Durban mayor, please act

OPEN letter to eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede . . .

As the captain of the ship of Durban Metro, I would suspect that you have been outraged at allegations of racism that certain senior employees of the municipality have been involved in.

Despite efforts to enhance social cohesion in our country, we are still plagued by those among us who pay scant regard to the value of our common humanity and citizenship.

The alleged racist name-calling of certain employees of Indian descent as c ***** s merely serves to foment and entrench a paradigm that can have severe and disastrous consequences.

The Indian community is an integral part of South African society. They are no more or less a citizen than any other citizen, and particularly in eThekwini – they have been contributory to the development and progress of the metro.

So it would be understandable that the umbrage taken concomitant with the palpable outrage merits both a response and decisive action.

I brook no mercy upon those who assume that by some unbeknown “power”, they can abuse a fellow citizen with derogatory racist intonations, and such impudicity must be addressed in the instant.

However one may want to downplay or palliate such despicable references, the fact remains that it is not only an opprobrium, but also a crime, for which you need to take responsibility and act upon.

The illiberal racism that festers within certain people manifests as a moral contagion that, if not nipped in the bud, will proliferate, destroy and relegate all of us to the horrific days of yore. It is incumbent upon you to act, and act fast – and not be handicapped by bureaucratic fetters simply to assume the mantle of political correctness.

An intrepid and good leader works in the interests of all the people – even at the expense being unpopular. I trust that I am referring to you.

If the municipality allows senior employees to inveigh racist bearings that demean and humiliate fellow citizens, then I am afraid that we as a nation have aeons to go before we could truly be referred to as that “non-racial” society.

We can least afford to entertain the incivility of employees whose parochial and equally flagitious utterances lend credence to the fact that some may well be steeped into believing that they have the power of superiority and act accordingly. If we are to extirpate racism, what better way to show it than to make examples of those who practise it – colour notwithstanding – and who better to act on it than the mayor?

The Indian community would be remiss if they did not place you on terms to act decisively and fast, the writer included.

My personal disapprobation stems from the fact that I am of Indian descent and I will not stand by or remain silent when veritable acts of racism are directed at me, the Indian people or to any other citizen of any hue of this country. In conclusion, you will recall a slogan when you, I and multitudes of others fought the Struggle, that simply said “an injury to one is an injury to all”. I trust this is sufficient for you to act in the instant.

NARENDH GANESH

Durban North