PE man opposes bid to scrap term coloured

A PORT ELIZABETH writer and activist has penned an open letter to the group of Khoi activists who marched from Port Elizabeth to Bhisho, where they handed over a memorandum lobbying for the removal of the term coloured from the statutes of South Africa.

Dwayne Rockman, 26, said after learning about the memorandum, he felt the desire to voice his opinion as someone who, too, is passionate about coloured heritage and culture.

While the memorandum aimed to scrap the term, Rockman claimed it gave no clear indication as to what people of colour should be called if they did not wish to be identified as Khoi.

Rockman wants the memorandum to be retracted and amended.

His “Open letter to the Khoisan activists from a coloured” received much attention on social media and saw a large following of people agree with his sentiments.

“I am not at all against what they did, I support them with their fight for land claims, but if you are going to scrap a name that I identify with, then I have a problem with that,” Rockman said.

“Every person has the right to their identity and, even though they received over a million signatures to remove the term, they have not consulted the entire coloured population as to what they want to identify as.

“While I am aware that the term may have caused the generation before me tremendous suffering, I am of the opinion that the term has evolved.”

The group, which included MPL Christian Martin and Chief Khoisan SA, walked 300 kilometres last month to have the term Khoi added to the statutes and get the indigenous people’s heritage recognised.

Martin, who arrived at the legislature in a wheelchair after blistering his feet during the long walk, commended Rockman for taking a stand.

“It excites me when young people display their passion for a good cause and especially such a controversial one like this,” Martin said.

“I respect him for taking a stand and being proud of his heritage, but he cannot be selective when it comes to the benefits of it.”