Mbatha displays a ‘baasskap’ mentality

NHLANHLA Mbatha’s comment on the courtroom arrest of advocate Malesela Teffo warrants a response (“Some animals are more equal than others,” The Star, May 3).

While I accept his central argument that the arrest of advocate Teffo was “subjected to Hollywood-style drama”, I fail to see why he should play the race card when he poses the question whether the police would have done the same to a white lawyer who failed to appear in court.

Twenty-eight years after South Africa’s freedom from white domination, when black people prevail at every level of government and civil service, I find it strange, to say the least, that he should display such a “baasskap” mentality. This is not to deny that racism does not exist and that it should be outed if it rears its ugly head.

Such a gratuitous comment coming from a senior journalist does not augur well for race relations in this country and sets a bad example to some young black intellectuals and commentators who are prone to play the race card willy-nilly.

HARRY SEWLALL |