Litho Suka reflects on Biko and wonders about true nature of opposition
TODAY marks the 38th anniversary of the brutal torture and murder of Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Bantu Biko. Biko was tortured by apartheid security forces at the notorious Sanlam Building in central Port Elizabeth. This is the same building where student activist Lungile Tabalaza and George Botha, a former teacher at Patterson High School in the northern areas, were murdered by apartheid security forces.
Moki Cekisani, one of the last people to see Biko alive, is today deaf as a consequence of torture he endured at the Sanlam Building.
Today, Moki walks around Port Elizabeth’s streets with a broad, ever-present smile.
Like many who were tortured by the apartheid security forces, and even more who lost loved ones during this dark period in our country, he has reconciled with the past and is one of the friendliest souls you will ever find.
Just like Moki, I would have gone through this day as I have done since the death of Biko in 1977, quietly reflecting on our history and rededicating myself to working for a non-racial South Africa where state-sponsored torture and murder are a thing of the past.
But alas, my plan was rudely disrupted when I learnt that the DA had chosen this solemn day, September 12, to launch its candidate for the 2016 local government elections.
My agitation was heightened when I learnt that the venue for its launch is the Donkin Reserve, the hill that overlooks the Sanlam Building.
How could any political party be so insensitive to the tragic history of Nelson Mandela Bay?
Could it be that in my commitment to reconciliation, I have ignored the glaring signs about the true nature of the DA? After all, this is the same party whose leader in the council, Retief Odendaal, has been kicked out of the council on two occasions for undermining the African, female speaker and the council itself.
It is the same party currently embroiled in a nasty race row because one of its councillors, Chris Roberts, referred to a UDM councillor, Mongameli Bobani, as a bobbejaan. It is the same party whose then-councillor Stanford Slabbert two years ago referred to black voters as “dumb idiots who wait for handouts”.
As the DA leaders stand at Donkin Reserve today to marvel at the view that was not so long ago the site of such hideous atrocities, I want to appeal to South Africans of goodwill, black and white, to see the DA for what it is: a political party that consistently refuses to genuinely embrace non-racialism.
As we celebrate Heritage Month, let us remember Steve Biko, Henry Fassie, Molly Blackburn, Govan Mbeki and all others who fought for our democracy. This is our true heritage. To add insult to injury, the DA will present our residents with a candidate it has consistently rejected in its own party.
In 2007 Athol Trollip lost to Helen Zille in his bid to become the party’s leader. In 2011, he lost the bid to become leader of the party in parliament to Lindiwe Mazibuko. Why then, must our residents be expected to trust someone like Trollip – who does not have a proven track record of managing any company as big and complex as our metro?
Our people are not naive, they know it takes more than the ability to speak Xhosa to address their challenges.
Danny Jordaan has within 100 days demonstrated that he has the requisite experience, skill and commitment to turn this metro around and take it to a higher level. Like Biko, he was active in the Black Consciousness Movement.
To quote from Steve Biko, with the leadership of Danny Jordaan in time we will be able to bestow on the Nelson Mandela Metro “the greatest possible gift – a more human face”.
Litho Suka is chief whip of the ANC in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro city council
How could any political party be so insensitive to the Bay’s tragic history?