One won’t be blamed for thinking that racism in SA is becoming worse than it was under apartheid. Yes it is not official and yes it is not in-acted but it is definitely driven by government. Even after 18 years of democracy government is quick to jump on the “it is because of apartheid” band wagon and in the recent mining debacles it becomes even more clear how blatantly racist our government can be. Yes I am sure I am get letters?
So where is it so obvious, you ask? Our Mining minister is spewing flames and has threatened AngloPlats with the full power of the government for re-aligning their business strategy in a way that will cause massive job losses. This same minister was silent, absent, gone, impotent or maybe too busy lobbying to get Zuma re-elected to get involved in any form or manner with the illegal mining strike. Not only did these actions cause loss of life, give our public image and upper cut that Tyson would be proud of and cause direct losses in the mining sector, it is at least, I think, a top 5 reason for the decision by AngoPlats and it is definitely on every senior miners agenda.
Further, our protector of workers’ rights (The Mining Minister) also regarded it as “unimportant” to speak out, act on or participate in any form when thousands of workers were financially destroyed whilst Arora just refused to make any payments to their staff. This was a financial catastrophe on similar scale than the AngloPlats catastrophe can be. But in both instances AngloPlats’s actions are less vile than that of the other parties. Arora acted with no regard to human life and dignity and allegedly broke the law, the mining strike caused deaths and again was also illegal. At least AngloPats is working within the bounds of the law.
It is abundantly clear that the Minister ignored the Arora issue because it was a black company and now that a perceived white company is potentially cutting jobs she is on the war path. At least AngloPlats are consulting people before robbing them of their dignity and livelihoods not just committing large scale financial genocide like Arora. When a black man is assaulted by a white man in a parking lot of a Golf driving range it is massive news and regarded as racism. But when black men torture and mutilate white farmers it is seen as crime.
So when does crime become racism, when does your actions reflect a racist agenda and when does it become bigotry? I don’t know the answer, but as a nation we need to find the answer and work together across all races to fix it. I am afraid if we don’t, as a people, speak out against racism in all forms this stunning country of ours will be the first to fall to the predictions of the Mayans.
P.S.- Although I may be attacked as a colonialist, bigot, racist, white supremacist by some reading this article. I would like to make it abundantly clear that I am 100% against racism in all forms. I regard myself as an African as I was born on this continent, have assisted in creating jobs in more than one African country and I love this continent. I am just petrified of what I see as I boiling pot of venomous juices growing and growing.
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