Editor –
For the first time in our history, I can say: “I am Anthony Malan, Cape Khoi of the Ubiqua clan of the Khoi-San nation and I will no longer watch from the shadows. I cannot and we must not.”
Racial discrimination taught me that no life can be complete if not lived for the service of others.
Now we are charged to forge relations that are characterised by respect, solidarity and equality, and to those who are given the responsibility to lead – do so – honestly and selflessly.
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Leaders must adhere to higher standards of behaviour and we owe it to ourselves to analyse in detail the implications of these or their power will rapidly change to your emotional bankruptcy.
The abandonment of a higher standard of behaviour and the erosion of our values forced our people out of the fight for equality. These holidays, everyone can have good food / good life, but remember it comes with a bite of racial discrimination, so I am convinced that common humanity is more powerful and more compelling than any other force that could divide us.
Through engagement, we must rally behind a common cause with the realisation that no progress can be made without the unity of the oppressed and the marginalised, and that no advances can be sustained without the unity of our people.
We are firmly convinced that a non-racial, non-sexist Estcourt is the only morally defensive response to the divisive, destructive and discriminatory actions of our leaders. This is both a principle to which one must hold fast and an objective that one must relentlessly strive to achieve.
Our commitment to this cause must be met by our determination that women and men should be free and equal in all areas of life.
We must fight for a society where gender will never again be a determining factor of status, wealth or opportunity.
This is a struggle against abuse of power, against inequality and chronic unemployment; it’s a struggle for decent education and relevant skills, a living wage, jobs and social security.
It is also a struggle for unity, for non-racialism, non-sexism, for dignity and for respect. Today, let us all commit to this struggle and not pick up the racial inequality spear where it has fallen.
We must send out a strong message that employees have rights in this country and that we have rights in our Constitution and that no one is above the law.
It is time, so speak out NOW.
AB Malan
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