ANC wrong to attack Black Coffee for simply doing his job
Many people fall into the trap of linking apartheid South Africa with what is going down in Israel/Palestine.
We learnt from apartheid that it was not all white people who endorsed the system. Patrick Duncan joined the PAC from the Liberal Party and Helen Suzman was a lone MP who for many years fought tirelessly against apartheid.
While many people could argue that Israel is responsible for the oppression of Palestinians, we should also acknowledge that Israel is a country with many people with a diversity of views. You cannot victimise all Israelis for the decisions of those in government.
The UN has a duty to unite diverse people around the world. It must take centre stage and ensure stability and peace prevail without unnecessary loss of lives.
Where does our government fit in all of this?
It is very disappointing to say that our government is experiencing a knowledge deficit in the international relations spheres and appears not to have a clue as to what is happening in the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict.
The ANC fails to research foreign policies and it ends up becoming a victim of coordinated propaganda, which makes it prone to taking decisions that affect many people negatively in many ways.
The decision of the ANC at its recent conference to recommend that the government downgrade the South African embassy in Tel Aviv is ill-informed and illogical. They fail even to convince themselves of that poor decision they have taken.
It is very important for me to endorse the talented Nkosinathi Maphumulo, also known as Black Coffee, who was attacked by the ANC for doing his job in Israel recently.
He should be celebrated because it is not very common for an African child to be where he is at his “youthful age”.
Black Coffee, Trevor Noah, as well as Charlize Theron, are waving the South African flag very high and all need our support. More importantly, they have to be acknowledged.
I was hurt to see the ANC attacking the artist for simply doing his job in Israel, where he was invited to entertain people.
There could have been a dignified way to address the matter with the artist first before grandstanding in the media. The ANC was just playing cheap politics.
Black Coffee demonstrated a strong political consciousness when he declined to play in Mbabane as a way of showing solidarity with the oppressed people of Swaziland.
Politics should never divide people around the world. Politics should instead seek to unify all of us despite our diverse and unique cultures.
We cannot be dictated to which music to listen to. If, and when, that happens, then it infringes on our fundamental liberties because it interferes with our personal lives.
Politics should stop at the gates of our houses and politicians should stop telling us how to live our lives.
Black Coffee can work or live wherever he wants to as long as he meets the requirement demanded by the concerned state. There is no person who must be ordered by any other person, including government, on who to work for or where to work. That is a personal choice.
Black Coffee is not some Bafana Bafana player who can be bossed around. He is a private entertainer who goes out to entertain people and earn a living.