African National Congress (ANC) President Nelson Mandela smiles broadly as he casts his historic vote on April 27, 1994 in Ohlange, outside Durban, during South Africa’s first democratic election. The ANC and other liberation forces displayed tremendous magnanimity in their reconciliation efforts during the negotiations, says the writer. Picture: Walter Dhladhla, AFP
Dr. Reneva Fourie
THE transition to democracy in 1994 was nothing short of remarkable. During the negotiations, the liberation movement demonstrated extraordinary foresight by actively seeking to avert a scorched-earth situation and ensuring that the architects of apartheid were not sidelined.
They understood that progress required prioritising national peace, stability, and social cohesion, making significant concessions to accommodate those who had historically wielded power. This commitment to reconciliation was meant to lay the basis for a more inclusive future.
The current state of political discourse in South Africa demands both engagement and introspection. A mere thirty years since our first democratic election, we remain a fledgling state grappling to overcome the consequences of the legacy of apartheid. It is for this reason that the lies propagated by right-wing organisations, particularly AfriForum and Solidarity, and supported by the Democratic Alliance (DA), are not only treasonous but border on the unforgivable.
Trump’s consequent ‘rescue bid’ has resulted in divisive tensions within the country that must be addressed. To move forward as a unified nation, we must challenge the right-wing for their unwillingness to accept the principles of non-racialism and equality. In turn, they should conduct some much-needed introspection, halt their justifications for the wrongs they have committed, and strive to embrace the vision of an integrated new South Africa.
The ANC and other liberation forces displayed tremendous magnanimity in their reconciliation efforts during the negotiations. The introduction of a sunset clause, which allowed apartheid-era officials to retain their positions, reflected the pragmatism of the liberation movements in securing a sustainable transition.
Likewise, the constitutional protections afforded to linguistic and cultural rights ensured that people could continue to practice their cultures and languages freely. Even private property rights, which were deeply entrenched in the apartheid system, were protected under the new constitutional order. The current Expropriation Act merely gives effect to the constitutional provisions.
Despite these accommodations, entities like AfriForum, Solidarity, and the DA continue to propagate an erroneous and distorted narrative about the ANC-led government’s actions, attempting to cast it as tyrannical and anti-white. Not only have they, for years, presented a false narrative of minority persecution but they also continue to perpetuate a narrative that paints South Africa as a failed state, thereby consistently undermining the progress made by a democratic government.
AfriForum and Solidarity, among others, have been particularly vocal in soliciting international support to protect their apartheid-inherited privileges. Their campaigns to safeguard minority rights often misrepresent the intention behind policies designed to redress the injustices of the past.
The DA, which represents the West’s choice for governing South Africa, is not overtly a right-wing party. However, it has increasingly aligned itself with right-wing groups in opposition to various policies, particularly those surrounding land reform, race relations, and economic inequality.
Contrary to their appeals for national unity, the party effectively taps into media platforms and digital technologies to engage and mobilise disillusioned voters, especially within white and conservative communities. By employing disinformation campaigns, emotional appeals, and selectively highlighting the ANC and its allies’ weaknesses, they aim to influence public sentiment and undermine the state’s legitimacy.
This narrative is not only misleading but dangerous. It stokes division and fosters an environment of fear and distrust, further polarising an already fractured society. Additionally, this situation is being manipulated by external actors, particularly the United States. The US perceives South Africa as a politically and economically significant player and has consistently sought to influence its fiscal and foreign policies.
In collaboration with the DA and far-right organisations, the US is now imposing punitive measures on South Africa in retaliation for its firm commitment to policy sovereignty. Recently, South Africa has also demonstrated resistance to the imposition of Musk’s Starlink service, which AfriForum has extensively promoted. This demonstrates the link between racism and capitalism and the prioritisation of profit over equality and nation-building.
The right-wing groups in South Africa need to reflect on their actions. They owe it to us to be truthful, accept the consequences of their disinformation campaign and make genuine efforts toward redress. The false narrative they have constructed of a victimised white minority is also harmful to the prospects of social cohesion.
A further troubling consequence of the current furore is the exposure of the latent general prevalence of narrow ethnoculturalism in our country. Many would have liked to believe that we have transcended tribalism and that while we still adhere to inherited traditional practices, this has been superseded by our aspiration for a national identity as South Africans. The depths of our societal divisions are now becoming unmistakably clear.
The leadership of AfriForum, Solidarity, and the DA must recognise that South Africa’s transition to democracy was an act of unprecedented generosity on the part of liberation movements. They need to acknowledge that the ANC and other liberation forces chose not to seek revenge against those who benefited from apartheid but instead aimed to foster a new nation built on principles of mutual respect. By continuing to resist the idea of a transformed South Africa, these organisations undermine the vision of a free and equal society that so many died for.
It is imperative that South Africans rise above narrow ethnic interests and focus on forging a collective patriotism. Nationalism, in its truest sense, is about a shared commitment to the future of the country and the values that define it. It is about putting the interests of the nation first, ahead of any individual group or tribe.
South Africans must work toward consolidating a national identity that transcends ethnic divisions and fosters a sense of belonging for all. The planned National Dialogue presents an opportunity for us to move beyond superficial solutions and confront the deeper issues at hand. Introspection and sincere engagement will assist in generating a much-needed sense of national identity.
* Dr Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specialising in governance, development and security and co-author of the book ‘The Art of Power: Pursuing Liberation and Nation-building’.
** The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The African.