Despite moving into democracy after the fall of apartheid in 1994, an apparent resurgence in racist incidents and hardening of racist attitudes continues to plague South Africa.
In response to the mounting urgency to combat racism, more than 85 organisations, facilitated by the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, banded together to create the Anti-Racism Network of South Africa (ARNSA), which was launched in November 2015.
In an initiative that aims to further enhance the ongoing work carried out by ARNSA in building awareness, mobilising resources, co-ordinating action and focusing on interventions, delegates were joined by Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, for the launch of Anti-Racism Week at the Nelson Mandela Foundation on Tuesday 2 February 2016.
Anti-Racism Week will be recognised from Monday 14 March to Monday 21 March 2016, and ARNSA representative Sean Moodley has called on civil society, faith-based organisations, municipalities, sports bodies and the education sector to become a major part of the campaign by hosting activities and programmes that speak to a non-racial South Africa.
His first call to action was aimed at faith-based organisations, which, he says, already play a big role in fighting racism.
“Over the weekend of Anti-Racism Week, from 18 to 20 March, we urge these organisations within the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Christian communities, to put a huge effort into making this an Anti-Racism Weekend. We believe you already have the infrastructure in place to extend your reach far and wide.
“ While responses to racism are often seen as coming from government or corporates, there is a need to develop community responses. One of our main goals is to uproot racism from families. ”
“We also urge organisations to take the lead and introduce [an] Anti-Racism Week in the workplace; whether it’s staff training or a T-shirt campaign. How wonderful it would be to go into banks or shops around the country and see employees wearing T-shirts that read: ‘Racism is Wrong’.”
Moodley also explained that all South Africans would be able to sign a pledge at the start of Anti-Racism Week, committing themselves to building a non-racial country.
“I don’t think this country will be destroyed by those who do evil. I truly believe it will be destroyed by those who stand by and let this evil happen. Anti-Racism Week provides the perfect opportunity for all South Africans to participate.”
Looking beyond Anti-Racism Week, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Sello Hatang, said that in order for ARNSA to work, it would have to also take other forms of discrimination into consideration – gender inequality and people with disabilities, for example – issues that are often doubled for those of colour.
“Without [levelling] the playing field for these groups as well, the state will remain fundamentally flawed. But even within these communities, there may be a need for sustained reflection. For example, gay pride parades often overlook townships in South Africa, and are built on a culture of privilege. We are unaware of how gay or lesbian individuals are affected in these areas.
“While responses to racism are often seen as coming from government or corporates, there is a need to develop community responses. One of our main goals is to uproot racism from families.”
Hatang reflected on an example of a young white man who went into a black township and opened fire on the community.
“Most of us asked, ‘How can this be? This was a child who was born during the time of transformation in South Africa’. But we didn’t immediately consider that racism happens in our homes. Your child reacts to how you react when watching television,” said Hatang, drawing on the generalisations people make about a race when looking at the actions of one individual.
“Until we start dealing with racism in our homes, we are going nowhere.”
CEO of the NMF Sello Hatang
In his thoughtful keynote address, Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa said ARNSA had come at the right time, considering increasing instances of racism on a global scale. He explained that a global phenomenon required a global response, and pledged that ARNSA would eventually aim to spread its influence abroad.
“These conversations of race need to be strengthened,” said Mthethwa. “Madiba would have said that our diversity is our strength. He believed that it is not our diversity, culture or religion that divides us. He believed that there is only one true division – those who cherish democracy and those who do not.
“Our multi-pronged strategic approach to ARNSA will see us deepening socialisation and education. We must de-educate the mindset of racism and re-educate it towards the true South Africa we are building.
“Further, we must reject all instances of racism, and do so without becoming angry. There were many people who were angry about apartheid, but their anger did nothing. It becomes about mobilisation of communities and ensuring we never ever tolerate racism in any form,” said Mthethwa.
South Africa remains a country deeply troubled by its past. We are still defined by race, twenty years into democracy. Endemic and systemic racism continues to plague the country and threatens all attempts to build a democracy free from prejudice at every level of our society.
There hasn’t been a systematic, focussed and proactive reaction of scale from civil society to address racism, and ultimately, that is what ARNSA hopes to change. The development of national co-ordinated action against racism within civil society is an important part of fostering dialogue, inclusion and reconciliation.
For more information, visit www.arnsa.org.za