ANC court ruling bid not in the national interest

The Herald Editorial: While we acknowledge it is a historical fact that the notion of "Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer" is part of a liberation song, surely the question the ANC should be asking itself as it seeks to overthrow a court ruling that has outlawed the refrain, is whether at this point in our history it is in the national interest to do so.

After all it is some 19 years since the suspension of the armed struggle and nearly 16 after our first democratic election and it is clearly not in the interests of promoting reconciliation to continue using such an exhortation to violence that alienates a substantial section of the population.

We believe it can only compromise relationships between the various races and that by appealing against the judgment of the High Court the ANC – and it needs to be remembered the President of this country is a member of that organisation – is acting in a way that is calculated to sow division. This in a manner that runs foul of the demands of the Constitution, the preamble of which requires that we work together “to heal the divisions of the past” and “build a united and democratic South Africa”. Anything that undermines that effort must surely be avoided.

Equally disturbing is the growing belief that the head of state does not have a concrete vision for this country and acts in an ad hoc manner that is both confusing and results in considerable uncertainty.

We need only cite the fact that while Zuma effectively endorses the action of his party in deciding to challenge the High Court ruling, at the same time he visits a “white” informal settlement and hears the concerns of the people in what would otherwise be interpreted simply as part of a drive for reconciliation.

Coupled with that in what can only be regarded as an attempt to divert attention from the failures of service delivery and systemic corruption, Zuma is deliberately allowing issues that are quite irrelevant in terms of meeting the challenges facing this country to occupy centre stage and using ANC Youth League Julius Malema as the cheerleader in this regard.

Such a policy is dangerous as not only is it proving divisive but it will also increase the anger of the people who have waited patiently for too long for houses and other services, let alone jobs. The people are not going to be satisfied with a diet of dated revolutionary songs.