Black women risk 'tools for white masters' label
2011-08-02 22:32
Cape Town - High-profile black women risk being labelled as tools of the white master if they try hold people to account, DA national spokesperson Lindiwe Mazibuko said on Tuesday.
"The ongoing rhetoric in South Africa is that black females are doing someone else's bidding, or acting as someone else's tool if they dare try to hold another black person to account," Mazibuko said after taking a question at the Cape Town Press Club on Sowetan columnist Eric Miyeni.
He referred to City Press editor Ferial Haffajee as "an agent for white capitalists" in a piece published on Monday.
"Just as we fought against racism we must also battle sexism and misogyny," she said.
Planning to sue
Miyeni wrote that "in the 80s she'd [Haffajee] probably have had a burning tyre around her neck".
His column came after the City Press reported on a trust fund allegedly used by ANC Youth League president Julius Malema to bankroll his lavish lifestyle.
The report resulted in a criminal complaint against Malema. The Hawks are still deciding whether to bring corruption charges against him.
Miyeni was fired for writing the column.
Haffajee said she was seeking legal advice and planned to sue Miyeni.
Tea girl of the madam
Mazibuko, who was called a "tea girl of the madam" by Malema after municipal elections earlier this year because of her closeness to DA leader Helen Zille, said those who believed Miyeni's column was right were concerned about black people being seen as "inferior".
"Eric Miyeni believes that black people should be allowed to do what they choose.
"Black people need to speak up. There aren't enough high-profile black people speaking out for fear of being called capitalists or tools of the master.
"The biggest insult you can give someone in South Africa is to call a person a racist or say they are not true to their own race."
- SAPA
