Racism should not be part of the new non-racial democracy

By Marimuthu Subramoney
(aka Subry Govender)

The claims of racism and discrimination at the Verulam Testing Ground are of serious concern.
We have highlighted the claims because we firmly believe that in the new non-racial and democratic South Africa no person should be discriminated or abused because of his or her skin colour or because of language, culture, religious and other differences.
Verulam, Tongaat and the North Coast region in general have always been in the forefront of the struggles against racism and apartheid. We were blessed with leaders of the calibre of Billy Nair, Mewa Ramgobin, Ms Ela Gandhi, George Sewpersadh, I C Meer, and scores of others who had contributed in no small measures and sacrificed their families and lives in the struggles for a racist-free society.
They never for one moment would have envisioned a situation where, only 17 years after the attainment of our freedom, that some officials would take it upon themselves to sew seeds of division and hate by displaying racist attitudes and discriminating against their fellow citizens - whatever their colour and their cultural backgrounds.
The sad situation at the Verulam Testing Ground comes at a time when racism has also become the rallying cry for some people who hold responsible positions in public life.
In one of his most recent outbursts, the leader of the ANC Youth League referred to people of Indian origin by the derogatory term "amakula". He subsequently apologised through his spokespersons but this is of no help as the climate of racial hatred has already been ignited.
In another instance, a Durban lawyer, Judge Isaac Madondo, expressed the view that an Indian-origin judge should not be considered for the the KwaZulu-Natal judge president's position because "... we still have things to address: imbalances, all kinds of things which need more insight, which a person who is not (a black) African cannot be privy to".
All the racist talk - from whatever source - is directly in contradiction with our Constitution and principles and values of great leaders such as Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada, Dr Yusuf Dadoo, Dr Monty Naicker and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
In all his many speeches after his release from prison in February 1990, Mandela had always maintained that our new South Africa should be a society where all people were treated equally and with respect and dignity.
In one speech after his election as President in 1994, Mandela said:
"The struggle for democracy has never been a matter pursued by one race, class, religious community or gender among South Africans. In honouring those who fought to see this day arrive, we honour the best sons and daughters of all our people. We can count among them Africans, Coloureds, Whites, Indians, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews - all of them united by a common vision of a better life for the people of this country."
The great leader went onto say that in the new political order there shall be no discrimination whatsoever.
Mandela added: "To raise our country and its people from the morass of racism and apartheid will require determination and effort. As a government, the ANC will create a legal framework that will assist, rather than impede, the awesome task of reconstruction and development of our battered society.
"We place our vision of a new constitutional order for South Africa on the table not as conquerors, prescribing to the conquered. We speak as fellow citizens to heal the wounds of the past with the intent of constructing a new order based on justice for all.
"This is the challenge that faces all South Africans today, and it is one to which I am certain we will all rise."
In the early days after our new dispensation many people of colour complained that they were being marginalised and treated with contempt. They complained that "in the days of apartheid we were not white enough, now we are not black enough". Many people did not take them seriously but it now seems that this is becoming the new order of the day.
It's hoped that officials in public service and those who call themselves leaders will learn from the lives of the Mandelas and not to sow seeds of division and polarise South Africans any further. - Subry Govender, Chief Editor