Muslims think they are ‘voice’ of Indians
HELEN Zille faced a backlash after her latest posts on Twitter for her opinion on the positive aspects of colonialism.
This is not the first time that the Western Cape premier has been controversial on social media.
Colonialism, like apartheid, was demeaning, obnoxious and offensive.
It was violent, unprovoked and selfserving by its very nature, like a kid grabbing a toy from another.
Zille’s rant has exposed the true nature of the DA for what it is: a racist organisation for the protection of white interests.
The DA has referred the matter to its Federal Legal Commission for investigation.
As a former branch chairman of the DA (I have subsequently resigned), I can state that the spin doctors of the DA will circumnavigate this issue to once again attempt to reveal their holier-thanthou attitude.
Remember the Dianne Kohler Barnard debacle? Apparently, many sanctions were imposed on her. How many have been carried out?
Nicole Graham leaked confidential information and was given a slap on the wrist. She is still a councillor in eThekwini Municipality.
Zille, in the throes of a leadership spat in the Western Cape, exposed her indiscretion and ingenuity in posting a tweet that effectively gives credence to the greatness of colonialism.
I believe not much will come of her indiscretion, despite calls from the ANC and EFF for her head as premier of the Western Cape.
After all, the DA takes care of its own, unless one rocks the boat to the detriment of those holding power – like Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille – in which case a disciplinary hearing will be brutal, with an outcome already decided.
Zille will get nothing more than a cautionary pat on the back with a tame warning not to do it again. JAYRAJ BACHU Clare Estate I AM saddened by the death of Ahmed Kathrada, a fervent South African human rights defender and a Rivonia trialist.
Kathrada, an anti-apartheid activist and a stalwart of the liberation Struggle, dedicated his life to eliminating discrimination in all its forms and to achieving a life of dignity for all who live in South Africa. Kathy, as he was fondly called, tirelessly campaigned to deepen non-racialism and fundamental freedoms.
Besides fighting the good fight for South Africans, he was vocal about the occupation of Palestine by Israel and other injustices and oppression around the globe.
He was unafraid to tell close friends and comrades when he thought otherwise and hence vigorously supported the Save South Africa campaign.
The best way to keep his legacy alive is to continue his vision and mission and to defend, maintain and support human rights. In order to achieve and maintain peace, you must first develop and nurture justice. The best way to commem- Elvis Presley, but still won just as many awards as he had run-ins with the law. Still he would not live anywhere else on earth.
His song Johnny B Goode, has even gone extraterrestrial, in a time capsule on Voyager 1 and 11.
Berry’s death was overshadowed by the tragic loss of one of South Africa’s great home-grown talents. Joe Mafela was a born actor, comedian and songwriter who will be remembered for his Chicken Licken advertisement with “It’s good, it’s nice” tagline.
Even though he became a household name, he was humble.
He was still a simple, downto-earth man who knew how to entertain us. He was just an ordinary Joe. We’ll miss him dearly. T MARKANDAN Silverglen orate his life is to pledge to continue what he promoted: deepening non-racialism and supporting equality, equity, dignity and freedom.
Uncle Kathy, we salute your courage, allegiance and unfaltering uprightness and sincerely thank you for the significant legacy you leave.
You taught me many lessons. Today your death provides me with the greatest lesson and that is that every soul shall taste death. MOHAMED SAEED
Pietermaritzburg MUCH has been said about our constitution and human rights lately, especially on March 21 when we observed Human Rights Day.
The Bill of Rights states: 9 1) Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law, 31 1) Persons belonging to a cultural, religious or linguistic community may not be denied the right, with other members of that community, a. to enjoy their culture, practise their religion and use their language; and b. to form, join and maintain cultural, religious and linguistic associations and other organs of civil society.
Nowhere does it say that people of one cultural group should become the gatekeepers of another cultural group.
We are well aware of the historical contempt that the wealthy merchant class or free/passenger Indians had for our indentured forefathers.
Their derogatory name for us was c******.
They formed an exclusive group and referred to themselves as Approwallas which means “one of us”.
They did not mix with or have any interaction with our forefathers. They considered themselves to be Arabs.
It is so even today. EM Jadwat’s letter “Arabs never spread Islam by the sword” in your sister publication The Sunday Tribune (February 12) inadvertently let the cat out of the bag about his group “having derogatory names for other Indians and people generally”.
This puts many things in perspective for us, the children of indenture, and raises many questions.
The recurring one is: since Muslims are separate and exclusivist as ever, except when it comes to being TV or radio presenters or holding political office, why are they first in the queue to become the “voice” or representatives of all Indians?
If that is not bad enough, they bring in other members of the ummah or the “Muslim nation” into the Indian cul- tural space.
It is jarring that when it comes to Indian culture, it is the progeny of the same people who have expressed such disdain for us, who rush to represent us.
It is highly ironic that one biracial Patel (Zaqeeya) is a presenter on a TV programme called Mela, and another Patel (Salma) always takes charge when it comes to Diwali or Heritage Day on LotusFM.
The greatest violation of our human rights is when Mela Patel brings in her kith and kin from the Cape Malay community, such as Aqeelah Harron, to be part of Mela, and Salma Patel as programme manager brings Palestinian and other Middle Eastern issues into the Lotus arena.
We do have Indians who follow the Christian faith, but they do not reinvent their fellow non-Indian Christians as Indians and bring them and their issues into the Indian space. VINODINI NAIDU Chatsworth