This is very good reading, both for, Kigongo (who calls himself a Mukooki) and Engineer Kaheru. Perhaps it would enlighten them a bit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.
REPLY TO KADER ASMAL, ANC MINISTER OF EDUCATION - That “PEOPLE‘S LIVES HAVE IMPROVED” By Dr. Motsoko Pheko
Prof. Kader Asmal delights in defending the indefensible and undermining the intelligence of the people. His article in a daily newspaper on 29th October 2OO3; that “People’s lives have improved” since 1994 is a myth, which cannot go unchallenged. Which people is he talking about? Certainly, it is not the majority population of this country – the African people.
Let me start with education. In 2OO2 out of 667O43 students who registered for Matric only 4OO,OOO sat for their examinations. 267O43 dropped out. In 2OO3 sixty percent of Matric students dropped out. Only 4O% are this year writing their Matric. Several students from the African majority population are not able to complete their university degrees and other studies because their parents are poor.
That is why the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) is advocating free education. Prof. Asmal has told Parliament in reply to PAC ‘s demand for free education; that “there is no such a thing as free education”. The PAC insists that there is such a thing as free education. If poor countries such as Zambia and Tanzania could give free education; South Africa can certainly do better with the wealth of gold, diamonds and platinum it possesses.
On Friday the 3rd of October 2OO3, our platinum sold for US$ 723 per ounce. That is about R 5O61 per ounce. On the 29th October our platinum sold for US $755.5O per ounce. That is over R 62OO per ounce. Where does this enormous wealth go? Some of it must go for free education of the majority population of this country who have been the victims of colonialism and apartheid, and were denied proper education. Education is the key for the success and advancement of a country. In South Africa, this must be done to level the playfield. A nation, which does not educate its children and people, is committing national suicide.
The harsh reality is that since 1994 over 1O million people have experienced water cuts. The same trend is emerging with electricity. Over two million families have lost their homes because they could not pay their utility bills. Sheriffs came and collected everything. Sheriffs still terrorise these poor people and dispossess them of the little they have.
Unemployment is over 41% in provinces such as Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.
Privatisation of strategic state assets by the ANC government has created unprecedented high rate of unemployment in this country. That is why the PAC is advocating an unemployment allowance of at least R 5OO per month.
Over 5OO,OOO people, mainly Africans have died of HIV/AIDS while the present government is dragging its feet over providing the appropriate drugs proposed by the PAC, NAPWA, TAC and other organisations for free treatment of this terrible disease which is an attack on our future. The ANC government has betrayed the land question. It is wrong for the leaders of the ANC to say that “the problem in South Africa is homelessness, not landlessness”. Homes are not built in the clouds or air. They are built on the land. Today the constitution of this country under the ANC government confines land claims to “after June 1913”.
In other words to the crumbs of 13% which were allocated to the now 77.6% African majority, under the colonial Native Land Act 1913 and Native Land Trust Act 1936. That is why today 1O million Africans live in squatter camps where Prof. Asmal cannot spend even one weekend to demonstrate that “people’s lives have improved” in South Africa since the ANC took over the government.
Contrary to the misleading information for purposes of elections by Prof. Asmal, in South Africa; and despite its abundant riches, 95% of Africans are poor. The highest unemployment rate is among the African people. The African rural areas are experiencing 75% poverty. South Africa is the most unequal society in the world, after Brazil. In South Africa today, the lowest households representing 53% of the population consume only 1O% of the money while the top 1O% of the households accounting for 5% to 8% of the population consumes 4O% of the money in this country.
The World Bank Report has confirmed these figures. The poorest people in our country live on less R 281 per month. The poorest white person lives on R 5O55 per month. Since 1994 Africans have become poorer by 19% while the Whites have become richer by 15%. This is because the economic policy of the present government develops areas that are already developed. It enriches those that are already rich. That is why the ANC leadership talks of “Black Economic Empowerment” which in practice merely enriches a tiny black elite.
What has increased in this country is not the improvement of the people’s lives but corruption in the top leadership of the ANC ruling elite, crime, laws promoting moral degeneration, poverty, disease, ignorance and the economic oppression of the African people and their continued land dispossession. In fact, the constitution of this country reveals that homosexuals are shown more respect than traditional leaders.
Kader Asmal’s assertion that “Peoples’ lives have improved” is a colossal deception and delusion. It is a futile propaganda exercise to trick the voters of this country who have been given empty promises for a long time.
The truth is that our country is like one, which was seen by Prophet Jeremiah and Prophet Isaiah when they wrote respectively, “Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to foreigners. We are like orphans…our mothers are as widows…we drink our water for money….”“Your country is desolate…your LAND, strangers devour before your presence.”
Dr. Motsoko Pheko M.P.
