Open-minded McKaiser deserves high praise
I refer to the letter by Trevor Rutherford (“McKaiser’s mission is short-sighted”, August 4-10). Eusebius Mckaiser’s grasp of South Africa today, his uniquely sharp assesment of forces at play, and his grasp of the subtleties of institutional and other form of racism make him a great resident columnist and an influential talk-show host on Radio 702/Cape Talk.
He is passionate, but unusually open and fair, even with his bias towards justice for the poor and the marginalised.
He readily acknowledges his baggage and is able interrogate his weaknesses.
These are rare characteristics in South Africa. Ten Mackaisers in all ethnic languages would still be too few. He is gracious with those with whom he disagrees, and shows us how to engage in a dialogue even if we have different views. He is correct to engage supremicists like many of us privileged paler South Africans.
I support his call to ostracise and not to do business with people who do not love and respect our Constitution. Racism is an evil scourge of the past 300 years in our country and continent. We should all stand against it and in all ways make our positions clear about it, rejecting it as not acceptable. You are either for or against racism.
In his talk shows he has held politicians to account.
I think he plays an important role in our developing democracy, and that his contribution is perhaps underrated.
MacKaiser is not perfect, but he is so much better and more passionate than many who have gone before him. —