Call me weird or crazy; but I am one of the people who still believe that Nelson Mandela is still active in keeping South Africans together. The recent political news and conflicts between the DA and COSATU and ANC and the civil society frighten me.
Without a doubt, South Africa is one divided country; this divide is not only between the blacks and whites but I can see it within us blacks.
Politics play a leading role in perpetuating this divide. The ANC is known for representing the black majority while the DA is also known for representing the White minority in the country.
It is then fair, when such racial debates come up when we talk about these parties. To my surprise the debate is always, I repeat always on Race. Why are we so obsessed about race in the new South Africa? Are we all racist?
The DA and COSATU march raised RACE DEBATS. Many asked where Helen Zille got all those black marchers; some even accused her of hiring them. Many of the comments I read on News24 were around race.
In some cases the Race debate is perpetuated by the same political parties. Unlike Mandela who united people; politicians now, within the ANC and the DA are widening the racial gaps.
The recent Zuma portrait also provoked the “RACE DEBATE”. Is it because Zuma is a black president that Murray painted him in such a manner? Many have asked.
Gwede Mantashe, said the painting was racial motivated.
I was then happy when it was “white” man that first defaced the portrait with a Red Paint covering Zuma’s genitals with an X sign. And a “black” man followed. To me that showed that the matter was not about RACE. It was about South Africans demanding respect for their president. Not because he is black, but because he is their president. And this was reaffirmed by a third man who tried to paint the word “RESPECT’’ outside the Gallery’s walls. I don’t support their actions but a purely understand why they did it.
The DA chose not to comment on the portrait until it was defaced. Why? The comments on News24 attempted to answer.
“Helen is racist and supports Murray’s art” one comment stipulated. “I knew it, the DA saw nothing wrong on the painting” someone added. Again, why does it have to circulate on race? And why did the DA wait until now to show us their stance on the matter.
“If they really believed in freedom of expression as the DA article states, why did not they come earlier with thus”
The “refugee” tweets, the “black professional tweets” all raising racial divided debates.
Most of the people that Vote ANC believe all that DA is racist.
Those who Vote the DA, as I read the comments on News24 call the ANC voters stupid people who vote for the ANC because it has black leaders.
Then those who are black and vote DA are mind corrupted or either they call them “coconuts”.
See the class divide within blacks, some form of racism I think. Why do we as black people call the likes of Lindiwe Mazibujo “coconuts”. Are they not “black enough”.
Why is the ANC "black" dominated? I mean, it should reflect the SA demographics.
Why IS the DA dominated by "white" on its National, Provincial and Local level in its leadership posts?
They blaming game comes from both sides. Why are we so obsessed about race?
Mandela is very old now; he can leave us South Africans at any time. I am afraid; the war that happened in Rwanda was influenced by bad politics that created a divide between the parties involved and their supporters.
In South Africa the ANC sees the DA as the enemy vice versa. What will happened then when these enemies who are so obsessed with “race’’ enter a political conflict, What will happen if the DA wins one more province which has the dominance of “black voter” population unlike the Western Cape. What happens when the ANC losses power to the DA? Are we going to be the next Rwanda?
Nelson Mandela please ask God not to take you, Stay with us, through the ups and downs. Stay with us we cannot face South Africa without you. Stay with us, for we have become a racially obsessed and divided country.
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