Durban - A call has been made for members of the Indian community to make more effort to learn Zulu to ease simmering tensions.
This was one of the resolutions taken at a South African Muslim Network meeting in Durban this week. It was held to discuss racial statements that hardliner Phumlani Mfeka had been spreading on social media.
Mfeka had accused Indian business owners of assaulting, raping, exploiting and murdering their black employees.
The network’s chairman, Dr Faizel Suliman, said individuals from all race groups and organisations at the meeting did not dispute some of Mfeka’s allegations, but did not agree with his approach.
“Religious leaders spoke about Indians making an effort to start learning indigenous languages wherever they are.”
He said learning the Zulu language and culture would help break down barriers.
Suliman said the apartheid government had prevented Indians from learning indigenous languages, but many still had not made the effort to learn them after 1994, as they had been busy with work, family, home and their social lives. “But more must be done by Indians to learn the languages.”
He said those at the meeting were concerned about Mfeka’s threats of violence against Indians.
“Some of the issues that Mr Mfeka raised were legitimate, but the meeting was to separate facts from emotions.
“There are legitimate issues in the Indian community that need to be addressed.
“But it was also clear that you cannot single out a certain community and paint everybody with same allegations.”
He said more Indians should mentor black people and teach them business skills, so as to reduce economic disparities between the two groups.
Mfeka said his pressure group, Injenje yamaNguni, would start investigating cases of human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by Indians against blacks.
He said the probe would take a form similar to that of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Investigators would visit different communities across the province to collect evidence.
“We have received loads of affidavits containing thousands of cases such as rape, exploitation, assault and even murder of black workers. They all need to be investigated,” he said.
Mfeka is a hardliner who previously led the Mazibuye African Forum, a group lobbying against Indians benefiting from black economic empowerment. He has had numerous confrontations with Indian business owners.
He said Injenje would conduct sessions in which black people would talk about their suffering at the hands of their Indian counterparts. The plan was to invite Indians to take part in the sessions, which would take place across the province.
Mfeka said he would soon announce when the investigation would start.
Mfeka and Mazibuye have been interdicted from spreading racist statements against Indians on social networks.
Mfeka has said he will continue spreading his message regardless.
Daleep Lutchman, of the SA Minority Rights Equality Movement, one of the groups at the meeting, said: “We treat Mfeka’s remarks with the contempt they deserve.
“For him … to make sweeping statements without tangible proof is highly irresponsible, can ignite racial animosity, and is contrary to our constitution. We have laid criminal charges, and are waiting for the law to take its course.”
Suliman said the Durban meeting had resolved to form a committee of influential people from various racial groups to talk about improving relationships between the groups.
The Mercury
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