Introduction

The ANC has historically declared its main objective to be the creation of a non-racial society as a central pillar (principle) of its overall political ideology. This was so declared within the understanding of SA National Question, and our determined struggle for self-determination in the context of both national and international socio-economic and political forces.

In particular, this non-racial objective was informed by the dominant contradiction in South Africa which entailed the oppression of the black majority -Africans in particular - by a white minority regime.

In this connection, the ANC also realized that the creation of a non-racial society would be utterly meaningless and a mirage without tempering with the prevailing economic logic and the historically bequeathed white privilege. This was in order to ensure social justice through equitable distribution of the country’s resources.

Accordingly, the ANC understood that its quest for a non-racial society and thorough-going social transformation of South Africa to create a better life for all – especially for the poor and the working class - would not become a black version of the apartheid system. The 1994 political beach-head was thus used carefully to ensure a plethora of interventions to transform the South African society and economy within the most legally permissible parameters.

Thus the ANC should be credited for sensitively and responsibly managing this tension since 1994, as that has contributed immensely to the established political stability the country enjoys today. We should also acknowledge without any fudging of the facts that the ANC has done quite profoundly in improving the lot of the majority of our people, thus putting off what could have become serious racial conflicts in the country during the past two decades. This is one of the important achievements the ANC has achieved and should be jealously guarded so as not to be jeopardized by irresponsible, racially charged antics from which ever side of the political spectrum.

This is especially so if one considers the occasional political fissures that sometimes threaten this stability. These fissures may to a degree be attributed to – but not limited to - outbursts of some rabid racists or recycled ones still feeding off the past ideology of white supremacy.

Also, these fissures can be attributed to irresponsible and reckless statements made in response to these racist outbursts. Both the racist outbursts on the one hand, and the concomitant irresponsible and reckless statements in response do more harm than building a non-racial and united South Africa.

Our National-Racial Conundrum

Our national-racial conundrum can be simply described as the tension between the urgent, old aged African economic demands on the one hand; and the attendant fear of dispossession by white economically privileged classes on the other.

Given the frequent – and occasionally violent -  nature by which the African economic demands are expressed, the ANC government is often pushed to make radical policy promises in response to these demands. By so doing the ANC government invariably feeds into the fears and ire of the white privileged classes in South Africa, and latter’s response sometimes borders on ignorance and racism.

The situation is made worse by the chronic lack of exemplary, determined and decisive leadership on the part of the ANC in particular, and among the opposition parties in general. Instead of genuine political negotiation among themselves to ensure mobilisation of developmental social partnerships among key players of the civil society and other sectors of society for a truly non-racial society, these political parties often engage in public mudslinging where each clings on the demands or fears of its constituency without compromise.

Responsible Leadership is the Key

The Democratic Alliance (DA), the commando brigade in the AfriForum and other minority white parties should desist from opportunistically exploiting the fears of the white privileged classes in an attempt to win votes. The DA cannot demand responsible leadership from the ANC when itself engages in destructive politicking that has a potential to fan racial conflicts.

What the DA, AfriForum and like-minded organisations need to understand is that the political stability of South Africa rests almost entirely on all of us addressing the centuries-old-African-grievances in a way that builds and ensures common nationhood.

It cannot be that the minority must forever dictate on the majority on how they are supposed to agitate for the improvement of their lot. A more constructive and less prejudicial engagement between the minority and majority groups should be fostered and bolstered through socio-economic solidarity programmes and partnerships.

On the other hand, the ANC should understand that it is the only organization that has for over a century stated as its main political objective the creation of a non-racial society, dating back from the times when it operated under the most difficult conditions. It therefore must be the ANC that responsibly lead the whole of South Africa today in ensuring that this objective is achieved. The ANC cannot simply abdicate this responsibility at the alter of immediate but short-term electoral gains.

To seemingly predicate its election strategy on exploiting the current wave of racial tensions in the country would not only be irresponsible of the ANC, but would also be undermining and devaluing our constitution.  We yearn for a day when the ANC will be confident enough to tell voters that if the ANC is not delivering on its promises, then the voters should vote those who can deliver. Instead of an ANC that uses sensitive social tinder to garner votes, we should have a confident ANC that empowers voters to make informed choices when they exercise this very important, hard-won right to vote.

We cannot be driven like a herd of cattle into a vortex of political conflict with our eyes wide open. The strategy of exploiting people’s ethnic and racial differences - together with the diversionary and nonsensical statements about imperialist regime change agenda - are what have led to protracted, internecine conflicts in many countries in the African Continent and elsewhere in the world.

Conclusion

The ANC, the DA and other political parties can ill-afford to take the easy route and perpetuate the current racial tensions in the country for easy votes. We must tell no lies and claim no easy victories as we emulate the example of Nelson Mandela in taking the high route of moral, responsible and principled leadership that seeks to build a common nationhood.   

It is in moments like this that any leadership with any semblance of conscience, responsibility and care for the greater good of the country, will do whatever is necessary to lift the country out of the historical morass it faces. The moment demands that the entire leadership of our country must rise to the occasion and exercise responsible and principled leadership to build a truly non-racial and united South Africa.

Mzukisi Makatse is a member of the ANC and writes in his personal capacity