‘Race relations need to be addressed’
Young people will work harder if they know something is achievable.
DEAR Editor,
Race relations in South Africa is a hot topic as we enter into our country’s 21st year of democracy. South African society in general is still very comfortable retreating into their ‘comfort groups’ of same race. While I try my best to raise my child ‘blinkered’ from our racial past, she will inevitably develop some racial tendencies or thoughts due to the influences all around us.
While redress is important, we are now more than 20 years into a democracy and should start phasing out things like affirmative action and equity quotas. How do I and many other parents explain to our children that they could not get a place at university because of race quotas or the job that they could normally have got on merit was given to someone else based on meeting equity quotas?
At this point in our democracy, these practices are simply going to breed poor race relations, resentment towards each other and, of course, a group of young people simply looking forward to entitlement and having no drive, passion or aspirations towards building a better South Africa.
Recently the top 10 students of KZN had to endure racial slurs on social networks. Why were eight of the top 10 achievers Indian? The Indian community in general has long had a beloved relationship with education. Most Indian parents believe in the mantra that education is the only way to salvation. Moreover, in this country, Indians are at a precipice where they feel marginalised to such an extent that it fuels their drive towards excellence.
But it is not my intention that this letter merely serve to defend the current prowess of Indians in education. My hope is that we start to do something tangible towards race relations. We need to work towards creating a unified citizenry where all compete on the same level and have the very same opportunities.
It is my belief that all young people will work harder if they know something is achievable, but not given on a plate. And, in achieving, they will cherish and nurture the rewards. This may be the way to a more progressive society and a prosperous South Africa.
The apartheid rhetoric constantly given by our government to serve as reasons for their constant failures is now growing weak. Current policies and the actions of government do nothing to build patriotism from all race groups.
VANI PATHER
Port Shepstone
