VOL 12 NO 20
25 – 31 MAY 2012
@hotm
100 YEARS OF SELFLESS STRUGGLE
The Legacy of President-General
Pixley ka Isaka Seme
Pixley ka Isaka Seme, the orator, lawyer, intellectual and
author, conceptualised this glorious movement that is
celebrating 100 years today. He can correctly be called the
founder of the African National Congress.But who was Pixley
ka Isaka Seme?
Pixley ka Isaka Seme was the son of Isaka Seme, an
interpreter. His parents settled at Inanda where they built a
school and a church, Inanda Seminary. Isaka Seme married
Sarah Mseleku, from KwaMaphumulo, and they were blessed
with 10 children, and Pixley was born on the 1st of October
1881 in Inanda, north of Durban.
His upbringing embraced both African and European values,
which was largely influenced also by Reverend Pixley at the
American Mission School which he attended. It was at this school that his brilliant mind as
a student was first recognised.
From an early age Pixley distinguished himself as a brilliant, intelligent and determined
young person, he was full of determination and force of will power.
He was greatly inspired at this time by his cousin John Langalibalele Dube, who was at the
time studying in the USA, and he wanted to follow in his footsteps.
In 1885 Seme enrolled at the Amanzimtoti Institution which later changed to Adams
Training School for Boys.
Assisted by Reverend Pixley, he went on to study and graduate from Mount Hermon
School for the Boys in Massachusetts. He enrolled at one of the prestigious tertiary
institutions in the United States of America, the Ivy League Columbia University in New
York. He distinguished himself as an orator of note at this institution, when he published
the eloquent and timeless essay entitled; The regeneration of Africa in 1906.
The seminal piece was the first real conceptualisation of the African Renaissance. It
earned him the University`s highest award for oratory, known as the George William Curtis
medal. He had said in the introductory paragraph, describing his African-ness;
"I am an African, and I set my pride in my race over against a hostile public opinion".
He went on to proclaim the renewal and success of the African continent;
"The brighter day is rising upon Africa. Already, I seem to see her chains dissolved her
desert plains red with harvest, her Abyssinia and her Zululand the seats of science and
religion, reflecting the glory of the rising sun from the spires of their churches and
universities.
"Her Congo and her Gambia whitened with commerce, her crowded cities sending forth
the hum of business, and all her sons employed in advancing the victories of peacegreater and more abiding than the spoils of war. Yes, the regeneration of Africa belongs to
this new and powerful period! .... It therefore must lead them to the attainment of that
higher and advanced standard of life".
-1-
WEEK IN REVIEW
Plans for improved State legal
services | Minister of Justice Jeff
Radebe unveiled an initiative to
transform state legal services.
Radebe said, “The new policies
aimed to address the need for
efficient, co-ordinated legal
services, and to promote the values
and obligations arising from the
Constitution. Minister Radebe said
women and previously
disadvantaged individuals were
being overlooked within the
profession. He said while the state
was a large consumer of legal
services in the country, state legal
services were hampered by a lack
of a comprehensive set of rules
governing how litigation services
were dispensed, acquired,
managed, and monitored. The goal
of the policies was a transformed,
integrated, professional, costeffective, and highly skilled state
legal service.
NPA to appeal sex offences
finding | The National Prosecuting
Authority (NPA) will apply to the
Western Cape High Court for leave
to appeal a finding that 29 sexual
offences are not punishable
because the Sexual Offences Act
does not specify penalties for them.
Earlier this month, the court upheld
a decision by the Riversdale
Magistrate's Court that a man who
forcibly fondled a woman could not
be sentenced because the
behaviour had no penalty under the
act. Other offences without a
penalty include sexual assault,
consensual sexual acts with
children, sexual exploitation and
grooming of children, and sexual
offences against mentally disabled
people. Justice Minister Jeff
Radebe said the government would
also appeal the ruling.
This moving political and artistic work unveiled and showcased Africa`s unique attributes
and greatness to the world. It was a declarative statement that the construction of
modernity was the most essential task of the New African intellectuals.
Pixley also studied at Oxford University, where he obtained his law degree. His legal
qualification would later prove to be of great assistance in his fight against the injustices
faced by oppressed Black South Africans. President Seme also admired King Shaka
kaSenzangakhona immensely, especially his efforts of unifying all the African peoples into
one nation. That vision, coupled with his experiences of poverty, drove him to change his
circumstances and those of all Africans in South Africa.
He began to crystallise his vision of uniting all the oppressed people into one umbrella
body, a union, congress or society of sorts. In 1909, while still at Oxford, Seme together
with Alfred Mangena, who was also studying in London, met with the delegation of the
South African National Convention, which was there to petition the British Parliament on
the introduction of the bill to introduce the Union of South Africa. This group included the
likes of Walter Rubusana, T.M. Mapikela and Olive Schreiner.
