Khoisan meet in Kinross to discuss equality
“We are black enough for this government in voting, but with bursaries, then we are not black enough,” says Finsa leader Dr Gregg Fick.
Wanting the same equality as persons of other races, the Khoisan and coloured community gathered at the Sasol Community Hall in Thistle Grove on July 1.
They aimed to register and contribute towards the First Indigenous Nation of Southern Africa (Finsa) equality legal battle.
Finsa’s leader, Dr Gregg Fick, addressed the community about the case that was registered at the high court for equality in Johannesburg in 2022.
The first respondent was President Cyril Ramaphosa since he signed the law that the Khoisan people feel is discriminating against them.
Fick said in an interview with the Ridge Times the reason behind the charges is that the president registered and signed the Traditional and Khoisan Leadership (TKL) Act 3 of 2019.
Fick said the Act is discriminating against people of colour because it says that if they want to be considered as decedents of the Khoisan, the first people on earth, and to claim benefits that belong to the first nation, they have to put in an application at the commission office.
“The biggest thing is, who are we?” asked Fick.
“We say this was an apartheid policy. We now want to exercise our rights and claim what belonged to the first people of whom we are descendants. The government never told us that as the descendants of the first people, we may apply to claim.
“We battle to put our children through school and university and do not get bursaries, only the black people do. We are black enough for this government in voting, but with bursaries, then we are not black enough.”
Finsa aims to inform the so-called ‘coloured people’ about their rights because many do not know their rights.
“The South African Human Rights Commission put a responsibility on the government to inform our people about our rights, but the government has done nothing about it.
“And all the money the government is supposed to pay out to us is laying there. The question now is, what did the government do with that money? It is thousands of rands.”
Fick said the communities of colour also suffered during the apartheid years and they now want the same rights and opportunities that black people have.
“People must understand they classified us as coloureds, but we are not coloureds. People classified by the government as coloureds include the Griqua, the Hottentot, the Boesman, the Khoi and the San, the Malay and the Chinese.
“You must understand this case is not about whether you are a descendant of one of these people, it is about being classified as a coloured. Because if you were, then we can help you.
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“However, open a case yourself. We cannot do that for you. We tried at the court in Cape Town that told us we cannot speak on behalf of all the coloured.”
Fick said if many people classified as coloured can come forward to open cases, the legal fees for advocates will be less because more people would contribute.
“The government built houses for the people of District 6. We do not want houses, but we want the money, and then we will decide what is best for us to do with that money,” said Fick.
People can still contact Finsa and register to be part of this case until October 1. To register, you will need a verified copy of your ID, bank account, and proof of residence.
For more information, contact the Finsa leader in the Highveld, Chief Bruno Kakora, on 083 448 9462.
