JUNE 16 1976 UPRISING IS A REMINDER THAT THE STRUGGLES FOR A JUST AND NON-RACIAL SOCIETY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE HIJACKED BY LEADERS WHO PROMOTE RACIAL HATRED AND GENOCIDE

THE SACRIFICES OF THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF 1976 AND THEREAFTER HAD INTENSIFIED THE STRUGGLES FOR A NON-RACIAL AND DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA

 

                                    (Photo Sam Nzima)

 

When the school children of Soweto on June 16 1976 and thereafter embarked on protest actions against the unequal racial educational system and the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in their schools, they had intensified the struggle for the creation of a society that would provide equal opportunities for all in all sectors of life.

They wanted a country that would be free of racism; that would be democratic; that would introduce measures to overcome the inequalities of the past; and an environment that would create measures for the former disadvantaged to make advances in the educational, economical and social aspects of life.

We, as South Africans, attained this opportunity when the country attained its freedom from apartheid and minority rule under the leadership of freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, and the African National Congress (ANC) in April 1994.

The ruling ANC, no doubt, introduced many measures over the past 27 years in an attempt to overcome the inequalities of the apartheid era.

But when recalling the sacrifices of the youth 45 years ago and the subsequent years, we can justly claim that most of the inequalities of the past have not been overcome.

In fact, in many cases, the quality of education for the poor and the children on the margins of society has not made much advancement; many young people suffering the full impact of the growing unemployment rate in the country; and generally the quality of life for many has degenerated.

REACTIONARY POLITICAL LEADERS WHO PROMOTE RACIAL HATRED AND POLARISATION SHOULD BE ISOLATED AND BROUGHT TO BOOK

               

 

Against this background, we have some leaders, instead of promoting the advancement of the social and economic lives of the people in a progressive manner, are actually advancing a racial and genocidal campaign against fellow South Africans. One of the leaders who has peddled this polarisation in our new non-racial and democratic South Africa is the leader of the EFF, Mr Julius Malema.

In a latest racial mongering exercise a week ago, Malema has once again targeted citizens who are classified as belonging to a minority group of people - a campaign that he started in the mid-2000s.

While attacking President Cyril Ramaphosa for using state resources to purge certain people in his party and other parties, including the EFF, who do not agree with him, Malema at the same time made racially disparaging claims against fellow citizens of Indian-origin.  

            

                           

CLAIMS AGAINST MINISTER GORDHAN AND “INDIAN” PEOPLE            

 

 

He said: “There is an Indian cabal that is going on here and it has co-opted some Coloureds. They take all strategic positions. They did that in the financial sector. Go to every insurance company or any financial institution… is headed by Indian or if it is a serious compromise, by a Coloured. All Africans have been destroyed.

“Look at who is going to replace that African person who has been removed from ABSA if you think I am sick.

“Kganyago is not leading the Reserve Bank. It is led by Kuben … is led by Kuben.

“We know who is leading SARS. They have taken all strategic institutions because white monopoly capital cannot go directly. It works hand in hand like it did in the 80s. It works with an Indian cabal led by Pravin Godhan to deploy Indians in strategic positions, including magistrates.

“When the case is of an EFF leader, because we can’t deploy a white magistrate or something, they put a Coloured magistrate or an Indian magistrate. Go and check all of those cases. They put an Indian prosecutor or a Coloured prosecutor. Go and check all of those cases.

“There is an Indian agenda in this country that seems to undermine Africans and that agenda is led by Pravin and it has been like that for years.

“O R Tambo commented about it even at some point.

“That’s what these people are scared of because that cabal, if you tamper with it, you will become a hobo in this country. You tamper with Pravin you will become a hobo in this country.

“That’s why CASAC is going to court. CASAC called for my removal in the Judicial Service Commission because I asked unpleasant questions. But since I arrived there which is what you are not telling them. Since I arrived there, I have been asking questions the same way I have been asking that Indian lady. What is so special about that Indian judge? The only speciality about her is that she is friends with the president of the Natal Indian Congress – Pravin Gordhan.

“Ýou touch members of the Natal Indian Congress…yes yes.”

 

              WHAT IS PHOBIA ALL ABOUT?

 

Listening to Malema continuing to make these claims is an indication that he has some ulterior motive under his sleeve. From my perception, it seems Malema wants the people of Indian-origin to be isolated, suppressed and oppressed.

What is this phobia that Malema has about Minister Gordhan and the “Indian” people?

Minister Gordhan has a rich struggle past and he has sacrificed a great deal for the cause of our freedom – being detained, banned, house-arrested in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.

 

                    NATAL INDIAN CONGRESS

 

The Natal Indian Congress, which is now non-existent, as an organisation has a rich history since it was established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1894. It has for about 100 years, prior to being disbanded against the will of many struggle stalwarts in 1994, played a major role in the struggles. It had not only campaigned for the human rights of sugar cane indentured labourers and others, it had also been part of an alliance with the ANC, the Communist Party, South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), Non-European Unity Movement, non-racial sports organisations and other progressive organisations for the liberation of the people.   

The leaders of the NIC, the Transvaal Indian Congress and the South African Indian Congress, who included Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Dr Monty Naicker, Ahmed Kathrada, Ismail Meer, J N Singh, George Singh and Fatima Meer, worked very closely over the decades prior to April 1994 with leaders of the calibre of Chief Albert Luthuli, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and other freedom stalwarts.