When the Union of South Africa was formed, he became even angrier at the deliberate
exclusion of the black masses. President Seme was amongst the first group of qualified
African attorneys and advocates, which included Alfred Mangena, Richard Msimang and
George Montsioa. He decided to return home in 1911 and set up his legal practice in
Johannesburg, at a time when professional work for Africans was a rarity. Later he was to
form a partnership with Mangena. His practice thrived on taking up matters of the poor and
dispossessed in South Africa and beyond.
At some point he represented King Sobhuza II, the Swazi monarch, before the Privy
Council in London, in a land dispute between Swaziland and the Union of South Africa.
The living conditions of the African people during the 1900s were deplorable. In an article
dated 25 July 1953, RV Selope Thema outlined the situation that prevailed then, which
influenced President Seme and his peers.
Thema said; "In those days the black man was treated as a beast of burden. He was
knocked and kicked about with impunity.
"In the magistrate`s courts his voice was hardly heard and his evidence hardly believed.
He was stopped at street corners by policemen demanding the production of his pass and
his tax receipt.
"He was not allowed to walk on the pavements and had to dodge motor cars in the streets.
He was not allowed to travel first, second or third class on the trains.
"He travelled in trucks almost similar to those used for cattle and horses. His education in
the primary schools, which were few, did not go beyond Standard III, and not beyond
Standard VI in the training school, which were only two in the Transvaal and none in the
Orange Free State.
"Politically he had no voice in the making and administration of the laws. Economically he
was kept in a state of abject poverty".
In 1911, President Seme was requested to draft a concept paper and outline this
congress, union or society that he spoke about. He produced the "Native Union" document
in October 1911. In the document he argued strongly for the formation of a national
organization that would channel the grievances and views of the natives. He called for a
society, congress or union to be formed, which would hold annual national conferences
that would give a wide publication of the views of natives on the questions that affect them
daily.
More importantly, he called for unity and an end to racism, tribalism and other divisive
tendencies. He stated;
"The demon of racialism, the aberrations of the Xhosa-Fingo feud, the animosity that exists
between the Zulus and the Tongas, between the Basuthos and every other Native must be
buried and forgotten; it has shed among us sufficient blood! We are one people"
His clarion call of "Mzulu / Mxhosa /Msuthu Hlanganani" remains one of the most potent
political statements which unite Africans beyond their ethnic backgrounds.
President Seme had wanted the SANNC to be formed as early as December 1911, as is
clear in the Native Union document.
-2-
WEEK IN REVIEW
President Zuma appoints new
judges | President Jacob Zuma has
under section 174(6) of the
Constitution of the Republic of
South Africa, 1996, and on the
advice of the Judicial Service
Commission, announced the
appointment of judges to the
Supreme Court of Appeal and
various High Courts. Zuma
appointed the Honourable Mr
Justice Xola Mlungisi Petse as a
Judge of the Supreme Court of
Appeal, with effect from 01 June
2012 in an existing post; The
Honourable Mr Justice Ronnie Pillay
as a Judge of the Supreme Court of
Appeal, with effect from 01 June
2012 in an existing post; The
Honourable Mr Justice Dunstan
Mlambo as a Judge President of the
North and South Gauteng High
Courts, with effect from 01
November 2012 in an existing
vacancy; Mr Duncan Zolani Dukada
as a Judge of the Eastern Cape
High Court, Bhisho with effect 01
July 2012 in an existing vacancy;
Ms Bulelwa Myra Pakati as a Judge
of the Northern Cape High Court,
Kimberley, with immediate effect in
an existing vacancy; Advocate
Selby Alan Masibonge Baqwa SC
as a Judge of the North Gauteng
High Court, Pretoria, with immediate
effect in an existing vacancy; Ms
Elizabeth Mamoloko Kubushi as a
Judge of the North Gauteng High
Court, Pretoria, with immediate
effect in an existing vacancy; and
Adv Bashier Vally SC as a Judge of
the South Gauteng High Court,
Johannesburg, with immediate
effect in an existing vacancy.
President Zuma congratulates the
appointed judges and wishes them
well in exercising their judicial
duties.
SARB repo rate at 5.5% | South
Africa's Reserve Bank (SARB)
governor Gill Marcus announced
that the Reserve bank would repo
rate will be left unchanged at 5.5
percent as expected. Marcus cited
that global economic uncertainty
was posing a downside risk to the
domestic economy while inflation
had likely peaked in the first
quarter. The Bank has kept rates
steady for the past 18 months since
it was last reduced by 650 basis
points between mid-2008 and
November 2010. The prime rate
would stay at 9%. It keeps the rate
at its lowest level in over 30 years.
He also produced an agenda for the ANC`s inaugural conference, which indicates the
issues and thinking around that time, as well as urgent issues around 1911.
The agenda of the convention was outlined as follows by Seme;
First Section
•
•
•
To formally establish the South African Native Congress as a National Society or
Union for all the Natives of South Africa.
To Consider, amend, and adopt, the Constitution and Rules for the Society, Union or
Congress.
To elect Officers for the ensuing year.
