‘Uniting South African communities for transformation’
AS WE mark 30 years since South Africa’s democracy, it is essential to reflect on the lasting effects of apartheid’s deliberate divisions on our nation.
Any efforts to perpetuate racial division are detrimental to the Indian community, and we must unite against these forces.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), under the leadership of president Jacob Zuma, presents a compelling vision for change, emphasising the need to address the decline in governance and efficacy of the current government.
Parties that emphasise our racial divisions must be ignored to safeguard our future.
The so-called Indian vote has traditionally gone to apartheid era-based political parties or those that purport to represent Indians.
This has to change.
From my own experience, smaller parties do not have the numbers to make a difference.
A cursory look at local government will prove this. As a community we cannot isolate ourselves from mainstream politics.
This is a national election and how we vote will send a message to the majority of South Africans.
MKP’s impact and Zuma’s achievements:
Umkhonto weSizwe, as the military wing of the ANC, played a crucial role in advancing the armed Struggle against the oppressive apartheid regime.
Our collective efforts in MK were essential in achieving the political freedom we enjoy today.
While MK was predominantly composed of black Africans, it is important to note that South African Indians also played a significant role in our formation and existence.
Prominent Indian figures, including Kay Moonsamy, MD Naidoo, MP Naicker, Ahmed Kathrada, and Indres Naidoo, worked alongside Nelson Mandela and Joe Slovo to promote a more resolute approach, one that departed from the ANC’s non-violent resistance campaign in the face of escalating oppression.
During his presidency, Zuma led the country with notable improvements. The detrimental issue of load shedding was virtually non-existent, showcasing his commitment to addressing critical challenges.
The ministers in Zuma’s Cabinet were held accountable for their performance, and those who failed to meet expectations were removed.
Zuma also made significant strides in education, ensuring free tertiary education for students who could not afford it, benefiting many Indian students through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
Moreover, Zuma’s tenure saw the creation of more black (including Indian, coloured, and African) millionaires, demonstrating his commitment to economic inclusivity.
Zuma consistently preached racial unity, which is evident from his collaboration with Indian ANC combatants during the Struggle when he served as the head of intelligence.
Cyril Ramaphosa: A product of monopoly capital
In contrast, the current president of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa, seems to have strong ties to monopoly capital.
His billionaire status can be attributed to shares granted to him by major white-owned companies seeking to secure their own interests.
Ramaphosa’s personal gains are enhanced by the continuation of load shedding, which directly benefits his business holdings that are favoured by government connections.
It is troubling to note that his ascension to the presidency was marred by funding scandals, wherein white-owned businesses provided substantial sums of money to secure his victory.
It begs the question: What motivated these investments into Ramaphosa’s leadership?
The need for transformation and the role of the MKP:
The compromises reached during post-apartheid negotiations have unfortunately led to extensive suffering among the majority of South Africans.
After three decades of democracy, we find that 70% of the land in our country is owned by a mere 7% of the population.
This deeply entrenched economic disparity is exacerbated by the continued domination and control of the economy by white individuals, including foreign entities.
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange starkly illustrates this dominance, with white-owned businesses prevailing.
Poverty and unemployment levels have reached unprecedented heights, primarily due to the ANC-led government’s reluctance to implement radical changes in economic policies that would bring true economic freedom to the majority.
The emergence of Umkhonto weSizwe as a political party, under Zuma’s leadership, becomes a crucial step in transforming government policies and freeing South Africans from the perils of poverty and despair.
Under an MKP government, load shedding would become a thing of the past, and the means of production in the country, including the Reserve Bank, commercial banks, and monopolistic industries, would be nationalised for the benefit of the people, not a select few white elites or ANC leaders.
This would result in a drastic reduction in interest rates, taxes and fuel prices, ensuring greater economic inclusivity.
Additionally, an MKP-led government would overhaul the grant system, guaranteeing South Africans a living wage of R4 500 per month, while actively promoting employment for its citizens through governmental and state-owned enterprise initiatives.
The land redistribution policies of MKP would ensure that those who work the land are the rightful beneficiaries.
Conclusion
As we commemorate 30 years of democracy, it is imperative for South Africa’s Indian community to rally behind the transformative vision of the MKP.
Politics is fundamentally driven by numbers, and we have seen first hand that parties such as the DA are mere talkers and lack the ability to bring about real change.
Only Zuma possesses the charisma and popularity required to break the ANC’s hold on power. We must remember the wise words of Nelson Mandela: “If the ANC does to you what the apartheid government does to you, then you must do to the ANC what you did to the apartheid government.”
The MKP is the only party capable of removing the ANC from power and ensuring significant progress toward economic freedom for the majority.
Together, let us unite and work towards building a South Africa where every citizen, regardless of race, can enjoy equal opportunities and a brighter future.
Vote MKP to secure our future.