As a young Indian whose parents revelled in the opportunity to send me to a previously “white” private school, I had to endure a schizophrenic double life in order to fit in- at school leaning as far away from my Indianness as possible, adopting many “white” mannerisms and accents, and going home to my sari wearing grandmother,who would chastise me not to “talk like a white” because she couldn’t understand me.

I wish more writing of this sort were accessible to Indian kids, and their histories made more clear to them- rather than building a sense of identity on generalizations and an affinity to an estranged mother land,
how can young SAIs find a place where they’re at ease?

Right now a Parliamentary Committee is steamrolling through an unconstitutional secrecy bill that could take South Africa back to the dark days of impunity — allowing government institutions to operate without public scrutiny, and stopping the media from exposing corruption, and abuse of power.

But public pressure is pushing back! Last week, after hundreds of media outlets and civic organisations had submitted amendments to Parliament, COSATU, Fedusa and the former Minister for Intelligence Services, Ronnie Kasrils condemned the bill, and on Friday ruling party MPs were forced to prolong the Parliamentary debate. But security sector interests are at stake, and to ensure this current bill is stopped will require an avalanche of public opposition.

The bill would undermine the Constitution and destroy key pillars of a vibrant democracy — free media, open government and an informed public. Let’s tell the political leadership that the people of South Africa vehemently oppose this Bill. Sign now, then forward this to everyone — when it reaches 50,000 signers it will be delivered to Parliament, the Executive and key international allies:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/south_africa_stop_the_secrecy_bill/97.php?cl_tta_sign=0c543daf9d46d12ac239245229b18224

Right now ruling party MPs are forcing the Committee to vote clause by clause on a secrecy bill that entirely counters the African and emerging economies movement towards more open government. The Bill would empower officials in nearly every state body to classify any document as secret on the basis of a vague definition of ‘national security’. Poor communities could be denied requests of information about service delivery, and if abused, a local clinic, municipal office or national ministry could use the bill to cover up corruption or misuse of public resources. The Bill would also lock up anyone who possess or publishes anything that is classified for a minimum of 15 years, even if that information is clearly in the public interest, deterring investigative journalists, and whistle-blowers from exposing official crime and corruption.

The Protection of Information Act of 1982 needs to be replaced, but there is a formula that would not flout citizens’ constitutional rights and protect secrets. A democratic and strong law would: have an independent panel appointed by Parliament to determine what secrets had a bearing on national security; only apply to institutions in the security sector; endorse public scrutiny of the intelligence agencies; and would ensure that legitimate whistleblowers that disclose secrets in the public interest are always protected..

Last year we worked with citizens and organizations across the country to raise the alarm and together we halted the bill’s progress. And last week a surge of public criticism pushed ruling party MPs to take their foot off the accelerator. People power works! Basic freedoms and democratic rights are on the line and we have no time to lose. Let’s build a monumental movement to oppose this regressive bill. Sign the urgent petition and forward this message to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/south_africa_stop_the_secrecy_bill/97.php?cl_tta_sign=0c543daf9d46d12ac239245229b18224

South Africa’s Constitution is held up around the world as a model foundation for democracy. Let’s stand together now to protect it, and oppose those who are attempting to throw a shroud of secrecy over government and use this bill to protect power and privilege.

With hope,

Alice, Sam, Benjamin, Pascal and the rest of the Avaaz team

Firstly, I don’t want to take away from the work that the ANC did in the 1970&1980s, but really…is it realistic or fair to compare the ANC of the 1980s which was still fighting apartheid to the ANC of 2011 that is leading government? The politics are different, they require different techniques and there are different priorities.

I don’t have a problem in engaging on a discussion on minority/majority votes, its no coincidence that the areas where the ANC has seemingly lost ground are in non-black areas. The fact is most Coloured & Indian people don’t see themselves as black. The identify themselves as being inherently different from blacks, in fact I would even extend it to saying that they think they see themselves as being superior to blacks, having embraced the apartheid hierarchal racial structure. ANC is perceived as a black party, in this case how could this group not be classified as a minority. Today, blacks, colourds, Indians live a different reality, separate and different reality. I actually seriously question that sense of unity or sense of non-racialism that actually existed amongst the movement back in the day. Was it really so or was it merely a survival tactic?

Non-racialism had to be preached in order to sell a new democratic order. I think the problem is that the concept of non-racialism was never defined, it was assumed that there was a general consensus over its understanding. Clearly this common sense isn’t so common, because what the ANC considers to be non-racial policy today, is considered racist by minorities.

One last thing I think I should throw out there…these minorities that you mention are, in my opinion, voting against the ANC and not for the DA.