Second Section
•
•
◦
◦
The installation of Officers.
To take a Vote of Confidence on:General the Right Honourable Louis Botha, the Honourable the
Native Affairs.
The Honourable the Native Senators.
Minister for
General discussions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Native customs and union.
Native Marriages and Divorce.
Native beer, is it a national beverage?
Native schools and churches.
The Black Peril and White Peril.
Native Lands and Reserves.
Native Courts - civil and criminal.
Native labour
General Concert and farewell Reception for the Delegates, Members and friends`
Source: Karis, T & Carter G. M. (1972)
One hundred delegates attended the historic meeting on 8 January 1912 in Bloemfontein,
where Seme was the keynote speaker. RV Selope Thema describes the gathering`; "It
was a gathering of tribes that had never met before except on the battlefields. It was a
gathering of Chiefs who had never seen each other before. And they had come from the
four provinces and the High Commission territories. It was a gathering of educated
Africans who had never exchanged views before.
"It was a gathering, if I may say so, of the departed spirits of the African race, among
whom were such men as Sandile, Shaka, Moshoeshoe, Cetshwayo, Moroka, Khama,
Sekhukhune, Soshangane and Ramapulana".
Seme outlined the purpose of the meeting eloquently in his keynote address.
He pointed out:
"Chiefs of royal blood and gentlemen of our race, we have gathered here to consider and
discuss a scheme which my colleagues and I have decided to place before you. We have
discovered that in the land of their birth, Africans are treated as hewers of wood and
drawers of water.
"The white people of this country have formed what is known as the Union of South Africa
- a union in which we have no voice in the making of laws and no part in their
administration.
"We have called you, therefore, to this conference, so that we can together devise ways
and means of forming our national union for the purpose of creating national unity and
defending our rights and privileges."
The gathering agreed to the formation of the South African Native National Congress. Rev.
John Dube was elected the SANNC`s first president at the conference in absentia, Sol
Plaatje was elected Secretary-General and Seme was elected Treasurer-General. A
committee was formed to write the SANNC constitution. The constitution outlined the five
basic aims of the SANNC which later became the African National Congress in 1923.
-3-
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
25 May 1976: René de Villiers,
Member of Parliament for Parktown,
drew the attention of the apartheid
Deputy Minister of Bantu education,
Dr Andries P. Treurnicht, to the fact
that an explosive situation was
developing in Soweto caused by the
introduction of Afrikaans as medium
of instruction in certain secondary
school subjects. The apartheid
minister stated that to his
knowledge, there was no cause for
concern. The Department of Bantu
Education was clearly not fully
informed about the situation in the
township as the later events bore
testimony.
26 May 1948: The Herenigde
Nasionale Party (Reunified National
Party) took power from Jan Smuts'
United Party (UP) and Dr D. F.
Malan became Prime Minister at the
age of seventy-four and formed the
first government dominated by
Afrikaners. After the 1948 victory at
the polls Malan said: 'Today South
Africa belongs to us once more.
South Africa is our own for the first
time since Union, and may God
grant that it will always remain our
own.' The government began
removing the remaining symbols of
the historic British ascendancy and
began institutionalising their policies
of segregation. Malan believed that
Africans threatened the prosperity
and purity of the Afrikaner culture.
The government separated and
divided the races by instituting
segregated schools, buses, and
work reservation. Other
discriminatory regulations were
imposed, such as the Mixed
Marriages Act, the Population
Restriction Act, and the Registration
Act, which allowed the government
to classify every individual by race.
27 May 1970: The apartheid
Minister of Sport, Mr. Waring,
refused white official Sport
Administrators permission to host a
conference of to discuss integrated,
multi-racial sport in South Africa. He
said such talks were not welcomed
in the country. Waring stated that
the “government would not be
intimidated by demands for
integrated sport”.
These were the following;
•
To promote unity and mutual co-operation between the government and the South
African Black people.
•
To maintain a channel between the government and the Black people.
•
To promote the social, educational and political upliftment of the Black people.
•
To promote understanding between chiefs, and loyalty to the British crown and all
lawful authorities and to promote understanding between white and black South
Africans.
•
To address the just grievances of the black people.
That historic moment has been recorded by various historians and intellectuals. It remains
one of the proudest moments in African history, especially given that his brainchild has
survived for 100 years and is still going strong and growing bigger!
Other than being a strong believer in unity, President Seme will also be remembered for
his interest in the arts especially writing and the media. He established the Abantu Batho
newspaper. It is remarkable that ANC presidents at that early age established
newspapers. They foresaw the need for the organisation to have its own voice and to
speak to the people on its own terms.
It is also important to note that Seme`s activities in 1912 extended beyond political and
journalistic activities. He identified the need for economic advancement too for the African
people. Consequently he was the driving force in the founding of the Native Farmer
Association of Africa limited. The main purpose for such a body was to buy land in which
Black people could settle on at Driefontein in Mpumalanga.
