MALEMA’S HYPOCRISY

AN OPEN LETTER TO JULIUS MALEMA.

Dear Mr Malema, your statement that 75% of Indians are racists warrants a response. I will readily concede that some Indians are racists.

We are all collectively guilty of overt and covert racism. Our rainbow nation is swamped with rainbow racists of every colour and hue. I have fought against every form of racism for the past 55 years, a struggle which continues to this very day.

My battle with racism began long before you were born. Many of us paid a hefty price for fearlessly opposing any form of racism across the racial divide.

In my long years in journalism, I have completely rejected any notion of prejudice. We must understand that racist thought, like all other forms of hatred and prejudice, is essentially a corruption of the human spirit that no law can completely eradicate.

We cannot rely on the instruments of the law to codify every thought and idea. We must strengthen our social fabric. This will emerge as the most powerful and enduring antidote to racial prejudice.

The majority of Indians fought every vestige of racism, risking life and limb for our non-racial democracy. During the Struggle, Indians fought alongside their ANC, SACP and PAC brothers to free us from tyranny. The liberty that you enjoy today was paid for in blood by comrades whose names you are probably unaware of.

For you to brazenly assert that 75% of Indians are racist is a moral outrage. I dare you to scientifically prove your preposterous allegations. Inflammatory and uncorroborated claims have the potential to create unnecessary division and confrontation between sectors of our community. Racism is the most vexing issue confronting South Africa. It operates in stealth mode across the racial spectrum.

Our ancestry includes people from all parts of the world, whose ideals of freedom inspired millions throughout the world. We cannot continue to harbour prejudice against any racial group without betraying ourselves. Let us not be selective in our condemnation of racial discrimination. Selective morality is sheer hypocrisy.

Farouk Araie

kashiefa.ajam@inl.co.za karishma.dipa@inl.co.za sheree.bega@inl.co.za rabbie.serumula@inl.co.za sameer.naik@inl.co.za shain.germaner@inl.co.za shaun.smillie@inl.co.za