Tribalism sabotages our nationhood
THE article “SA has not gone beyond politics of tribes” (Sunday Tribune, April 9) refers. The very fact that we claim nonracialism in South Africa through a constitution that espouses this, should have, ordinarily, been translated into a living reality.
But, as has been evidenced throughout our journey on a treacherous democratic path, the divisions in our society have been punctuated with many ills that solidify the belief that we are aeons away from a truly non-racial society. The article in reference exemplifies how politics, in the guise of unifying this country, can also divide it.
Political analyst Protas Madlala refers to the dominance of Ngunis in the cabinet. This aspect of tribalism serves to entrench an unfounded yet antiquated belief that only certain parts of society, by virtue of some man-made denomination, should dominate and control the leadership of South Africa.
If we had to extrapolate this concept into our broader society, it is no wonder that race features virtually at every turn, notwithstanding the fact that the dismantling of apartheid was indeed primarily a race-dominant aspect of this country.
Tribalism has deep seated roots and affiliations within countless people, and such allegiances have germinated some of the most untenable animosities between people who share a common humanity.
For as long as we view each other based on some divisional or visceral difference, we will always fall short of reaping the rewards of the commonality that we all share – that of fellow human beings.
South African society has been polarised on many fronts, even to this day – each serving to deepen divisions rather than enhance relations between people. And this is so well reflected in the way leaders are chosen.
Whether we use race to ameliorate the concept of “majority rule” as a tool of democracy, or whether we use any other form of division to alienate the “lesser” people, the reality exists and our democracy and this non-racial society will always remain in stunted growth as a result.
In a humanity so desperately seeking unity and cohesiveness, we all, ultimately, represent a minority in one form or another, should we use our self-made classifications to differentiate between each other. But, these minorities become the sum of the whole eventually – not necessarily as a form of identity – but simply as a means of a shared commonality of interests and that is where it should stop.
Sometimes, so strong are allegiances to ethnicity, race, religion etc that people become blinded to the reality that our existence is really dependent on our co-existing effectively.
The article quotes another political analyst, Xolani Dube, who rightfully states that “South Africa has not gone beyond the politics of tribal groups”.
This manifestation becomes consequential to how the broader public responds to acts of politics that constantly remind us that no matter how much we want to ululate or celebrate our democracy, a very delicate veneer separates race and its effects, tribalism and its influences and in the end, the reality of divisions we often masquerade as democracy.
If we are to be a truly nonracial society, bereft of any untoward implications, then we must transcend any and all inclination to infest our minds with divisive ideologies. The belief that humanity is one, should be paramount – and always will be.
It must never be allowed to be divided by any means whatsoever, least of all tribalism.
NARENDH GANESH Minorities of SA, Phoenix