PAC President
2. DID GHANDI CARE FOR BLACKS?
By Dr. Motsoko Pheko
Recently a South African daily newspaper published an article by an Indian lawyer, Anil Nauri in New Delhi in which he asserted that ‘‘GHANDI CARED FOR BLACKS.” My rebuttal of his opinion is not meant to disparage Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi, otherwise known as “Mahtama Ghandi;” nor is it meant as disrespect to the Indian people. Its purpose is an honest debate to show why the belief that Ghandi cared for the African people is wrong or is a huge exaggeration thriving on a myth. It is a distortion of history, especially in South Africa.
This myth is compounded by the illogical invention that “Ghandi fought against apartheid in South Africa”. He was assassinated in India in 1947. Daniel Malan’s Nationalist Party introduced his Party’s policy of apartheid in 1948. It must also be remembered that apartheid in South Africa was internationalised by the 21st March 196O Sharpeville Uprising which was led by the PanAfricanist Congress of Azania (PAC).
Confirming this fact, Frantz Fanon, the author of THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTH has written, “The seventeen days that shook South Africa, and indeed, the entire world from March 21st this year, have forced an irrevocable turn in the history of the country, For a…glorious moment, the PAC and the urban proletariat actively intervened in the destiny of their affairs and ushered in a new period, rich in historical perspectives and pregnant with political possibilities for the democratic movement….It was through that, that men and women in the world became acquainted with the problem of apartheid in South Africa.”`
The documented utterances of Ghandi over along period in history, both in South Africa and in India do not show him as caring for the Blacks. That is Africans in South Africa and the “Untouchables” in India.
On the 2nd of June 19O6 Ghandi said in the Indian Opinion newspaper, “Thanks to the Court’s decision, only clean Indians…other than Kaffirs can travel in the trams.” It is true that in South Africa, Ghandi was once thrown out of a train compartment which was exclusively reserved for the Whites.
But as Michael Edwards writes in THE MYTH OF THE MAHATMA, “It was not that Ghandi was fighting on behalf of the local Africans that he broke the rule in getting into a Whites’ compartment. No! that was not the reason. Ghandi was mad that he and his merchant class Indians were treated on par with the local Africans.”
On 26th September 1896, Ghandi had said, “Ours is one continued struggle sought to be inflicted upon us by the Europeans, who desire to degrade us to the level of the raw Kaffir, whose occupation is hunting and whose sole ambition is to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife, and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness.”
In the Indian Opinion of 18 March 19O5, Ghandi wrote, “Clause 2OO makes provision for registration of persons belonging to uncivilised races, resident and employed within the Borough. One can understand the necessity of registration of Kaffirs who will not work, but why should registration be required for indentured Indians.”
On the 25 March the same year and in the same publication, Ghandi wrote, “Under my suggestion, the Town Council (of Johannesburg) must withdraw the Kaffirs from the location. About this mixing of the Kaffirs with the Indians I must confess I feel most strongly. I think it is very unfair to the Indian population, and it is an undue tax on even the proverbial patience of my countrymen.”
Anil Nauria, the writer of GHANDI CARED FOR BLACKS, cannot, therefore, ignore the persistent statements which show that Ghandi did not care for Africans or untouchables but looked down upon them. It must be remembered that during the war of national resistance against colonialism led by Bambatha in 19O5, Ghandi recruited Indians on the side of the British. They fought against the Zulu-speaking Africans.
As one writer puts, “Ghandi joined in the orgy of Zulu slaughter when the Bambata Rebellion broke out. One needs to read the entire history of Bambata Rebellion to place Ghandi…in... proper perspective.” This writer reminds that Ghandi “received a war medal from the British Empire while in South Africa for participating in the war against the Blacks in South Africa.”
About the caste system in India, Ghandi wrote, “ I don’t believe the caste system to be an odious and vicious dogma. It has its limitations and defects, but there is nothing sinful about it” (Harijan 2 November 1933). In 1947 Ghandi wrote,“I believe in Varashrama (caste system) which is the law of life….The law of Varna (colour and or caste) is nothing but the law of conservation of energy. Why should my son not be a scavenger if I am one” (Harijan 3 June 1947).
It is a national shame that South Africah as no national monuments or films to show for its great sons and daughters such as Hintsa, Bambatha, Mmanthatise, Sekukuni, Mmantsopa, Mohlomi, Mkhabayi and hundreds of others; but there are monuments and films which this country has built or produced for the controversial Mahatma Ghandi. African children are taught more about Ghandi than about their own numerous deserving heroes.
The life of Ghandi in history must be researched and scholarly evaluated. It must be based on facts not fiction and gross exaggeration. A number of his documented utterances do not show that Africans and the “untouchables” of India must build monuments and make films in his honour. END
Mitayo Potosi
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: ugnet_: Two documents from Pres. Pheko of PAC
Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 11:55:43 EST
1.
REPLY TO KADER ASMAL, ANC MINISTER OF EDUCATION - That “PEOPLE‘S LIVES HAVE IMPROVED” By Dr. Motsoko Pheko
Prof. Kader Asmal delights in defending the indefensible and undermining the
intelligence of the people. His article in a daily newspaper on 29th October
2OO3; that “People’s lives have improved” since 1994 is a myth, which cannot
go unchallenged. Which people is he talking about? Certainly, it is not the
majority population of this country – the African people.
