Understanding identity politics is not difficult

Igrant.shimmin@stuff.co.nz

To me one of the biggest dangers of the concept of identity politics is in its potential use as a broadbrush means to sweep aside legitimate concerns, to avoid confronting issues that have a real, enduring influence on people’s lives, however ‘‘niche’’ those might seem to some. And no, I’m not talking about anything illegal here.

The very phrase ‘‘identity politics’’ is an easy one for the powerful to use to duck uncomfortable questions about the vulnerable in society.

It reminds me of the only time I confronted controversial South African rugby boss Louis Luyt with a query. It was in the 1990s and a story had broken overnight in which one-test Springbok Elandre van den Bergh had told overseas media supposedly amateur players in South Africa were being paid, the worst-kept secret in South African rugby. The sport would finally go professional after the 1995 World Cup.

Luyt was notoriously difficult to get hold of on the phone, but it so happened there was a function at Ellis Park the day the story came out, and at one point I looked up and saw him striding purposefully across the function room, no doubt heading for the podium. I had nothing to lose, so I stepped into his path, politely introduced myself and asked him if he could comment on the story.

Barely breaking stride, he gave