Mthethwa calls on ‘cancer of bigotry’ to stop in country

ARTS and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has urged South Africans to commit themselves to fighting the “cancer” of bigotry before it destroyed the country.

“What we seek to address in this gathering is deadly, is poisonous, and destructive,” said Mthethwa in a speech in Joburg. “What we are dealing with is a cancer.”

Mthethwa was addressing stakeholders at the department of arts and culture’s convention on nation-building, social cohesion, and reconciliation.

The convention follows an agreement made between Mthethwa and a group called Social Cohesion Advocates last month to promote social cohesion, combating racism, and eradicating discrimination in South Africa.

This, in response to a recent flare-up of racial tension online, as well as tension within communities and disagreement over the renaming of public spaces, as well as tension within communities.

It is also part of the department’s mandate to nation-build, as envisioned by the National Development Plan. “We are immediate- ly confronted by truism that we are not where we were during that democratic moment of 1994 and yet, we are not where we intended to be,” said Mthethwa. “In simple terms, much has changed and yet so much remains unchanged.”

Mthethwa provided an historical context for South African violence and conflict, making mention of colonialism, the South African War, Mfecane, the country’s slave history, and apartheid.

He also acknowledged that the Khoi and San communities who had “suffered numer- ous injustice and violence in the hand of waves of Bantu and later on a relentless onslaught by colonial forces”. This, he said, was often left out of the nation’s historical narrative.

“Such a wounded psychology defies any national aspirations,” said Mthethwa. He said leadership ought to deal with issues in a decisive and creative manner.

However, Mthethwa stated that “government alone cannot resolve some of our age-old complex challenges”. He also called on all stakeholders to do better than conduct an empty talk-shop. Additionally, Mthethwa urged South Africans not to unnecessary intellectualise issues, aiming rather to come up with practical solutions beneficial to all.

This, he said, would honour and continue the work of the country’s founders and struggle icons.

“We dare not fail as we would be dishonouring those who fought for this freedom and made ultimate sacrifices,” he said.

This convention was in preparation for a national one as well as the drafting of a “social compact”. – ANA