It was so successful that many believe is the reason why the racist settler regime enacted
the Land Act of 1913 to curtail black land ownership.
At the 1930 annual congress of the ANC, following unhappiness about President Josiah
Gumede by some sections of the ANC, Seme was elected president-general of the
organisation. He had to deal with many challenges in the ANC which almost brought the
movement to its knees. He became President-General in the midst of the Great
Depression which would have challenged any leader.
He also faced other impediments which included the following:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
The chiefs who were one of the main benefactors of the ANC had gradually
withdrawn their support in the 1920s and this led to substantial financial and
organisational problems for the movement.
Geographical distance made working difficult. This was compounded by the fact that
due to lack of funds branches could not meet regularly.
Government harassment was on the increase and was particularly threatening to all
those who supported African nationalism.
Given these and other challenges, the ANC began to decline considerably. He did his
best to rebuild the ANC to arrest the decline and also to make it more responsive to
the population at that time.
He proposed organizational restructuring of the ANC at regional level, dissolving provincial
congresses and subdividing the national body into 11 regional congresses in place of the
four provincial congresses. The influential Transvaal ANC objected to the changes. They
had always led policy proposals and changes and disliked the new way of doing things.
Others said his intellectual prowess had made him unable to believe in other people within
the movement. In 1937 President Seme was replaced by Mahabane, who was ready for a
second term. President Seme returned to his law practice and for much of the 1940s he
worked as an attorney with offices in downtown Johannesburg.
During this time President Seme undertook a role of being a mentor to Anton Lembede,
who later became the first President of the ANC Youth League and also his legal partner.
There has always been a debate about Pixley ka Isaka Seme`s leadership as President of
the ANC, that he was anti-communist. However it must be noted that, he was influenced
by his time and dominant thinking of his time. Author Moss Mashamaite for instance
argues that it was the influence of WEB Du Bois that made him intolerant of communistic
ideas because there was nothing African about Russian ideologies. Also he was a firm
believer in the African Nationalism. He looked at Africa as being bigger than the continent,
he saw an Africa of race not place, adds Mashamaite.
-4-
WEEK IN REVIEW
28 May 1901: Zulu King Dinuzulu
refused British instructions to take
up arms against the Boer republics
during the Second Anglo-Boer War.
Col. H.B. Bottomley of the Imperial
White Horse warned the king that,
under martial law, he was obliged to
follow orders or face banishment.
29 May 1887: Xhosa Chief Sandile
was killed in Denge Forest in a
skirmish with the Fingos under
Captain J. Lonsdale. He was
defeated and his territory was put
under British command and called
British Kaffraria. A White man,
Charles Brownlee, was appointed in
his place as paramount chief.
30 May 1902: 523 people die in the
Black Concentration Camps of the
second Anglo-Boer War. Towards
the end of the war approximately
116 000 boer women and children
were housed in concentration
camps, with camps housing
approximately 115 000 black
people. These camps were
overcrowded, the captives underfed
and the conditions poor. There were
limited medical supplies and staff
and diseases like measles,
whooping cough, typhoid fever,
diphtheria and dysentery resulted in
the death of 1 in every 5 people. 26
370 boer women and children died
in the concentration camps and it is
estimated that more than 15 000
black people died in the separate
black concentration camps.
31 May 1910: Following delegates
of the Boer Republics' agreement
by 54 to 6, to accept the British
proposals for peace on 31 May
1902, the Treaty of Vereeniging was
finally signed by representatives of
both sides at Melrose House,
Pretoria. The treaty paved the way
for the establishment of the Union of
South Africa, which was
inaugurated eight years later. The
Union was made from four colonies:
Cape Colony, Natal, Orange River
Colony and the Transvaal.
Source: South African History
Online
He left a legacy of a rich ANC intellectual tradition and discourse, which is known only too
well here in Fort Hare. He also promoted economic emancipation at that early period,
hence his interest in farming and land ownership as tools of economic freedom. He was
versatile, combining the political and the social, which means he made the ANC a leader
of society and not an organisation that focused on political mobilisation only. Most
importantly, he is the father of ANC unity and collaboration. He wanted to see unity beyond
ethnicity and tribalism.
President Seme demonstrated that intellectuals and academics do indeed have a role to
play in the struggle as well as the reconstruction and development of the country. As we
remember him we invite intellectuals and academics in our country to play a constructive
role in the reconstruction and development of our country.
As we build our young nation, we need our intelligentsia to contribute to a public
discourse on whether or not we are achieving the goals of building a non-racial, non-sexist
South Africa. Are we achieving true reconciliation or social cohesion? Are we achieving
equality and respect for one another as a diverse society and diverse cultures?
Our intelligentsia must take a dispassionate, constructive approach to some of these
questions, and be the intelligentsia of a free African society. They must reflect the society
we are, an African country in transition from a horrible period of colonial oppression and
apartheid. Our country will not benefit from intellectual positions that appear to be from the
colonial era where the African people were as a rule portrayed as backward, failing and
corrupt. However, constructive appraisals and criticism, done from an Afro-optimistic
perspective, will be helpful in building our country and our continent.
