Stay calm and remain where you are

South Africa lost one of its “best of the best” when decorated pilot James O’Connell died in a tragic air show accident over the weekend. But some comments by some fellow citizens reveal that our country is fast losing something else too – our national compassion and humanness.

The ace pilot with more than three decades of flying experience was doing a routine display when his jet suddenly dropped to the ground.

In high-speed activities like flying and road racing – as is the case in normal road traffic - accidents happen as a result of loss of control of the aircraft or vehicle, human error, equipment failure, the weather and suchlike. But what came to mind for one fellow South African was none of the above. He simply went onto social media X and linked the accident to the country’s alleged “142 race laws against white people”.

Believe it or not, the terribly mistaken man posted something from his heart. He truly believed – for a moment before the pilot’s identity became known – that a black affirmative action beneficiary had crashed the plane because of his or her incompetence.

It soon became known that the victim was one of our best pilots who happened to be a white man. But the damage had been done, the hurt inflicted.

In moments like these, it’s tempting to dismiss such hurtful comments and move on. It’s tempting to simply stay away from the madness of social media. But there seems to be a terrifying method in the madness, with some powerful, reckless demagogues aiming to benefit from the madding crowds.

One will invent some “142 race laws”, and the next will grab that lie and run with it, causing havoc. How did we get here? And how do we get out?

A commentator at the air show in Saldanha Bay on the West Coast provided some useful advice to the stunned crowds that may help us deal with the madness in our country and world. He asked the spectators to “stay calm and remain where you are”.