Fighting racism with racism a grave mistake

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RACISM. The ugly debate rages across the country, spreading like wildfire and flaring up on social media platforms.

Twenty-two years after our transition from authoritarian rule to a miraculous democracy, the rainbow nation is still in the shadow of hate and bigotry.

South Africans are in shock at the recent outbursts of repulsive vitriol on Twitter and Facebook. First Penny Sparrow referred to black beachgoers as “monkeys allowed to be released on New Year’s Day”.

Then, despite the Human Rights Commission’s plea to not “fight racism with racism”, Velaphi Khumalo called for the cleansing of white South Africans. “We must act as Hitler did to the Jews”, he said.

We might have walked the long road to freedom, but the events of the past week have made it clear again that South Africa’s transformation is incomplete.

Experts have pointed to many reasons for the boiling over of racial tension – from the uncertainty of recent political upheavals and divisive discourses around the #ZumaMustFall campaign to the frustration of born-frees on key issues from service delivery to unemployment.

One thing is certain: the deepseated socio-economic and structural inequalities in our nation need to be urgently addressed alongside the entrenched attitudes of bigotry.

Despite making great strides building a culture of human rights, racism and other forms of prejudice remain a grave problem and need to be addressed with the seriousness they deserve.

Indeed, the Human Rights Commission noted an increase in hate speech over the past year and hate crimes are a daily reality our most vulnerable communities face.

While hate speech is not directly classified under South African law, the Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act protects against words that could “reasonably be construed to demonstrate a clear intention to a) be hurtful; b) be harmful or incite harm; c) promote or propagate hatred”.

Hate crimes, defined by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe as “a criminal act committed with a bias motive”, remain a scourge in our country.

Hate crimes are also known as “identity crimes”, actions directed at the identity of the victim. Like hate speech, hate crimes not only harm the individual they are directed against, but also serve as a message to the larger group the victim is seen to represent.

Racist, sexist or homophobic speech not only diminishes the dignity of others but damages the fabric of society.

Hate harms society by engraining chauvinism and perpetuating suspicion, fear and insecurity.

Nation-building and social cohesion, so desperately needed in a country with our fractured past, becomes impossible. In short, hate demeans us all.

Progress is being made to address hate speech and hate crimes in our country. The Hate Crimes Working Group, a multisectoral network of NGOs that works to spearhead advocacy and reform initiatives pertaining to hate crimes in South Africa, was formed in 2009.

Through this initiative, efforts are being made to effectively monitor hate crimes and use the data in lobbying for comprehensive legislative measures to combat hatred.

A hate crimes law in South Africa would not only improve the policing of, and judicial response to, acts of hatred; it would also establish societal norms in which hate would be unacceptable.

These legal processes need to be SOUTH Africa’s sad and centurieslong history of racism reached its nadir with apartheid, which entrenched a deep wound of division between South Africans.

In 1994, a so-called miracle took place, giving birth to a nation which, though not instantly reconciled, had the seeds of hope that real reconciliation was possible.

Madiba put us on that path to national unity. For a brief but wonderful period in our history, he allowed us to believe that we could truly become a rainbow nation, united in our diversity.

He realised that despite everything, we are better together. This was not just a pragmatic consideration but a moral imperative. It is that great wisdom that elevates him to saintly status and gives him a special place in our hearts.

In the first years of our democracy, we slowly climbed out of the abyss of racism, as the economy grew and more people shared in the benefits.

But since the Polokwane showdown, our economic growth has faltered and with it, we’re seeing a reversal in the trend towards greater unity.

The recent resurgence of racist rhetoric is undoubtedly connected to our worsening economic conditions which are inspiring populist politics – politics that pits one group against another.

The faction of the ANC now wielding power is trying to grow support through divisive means, failing to recognise how much harm this expedient strategy of re-racialising society does to our 1994 consensus of non-racialism.

Our reconciliation project is now at great risk from those who view Mandela as a sell-out.

Possibly they are correct that his generation of leaders could have done more to address income inequality. But to try to fight racism with the racism of populist politics is a grave mistake.

For starters, the populism espoused by the ANC and EFF goes hand in hand with economic policies that would be ruinous to our economy and would only serve to further increase inequality, as indeed they are doing already.

You cannot fight racism with racism any more than you can fight hatred with hatred. The best way to fight racism is through quality education for all, and a growing, inclusive economy that prioritises job creation.

Our country is still deeply divided along racial lines, economically, educationally and spatially. These divisions and inequalities perpetuate racism.

Every action our government takes that weakens our economy or education system and every action it fails to take that could strengthen them, represents another brick in the wall of racism that divides us.

The ANC’s latest statement that the DA is a factory for racists is absurd for three key reasons.

First, the DA is objectively the most racially diverse party in South Africa. Second, the DA is the only political party in SA which mobilises along non-racial lines.

Most importantly, the DA’s policies would produce the levels of educational excellence and economic growth that could shackle poverty and racism and put our society firmly back on Nelson Mandela’s road to reconciliation and shared prosperity.

Sowing racial discord is now at the heart of the ANC’s strategy to maintain the support it is no longer able to win through good governance and service delivery.

The race card appears to be the only one left in its deck.

I urge all South Africans to keep Mandela’s dream of non-racism, reconciliation and national unity alive.

This will be best achieved by tackling poverty through a growing, inclusive, job-creating economy and a highly progressive tax system that prioritises spending on the poor and provides redress for past injustices.

The constitution enshrines the value of non-racism and it must remain our guiding light.

I abhor racism, and will continue to fight to remove the racial divisions that apartheid stamped on our country.

In the war against racism good, clean governance that delivers topquality education and job opportunities for all is the most powerful weapon in our arsenal.

Maimane is the DA leader.