Social cohesion in South Africa - the forgotten history
IN RECENT years the issue of racial tension and racial cohesion – or the threat to it – has become extremely topical and concerning, and almost a seriously raging inferno.
Particularly tragic in this unfolding scenario is the manner in which the African-Indian relationship has been brought into question.
It begs the interesting question of why this was not a burning issue during the real and legitimate struggle years of the icons of the emancipation Struggle in this country, namely Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Ahmed Kathrada, Monty Naicker, Yusuf Dadoo, Walter Sisulu, Albert Luthuli, Govan Mbeki and the like.
It is not inconceivable that one of the reasons why it has now become almost a raging inferno is because of the rise of what can loosely be described as the politics of populism.
Simply put, this politics of populism has become a convenient foible for many people in some political parties to use as a cause to be expounded, and hang their manifesto on, in a sense of desperation. More significantly, it is proliferated as a target and strategy to increase the support base for some of the political parties when other, more notable causes, have dissipated.
South Africa has a remarkable history of foundation-solid social cohesion among the previously disenfranchised groupings, and the Indians, in particular, in this country have a unique and model existence vis-à-vis their relationship with their African brethren.
The largely unwritten history of the emancipation Struggle of South Africa is a history of the local Indians fighting side by side with the Africans against the abhorrent machinations of apartheid, and the eventual attainment of freedom and human rights.
This history of Indian settlement in South Africa was unique to this country within the continent of Africa, where Indians in other parts of Africa sought to hold on to their citizenship of India, and did not display the same level of loyalty to their adopted country as our people did in South Africa.
This history of alignment to the freedom cause is, sadly, an oft-forgotten truism when mavericks and dubious cynics attack the credentials and profile of us people of Indian origin.
Fortunately, the previous generation of Struggle heroes recognised the value of the contribution of Indians, hence the immensely successful coexistence of Indians side by side with the Africans throughout history until the seeds of discontent, conflict and patent racism took root over the past decade.
It must therefore beg the question as to why this has changed in the recent past, and why was it not prevalent in the almost century before that.
If one reflects on the writings, utterances and actions of Tambo and Mandela, one would find that there was nothing but a remarkable relationship of inter-dependence, amiability and camaraderie between Indians and Africans. The concern of social cohesion was almost non-existent in the vocabulary of the day.
In the recent past, some politicians have played a dangerous game of fuelling tension and conflict where it never existed before. In the past, even though our history was punctuated with sporadic incidents of racial tension, such as the infamous 1949 Riots, it was an event that happened and dissipated within a short space of time – notwithstanding the serious loss of lives among the Indians, and the animosity that was taking root within many quarters.
The rulers of the time had ensured that whatever precipitated the conflict at the time was not allowed to fester, and was put to bed very quickly by extolling the virtues and the positive dynamics of the Indian-African history of co-existence, by far superseding whatever little animosity and discontent may have existed at the time.
Sadly, the Indians have always been political footballs, and the current situation is no different. There is perhaps the perception that the Indian population is the most vulnerable – largely because we are generally the most docile and tolerant of peoples by our very nature.
In some ways, this can be seen as trying to attack the soft underbelly of the Indians, because we are a group of people whose lives were predicated and developed on a very high level of spirituality, religiosity and enviable moral code. This was built on the foundations of non-violence, tolerance and of humanitarian distinction.
We do not apologise for the fact that our passion, bordering on an obsession, for education has been the hallmark of our existence, being able to uplift ourselves from the morass of apartheid, with its abhorrent discrimination and subjugation by the colonial masters, followed by the Afrikaner regime of the past.
This pursuit of education, coupled with our very enterprising nature, has allowed us to develop and catapult ourselves through our own innate talents and our internationally recognised ingenuity to be creative and resourceful.
Toiling
We also make no apologies for the fact that the moderate successes we have achieved through these dynamics have come through our own blood, sweat and tears; toiling outside of normal hours, going the distance beyond normal human endurance, coupled with the supreme financial sacrifices of our fathers and mothers.
It is sad that this remarkable self-development of our people is now manipulated by many with less than noble agendas to raise the misguided ire and wrath of their supporters, in what can only be described as a gross and unfortunate misrepresentation of the factual and current situation. Very importantly, and arising out of our supreme ethos of Eastern spirituality, the generosity of our people is well known, and permeates every stratum of society.
The Indian people, despite the fact that they were not always the absolute wealthiest of the population, have an ethos of dipping into their pockets and into their meagre resources to assist those less fortunate, and those who are challenged in various facets of life.
One has to just look at the various institutions of charity and benevolence, such as the VN Naik School, the Lakehaven Homes, the Divine Life Society, which built over 570 projects – at a cost of R170 million – largely relating to education in the black communities, from funds collected from Indian donors.
My own foundation, and organisations that I am in control of, have adopted impoverished African schools, provided computers, built a skill-training centre and other facilities, and have improved the lifestyle of many other rural communities.
Supporting the African needy over the poorer Indian needy has never been a consideration for the Indian people, who have continued to shower their financial generosity on these institutions so the downtrodden and the disadvantaged children, mainly of the African population, can hope for a better life.
Once again, and potentially tragically, these often mammoth acts have been forgotten in the insidious rise of populism, which has become a new mantra and mechanism to actualise some people’s dubious agendas and ambitions.
The cause of racial tension and racial cohesion has become the new battering ram for people struggling to find a cause that will propel them into some superior political status. This notwithstanding, the Indians have continued to be supremely tolerant and generous in spirit, while watching this onslaught against their well-being, where they are often the targets of hijackings, robberies and killings.
One hates to talk about Indians and Africans as different groupings, because South Africa certainly represents one of the few countries in the world where co-existence between the different racial groups has been a model of success.
However, it has now become an issue – which has to be described and played out in tones anathema to most of us ethical and spiritual beings.
Our response to all of this – especially those who are actively fostering this potential powder keg – is that if there is a sincere and genuine objective of unifying our people for the betterment of South Africa as a nation, let us harness the collective might of both our communities and create an environment of inter-reliance, tutored development and combined enterprise.
I will be leading a group of Indian business community and religious leaders to meet His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini to discuss the current issues. I believe His Majesty truly cares about the Indian community, and appreciates the role we have played and our various contributions.
I urge the Indian community in SA to encourage their children to learn isiZulu, as effective communication is critical to build harmonious relationships.
Let us forge ahead by building on the respective strengths of both our communities and create a nation that our children can benefit from and be proud of – and one which does not just serve the selfish and parochial needs of dubious leaders.