Dear Mr. President.

Dear Mr. President

I'm writing this letter to you to ask you to please stop scaring me.

I am a 27 year old, white South African single mother to a beautiful boy of 13 months. I have spent the better part of my life growing up in the "new" South Africa, working together with many of my peers, white and black alike, to restore the country to a place where everyone can live peacefully and in harmony. I have worked with many of my peers to prove everyone else wrong about this country, that it is NOT going to the dogs and that it is not all that bad to live in.

Until Julius Malema came along, and for the first time I am scared of the country I am building. Because Mr. Malema is saying things that could have immense consequenses for everyone living in this country, white and black alike.

Mr President, I don't know much about the struggle. The little I know is from listening and reading, but I have never experienced it first hand, as this was over before I was mature enough to understand what was going on. I understand that the blacks of South Africa have suffered immensely in the past, with horrific acts commited against them. I understand that many women lost husbands and children to the struggle, and that the fight for freedom and equality was long and hard.

What I don't understand, is that Mr. Malema professes that he was part of this struggle, and have fought as hard as anyone else for it. Mr. Malema and I are the same age, so how is it possible that he fought as hard as his comrades? I am pretty sure that most of his "experience" were gained the same way I gained mine, via hearing and reading. He lives a life of luxury, yet claims to be on par with the poor of South Africa? I find it hard to believe that he was really such a big part of the struggle, because his age alone belies the fact that he has any idea on what the struggle was really about. Many people laugh and say we should ignore this, it will blow over, but what if it doesn't? Many times in the past we have thought something would blow over, and in our ignorance allow it to become a bloodbath that will taint our history forever in the form of SHARPEVILLE. If he really experienced the struggle, he would know that there were as many white people fighting for equality for all as there were black. He would know by preaching genocide, he installs hate into youths that have no idea what they are killing for, a youth that has more opportunities than their parents and grandparents ever had. Mr Malema is telling the youth it's okay to maim and kill, in a country battling with one of the highest murder rates in the world.

Our country is relying on the youth to build and nourish it, yet the person that is supposed to be leading our youth, spreads hate speech and fear among the people. He is teaching our youth to hate, to NOT forgive, to NOT forget and to use violence as retribution for something they really have nothing to do with. How long exactly is Mr Malema planning to make the white people pay for the things they haven't done? Because we haven't done anything. Our ancestors yes, but that was a fight won by YOUR people, so why do you wish to continue fighting a war you have already won? Does he not realise that one of the reasons we integrated democracy was to stop innocent blood from staining our country? That if he instigates a war, he will be making everything our people, white and black alike, have fought for null and void?

People are making Mr. Malema's comments off as something that will pass. But what if it doesn't? On Mr. Malema's facebook page there are people saying they will kill and rape white south african grown ups and burn the white south african children. They speak of assasinating you and creating a revolution like never seen before. I find this scary, because immediately I think of my defenceless little boy. I find myself calculating how fast I can get to his daycare from my work should something happen and I find myself thinking of places to go should there be a war as Mr Malema claims there will be.

Your silence on this whiole issue is deafening Mr. President. Even after fans of Mr. Malema expressed plans to kill you, you have not said a word. You have allowed Mr Malema to claim he is untouchable, even by you. You have allowed him to say what he wants. Should something happen Mr President, it will not only be whites who are killed, but also the privileged blacks of South Africa. By not saying anything to stop this madness, you are saying it's OKAY.

I understand many mothers in the past lost their children to the struggle, so I ask you not to allow a repeat. I'm asking you to step up and DO something, even if it is only to step up and show that you are not Mr Malema's puppet. As our president, we look up to you to lead us and to protect us from people wanting to harm our children, our countrymen and our country. We look up to you to lead us into being the rainbow nation we say we are. If we as a country can unite to host one of the biggest sporting events, then we should be able to unite as a country and remove those wanting to taint it from power.

Mr. President, I understand you also have children, the youngest being about 6 months old. You have people protecting your children against people like Mr. Malema, my child only has me. I do however think that as a parent, these type of statements would scare you if you were in my position. If you, as our president, don't do anything about this, then please do something as a parent.

So from one parent to another, Mr President, please stop scaring me.