Zille got her quote on colonialism wrong

AS the historian cited in Helen Zille’s opinion piece “White-bashing cancer destroys SA from within” (April 30), I wish to respond.

The desperation with which she grasps at an uncontextualised paragraph in a Grade 12 textbook to justify her belief that colonialism wasn’t all bad doesn’t surprise me.

What surprises me is her claim that I, as the “renowned” (read black) historian, believe this to be true.

I am not a renowned historian, nor does contributing to a high school textbook turn me into one.

And while my name appears first on the book, Jean Bottaro and Pippa Visser were my important co-authors.

Mischaracterising my standing and ignoring my white co-authors serves two purposes in Ms Zille’s argument.

One, she uses an inflated status as a proxy for race, and, two, it confirms her claim that black people are free to express things that white people cannot.

In her haste to tear out the paragraph in question and to wave it triumphantly, she failed to notice the preceding unit, which discusses the violence, oppression and horrors of colonisation in Africa (pp. 176-182).

She flagrantly omitted key points surrounding the paragraph in question: “When the African states became independent from colonial rule, many of them experienced serious political, economic and social problems. Although not all of these can be blamed on colonisation, many historians believe that the legacy of colonial rule is at least partly responsible for them.”

The unit concludes by asking: “Did colonisation have any positive effects?” The full answer was: “Although most historians emphasise the negative effects that colonisation had on Africa, some also show that it did have some positive effects.”

The book then listed what some historians believed to be the positive — the sentence Ms Zille quoted.

The purpose of the paragraphs was to draw attention to the importance of interpretation, different perspectives and debates in history, and shift away from rote learning and dates.

When read in its proper context, it is clear that the paragraph Ms Zille approvingly quotes does not represent our views. We presented the views of different historians, including Victorian ones who saw colonisation as a “civilising mission”.

It is ironic that Ms Zille does to me what she accuses her critics of doing to her: “decontextualising” and “distorting” her words. —Dr Maanda Mulaudzi, lecturer, historical studies, University of Cape Town

Zille enlightened us

ZILLE’s rebuttal of Professor Charles Ngwena last week was excellent.

Her insight and analysis, and the citing of Frantz Fanon’s philosophy that she believes is having a profound negative impact on “born-frees” who see “whiteness” as the obstacle to a transformed prosperous South Africa, are enlightening.

Were Zille’s tweets decontextualised by sinister forces to foment division, distrust and suspicion among her supporters?

An exclusive mindset, if allowed to grow, will reverse our nation’s gains and resuscitate racial profiling. — Bruce Woolard, Framesby

Zille ludicrous, cowardly

ZILLE’s arguments would be laughable if they weren’t written by a person of her stature.

It’s disappointing that she is trying to use race to get out of the political cul-de-sac that she finds herself in in her political party, the DA.

So the fact that her views have been attacked and she has been called to account by her party points to a white-bashing cancer? This is ludicrous and cowardly.

The history of this country can’t be ignored and forgotten for the sake of not upsetting the likes of Zille. — Kiekie Mboweni, Nkowankowa

Beautiful picture

I LOVED the beautiful and meaningful picture by Thuli Dlamini (April 30) of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa on his visit to the rural heartland, where ANC carelessness is all too apparent.

Behind the politicians and noise, in the shadows, are the ordinary, extraordinary, beautiful people of our country. — Michael Hook, Parkhurst

Island in the sun for JZ?

IT is down to the wire as President Jacob Zuma races to the finish line.

Living in a mess next door

I WAS greatly entertained by your article “The Young and the Wasteless” (April 30), which managed to be condescending and insulting at the same time.

I see that Ms Johnson’s 15-piece wardrobe excludes such middleclass necessities as shoes, socks, swimming costume, hat, winter jacket and underwear.

Perhaps when this family go on their “adventures”, they travel to places where these items are not necessary?

Epic journey to the middle of the lounge, for example?

Their aseptic apartment lacked all the “normalities” I generally associate with balanced family life — school projects, children’s art, some unfinished knitting . . . How about such a revolutionary item as a book with real pages one can turn?

But the greatest annoyances were the homilies for “eco-friendly living” such as using moss instead of (biodegradable) loo paper. What a ludicrous notion for any urban dweller!

His tenure was characterised by a downgrade to junk status and his failure to uphold the constitution. It happened under the national executive committee’s nose, with no action taken.

In the aftermath of widespread protests, as a result of his rash cabinet reshuffle, the motion of no confidence is set to fail yet again in parliament.

JZ, who never ceases to stun, will probably outwit everyone, calm the fury, and the estimated R1-trillion nuclear deal (and more shady deals, who knows?) will go through just before his term ends.

The Guptas will get their share. The loot will be spread carefully and surreptitiously among the select few in the Zuma cabal.

The Guptas will buy an exquisite island. JZ will be whisked away to it to avoid his day in court.

This may sound like a box-office blockbuster, but that’s how JZ’s shenanigans stretch imagination.

The nuclear deal is, in itself, arguably a noble idea with sustainable benefits, but it is tainted MISSING IN ACTION: No sign of shoes, socks, underwear . . .

I also suspect there are certain single-use items which even the super-smug Bea Johnson has to buy, such as sanitary towels, a thought which makes their claim to produce only “one small jar” of waste a year seem unlikely.

I strongly suspect that this family, like those in the Flanders and Swann song Design for Living, show this “apartment” to the gullible to photograph — and actually live in a mess, like the rest of us, in the house next door! — Tracey Babb, Muizenberg by the dubious involvement of the Guptas.

JZ’s tenure at the helm of the ANC has destabilised and destroyed Africa’s oldest, most revered liberation movement and South Africa.

Just like apartheid, its repercussions will be felt way beyond his kleptocracy. — Patrick Mphuthi, Sandton

Spare Zuma kids’ feelings

WE must think before we write or say something negatively about the president. Remember, he has kids and a family. — Earle Erasmus, Uitenhage