President Seme was married to Harriet, a daughter of King Dinizulu ka Cetshwayo and
they had five children. We owe the existence of the African National Congress to this great
man, who made a notable contribution to the development of our consciousness and
national spirit.
In paying tribute to him a journalist at the time and former ANC Youth League member
Jordan Ngubane was correct when he wrote in Inkundla Ya Bantu that:
"The death of Dr. Pixley kaIsaka Seme has removed from among us one man whose
stature will grow tremendously as the years go by and whom future historians of our race
will regard as the greatest African of the first fifty years of the twentieth century- if not of
the century as a whole. For it is to the vision of Dr. Seme that we are indebted for the unity
of the African people."
Long Live Pixley ka Isaka Seme Long Live!
>> This is edited extract of the ANC Centenary Lecture by President Jacob Zuma: the
Legacy of President-General Pixley ka Isaka Seme
-5-
VIEW POINT | BY ZWELI MKHIZE
DA an ill-advised gamble
LATEST STATEMENTS
It was painful to see young people bleeding and hurdling for
cover on the streets as violence broke out in the march
sponsored by the Democratic Alliance outside COSATU
House. I hope that when the spin doctors, propagandists and
strategists of the Democratic Alliance do a post mortem of the
march they will be frank to admit that it was an ill-advised
gamble and an unmitigated disaster, not to be repeated.
The issue of youth unemployment is a very important issue of
concern to all political parties. Since 1994 and intensified with
the current administration the ANC has taken this matter of
unemployment seriously and empowered government to take
the necessary steps to fight youth unemployment. The ANC led
government has made and implemented many policies to fight
poverty and unemployment, especially the youth who make up
an overwhelming majority of the unemployed.
President Zuma’s government announced a youth wage subsidy policy, as a way of
stimulating the employment of young people and made a commitment through a budget
put aside the for it. I support the youth wage subsidy. I do not believe it should be
delayed. I do not believe government has given up the policy because of COSATU
objections.
I am questioning the correctness of the march to COSATU House as a political tactic used
by the DA. COSATU has expressed reservations on the matter of wage subsidy in
numerous public statements. Its concern is about the possibility of the abuse of the
concept to introduce casualization of workers. Similarly COSATU has denounced the
labour brokers.
Noting the reservations of COSATU, the ANC-led government tabled these matters at the
NEDLAC platform. NEDLAC is multi-stakeholder forum to mediate through issues that may
raise concern amongst stakeholders (government, business and labour) in order to help
them find an amicable solution, at least, or lead to a binding solution, in the interest of the
country. NEDLAC is the correct platform to resolve such matters.
Needless to say that there are numerous areas in which the ANC may differ tactically with
COSATU as partners in the Alliance. Many times the two argue in public, leading
commentators to prematurely predict or erroneously conclude that, for the ANC-led
Alliance, the end is nigh. Between the ANC-led government and COSATU, there are many
a time where disagreements are observed. Such is the relationship between the state and
the Labour Unions. The role of the government is to administer government policy in the
interest of the broader society.
Sometimes group interests (e.g. workers’ or business interests, etc.) intervene and it is for
government to find the best way to ensure that the interest of the greater public is
protected, including the use of statutory forums such as NEDLAC. Such has been the
situation with the issue of labour brokers and the youth subsidy.
Of course, all political parties have their different views on each of these and many other
subjects, in which various players have public debates and disagreements. I must say, it is
always commendable and less of headache if everybody agrees with government policy,
especially the DA.
Though the DA supports government on the issue of youth wage subsidy, this is not
always the case, in fact, it hardly ever is. Because the matter is serious, it is unacceptable
for any political party to try and cash in on quick support by playing on the emotions due to
the desperation that our youth face as the DA has done with the march. Could it be that
there are parties that have not learnt from the violence that engulfed our country in the
eighties and nineties to always avoid confrontation that may lead to violence?
-6-
ANC statement on SANEF`s
comments,
25 May 2012
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=
9631
ANC calls on all South Africans
to boycott buying City Press
Newspaper and to join the protest
match to the Goodman Gallery,
24 May 2012
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=
9629
ANC calls on all South Africans
to defend the President,
23 May 2012
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=
9628
ANC welcomes the South
Gauteng high court decision to
have a full bench of judges to
hear the ANC and President
Zuma urgent application
regarding the offensive depiction
of President Zuma,
22 May 2012
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=
9626
ANC Congratulates Alexandra –
one of the oldest township in
South Africa,
22 May 2012
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=
9627
There are many decent options available in a democratic country. The DA could have
hosted a bilateral meeting with COSATU or engaged NEDLAC to make a presentation or
approach government apart from the public statements they have continued to make. On
matters of concern to business, government always listens to concerns of the private
sector. Government does the same with workers. Everyone makes representations and
government considers the representations and dispose of the matter in the best way
possible.
