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
