25/09/2021
As related on the FB site.."My Apartheid Diary"
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This introduction is our summary and relates to the post below... "Coloured marginalisation"
This is an issue and question which is very pronounced but does not seem to get addressed. It's not being addressed by National government, nor provincial governments. The perception and scenario is becoming an ingrained norm in South Africa's history in politics, sport, arts, culture etc. It is that people classified as Coloured has not contributed or been involved in the fight against injustice and oppression before and under Apartheid.
The history of resistance by 'Coloured' peoples against colonialism, slavery, Apartheid and oppression is never brought into the public domain, in the media or narrations of the country's history. Very little is relayed of the struggles of Autshumato, the Goringkhaigona, Sheik Yusuf of Makassa, Tuan Guru, Ashley Kriel, Colleen Williams, Benny Kies, Imam Haron, Anton Fransch, Robbie Waterwitch, Bonteheuwel Military Wing, the Wynberg 7...the contributions of stalwarts that gave their lives to the Struggle; Dr. Alan Boesak, Johnny 'Yacoob' Issel, Benny Kies, Dulcie September, Hassan Howa...the uprisings in Athlone, Elsies River, Bonteheuwel, Strand, Mitchells Plain,Manenberg, Harmony Park, Wellington, Ravensmead etc the list is endless.
It seems there is a deliberate marginalisation and embedded project by government on all levels to write out of history the proud contributions of 'Coloured' peoples. If this is not the case then why is there no government or any form of support in this respect to writers and those with archivel information to bring it into the mainstream? ...and before we are being stereotyped or labeled as 'Coloured nationalists' for pointing out this glaring and deliberate anomaly, we are by now deaf to that kind of drivel. We know that to be the famous refrain thrown in order to try and shut us up.We built and continue to build the cities and country but find the contributions sparsely or not exclaimed at all. In Cape Town major roads and public places are either named after people from other population groups while those from our communities are only found in industrial zones. And we saw how the renaming of CT International airport ran into a standstill and subsequently been shelved...all because Coloured people wanted it to be named Krotoa. Where and when will our people's names be honoured in this country?
This marginalisation of the Coloured contributions is a fact which cannot be denied and which can only be put to rest if the contrary can be proven and which unfortunately it is not. We fought hard and long, alongside our fellow South Africans for justice and equality in the country of our birth and where our rightful place in the Sun should be secured in democratic SA...unfortunately it is not... Lest we forget...