Zille's folly: It is even probable that blacks would rather be dictated to by a black political party than give the privilege of political power to whites.
African politics will continue to be about race, culture, tribe and religion. Man (and here I include woman) has an inherent affinity to those that he or she has a common background, belief system or experience with. It is therefore quite inconceivable that South Africa will ever have political party in power that has some historical baggage of representing minority white interests.
This is mainly because the majority of black South Africans who determine the vote are likely not to have a common affinity with a political party such as the DA as long as the party is perceived to be led and controlled by white minorities. This is regardless of what the DA may say or how correct it maybe as an opposition party to the ANC.
The historical experience or baggage us black people carry about how whites treated us in the past will always remain the deciding factor of whom we give the responsibility of creating our future to. It is even probable that blacks would rather be dictated to by a black political party than give the privilege of political power to whites, once again. Their common past experience under white domination will not allow them that.
Having said the above, one has to admit that the DA is good for democracy, especially now as we have only one dominant political party. A one party state can never be encouraged nor supported because from it comes entitlement to political power, arrogance in approach and eventually, a dictatorship.
South Africans need to guard themselves against inadvertently creating a dictatorship through entrenching a single political party for historical reasons. We need more black led and controlled players in the political arena, there is no doubt about that.
You see it is my view that black people are tired in general of being told what to do and how they should do things by whites. When Helen Zille comes out stating that there is no racism in the Western Cape it comes out as "she knows better" of an experience that she, as a white advantaged person, has probably never had in the past.
Racism in South Africa still exists in all forms and in all areas including Cape Town. To quote Albert Memmi: Racism does not limit itself to biology or economics or psychology or metaphysics; it attacks along many fronts and in many forms, deploying whatever is at hand, and even what is not, inventing when the need arises
Sophisticated racism, such as that found in the corporate world is very clandestine, very subtle, hidden ambiguous and flavoured with smirks while overt or visible racism that the majority of poor disadvantaged blacks have to stomach is at most times overt, crass, cruel and naked. I presume the former is dangerous and that to me is what people like Simphiwe Dhana are talking about.
In my opinion, local demographics have a large part in the determination of how racism is experienced. I would argue that in places such as Johannesburg which is more cosmopolitan and fast paced, blacks are likely to confront racism head on and therefore its occurrence is limited to some extent whereas in areas where blacks are in minority, there is likely to be more prevalence of overt racism since it tends to go unchallenged.
Cape Town as a city has a historical social structure that limited opportunities for blacks and its current social and economic demographics certainly show this and may allow the prevalence of racism, seen or unseen. Obviously Zille denies this reality and for me this is a serious handicap for the DA.
In my opinion any leader who seeks to be effective in an environment must appreciate these facts and seek to understand first before being understood. I would expect that if Hellen Zille seeks to be such a leader she needs to be educated so that she may understand first that when it comes to issues of racism, at most times it is not what you see or think that matters but it is the unseen dispositions, quirks and defensive behaviours of the racist that have a negative impact of racial integration and progress.
I would advise the DA to learn from this and if it is to be viewed as a potential ruling party of the future it cannot afford to have predominantly white leadership who confess that they cannot see the racism that we the majority see. I conjecture that until the DA reflects the demographics of this country at all levels its relevance will be limited to being a progressive opposition party and that is all.
Vince Musewe is an economist and you may contact him on [email protected]
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