Dear Ferial,
I have long been an avid reader of your opinion pieces and columns, most of which are politically themed and focus on people or events that are shaping South Africa’s political arena.
For the most part, I must say that your opinions and views are well balanced, thoughtful and insightful, which is a refreshing break from some of the one sided slop that we are expected to digest, as citizens of this country.
I am however curious about what has prompted you to post not one, but two opinion pieces about the EFF and it’s latest stance on the Indian population of SA, only a matter of hours apart?
Like you, I detest the populist rhetoric that has taken over our politics from both the left and right wings, that make up our unique political landscape (unique being the most diplomatic word I can find). However, the EFF’s radical and racial agenda is most certainly nothing new to us.
We have seen members of the EFF making divisive, racist comments one day and then back-peddling the next in a half arsed attempt to separate themselves from being branded the discriminatory racists they so vociferously accuse everyone else of being. As you may have noticed, this is becoming the norm rather than the exception.
As an editor at HuffPost SA, you find yourself in quite an influential position, one which affords you a larger platform to voice your opinions, objections and thoughts about the many issues South Africa faces on a daily basis. I can therefore only sympathise with you for having to endure the abuse that is hurled at you for doing your job.
I wonder though, if the recent comments from Julius Malema regarding the Indian population, and the subsequent attacks by the EFF’s social media army on you, haven’t hit a little too close to home for you?The reason I ask is, not very many minorities or parties who are not on the EFF’s Christmas card list have escaped the juvenile tongue lashings dished out by members of the EFF, yet none have elicited such a strong reaction from you as this has.
Is it because for once, you are feeling the full effects of the venomous hate that the EFF are capable of dishing out, and being made to feel powerless to do anything about it?
This has been the reality for many of the minorities in South Africa for quite some time now, and truth be told, it doesn’t look likely to stop anytime soon.
It’s quite simple really. For too long, the EFF have gotten away with murder (figuratively speaking), when it comes to hate speech, fear mongering and political bullying, without any meaningful condemnation from influential editors like yourself.
No one has had the gaul to call the EFF out for what they really are: an organisation of hypocrites, who thrive on racial discord for the benefit of its elite members at the expense of everyone else.
The EFF has never been a party for the disenfranchised. It is no champion of the impoverished; and it is most certainly not a party that gets to take the moral high ground on any matter, least of all racism and intolerance.
Judging from your quick fire opinion pieces, you have finally come to that realisation yourself.
