bold and strong a statement. The expression on his face hinted at someone who really believed in his cause and was not merely seeking attention. If some local news people do not get hold of this man and interview him, we will never know the reasons for his sentiments. As bitter a pill as it may be for most of the world to swallow, the sight of this anti-Madiba demonstrator waving his unsavoury placard has one positive twist to it. It is a reminder that Madiba’s personal sacrifice was meant to benefit all the people in South Africa. He fought for the right for all to have their say, even those who choose to call him a devil.

Are breast implants for men a constitutional right?

I am sure you have heard by now of the UK “woman” who twelve years ago was a man and has taken the state to court for refusing to pay for his/her breast implant! This is with the aid of government lawyers by the way! As much as I moan and cry about how far behind most, if not all of our African states lag behind in terms of human rights and democracy, I cannot help but cringe in shock at how some people take advantage of their democratic rights to pursue the most ludicrous and ridiculous causes.

Britain’s National Health Services through their West Berkshire Primary Care Trust, must now prepare for a legal battle that could cost them around £100 000 (over R1 million) in their legal bid to defend their stance that this would be a merely cosmetic surgery (costing £2 300). The complainant’s case hinges on how twelve years of hormonal treatment have not yielded the right type of breasts. The surgery therefore is deemed by the complainant to be a medical necessity required to complete the physical and emotional process of the gender metamorphosis, an undeniable human right!

At the risk of angering those who are transgendered, or those who sympathize with them, I must categorically state what a lot of hogwash this is! This she-male has not yet undergone a sex organ change that would define him/her as a woman more than breasts would, but chooses to focus on boobs. Tell me that does not smack of cosmetically driven motives?

Imagine the millions of British tax payers that are funding this legal process, and ultimately will have to foot the bill should “C” win. Is this fair to them? This 58 year old decided only in 1996 that he wanted to become a woman, (they say he was “diagnosed as a transsexual“), meaning that up to the age of 44, he was and lived as a man!

Yet another bone of contention I have is the fact that there are appeals worldwide by people in need of organ transplants, bone marrow transplants, heart and brain surgery, and procedures to remove life threatening tumours, babies suffering from severe cleft palates, the list is endless. For many of these money is the barrier to getting rid of the threat to their future existence. How does C’s conscience allow him/her to abuse the health care system in such a blatant and brazen manner? I truly hope that the citizens of the UK will have their six pence worth of say in this matter that might set a dangerous precedence should “C” win his/her case.