Letter: Guilty by association

Cliff Hatt of Zinkwazi is irritated by posters:

As a white 70-year-old I’ve been privileged to vote in most elections whether national or municipal. The most rewarding without doubt being the 1994 elections. I was also privileged to participate as a ‘peace monitor’ during those three historical voting days.

I have seen the demise of the despicable AWB plus the introduction of all types of ‘crackpot’ and populist parties who manage to garner a few votes here and there. But in the main, in later years, it’s been the ANC, DA and EFF street pole posters that have been in the public eye wherever I have voted – and so nothing much surprises me in the run-up to elections.

Until this past week – and I now suddenly find myself uncomfortably confronted with a situation I’ve never had to contend with before.

Here in the small village of Zinkwazi, the Freedom Front Plus (VF+), a sad party that in the 2014 election managed to gain a measly sum of about 165,000 votes (or around 0.9 % of the vote (the great majority being cast in Free State and Gauteng) out of 20 million or so voters, has placed its posters in the village I live in.

An antiquated party with a thinly concealed racist mindset that pretty much still wants its ‘volkstaat’ in today’s age despite all the deep hurts and humiliations of years past and sensitivities which are understandably still present.

Their slogan is ‘slaan terug’ so I’ve taken it literally and that’s what I’m doing.

I find it an affront and an embarrassment that it should have anything to do with this beautiful and peaceful place I reside in. And so, I am compelled by law to have it remain displayed despite the uncomfortable knowledge that it almost (falsely) proclaims that people who live here are of the same antiquated mindset.

Nothing is further from the truth and I certainly don’t wish to be cast in that deplorable shadow – hence my letter.

As in any society we don’t tolerate bad behaviour or lawlessness from anyone and we’ll firmly protect the rights of every person who lives here regardless of colour or culture but don’t you dare as a party seemingly paint us with your tarnished brush and by association make us out to be of the same narrow mindset regarding other people’s cultures.

Many of us make it our business to welcome all people, irrespective of their colour, into this historically white (but slowly demographically changing) village – and we do our best to be an example of the united South Africa we wish to see, only to now have a political dinosaur party distort that spirit of goodwill we’re so willing to offer and share.

So, I sincerely apologise to all of those who, upon seeing these posters, might feel insulted by or take offence at them when entering our village. Please be absolutely assured that in no way whatsoever do they represent the views of the majority of us – and know that you are most welcome to live, stay or visit here. Please however do respect that party’s right to put up their sad posters.

I obviously pen this letter in my personal capacity but firmly believe that I do speak for many others who are as uncomfortable as I am.

uMuntu ngu muntu ngabantu – one is human through humanity to others (a Nguni expression).