Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa urged South Africans on Monday to commit themselves to fighting the “cancer” of bigotry before it destroyed the country.
“What we seek to address in this gathering is deadly, poisonous and destructive,” said Mthethwa in a speech in Johannesburg.
“What we are dealing with is a cancer.”
Mthethwa was addressing stakeholders at the department convention on nation-building, social cohesion and reconciliation.
The convention follows an agreement made between Mthethwa and a group called Social Cohesion Advocates late last month to promote social cohesion, combating racism, and eradicating discrimination.
The agreement, part of a mandate as envisioned by the National Development Plan, comes in response to a recent flare-up of racial tension across the country.
“We are immediately confronted by truism that we are not where we were during that democratic moment of 1994, yet we are not where we intended to be,” said Mthethwa.
“In simple terms, much has changed and yet so much remains unchanged.”
Mthethwa provided a historical context for South African violence and conflict, colonialism and apartheid.
He also acknowledged the Khoi and San communities who had “suffered numerous injustices and violence in the hand of waves of Bantu and later on a relentless onslaught by colonial forces”. This, he said, was often left out of the nation’s historical narrative.
“Such a wounded psychology defies any national aspirations,” said Mthethwa.
He said leadership ought to deal with issues in a decisive and creative manner.
However, Mthethwa stated that “government alone cannot resolve some of our age-old complex challenges”.
He also called on all stakeholders to do better than conduct an empty talk shop.
Additionally, Mthethwa urged South Africans not to unnecessarily intellectualise issues, aiming rather to come up with practical solutions beneficial to all.
“We dare not fail as we would be dishonouring those who fought for this freedom and made ultimate sacrifices,” he said.
The convention was in preparation for a national one as well as the drafting of a “social compact”. – ANA