OPINION | PTA girls’ high standoff exposes ANC’s superficial response to racism

Helen Zille’s scathing critique of the ANC’s lack of direction and reliance on patronage over principle resonates deeply in South Africa’s racially charged political landscape.

Speaking at a post-election dialogue hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, she labelled the EFF as the only viable contender for the country’s future.

Zille also acknowledges the party’s unwavering commitment to radical transformation, which starkly contrasts with the ANC’s increasingly tepid approach.

This dichotomy underscores the lingering racial tensions inherited from colonialism and apartheid, with the DA’s right-wing liberal policies inadvertently safeguarding white privilege and the status quo, while the EFF’s left-wing agenda champions a radical transformation that prioritises the empowerment of the black majority.

In this context, Zille’s assertions serve as a stark reminder that, despite South Africa’s aspirations towards non-racialism, the country’s politics remain inextricably linked to the unresolved legacies of its troubled past.

The recent developments at Pretoria High School for Girls serve as a stark reminder of the ANC’s failure to implement a radical and decisive programme of action against racism in South Africa.

Despite the 2016 protests and subsequent promises of reform, the resurfacing of similar issues seven years later exposes the ANC’s lack of urgency and intentionality in addressing racism.

The fact that black girls are still forced to protest discriminatory policies and institutional culture that is targeting their natural hair orientation and inclusion in the space – highlights the entrenched nature of racism in South African institutions.

The ANC’s response to racism has been reactive and superficial, with measures like cultural sensitivity training and diversity desks proving to be nothing more than a hoax.

The party’s failure to adequately address racial disparities has only advanced an anti-black attitude that informs decision-making, policies, and cultural outlook in South Africa.

The recent incident, at the Pretoria High School for Girls, where white girls complained about everything being “racialised and politicised,” demonstrates the high level of white fragility and the victimisation of black people who speak out against racism.

The lack of oversight by the Gauteng local government of the ANC and the failure of then MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi, to take decisive action are clear indications of the ANC’s inability to lead on this issue.  The ANC stands for nothing but political networks of patronage and expediency.

As Helen Zille asserted, the ANC has lost its way, relying on patronage and personalities rather than standing for principles and ideas.

The party’s failure to rally people behind a radical transformation agenda has left South Africa stuck in a cycle of racism and inequality.

It is time for a new approach, one that prioritises the empowerment of the black majority and addresses the systemic and institutionalised nature of racism in South Africa. Written by community activist, Lesego Mahlangu.

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