When to Compensate

People generally struggle with compensation. Some overcompensate to make up for lost time or to fill a void. Others do not even bother with compensating for what needs to be compensated. Either way compensation needs to continue regardless of our understanding. There are some instances where I feel people are just abusing being reimbursed for example a family I know lost their bread winner after he was ‘mistakenly’ shot by a wealthy man. They decided to settle the matter out of court and agreed that the man must deposit a substantial amount of money to that family every month instead of going to jail for murder. The rumour was that it wasn’t his first time and he just pays people off. I faulted the unemployed family because your circumstances can’t force you to turn a blind eye like that. I know even the harshest sentencing won’t bring your loved one back but you can’t be taken advantage of. It is understandable for parents who wants to be paid (intlawulo) by a boy who impregnated their daughter out of wedlock. Culturally that reinforces respect and builds friendship between the two families in a clean slate. Child feels acknowledged. And children will grow up knowing they cannot do as they please with their bodies whilst they still depend on their parents. It served as your conscience and had to own up. It goes out without saying for road accident victims. They need to be refunded to pay for medical bills and the expense the accident might have cost. Same applies for those who got arrested wrongfully. Not only did they lost time to make money, be there for their families, they probably have emotionally scars that can’t be fixed but can only be compensated.