ID'S HANIFF HOOSEN WRITES OPEN LETTER TO GWEDE MANTASHE

Appeals to him ‘to consider suspending struggle song appeal'

Haniff Hoosen, the ID Secretary-General, has written an open letter [below] to his ANC counterpart, Gwede Mantashe, imploring him ‘to rise above the current tit-for-tat racial squabbles in our country, which are achieving nothing more than taking our country backwards.'

Hoosen's letter comes after the Johannesburg High Court ruled on Friday that the use of the words "Dubula ibhunu" ("Shoot the boer") in the ANC struggle song "Ayesaba Amagwala" was unconstitutional and unlawful.

‘As leaders, when things start getting out of control we must have the strength to stand back, be calm and to think before we speak, so that we can provide guidance where there was none before,' Mr Hoosen says.

‘Our nation does not need leaders that get involved in these petty squabbles, but rather who rise above them and reach out to all sectors of our society. It is my hope that Mr Mantashe will remember the role played by Nelson Mandela.'

To: Gwede Mantashe
ANC Secretary-General

Respected colleague

My letter to you is prompted by the sudden escalation of racial intolerance in our country. It is my sincere hope that this correspondence will lead you to re-establish a sense of tolerance and fortitude amongst some of our leaders.

In recent weeks many have seen it fit to use the very delicate racial debate to further their own profiles at the expense of our hard-won democracy and the national project of reconciliation. I am imploring you to rise above the current tit-for-tat racial squabbles in our country, which are achieving nothing more than taking us backwards.

In cases reminiscent of pre-1994 intolerance, some amongst us have either failed to see the danger of our actions and words, or simply do not care. As a consequence thereof, they have regrettably been unable to resist the temptation of hate speech and the blatant promotion of racial intolerance and violence. This kind of irresponsible behaviour has been evident from leaders both inside and outside the ANC. In particular, the recent singing of "Dubula ibhunu" ("Kill the boers") has incited a new wave of anger, intolerance and prejudice that is beginning to re-ignite the divisive history that many dedicated their entire lives to rescuing us from.

I note the Johannesburg High Court ruling of Friday 26 March 2010, which banned the singing of this song and the subsequent statement by the ANC to appeal the ruling. I remain extremely concerned that whatever the outcome of this legal challenge, no one will be victorious and our country will emerge the biggest loser. I am therefore making an earnest appeal to you and other senior leaders of the ANC to give serious consideration to suspending your process of appealing the ruling and instead convene a national debate on racial tolerance and reconciliation. In making this request, I am mindful of the argument that "no court should erase our history", an argument that I am fully in support of. However, just like we were encouraged to embrace the necessary process of name changes, so do I believe should we discourage the singing of struggle songs that have the very real ability to divide us.

Our country is in desperate need of the kind of racial tolerance, unity and reconciliation that we had in the years following the attainment of Freedom in 1994. Comrade Mantashe, I trust that you and your party will do what needs to be done in order to revive that spirit of tolerance, in the same way as was achieved by former President Nelson Mandela.

I look forward to your favourable response.

Yours sincerely,

Haniff Hoosen
ID Secretary-General

Statement issued by the Independent Democrats, March 28 2010

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