HOW NOT TO WOO THE INDIAN VOTE
THE ECONOMIC Freedom Fighters can be truly proud its growth in support and the significant impact it has had on the South African political environment over a mere six years.
But the party could benefit from a simple lesson in social etiquette if it wishes to make friends and influence potential voters in the local Indian community.
Never spit into your guests’ cups before inviting them home for tea. It just leaves a bitter taste.
When I came across the headline “EFF targets Indian voters” in a local newspaper last week, I assumed it was just another item of fake news.
But it turns out the EFF has made some tentative moves to woo Indian support, having set up election banners near the sprawling township of Phoenix and the
Umgeni interchange. An interesting development, to say the least, but will it succeed in delivering any significant electoral gains for the EFF?
Let’s cut to the chase here and admit the chances of that happening right now are as remote as a snowball’s chance in hell.
How do you expect any selfrespecting Indian South African to pledge his or her support for a party whose leader, Julius Malema, has so often singled out Indian people for vitriolic and politically divisive attacks and openly affronted their dignity and history by labelling the majority of them racists?
How do you realistically expect them to flock in huge numbers to vote for the EFF on May 8 when the party’s leadership remains unrepentant for promoting such bigotry and prejudice and indulges in the politics of narrow nationalism?
What hope can there be for social cohesion in South Africa when Malema says true freedom will only be possible when whites are made to work for black people and the marriage rate between Indians and blacks is increased substantially.
No one in their right mind can deny that many Indians do have racist tendencies. We see evidence of this every day in many homes and businesses and must resolve to fight it every time it rears its ugly head.
But let’s be faithful to the truth: racism is not the sole preserve of any particular community.
It thrives across the board, among many blacks, whites and coloured people too. It’s a hangover from our painful and divided past and anyone who denies it is living a lie.
The pervasive effects of racial prejudice and indoctrination under apartheid left a stain on all South Africans, whether they agreed with the system or not. Nobody can honestly claim they were left unscathed and free of prejudice.
It’s just that, over time, some people have tried harder than others to free ourselves from the bondage of racial stereotyping and prejudice.
All of us South Africans need to try even harder.
If the EFF is genuinely seeking to broaden its traditional base and hopes to widen its support among so-called minority communities, it should show some respect for the fellow South Africans it hopes to attract.
Anybody for a cuppa tea?
The pervasive effects of racial prejudice and indoctrination under apartheid left a stain on all