The DA is the main Opposition Party with access to all Ministers and the President.
Parliament is the most legitimate platform to resolve all political differences to avoid violent
clashes on the streets. The DA could have also gone to court as they seem to be eager to
do on every other issue in which they disagree with the government.
We must also categorically condemn the violence that occurred when DA and COSATU
supporters clashed on the streets. No amount of explanation will make it acceptable and it
was good to see that both parties involved condemned it unreservedly. People have
marched to government institutions because they are connected to these public institutions
by virtue that as voters they have a stake in how public matters are managed. Sometimes,
members of an association or political party may march to the offices of their own leaders
since they are associated with the offices as members. Not that they are always welcome,
but it is understandable when they do it.
COSATU is a highly influential stakeholder in labour matters, but COSATU in this matter of
youth wage subsidy is a complainant, not a decision maker. Just how any sober party can
march against people, who, at worst, have expressed an opinion or objection, but have no
executive decision to make, is puzzling. The anger of DA against COSATU does not
change the fact of executive decision making processes. Even the less smart in the DA
should have realised that.
We must however point out that COSATU offices are a private property that belongs to its
members and no government department operates from COSATU House. COSATU
offices have nothing to do with DA marchers or government executive decision making
processes.
Such a march therefore carries several risks which the leaders must take responsibility for
as they decide on such a step. Whether or not COSATU leaders agree to allow a march of
political opponents and hostile marchers, rightly or wrongly, individuals in the membership
may consider it as a hostile invasion and decide to take unauthorised action to defend their
leaders and property. Considering the poor relationship between the DA and COSATU,
despite the unproven accusations of orchestration by COSATU leaders, it is quite
conceivable that the workers would see naked provocation and decide to confront the DA
marchers.
I am not a member of COSATU, but I found the DA public calls for DA supporters to join
their intended march on COSATU to be disturbing. Their statements were boastful and
inflammatory with a potential to unnecessarily igniting violent clashes on the streets of
Johannesburg. I can imagine how many COSATU members would have been angered by
this move that is without precedent in our contemporary politics.
Alternatively, there may be hooligans in the DA march that may act outside the party
instruction, as such often occurs in these types of marches, leading to unpredictable
consequences. In whatever way one looks at the DA march, it should have been avoided.
Many a time it has happened in marches that well prepared police may have individual
police who may act wrongly or police get overwhelmed when crowds run amok and
complicate the situation and things get out of hand.
Reports and comments in the media suggest that there were inadequate marshals to
control the DA marchers. After the march has turned awry, I don’t even expect the DA to
own up to the mess. If this were true, it could only be exposing the poor experience
amongst the organisers. That means, experienced organisers would have anticipated the
challenges and advised against the march. Many of us who are aware that the DA is new
in this game are sickened by the display of misguided militancy of a party whose founders
never ventured to challenge the real apartheid on the streets.
-7-
LATEST SPEECHES
ANC Centenary Lecture by
President Jacob Zuma: the
Legacy of President-General
Pixley ka Isaka Seme,
24 May 2012
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=
9632
Eulogy by President Jacob Zuma,
at the Funeral Service of
Advocate Mvuseni Edward
Ngubane, at the Inkosi Albert
Luthuli International Convention
Centre,
18 May 2012
http://www.anc.org.za/show.php?id=
9617
We must all condemn violence. But the question must be asked: Why is the DA surprised
that there was a violent clash? This was no normal march! People were marching against
another group of people after so much taunting by leaders in the media! It was bound to
happen! In a clash, neither party can claim innocence as it takes two to tango. Nobody
knows what insults and obscenity can be hurled by marchers to provoke the other side and
vice versa.
Hymns and choruses were last sung in a march by the religious leaders led by the South
African Council of Churches in the eighties. Youth, particularly inexperienced youth are
easily excitable under such a combustible environment and the leaders need to protect
them from harm inherent in such instances. Leaders on both sides need to have been
firmly in control.
John Moody a Gauteng leader of the DA was saying on SABC TV that this was like the
Soweto uprisings in 1976. God forbid! The DA should not be allowed to be romantic about
violence and death of people. In 1976 there was no democracy and apartheid provocation
caused an explosion and the oppressed were butchered. It is sad that when we have
worked so hard to reduce confrontational politics and discouraged inter-party violence, the
Democratic Alliance has suddenly woken up to embrace it. COSATU lost many supporters
in the past in such clashes; the leaders should have warned against it and the march
should not have been allowed by police.
The DA has opposed many decisions by this ANC-led government that COSATU
supported, but COSATU never marched against DA. The DA has set a precedent that may
prove dangerous. How then do you stop COSATU from returning the favour and marches
to DA offices?