 

SACRIFICES BY PRAVIN GORDHAN AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS

 

The sacrifices by Gordhan and thousands of other leaders and activists in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s since the revival of the Congress in 1971 cannot be wished away by the likes of Malema. In fact, for all intents and purposes, the NIC was a front for the ANC during the struggle years when the ANC, Pan Africanist Congress and other organisations were banned since the 1960s to February 1990.

It seems that Malema is ignorant of the contributions made by the descendants of indentured labourers and other Indian-origin people for more than 100 years and up to this present time in the political, educational, economical, sporting, religious and social lives of the people.

 

              RACIAL TIRADE SINCE THE MID-2000s

 

From my journalist files, Malema has been embarking on this racial tirade since the mid-2000s and in 2011 when he was re-elected leader of the ANC Youth League.

Malema and his fellow leaders, from their political rhetoric at the ANC Youth League conference in Johannesburg, gave the impression that they were not the followers of the Oliver Tambos, Walter Sisulus and the Nelson Mandelas but instead the followers of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.

One of the women leaders set the tone for a "Mugabe" atmosphere when she shouted: "Viva Julius Malema, Viva", "Viva the ANC, Viva", "Viva nationalisation of mines, Viva", "Viva land confiscation, Viva", "Viva transfer of economic power,Viva" and "Viva Africa for Africans, Viva".

Then Malema, who saw himself as the saviour of the "black majority", also followed the "Mugabe" line in his address by demanding that the Government take radical steps to transfer the economy from the white minority to the black majority.

He made his demands in the presence of President Jacob Zuma.

After the woman leader and Malema captured the attention of the delegates, the conference, on the final day, adopted Malema's demands without any dissension. These included: 

* The expropriation of land from white farmers without compensation;

* The nationalisation of the country's mines;

* The nationalisation of banks; and

* The radical transfer of the economy into the hands of the black majority.

 

                 

                          

There's nothing wrong in a non-racial and democratic society like ours that role players have their say about the manner in which they would like the country to transform.

But what's of concern is that some of the actions and the talk at the Youth conference posed a direct challenge to the non-racial and democratic principles and ideals that many people had fought and died for. The demands about nationalisation and the confiscation of land without compensation were also worrying when one takes into account what has happened to the economy of Zimbabwe after Mugabe chased out the farmers and grabbed control of the economy.

The question I posed at that time in an article was whether Malema and his bunch of leaders wanted South Africa to descend and deteriorate to that level as well?

Nationalisation, I pointed out, has not worked in any country in the world and it will not work in South Africa as well.

For example, immediately after India gained its independence in 1947, the new leaders, including the first Prime Minister Jahawarlall Nehru, introduced a number of nationalisation measures in an attempt at what they saw as a panacea to overcome the poverty of the teeming masses.

Some of the measures included a number of state-run factories and hotels. After sometime these institutions deteriorated to such an extent that the Government had to re-think its policies and instead promote the privatisation of state institutions and a free economy. It was because of these measures that India has grown today to become one of the world's biggest industrial and economic powers.

 

ACTION MUST BE TAKEN AGAINST THOSE WHO PROMOTE RACIAL POLARISATION 

    

In our instance, it became a matter of urgency that President Zuma and other leaders at that time in 2011 take Malema and the other "youth league" bright sparks by the scruff of their collars and make it clear that we cannot repeat the mistakes of countries that adopted "nationalisation" policies.

But they also failed to inform Malema and his "loud mouths" that South Africa belongs "to all who live in it" and that no one should be made to feel that they are not part of the non-racial society.

Malema's diatribe has only served, so far, to drive out of the country thousands of people and prevent foreign nationals from investing in our country. We need foreign investors for the creation of much-needed jobs, to fight poverty and to promote the well-being of all South Africans.

Already many South Africans are having doubts about the future of our country if the types of Malema and his fellow "leaders" have their way. They say that in 10 to 15 years South Africa will be reduced to another "Zimbabwe" if the likes of Malema are not hammered around the knuckles by Government and other progressive leaders.

Most people want to know why is Malema not being stopped in his tracks?

 

                            DEMAGOGY

 

One of those who spoke out in 2011 was veteran ANC leader, Ben Turok, who had warned that Malema's "demagogy" was a threat to the "non-racial" principles of the ANC.

Said Turok: "This demagogy constitutes the greatest threat, not just to our electoral performance, but also to our hard-won democratic achievements as a country in general. On top of these tendencies come the crude references to race by a few senior personalities in the movement and government. These tend to reinforce the perception that we are moving away from an African majority non-racial society towards a Black Republic."

                      

NELSON MANDELA AND OTHERS SHOULD NOT BE BETRAYED

Another leader who had called for action against Malema at that time was Prof Fatima Meer, a veteran human rights campaigner and sociologist. I spoke to Prof Meer in 2008 when Malema had made racial statements not in line with the progressive policies of the ruling ANC.

Said Prof Meer: “These are the kind of people that we can do without. They disgrace us and they disillusion us. But we should not allow the Malemas to take us off our path, the great path to freedom, that was carved out for us by Mandela, cannot be abandoned and no sunset can fall on that path because of a Malema.”

It’s now clear that the Malema of 2021 is still on his racial incitement path and if he is not brought to book by the Government and other progressive forces, we will betray all the struggle leaders and activists who laid down their lives for a free, non-racial and democratic South Africa. The struggle leaders will not want to see a situation where some sections of the people are made to feel that they are unwelcome in the new South Africa. Ends – June 14 2021