ANC STATEMENT ON #BLACKMONDAY CAMPAIGN
30 October 2017
The African National Congress condemns the despicable and racist behavior by some who took part in the so-called #BlackMonday campaign by groupings representing the farming community today.
The racial characterization of crime and the stoking of racial hatred by some elements in the campaign through, amongst others, the arrogant and offensive display of apartheid South Africa’s flag, are indicative of an unrelenting yearning for apartheid fascism and white supremacy and make a mockery of the national reconciliation project; continuing to entrench obstacles to the creation a non-racial society in South Africa.
Outcome Three (3) of the National Development Plan enjoins government to work with all societal partners to create a South Africa where “all people living in South Africa feel safe, have no fear of crime, are properly served by the police and courts”. This national imperative aspires to safety for all South Africans and not only a certain racial group or sector.
The myopic call for the protection of farmers, referring in particular to white farm owners, points to an ill-conceived sense of special entitlement, gives a biased racial character to crime, brutality and violence which affects all South Africans and ignores and undermines the deaths of farm workers and other persons on farms.
South Africa is littered with tragic reports of inhumane practices by some farmers against their workers and brutal killings of black people on farms explained through ludicrous statements such as that they were “mistaken for baboons” and other callous justifications.
The ANC calls on the farming community to appreciate the importance of all lives, not just white lives. It was during the apartheid era, which some today clearly still long for, where government sought to protect only the privileged white minority at the expense of the suffering black majority.
This democratic government led by the African National Congress remains committed to dealing decisively with the scourge of crime that many of our people live under. Comprehensive strategies in this regard have been developed and are being implemented.
This must of necessity include the dismantling of our tenacious racist legacy and decisive action by government against all forms of impunity including the promotion of hate speech and the blockade of roads in the name of protest. The ANC invites the proponents of #BlackMonday to join, rather than alienate, the majority of South Africans in the fight against all forms of crime against all people in our country.
Statement issued by Zizi Kodwa, ANC national spokesperson, 30 October 2017
