Marlan Padayachee, by e-mail: Amid the outpourings of commentary and comments about the slaying of South Africa's notorious right-wing radical and self-styled commander of the AWB, Eugene Terre Blanche, this unfortunate incident should not be clouded by the political smoke-screen.

Political leaders are taking the correct stance by calling for calm in a divided country in which racism and racial tensions are still rife when citizens of colour should be finding themselves and reconciling for the future.

Political opportunism has the potential to hijack this incident.

From all accounts, the nub of the story centres on an employer-employee wage dispute, a phenomenon that takes place in the common labour market in a democratic state, in which labourers, particularly construction and farm workers, often receive the short end of the stick from hard-nosed employers.

Away from the heartbeat of urban "rainbowism", the stark reality of racism and exploitation resides in the rural belts of the lush mealie and wine farms. Farm workers and labourers are much more than voting fodder.

As much as Terre Blanche's murder could painfully take the country backwards down the reconciliation road, and most likely harden the attitude of Afrikaner people, the ANC and the opposition parties should place the issue of a summit on race and reconciliation as a priority before the world descends on us for the Fifa World Cup.

While the ANC appears ambiguous about ANC Young League leader Julius Malema's rantings of the out-of-tune "Kill the Boer" song, racial harmony will be a dream.

Our courts are competent enough to deal with another criminal case.

The nation should be given the opportunity of the audi alterem partem rule (the other side of the story) from the murder suspects.

Until then, let's hold our horses.