Social cohesion talk ‘diabolical’
“WE ARE the problem and we need to be the solution.”
So says SA Hindu Maha Sabha president Ashwin Trikamjee, who was speaking at the Social Cohesion Dialogue in Durban last week at an event held to discuss how different racial groups could unite to boost the economy of the city.
The third instalment of a series of dialogues, in the runup to the 3rd Social Cohesion Conference later this month, was meant to unpack how a united and collaborative effort between business people of diverse racial groups (particularly black and Indian) can positively contribute to the economy of eThekwini Municipality.
Said Trikamjee: “It is, for me, diabolical to be here talking about social cohesion. It’s 23 years after democracy in SA which was only won through the sacrifices of ambitions and lives. To be blunt, social cohesion is just another word that is thrown around. How do we, as a society go forward?”
Trikamjee said SA was still divided by economy, “and by a few white people”.
“Those from 1994 know what apartheid and the Group Areas Act did to us. We should not be talking about this 23 years later. We are the problem and we need to be the solution.”
He added that the reality was South Africans hadn’t changed their old attitude, “and the white minority is going to sit back and watch.”
“My thinking is, let’s look at our children. They don’t see colour. They are advantaged in that they did not experience apartheid. If we can play together the way they do, we can bring about social cohesion.
“At the end of the day people care about what you do, not what you talk about. Let’s start playing together, standing together, fighting together and making SA great together.”
Minority Front leader Shameen Thakur Rajbansi agreed with new Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba that one of the ways to improve on the country’s economy was to have social inclusivity. “Before 1994 it was a shame to talk about the contributions black people made in the country,” she said. “If we want to gel well together we have to include a few business principles such as culture management and being united in our diversity.”
Thakur Rajbansi said another way to move forward was to look at the country’s indicators for possible growth in human development and education. She believes another hindrance facing South Africa is language and trust.