Our friendliest warning to DA is: Beware the psychology of marches, you may either be
provoked or lose control. Marching against another organisation considered a political
opponent should be discouraged! In itself it’s a mark of extreme intolerance. That route
leads to bloodshed and loss of life! It takes us back to confrontational politics which we
thought we successfully left behind. From KwaZulu-Natal we were shocked and could not
believe that at this day and age anyone can walk straight into such a trap when, at long
last, we have learnt the art of open debate, the use of all formal institutions and having a
smile and a cup of tea with someone whose views you disagree with.
A hostile march against an opponent’s private property is similar to a march against any
private individual. It should not be allowed! Sad memories of the tragedy at Shell House
are still fresh in our minds. The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal publicly chastised the ANC Youth
League when they staged such a march to the residence of IFP leader last year.
We must always remember that while each one of us has rights enshrined in the
Constitution, each of our rights end just before the next person’s right starts. It would be
interesting how many organisations can be welcomed with smiles as they march to DA
offices, for whatever reason. I hope it never happens!
One day Helen Zille and her think tank will acknowledge that though it is correct to take up
the issue of youth unemployment, their march against COSATU is contrary to political
common sense and smacks of political expediency. It should never have happened!
>> Dr Zweli Mkhize is an ANC NEC member and Premier of KZN Province
-8-
ENOUGH AND NO MORE!
The artist, the gallery and the City
Press editor
“… propaganda in some form or other lurks in every
book, that every work of art has a meaning and a
purpose - a political, social and religious purpose that our aesthetic judgements are always coloured by
our prejudices and beliefs.” (George Orwell, “The
Frontiers of Art and Propaganda”, 1941
A couple of days ago one of the media houses
brought to our attention the existence of what we
found to be an extremely hurtful, disturbing,
outrageous and distasteful display of the person of
Comrade President Jacob Zuma in an indecent
manner in which Brett Murray and the Goodman
Gallery found artistic.
We learned that since the portrait first appeared in the
City Press and in its website, Goodman Gallery has
been packed everyday with scores of people from
school children, high-powered business people,
fashionistas, grandparents to see that portrait and other pieces in the exhibition, titled Hail to the Thief II.
We requested the gallery remove the portrait and instructed our lawyers to approach the
courts to compel Brett Murray and Goodman Gallery to remove the portrait from display as
well as from their website and destroy all printed promotional material. We also instructed
our lawyers to request the City Press to remove the portrait from their website because we
found it hurtful and violating the human dignity and right to privacy of Comrade President
Jacob Zuma.
We thus made the artist, the gallery and City Press aware that President Jacob Zuma, his
family and children, the ANC and society in general was hurt by the portrait. For Brett
Murray to turn around and he did not intend to cause any hurt or to harm the dignity of any
person pretty sums up the reckless disregard for the feelings of fellow South Africans by all
those who praise this nonsensical anti ANC political exhibition as work of art.
To be sure the gallery owner Esser defended the exhibition saying her gallery was known
as a neutral space” that embraces voices of dissent, presenting work that confronts the
contemporary socio-political climate”. She continues in this banal vain “the gallery had no
intention to cause him or his family any hurt or offense.”
Murray and Esser are pleading ignorance! They are saying they went about creating
innocuous worthy work of art and by some reasons so many people are finding this
offensive. It was not their intentions! Never mind the genitals that are hanging out in the
portrayal of the first citizen of the country, forget the insults hurled at the million and so
members of the ANC who are branded as sold and thieves craving for Chivas, forget too
the desecration of the memory of Solomon Mahlangu whose words are twisted to imply
that he sacrificed his life in vain, he is a fool who did not know what he was doing.
Neutral work of art displayed in a venue that is known as a neutral space not intending to
hurt or offend anyone! That is utter nonsense! This is lynching of the President and all
those that support him. That’s the symbolism they intended to invoke. “Every writer,
especially every novelist, has a ‘message’, whether he admits it or not, and the minutest
details of his work are influenced by it. All art is propaganda.” (George Orwell, 1939)
The other party to this insulting spectacle, City Press, through the self-styled doyen and
paragon of virtue, Fariel Haffajee, takes a similar if not even more offending “ I am tired of
people who desire to kill ideas of which they do not approve. Besides, our morality and
good practice is selective”; before pointing out, importantly, that she like most of us would
not hang the said work of art in her living room.
The smut is not good enough for her home but good enough for our homes! What bile!
What sick mind would aimlessly conjure, design, commission and construct such offensive
imagery without any inkling that someone else will be offended by the imagery?
-9-
Art is about insight, introspection, feeling, empathy and considered expression. Without
these attributes what art is worth talking about? What other attributes would have driven
the so called ringleaders of this spectacle in the name of the so called artists, the gallery
and the publishing editor in a major media organisation that is patronised to a large degree
by those it sought purposefully to insult?
The answer shouts from their work. Racial and cultural prejudice, superiority complex,
wanton disregard for the feelings of other South Africans and a desire to hurt those that
they do not empathise with. Taking a statue of Lenin, imposing the face of Comrade
President Jacob Zuma and attaching and sticking exposed handing genitals to it is not
creative or artistic even by any mediocre standards!
