Where Apartheid sought to divide people along racial lines, the former SA president, Nelson Mandela, envisioned a rainbow nation characterised by racial harmony with the dawn of democracy.
Solomon Dael’s alleged racial incident (see Potchefstroom Herald, 27 June) is one of the conflicts that signify some ugly cracks in the rainbow nation in the 25-year-old developing democracy. Vicki Momberg and Adam Catzavelos’s racial incidents are only some of the prominent cases receiving attention in our courtrooms.
Prof. Barry Hanyane, an NWU political analyst, spoke to the Potchefstroom Herald about the issue of race relations in South Africa and the racism plaguing our country today.
Prof. Hanyane says we are obliged to fight racism, corruption and prejudice as a nation, through the state and government agencies. “To this end, the government has put forth legislation to deal with the scourge of racism in the country. Questions can be asked as to what degree legislation alone discourages such abomination. Research has proven that legislation alone cannot modify or influence human attitude. The mere fact that motorists are caught speeding en mass is a case in point. Speed limits alone cannot deter speedsters from breaking the law. As a result, such realities call for a different yet humane approach to discourage racism. The educational system can be used as both a deterrent and a yardstick to measure racism,” he maintains.
“To echo pan-African sentiments, the majority population of this country must find themselves through the deliberate effort of human dignity, a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging. Equally, their racial counterparts must complement this position in identifying themselves as Africans, above all else. The situation is not easy in a multiracial, culturally diverse society like in South Africa. Our immediate political, social and historical past makes it more complex and difficult to respond decisively to this malice,” he said.
What is the total answer to this reality then?
Prof. Hanyane believes the South African society must have hope in building a better future for a socially, economically, politically and environmentally comfortable societal and cultural space. “Once again, education can be as much of a unifier as sport.”
He concludes that the use of social media must be monitored, yet encouraged as a modern communication space, with less government draconian laws aimed at discouraging social harmony and social compact. “Several cases in the social media space should be used as learning case references (whether on allegations or proven track basis) to awaken the human conscience and provide the relevant and appropriate education system for our society. After all, democracy comes with a sense of responsibility,” he emphasised.
