THE Cape Times 140th Birthday Souvenir Supplement Part 1, Friday, April 29, proved to be an educational hit. In my personal assessment the Supplement was vastly informative and is a good compilation of largely a bad history that produced some scary, goose pimples and cold shivers when read.
I will still search for suitable adjectives to describe how appalled I was to again have to reflect on the dark past of our nation.
The writers gave stark insight into the extremely deep depths of the roots of the plague of Afrikaner domination and racial segregation.
Please allow me to extract some lines that sprung out at me from the Part 1 supplement, deemed to be realities worth repeating and of special note to myself.
We were reminded of the 1948 period when the National Party headed by DF Malan came into power, it was hailed as a miracle moment and proof that “God was watching over his Volk”, the elitist white minority. Malan went on to say, “today South Africa belongs to us (the Volk)… and may God grant that it always remain our own”.
What a rude awakening, these people were absolutely resolute in their fraudulent cause as they manifested a hatred for people of colour, especially the rural black African. There was the belief amongst them that they were a chosen race and, however fraudulent and bad their actions and intentions were, it was intended that they would be soundly protected by hurtful legislative injustices.
They sadly enjoyed a prolonged rule of brutally wielded power with destructive means, at the expense and often the lives of persons of colour. We also learn how the “swart gevaar” drove the white political party leaders to adopt a grab all, exclude all others' policy.
There was a marked, wilful opposition to rights for black Africans. We learn that a Civilised Labour Policy was adopted that guaranteed jobs for whites at the expense of blacks. The extreme poverty of mainly rural blacks was overlooked, however white poverty was a concern and “pricked the conscience of the world”. I was surprised to learn that at the siege of Mafeking, Baden Powell in fear declared “all the food for whites”, while blacks were encouraged to scavenge for food in the veld outside of the town. World War I was declared a white man's war, and coloured and black men who voluntarily sought to enlist to fight for their country, were duly declined.
I never completely understood why my white colleagues only were called up for compulsory duty in the old SADF. It all becomes clearer now and we are greatly thankful to newspapers that continue to give us the facts and put things into real perspective for us.
The objective is being realised to better “understand our city, our country and our world”, to quote the editor, Aneez Salie. One understands more clearly why the elitist white South African became so embittered at and resistant to the thought and birth of a new democracy inclusive of all its people. There were those amongst them that may have claimed that FW de Klerk sold them out and that they were robbed of privilege, country and land. Did the God who once favoured them seemingly turn against them by directing favour to the masses? What we do know and acknowledge, maybe not always understanding it, is that God is ultimately in control and allows things to happen in his own will and time.
May the strong leadership of the Cape Times under the editorship of Aneez Salie continue seeking to bridge the huge racial divide. Racial tension, racial hatred and a lack of tolerance are resultant of the short-sightedness of a few power-laden, fearful white leaders of the past. The editor and his team at the Cape Times have again educated us and continue to tell us to understand and reflect on the good and the bad, the villains and the heroes of our history as a nation.
All things considered, the present political era is deemed to be a blacks’ only, blacks’ take all era. This fact is not necessarily right nor the ideal, but possibly something that we may have to become accustomed to.
Our collective prayer should be that healing will take effect for all South Africans and that our potential be realised as a nation, in a prosperous all-inclusive land. May we strive to be a true reflection of oneness, a true reflection of a miraculous rainbow, multi-coloured nation. Be reminded of the fact that it is God that installs the rainbow in its place, as a surety that He will never again destroy this world by flood waters.
The injustices of the past were destructive to say the least, however freedom has at last come at tremendous cost, the likes of which cannot be ignored, sufficiently appreciated, nor forgotten. We therefore salute the 1956 women marchers, the Rivonia trialists, the MK veterans, we salute every Struggle hero of every era and render heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifices they made. We step aside in a moment of silent reflection and honour the fallen, those whose lives were brutally taken from them and primarily those who gave their lives knowingly.
Finally, let’s embrace the Nelson Mandela ideal, to fight against white domination, to fight against black domination. Let’s cherish the ideal of a united and loving democratic free and fair South Africa.
● Morilly is a retired banker