Worrying tendencies threaten our developing society
SOUTH Africa is one of the most beautiful countries on Planet Earth and its diversity should be preserved. We may have different opinions on the strategic direction of the country, but we are united on the need to build a successful nation.
This is one of the competitive advantages South Africa enjoys over many countries. It is vital to note that we are still a nation in the making, being guided by the spirit of non-racialism and non-sexism.
Non-sexism and non-racialism are opposed to any form of discrimination based on tribalism, ethnicity, patriarchy and race. We should not forget how tribalism, ethnicity and skin pigmentation were used in the past to foment hatred in society.
As we construct a postcolonial dispensation, what we thought was neutralised and decapitated is raising its ugly head. The resurgence of tribalism and ethnicity in the post-independence era is a worrying factor; the two could be used to rally communities against people perceived to be outsiders.
The assertion of indigenous culture, customs and traditions does not mean we have to revert to conservative cultural and customary practices underpinned by patriarchy. This phenomenon should not be used for purposes of promoting tribalism and ethnicity. The process should be in line with values, norms and principles enshrined in the constitution.
The reality is that we are South Africans expressing ourselves in different mother tongues. Tribes or ethnic groups are a social construct and we should resist any attempt to be divided along tribal or ethnic lines.
The abuse of ethnicity and tribalism threatens the sus- tainability of peace in Africa in particular. We know the devastating effects of ethnicity and tribalism in countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Sudan and so forth.
Ethnicity and tribalism could be used to disburse patronage through employment opportunities, awarding of tenders, awarding of bursaries and accessing of other lavish opportunities. These shenanigans lead to resentment, tribal and ethnic tensions.
Failing to arrest the proliferation of this tendency could intimidate the very foundation of freedom and democracy.
Women in particular are not vociferous enough on the demons of sexism, tribalism, ethnicity and patriarchal tendencies engulfing our society.
The construction of the new nation is unfolding in a deeply unequal society which poses a serious challenge to the sustainability of our democracy.
Shockingly, South Africa has become the most unequal society in the world. BEE policy conceived by a democratic dispensation has failed to spread its wings to the needy. Robert Gumede, the owner of Gijima AST, has conceded that BEE is not sustainable.
BEE was never designed to change the status quo; it was created to preserve the skewed system and accommodate a few black elite connected to the centre of power of the day. Ultimate beneficiaries of BEE are well-established financial institutions. The shareholding BEE trajectory adopted by government subordinates the black elite to the whims of the real controllers of the economy.
South Africa is not a poor country; it is a middle-income country with adequate resources and should have the capacity to meet the minimum or basic needs of its people.
Finally, the government has conceded that our borders are not adequately guarded. The dereliction of duty has contributed to a massive influx of illegal immigrants, and this negligence poses a serious risk. All foreign nationals have to be legally processed before entering the country. This is a universally accepted norm.
ý Christian Mxoliswa Mbekela is a PhD student at Rhodes University.