Enough talking shop, let’s have action
Vie w
THE picturesque seaside town of Hermanus in the Western Cape was transformed into a burning town in spots this past week as angry protesters turned on foreigners, looting shops and destroying property, including a satellite police station, cars and homes.
Reason for their outrage? Many had been waiting for years – some up to 25 years, for housing. Their frustration erupted, buoyed by calls from the EFF to “grab unoccupied land” wherever supporters could find it. Despite the destruction in the aftermath, the protesters’ efforts were rewarded.
Western Cape Housing MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela announced that those living in backyards in the town would receive housing. It’s a dangerous precedent and a catalyst for other copycat riots.
It sends a signal that protests, riots, looting and the destruction of property is the only way to receive attention from the government – and demands for housing will only be met if one destroys property.
Hard-working foreigners who have fled their war-torn countries are often targeted during violent protest action, leaving them vulnerable, fearful and caught in the crossfire.
We are not talking about wealthy foreigners who came to South Africa to loot our coffers and resources – and capture our politicians and stateowned entities.
Those paying the price are our poor brethren across Africa, whose countries provided a safe haven for many former South African freedom fighters who sought refuge from the apartheid regime.
How is it that we now reward them by turning on them for seeking refuge here?
Most, if not all, do not rely on state handouts. Instead, they are resourceful, self-sufficient and run small businesses with which they eke out a living.
The lack of social cohesion and heightened racial tension in South Africa is concerning, made worse by the Gupta saga.
Many South Africans do not make the distinction between the Guptas and South Africans of Indian descent. The Guptas have no struggle credentials, did not contribute a drop of sweat for our freedoms and yet were rewarded with citizenships of this country while our fellow African nationals are threatened with deportation to their war-torn countries daily.
Many South Africans of Indian descent have been derogatorily referred to as “Guptas” – despite their unwavering patriotism as South Africans, having been born and bred in this country.
It has also left many within their political parties marginalised and on the periphery. There is also an unspoken fear among politicians that fraternising with so-called Indians, despite them being South African, may raise suspicion, as in the case of the Gupta brothers.
The Guptas have not only plundered our resources. They have left in their wake a country divided, made worse by economic inequalities across the racial divide.
And while President Cyril Ramaphosa has been on a charm offensive since taking up office, he has yet to make substantial strides in uniting the country, beyond words.
It’s early days, but he needs to act decisively and mop up the devastation left by the Guptas. With a year to go before South Africans go to the polls, racial divisions are already being used as a part of some parties’ electioneering ploys.
It cannot and must not be allowed. Ramaphosa must draw a line on the viral racial spews which are often used to inflame racial tension and garner political support – especially in KZN, which has historically been a hotbed of racial conflict.
That many so-called South African Indians are successful in business cannot be ignored. But, there needs to be a transparent diagnosis of how this was achieved and skills to be shared, if we are to build a South Africa on shared values – ubuntu at its best.
Divisions
That only 52% of South Africans approve of interracial marriages and only 53% give interracial neighbourhoods the thumbs-up is affirmation of how deep our divisions still remain, 24 years postdemocracy.
We remain racially, culturally and sexually polarised and far from patriotic South Africans. The widening economic gap simply adds to the deepening tension.
Workshops, summits and over-thetop, high-profile meetings to address social cohesion are not the answer. We’ve been there, done that, many times.
The government has announced a social cohesion summit to take place this year – as it did last year, and in 2012, and in 2013, 2014 and every year subsequently.
Setting up social cohesion task teams (with a budget) has had little effect. People no longer want shop talk; they require action.
Concrete action is needed on how all South African fears across the racial divide will addressed, which includes economic disparities, skills shortages and racial profiling in job opportunities.
It’s not simply a case of handing out houses to quell protests or a position or tender to stem dissent within a party or company. Or calling for lifestyle audits of politicians (bar ministers).
Our challenges require a wellthought out plan of action that is practical, results-driven and a catalyst for building a patriotic South Africa that is inclusive and sensitive to all. This has not happened, despite talk of grand roll-outs of various campaigns.
Schools need to be brought on board too, especially private ones, where sensitive racial issues are not adequately addressed as many teachers themselves are ill-equipped to deal with such matters, having never been exposed to such dynamics.
The two-year prison sentence of Vicki Momberg for her racist vitriol must be applauded. It finally sends a message that South Africa is taking racism seriously, making it punishable by conviction and imprisonment.
But, the courts can only enforce the sentence. They cannot enforce any change in mindset. That requires more than simple rehabilitation.
It requires every South African to commit to rebuilding an egalitarian society. But first there must be a political rehabilitation of our politicians on why they are in service. That would be a start.