Andile Qolo, Nyanga
As the country we really have unresolved issues regarding race.
For us to deal with that we need to open up the debate and discuss it more frankly, because if there is any intersection of two or more individuals of separate races we tend to racialise it rather than to look beyond racial lines.
For example Nicholas (white) raped a child (black). The narrative was “a white person raped a black child”. When it’s a black person who raped, the narrative changes to “A man raped a child”.
The current challenges in the official opposition could be because of battle of ideas and tactics of achieving set objectives. In fact this has happened in the ruling party when Jacob Zuma came in power and Thabo Mbeki left, when Ramaphosa came in and Zuma left but it was never characterised as racial but styles of leadership.
Maybe here we are missing that element but we are extremely focused on race.
We have seen EFF, COPE breaking away from the ANC. Or PAM, APC breaking away from PAC so this is politics more than its about race.
We must also question the integrity of those who stay more than three or 10 years and when they leave they start to claim racism. Why did they stay?
If we are were to celebrate racial discrimination and exclusions we will be working against the gains of our political freedom.
Our votes and political affiliation must not be influenced by race but by the principles and values we aspire to see in this country.
We can’t have a political party of Nelson Mandela, OR Tambo saying those who are black and in the DA must leave and join them based on segregation of colour.
There must be more the ruling party can offer to the people than race.
Apartheid’s fundamental principles were based on segregation of race so now the ideas and agenda pushed by the ANC saying certain political parties are only for certain races is an agenda that must be fought against.
The agenda must be about changing the economic outlook of our people. Inclusiveness in the majority participating in the economy.