Malema is ‘sowing seeds of hatred’
TWO veterans of the struggle against apartheid and minority rule have called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC government to come out and clearly condemn those making racially inciting statements.
Retired judge Thumba Pillay and Swaminathan Gounden spoke to this correspondent soon after Julius Malema repeated his statement that a “majority of Indians” are racist when addressing his supporters in Newcastle on Monday.
Malema repeated his racial rhetoric after he made an appearance at the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court on charges of inciting people to invade land.
He has been charged under the Riotous Assemblies Act of 1956 after he encouraged people to occupy land during a meeting in Newcastle in 2016.
Judge Pillay, 82, who has been associated with the Natal Indian Congress, United Democratic Front and other progressive organisations for most of his life, said President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC must not remain silent when Malema and people of his ilk “sow seeds of division and hatred”.
“The ANC has been very silent on this serious issue and we want to urge President Ramaphosa to take the lead in reassuring South Africans that racial hatred will not be tolerated in our new non-racial and democratic South Africa,” said Judge Pillay.
“The president must come out and tell Malema in no uncertain terms that he does not know the history of the people of Indian origin.
“He must tell Malema that he knows the history of the people of Indian origin because he has worked with many of the struggle leaders for the freedom we enjoy today. He must not allow this freedom to be destroyed by people like Malema.
“If Ramaphosa and the ANC cannot speak out against Malema and his elements, then which organisation that the minority people of Indian origin can turn to?
“The people of Indian origin are looking forward to President Ramaphosa and the ANC to re-assure them. But at the moment this is not happening. Who do the people turn to?”
He added: “It was in 1946 when MD Naidoo and others went to the United Nations to take up the cause of the people of Indian-origin because of the oppression they had been subjected to by successive colonial and minority governments.
“After all these years they are still talking about the Indian question. This is worrying and disturbing. We don’t have leaders of the calibre of Dr Monty Naicker and Dr Yusuf Dadoo any longer.”
Swaminathan, 90, who has been involved in the social, trade union and political struggles against minority rule for more than seven decades, said he was concerned about the “racially disturbing” statements being made by Malema and other people.
“The ANC must come out to bring Malema to order because people are concerned about what Malema is doing,” said Gounden, who was recently presented with one of the country’s highest awards for his contributions to the struggle.
“Malema’s statements are promoting uncertainty and violence against the people. He is inciting the people against another group of people.”
Gounden also said most people were pining for leaders of the calibre of Naicker and Dadoo.
“We all fought for this freedom and Malema and company must be told in no uncertain terms that they cannot sow seeds of division and hatred.”
Both Pillay and Gounden said they appreciated the actions of the Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg, the Right Reverend Steve Moreo, IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and others for speaking out against Malema when he first made the statements against Indians when addressing supporters two weeks ago in Klerksdorp in the North West.
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