Khaya Dlanga’s life on the “internets”. All on one blog.

Yesterday a tragic incident happened. South African hip-hop artist Jub Jub allegedly killed four teenagers due to negligent driving. This was not mere negligent driving, he was drag racing in the middle of a township, in Soweto. Anyone who knows anything about the township is that there are always people walking or trying to cross the street. Always. You can’t drive fast there, let alone race. What makes this incident even worse is the alleged drinking and drug taking.

These six children woke up in the morning to go school, a stepping-stone to futures they had envisioned for themselves. Their parents said goodbye to them in the morning, maybe some didn’t get the chance to because they had already gone to work. No parent wants to bury a child – especially of school going age. The death of a child is not a mere interruption. It is the sudden death of promise.

Many of us are sitting on our high horses judging Jub Jub and his friend. We all have every right to be angered by what happened, angry even at Jub Jub. DH Lawrence said it best when he said, “Anger is just, and pity is just, but judgment is never just.” Four children died an unnecessary death. Four families that should have been making lunch boxes tomorrow are planning lunch for a funeral. People have the right to be angry.

“You do not define anyone with your judgment. You only define yourself as someone who needs to judge.” Wayne Dyer. I am not qualified to pass judgment. What I will state is what I know was wrong, facts. He was wrong to speed. Racing in the middle of the township in the middle of the day with children walking back home from school was irresponsible. All these things while under the influence of alcohol and drugs is insane. That we all agree on. Calling him names now I am not so sure because it could have happened to anyone. I doubt any of us can say Jub Jub and his friend are glad this happened.

Before you judge someone else remember that you too have done something you are ashamed of.

And in all this, let us remember that there are grieving families, our prayers and attention should focus on them instead, not on a celebrity.

This picture for me hurts the most. The bags are so innocuous, yet they tell a story.