There is no antidote for the ‘disease’ of racism

South Africa still confronts a great racial divide, writes from Johannesburg

TFarouk Araie

he ugly incident at the Spur reminds me of what George Bernard Shaw once said: “The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them. That’s the essence of inhumanity.”

It is indeed tragic that after 25 years of democracy in South Africa, we carry our negative emotions with us from generation to generation like some kind of treasure.

South Africa still confronts a great racial divide and there is an urgent need to close that tragic gap as quickly as possible. It grieves us all to witness the extent to which racial mistrust and animosity still beset and bedevil our democratic nation.

It is evident that there still exists a serious rift in the nation’s social fabric when black and white citizens view incidents and headlines through contrasting lenses. And it is a rift that must be healed quickly before further alienation and damage is done.

Racism still rears its ugly head in rainbow South Africa. The deluge of racist comments now engulfing our rainbow nation is a graphic illustration of racism by stealth.

There must be zero tolerance for any form of racism. The incident at the Spur was avoidable if both sides displayed tolerance, restraint, moderation and civility in an awkward situation.

We have come so far, and yet it seems our journey in defeating racism is far from over as our nation is dealing with the malignant cancer that eats away at the very fabric of society.

Any free-thinking man or woman can clearly dissimilate between right and wrong, and our very conscience tells us, deep down inside, there are many of all races who hold racism in their heart.

It surrounds us overtly and covertly, inconspicuous and passive, terribly destructive to those targeted by it. Racism kills scores of people each year and makes the lives of many miserable and desperate. There is no antidote for this contagious disease.