Robert Melato of Unitaspark writes:
I am writing in response to Shayne Welman’s letter published in Ster North (29 July – 4 August), titled ‘It is 2025 – Africa’s reckoning lies within’. Welman’s opening statement is partially correct in saying Africa is no longer under white rule, and as for South Africa, under democratic rule and not black rule.
This is important to highlight, for the responsibility still remains that of all of us, including the likes of Shayne, who have distanced themselves from it to make a political statement.
Failures we see today are not black failures, for the governing party is not a black party, but merely a black dominated party. We all, therefore, are equally responsible for the state our country happens to be in. Corruption is not about colour but the conduct of individuals, and this I also agree must be uprooted from whoever is found to be responsible for it, and this cuts across the colour line. Another issue of concern from people like Shayne is that they refuse to accept that things have changed, and as a result, deliberately withhold or withdraw their contributions to spite the so-called Black government, and this shows immaturity as well as a lack of understanding of how democracy works.
The impression he creates is that corruption under the so called white rule is misleading. Until and unless we all embrace the will of the people and help it bring what is best for all of us, irrespective of who is in political power, there will continue to be racial tensions and unaccountability.
I also agree, we should leave our stereotypes about each other aside, and focus on building a better South Africa for all of us, irrespective of the colour of the one in political power.
We can do better than finger pointing and blaming it on the colour of whoever is in authority’s colour of his/her skin, and dealing decisively with corruption across the board, for it has no colour.