War? What War? Capetonians shrug off Middle East tensions but urge prayer
Smoke plumes rise after missiles hit Tehran.
Image: Atta Kenare / AFP
The Middle East is bleeding after the USA and Israel assassinated Iran's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over the weekend.
Since then, a number of countries have been affected by the fallout, threatening global stability.
While it is getting out of hand in the Middle East, should we as South Africans be worried about a world war?
Do we have to stock up on food and prepare for the maer jare, which goes hand in hand with wars?
Or do we stay in our lane and concentrate on ourselves?
Capetonians seem less concerned about the goings-on in the Middle East.
The Cape Argus sister publication, Daily Voice took to the streets of the Mother City to get a feel of what the residents think of the ‘fighting’.
Iran's Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Image: (AP Photo/Ben Curtis - Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
Joshua, 19, who moved from Johannesburg and now resides in Kuils River, says he didn’t even know about the drama, telling us: “This is the first time I hear about this conflict.
“I don’t care about what happens in other countries, I just focus on what I need to do on the daily.”
Robert, 54, from Eerste River added: “I’m not bothered by what’s happening abroad. There is a lot of nonsense here in South Africa that people don’t even care about.
“I mean, what’s happening in the war is between Israel, America and Iran, that’s between them.
“So if [President Cyril] Ramaphosa wants to stick his nose in there, we don’t even have an army. The government will say a couple of things, but won’t be able to handle a war.
“We are a third-world country and America is a first-world country. We can’t fight them, so rather keep quiet.”
US President Donald Trump.
Image: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP
Pearl, 40, from Wesbank says she only heard about the bombings on Monday morning.
She added: “I don’t really know exactly what transpired, but we all see things differently, and at the end of the day, everyone will have their own opinion. Yet, no one has the answers.”
Lisa, 48, from Kraaifontein says there is only one source to get the answers from, explaining: “Ons moet boontoe kyk en bid vir die Here want net hy het die antwoord vir ons. ('We look to the heavens and pray to God, only he has the answer for us.) We don’t have the answers...
Lisa adds: “He said there will be a mighty man that will rule [during the end times].
“Who is that man? Donald Trump - he is the one; hy maak en doen nes hy wil. (he does as he pleases) He is the iron hand that will rule the world like he wants to.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Image: GCIS
Brackenfell’s Bernie, 80, stands in agreement with Lisa about Trump.
He has been watching things escalate for a number of years already.
He said: “I’ve been observing this whole thing for a number of years already. “It all started with [Vladimir] Putin that put his nose in everyone's business and now [Donald] Trump is doing the same thing.”
Of whether South Africans should store up food or if there is a possibility of a world war, Bernie added: “It’s a difficult situation we’re in.
So there you have it, while the average person on the street in Cape Town is not really watching every minute of the war in the Middle East, they do seem to know one thing; our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Image: Sergey Bobylev / RT News