Die NG Kerk in die Vrystaat het met groot hartseer kennisgeneem van die ontstellende insident op Kersdag by die Maselspoort Vakansie-oord buite Bloemfontein, luidens ’n verklaring deur ds Jan Lubbe, die voorsitter: van die moderamen van die NG Kerk in die Vrystaat. | English version below.

Oproep ná Maselspoort-insident op Kersdag

Die NG Kerk in die Vrystaat het met groot hartseer kennis geneem van die ontstellende insident op Kersdag by die Maselspoort-vakansieoord buite Bloemfontein. Op ’n dag dat geloofsgemeenskappe die menswording van die Vredevors gedenk het en waarop families in liefde en dankbaarheid byeen was, moes hierdie insident nooit gebeur het nie. Ons kom in die Vrystaat al ’n lang pad sedert die tyd toe sekere voorregte en oorde net vir sekere bevolkingsgroepe beskikbaar was en Maselspoort ís al vir jare ’n plek van ontspanning vir mense uit alle gemeenskappe. Ons kort méér sulke plekke. Wat egter op Kersdag daar gebeur het, doen groot skade aan ons reis na hoop in die Vrystaat. Op dieselfde Kersdag hier ín Bloemfontein – soos ook op Versoeningsdag ’n week tevore – het gemeentes oor die grense van taal, kultuur, ras en sosiale posisie uitgereik sodat kinders saam kon speel en piekniek hou en hawelose, honger mense met ’n feesmaal gevoed kon word. Dít is die koninkryk van Christus waarin ons glo en waarin klein en groot veilig en versorgd sou kon saamleef.

Tóg moet ons erken dat dié Maselspoort van Kersdag, maklik óns kón wees. Ons beleef om verskillende redes tans ’n baie moeilike tyd as Suid-Afrikaanse nasie en in die geskiedenis van ons land. Frustrasie en vooroordele, onverdraagsaamheid en ongelykheid lê vlak onder ons vel. Ons ken steeds nie mekaar se tale en verhale goed genoeg om te voorkom dat op die verkeerde oomblik, ’n woord of gebaar oorkook in woede nie. Geweld en rassisme moet veroordeel word, of dit langs ’n swembad, by ’n skool óf op sosiale media gebeur.

Daarom wil ons as NG Kerk in die Vrystaat vra dat ons wéér ons hart sal ondersoek; sal kies om mekaar te respekteer; sal bid vir ’n wag voor ons mond; altyd sal vra na die volle verhaal en ons hande sal uitsteek om vrede te maak. Ons vertrou dat die reg sy volle gang sal gaan ten opsigte van die Maselspoort-insident. Mag daar vir die slagoffers van hierdie gebeure heling kom. Ons bid dit vir almal wat onder geweld en trauma in ons land ly. Laat ons as landsburgers, geloofsgemeenskappe én regering blý werk vir goeie gesindhede onderling, vir reg en geregtigheid, en om lewensruimte en ’n lewenskans vir elkeen te help skep.

 Statement after the incident at Maselspoort on Christmas Day

It is with great sadness that the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) in the Free State learned of the disturbing incident on Christmas Day at the Maselspoort Holiday Resort outside Bloemfontein. On a day when faith communities commemorated the incarnation of the Prince of Peace and on which families were gathered in love and gratitude, this incident should never have happened. We have come a long way in the Free State since the time when certain privileges and resorts were only available to certain population groups and Maselspoort specifically has been a place of relaxation for people from all communities for many years now. We need more places like this. What happened there on Christmas Day however, harmed our journey towards hope in the Free State. On the same Christmas Day here in Bloemfontein – as also on Reconciliation Day a week before – congregations in the city reached out across the boundaries of language, culture, race and social position so that children could play together and have a picnic and to feed the hungry homeless people with a festive meal. These acts of kindness and care embody the kingdom of Christ in which we believe and where everyone – young and old – could live and flourish together.

We must admit that “Maselspoort on Christmas Day” can easily be us. For various reasons, we are currently experiencing a very difficult time as a South African nation and in the history of our country. Frustration and prejudices, intolerance and inequality lie just below the surface of our everyday experiences. We still don’t know each other’s languages and stories well enough to prevent that at just the wrong moment, a word or gesture boils over into anger. Violence and racism must be condemned, whether it happens next to a swimming pool, at a school or on social media.

That’s why we as Dutch Reformed Church in the Free State want to request that we all examine our hearts again; that we choose to respect each other; that we pray for a guard before our mouth; that we always ask for the full story and that our hands continuously reach out to make peace. We trust that the law will take its full course in respect of the Maselspoort incident. May there be healing for the victims of this incident. We also pray that for all who suffer from violence and trauma in our country. Let us as citizens, faith communities and government continue to work towards constructive attitudes among ourselves, to do justice and righteousness, and to help create living space and a chance at life for everyone.

Jan Lubbe, VDm, Chairperson: Moderamen