When Nick Motloung burnt a cross on October 26 in memory of those killed in farm attacks, it sparked a lawsuit from a white Christian farmer. But instead of going to court, the men came together and found they had more in common than they thought.
Reconciliation can’t be done from prison, said anti-farm murder activist Anthony Hall, who was so enraged he opened a case against Motloung for arson and malicious damage to property.
But after meeting on October 31 and discussing their differences the two are now planning a monument to victims of farm murders where the cross stood.
Hall withdrew the charges against Motloung that day.
The new plaque will officially be unveiled by the men on December 16, Reconciliation Day.
In a video posted by Hall on November 9, Motloung said: “We want to invite everybody to create something big here,” adding that the monument would include the names of all who have died in farming communities.
Motloung told Sunday Times Daily that a large tombstone had been donated and the municipality had agreed to the monument. He added the monument would not be a cross.
“We don’t want to do a cross because in this community there are many religions besides Christians.”
“Without pretending, let’s start preaching that all lives matter — we are brothers and sisters.”
Despite threats to his life and those of his family, Motloung, a Madibeng FM journalist, said he did not regret burning the cross in Brits, North West, because he wanted to spark a conversation.
And he did. Almost as soon as the video went viral, the vitriol began.
Explaining why he burnt the cross, Motloung said: “The reality here in Brits is that there is still segregation and racism. The people here are angry.
“For the people who lost their loved ones, I send my apologies to them. But for a lot of black people the white cross was a declaration of war. A white cross in a black community which says ‘Genoeg is genoeg’ [enough is enough] looks like a declaration of war.
“I burnt it down because the cross does not symbolise religion. Many people piggybacked on the [notion] that I was burning a Christian symbol ... Brits town is still very racially divided. I speak with the voice of the people.”
Motloung takes exception to the slogans “Farm Lives Matter” and “Black Lives Matter”. “That’s wrong. If you are in unity, then all lives matter.
“I’ve covered stories where farm workers just disappear here. Then we look at this cross. We cannot accept this. People are pretending that all lives matter, but the cross is a declaration of war. But war isn’t what I’m thinking about. We must learn each other’s cultures and see that maybe this cross may hurt some societies.
“Farm killings are community killings. Whatever happens on the farms happens in our communities too and, if you compare it, it may be worse for other communities.”
Motloung said he pushed aside offers by the EFF to join him in burning the cross because he did not want it to be political.
“Let’s start building, let’s reconcile. We must start socialising and accept each other’s differences. Let’s leave the anger — we can’t change history, but we can change the future.
“I know I touched a nerve, but it revealed the truth. I don’t hate the people who are racist towards me; at least I know how they feel. We must forget this mentality of civil war. Hate consumes energy — it’s not worth it.”
Hall said just like Motloung he did not want to collaborate with any party which offered support because he, too, did not want to politicise the issue.
“The reason I laid the charge was because I felt offended by the burning of a cross. I am a Christian. But from the first SMS I realised we had something in common, so I was looking forward to our meeting.”
Hall drove for two-and-a-half days from his farm in Worcester, in the Western Cape, where he runs the Rael addiction recovery programme, to Brits in the North West.
They met with traditional leader Ndabezitha Ndaba at a restaurant, then travelled together to the cross, just off the R512.
“We spoke kindly together and spoke about how all farm workers, black and white, were important.
“I see him now as a friend and I chose to drop the charges, without him asking me to do so, because I realise that reconciliation can’t be done from prison. There are three sides to every story. If he gets charged for burning the cross I will appoint an advocate for him.
“Reconciliation is possible, but you can’t expect it to come from one side. Both must forgive. Nobody died [by burning the cross]. We must forgive him. I got behind Nick because he had the guts to look me in the eyes and apologise.”
After the reconciliation Hall said he received backlash.
“I travel with security now. I have seven death threats a day. There is huge racism. People call and say ‘F**k you — K-word boetie [brother]’. There can be no reconciliation unless we change.”
Motloung faces the same threats, which he does not mind, but cannot condone threats to his children’s lives.
“People have posted my address, my ID number and the school where my children [attend], as well as their photos.”
Traditional leader Ndaba spoke about the importance of communication in reconciliation when he joined the men at their first meeting.
“What has happened here [on this day] is something that was supposed to have happened at the dawn of democracy ... Let’s allow people to express themselves so we can find solutions.
“We can’t erase history, but we can go forward with unity in diversity. All skin colours are important to us.”
The Madibeng municipality had not responded to questions about the monument at the time of publication.
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