Black First tried to ‘reason with’ Gupta protesters
INDIANS who protested outside a prayer service held by the Gupta family on Sunday were under the influence of white people and needed to be reasoned with.
This was the response from activist organisation Black First Land First (BLF) about their intervening when about 20 people held a silent protest outside a Shrimad Bhagwat Katha ceremony at the Saxonwold Military Museum, hosted by the controversial Gupta family, who have been accused of state capture.
Johannesburg Against Injustice (JAI), which led the demonstration, are considering taking legal action against BLF, whose members allegedly “physically and verbally attacked” protesters.
The Guptas are considering legal action against JAI.
BLF national deputy secretary-general Zwelakhe Dubasi told POST they had been asked to intervene by community members before the event.
“We tried to convince Indians they were unaware they were preaching a white agenda,” Dubasi said this week.
Asked whether the protection of religious expression was of concern to BLF, Dubasi said: “We are a black consciousness movement and our fundamental duty is to protect blacks who are under attack.” He said they did not take into account the controversy that surrounded the family when they acted.
“Corruption is a secondary problem. We are dealing with white racism.”
JAI interim committee member Riedwaan Pillay dismissed Dubasi’s claims that they were influenced by white people as “nonsense”.
“We have the same rights as everyone else to protest. It was a silent protest – no loud noises and no speeches. Most protesters were old people versed in the tradition of non-violent resistance,” said Pillay.
He added that BLF members had been unruly and got physical with protesters.
Dubasi denied violence had taken place. He said BLF had engaged protesters peacefully, though he confirmed the police had responded.
Activist Prema Naidoo, who was among the protesters, said BLF members had insulted some white demonstrators, accusing them of being oppressors who had stolen the land from blacks.
Naidoo said South Africans needed to take a stand against the Gupta family who had “captured the state”.
He said that he would return to protest this week if necessary.
The executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Neeshan Balton, who attended the protest in his personal capacity, endorsed the call by JAI.
In a statement, the civil group said the prayer observed by the Guptas honoured Lord Krishna and taught about the evils of greed and seeking of wealth.
JAI decided to protest to “expose” the Guptas’ religious hypocrisy because “credible media sources” suggested they wielded undue influence among some in power.
The Guptas’ lawyer, Gert van der Merwe, said they were looking into whether the protest was unlawful. If so, he said, they would pursue a civil case for damages.
“The family is disappointed. They host the prayer every year as the highlight of their religious experience.”
He said it was the first time the prayer had been interrupted.
Van der Merwe added that the prayer service had not been completed and would end this Sunday.
The president of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, Ashwin Trikamjee, said: “While one must respect the right to pray and the right to cultural practice, it must not become a tool for conduct viewed by society as directly in conflict with the morality that one attempts to practise.
“It is the responsibility of all South Africans, whether Hindu or of any other faith, to respect the right to worship as long as it is not tantamount to a breach of morality.” – Additional reporting by Jolene Marriah-Maharaj