Taking the emblem of the ANC, illegally so, and stamping sold on it is certainly not creative
or work of art! Plagiarising the words of Solomon Mahlangu and adding few offensive lines
to it is again not art!.
There in lies the rub. No artistic endeavour was ever in the mind of the so called artist and
the gallery. Right from the beginning the imaginary was intended to portray a far more
insidious serious message: an utter contempt for the political reality of today South Africa,
utter contempt for the President of the Republic in person and the office, utter contempt for
the political organisation that brought him into power - the ANC, as well as utter contempt
for all the South Africans who find the portait distasteful.
Lift beyond the exposed genitalia there are other images directly talking to each and every
contempt cited above. The images could not be displayed in the living rooms of the artist,
gallery owner and editor concerned because the intention was to mobilise and share with
others this contempt as a way of influencing the political discourse in the country and to
support those promoting disruptions in the internal ANC party processes.
Artistic freedom and media freedom were the victims of abuse by the three! These
freedoms are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic to protect civil liberties not to
advance sectarian chauvinistic views and values. The cheap offensive smut they paddled
as art does not add anything to advance civic liberties.
In this case freedom of artistic expression and freedom of the media is used by scoundrels
to hide their real intentions. They know these freedoms are not licence to hurl insults,
which they do when they call a millions of members of ANC criminals and thieves. They
know that these freedoms are not licence to impugn on the dignity of other South Africans,
which they do when they present the Comrade President Jacob Zuma in the manner that
they did with genitals exposed. They know that these freedoms are not licence to hurt
when they invoke the name of Solomon Mahlangu twisting his famous words to achieve
their unstated political goals.
They knew that their work was degrading, crude, insulting, trash and an abuse of freedom
of expression and media freedom. These are grown-ups who know what hurts and would
never imagine themselves subjected to the ridicule they subject others to owing to the
powers that they wield as artist, gallery owner and editor. They did not care how anyone
felt so long as their political objectives were met. Otherwise why publish to offend so
many?
It is greatly disturbing that despite the outrage caused by this ill conceived political attack,
the media in general has stuck to its usual behaviour of defending each other and not
taking a hard introspection of the issues. Nay they have even dusted off so called Zapiro to
add toxic venom as if the imagery in question needs further elaboration!
Social networking sites have been abuzz with discussions on this issue, comments to the
pages have been inundated with many South Africans, across the colour-line to be sure,
expressing outrage. Even diverse political parties have come forward to condemn this
behaviour. Civic organisations and trade unions, church groupings and youth formations
have all come out against this trash that has been peddled as art and defended by those
involved as an expression of freedom of art and media.
It would be safe to say the three musketeers definitely crossed the bounds of decency,
according to the majority of South Africans who have expressed their opinions through the
cited platforms. Why would this ground swell of moral and cultural viewpoint not find
reflection in our media? Like a broken record the media keep parroting media freedom
when faced with a discussion that requires an introspection on how to balance the various
rights, culture and norms of a diverse country like ours. They are pre-occupied with their
own jaundiced views, parroting in unison and abrogating to themselves the right to tell this
society how to feel towards hurt that they themselves inflict!
-10-
We want to know where is the diversity inherent in our society reflected in this media? In
any normal country, it would have been expected that different media, different editors,
different gallery owners and different artists would have come out expressing a diversity of
views on the matter at hand. Why such uninanimity?
SUBMIT AN ARTICLE OR
COMMENT
At least Ferriel Hafegee has confirmed that she is a dictator in her media organisation.
Others within City Press, trained journalists and editors at that, pointed out the many
problems inherent in this smut trash she calls art. She says herself she overrode them and
the decision to publish was hers alone.
To submit an article or comment for
ANC Today,
The question is who dictates to the other editors to maintain a conspiracy of silence with
her? Do we still have a diverse media that reflects diverse views and view-points inherent
in this society? Or are we faced with a mafia media baron club that protects itself,
advances its political views united by opposition to the ANC at all costs?
In the case where all that matters is the views of editors, shoved down a disagreeing
populace we have a duty as citizens to take direct action that will correct the situation.
Media also is a market whose conduct is governed by a relationship between those that
consume and those that produce. Ultimately as the consumers we dictate the kind of
media we get by our conduct. If we are silent in the face of abuse, the editors will continue
abusing us imposing their moral, cultural, political and other norms and views on us.
The editors have a right to their views, we have our right to buy media that is not offensive,
that is not biased and that is reflective of the rights and responsibilities enshrined in our
constitution. Many have hailed those who defaced the trash called art. We can do better!
We must stop buying and consuming images that are contrary to our norms and values.
Papers like City Press that are biased and prejudiced should be boycotted till they grasp
the role and nature of a fair media in a democratic society.
Freedom of artistic expression and freedom of the media does not supersede other rights
that are enshrined in our constitution. Irresponsible conduct must now have
consequences. Do not throw your much earned money away buying trash.
Enough is enough!
-11-
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