SA must redouble efforts to eradicate the racism that still haunts us

It might be tempting to regard the shocking racial incident at Stellenbosch University — where a white student urinated on a black colleague’s belongings — as a case isolated to that university. Or see the perpetrator as an exception, an aberration occurring outside of a social context.

But that would be missing the point. In 1994, with the end of statutory apartheid, the expectation was that, having racked our country for centuries, racism would become a thing of the past. However, developments since have shown that racism is a scourge that will be hard to eradicate, that will not disappear overnight or on its own. The task will require vigilance and a willingness to confront racism whenever and wherever it emerges. While our constitution and legislation provide a framework to promote a nonracial society, it behoves all South Africans to do their part in bringing to life the ideals espoused in our founding statute.

Despite the political change of 1994, racism has continued to manifest in various walks of life, in our educational institutions, workplaces, businesses and generally in how most citizens are discriminated against purely on the basis of skin colour. The Stellenbosch incident, and others elsewhere in society, are by no means representative of the attitude of the majority of South Africans, who have embraced the idea of a democratic, inclusive and nonracial society.

But it is symptomatic of a persistent social cancer that, unchecked, has the potential to erode the foundations of the new society to which reasonable South Africans aspire.

Given our history, during which racism caused untold pain as apartheid rulers sought to dehumanise citizens on the basis of their race, our country ought to display zero tolerance to it.

Those who are tempted to unleash their bigotry against fellow South Africans must know that the consequences will be dire.

And those on the receiving end of such barbaric behaviour need to have the assurance that their humanity, rights and dignity will be protected by the law.

Otherwise, what is the meaning of democracy if citizens are mistreated today as they were under apartheid? The change in attitudes will not happen spontaneously.

We have to be deliberate in challenging and rolling back racist and regressive thinking, especially in our educational institutions, which are supposed to be sites of tolerance and enlightened thinking. A special burden must sit on the shoulders of those who occupy leadership positions in all spheres of life, including politicians, to promote national unity, tolerance and prosperity for all out of our diversity.

It was Nelson Mandela, one of the founders of the new SA and a proponent of racial reconciliation, who observed that “no-one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.” Indeed, there can be no greater truth than that for SA. However, the victims of racism cannot be expected to tolerate abuse and exclusion indefinitely, without losing faith in the reconciliation and nation-building project. Every incident of racism serves only to undermine the country’s efforts to become a more normal society, one that values and respects all, irrespective of their racial or cultural background.

Every incident of racism serves only to undermine the country’s efforts to become a more normal society