Heed the need for minority recognition

POLITICAL scientist Steven Friedman’s recent criticism of the DA’s posters for lauding Phoenix residents as “heroes” fails to recognise the trend and fault line that has developed within our political landscape, namely, the increasing significance of minorities and the challenge they pose.

Territorial possession, preservation and identity are the roots that drive the quest for minority recognition.

The DA’s Phoenix poster rightly recognised those in the context of the residents’ stance against looting and arson. But the DA’s quandary is that it finds itself politically compromised with its policy of “one South Africa for all”.

By overtly supporting a minority group in a particular instance, it finds itself branded as racist and, absurdly, according to Friedman, as “right wing”.

Yet across this land, the clamour for minority recognition is increasing – Afrikaners, Indians, farmers, traditional leaders …

Provincialism is also a factor which is increasingly relevant and challenging, as the Western Cape independence movement shows and which the DA supports.

The diverse and disparate reality of our political landscape therefore requires appreciation of the adage “horses for courses”.

Minority communities need unequivocal representation of their rights and needs.

Indian, white and coloured minorities seek a voice that rejects the discrimination of demographic representivity and calls for the principle of merit as the sole criterion of employment and procurement.

As marginalised communities, minorities want the abolition of broadbased BEE which has increased unemployment and corruption, enriched an elite and added 33% to the cost of goods and services while discouraging economic growth and investment.

The only party in the election that advocates those policy reforms is the Minorities of South Africa. Service delivery in eThekwini municipality would thrive if merit was applied to those in its employment, while costs would be reduced by ceasing to prioritise B-BBEE connections in procurement contracts.

The sudden changing of plumbing contracts by the ANC (The Mercury, October 26) to favour a new set of tenderpreneurs is a case in point. DUNCAN DU BOIS, MOSA WARD 66 CANDIDATE | Bluff