Let me start with education. In 2OO2 out of 667O43 students who registered
for Matric only 4OO,OOO sat for their examinations. 267O43 dropped out. In 2OO3
sixty percent of Matric students dropped out. Only 4O% are this year writing
their Matric. Several students from the African majority population are not
able to complete their university degrees and other studies because their parents
are poor.
That is why the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) is advocating free
education. Prof. Asmal has told Parliament in reply to PAC ‘s demand for free
education; that “there is no such a thing as free education”. The PAC insists
that there is such a thing as free education. If poor countries such as
Zambia and Tanzania could give free education; South Africa can certainly do better
with the wealth of gold, diamonds and platinum it possesses.
On Friday the 3rd of October 2OO3, our platinum sold for US$ 723 per ounce.
That is about R 5O61 per ounce. On the 29th October our platinum sold for US
$755.5O per ounce. That is over R 62OO per ounce. Where does this enormous
wealth go? Some of it must go for free education of the majority population of this
country who have been the victims of colonialism and apartheid, and were
denied proper education. Education is the key for the success and advancement of a
country. In South Africa, this must be done to level the playfield. A nation,
which does not educate its children and people, is committing national
suicide.
The harsh reality is that since 1994 over 1O million people have experienced
water cuts. The same trend is emerging with electricity. Over two million
families have lost their homes because they could not pay their utility bills.
Sheriffs came and collected everything. Sheriffs still terrorise these poor
people and dispossess them of the little they have.
Unemployment is over 41% in provinces such as Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.
Privatisation of strategic state assets by the ANC government has created
unprecedented high rate of unemployment in this country. That is why the PAC is
advocating an unemployment allowance of at least R 5OO per month.
Over 5OO,OOO people, mainly Africans have died of HIV/AIDS while the present
government is dragging its feet over providing the appropriate drugs proposed
by the PAC, NAPWA, TAC and other organisations for free treatment of this
terrible disease which is an attack on our future. The ANC government has betrayed
the land question. It is wrong for the leaders of the ANC to say that “the
problem in South Africa is homelessness, not landlessness”. Homes are not built
in the clouds or air. They are built on the land. Today the constitution of
this country under the ANC government confines land claims to “after June
1913”.
In other words to the crumbs of 13% which were allocated to the now 77.6%
African majority, under the colonial Native Land Act 1913 and Native Land Trust
Act 1936. That is why today 1O million Africans live in squatter camps where
Prof. Asmal cannot spend even one weekend to demonstrate that “people’s lives
have improved” in South Africa since the ANC took over the government.
Contrary to the misleading information for purposes of elections by Prof.
Asmal, in South Africa; and despite its abundant riches, 95% of Africans are
poor. The highest unemployment rate is among the African people. The African rural
areas are experiencing 75% poverty. South Africa is the most unequal society
in the world, after Brazil. In South Africa today, the lowest households
representing 53% of the population consume only 1O% of the money while the top 1O%
of the households accounting for 5% to 8% of the population consumes 4O% of
the money in this country.
The World Bank Report has confirmed these figures. The poorest people in our
country live on less R 281 per month. The poorest white person lives on R 5O55
per month. Since 1994 Africans have become poorer by 19% while the Whites
have become richer by 15%. This is because the economic policy of the present
government develops areas that are already developed. It enriches those that are
already rich. That is why the ANC leadership talks of “Black Economic
Empowerment” which in practice merely enriches a tiny black elite.
What has increased in this country is not the improvement of the people’s
lives but corruption in the top leadership of the ANC ruling elite, crime, laws
promoting moral degeneration, poverty, disease, ignorance and the economic
oppression of the African people and their continued land dispossession. In fact,
the constitution of this country reveals that homosexuals are shown more
respect than traditional leaders.
Kader Asmal’s assertion that “Peoples’ lives have improved” is a colossal
deception and delusion. It is a futile propaganda exercise to trick the voters
of this country who have been given empty promises for a long time.
The truth is that our country is like one, which was seen by Prophet Jeremiah
and Prophet Isaiah when they wrote respectively, “Our inheritance is turned
to strangers, our houses to foreigners. We are like orphans…our mothers are as
widows…we drink our water for money….”“Your country is desolate…your LAND,
strangers devour before your presence.”
Dr. Motsoko
Pheko M.P.
PAC President
2. DID GHANDI CARE FOR BLACKS?
By Dr. Motsoko Pheko
Recently a South African daily newspaper published an article by an Indian
lawyer, Anil Nauri in New Delhi in which he asserted that ‘‘GHANDI CARED FOR
BLACKS.” My rebuttal of his opinion is not meant to disparage Mohandas
Karamchand Ghandi, otherwise known as “Mahtama Ghandi;” nor is it meant as disrespect
to the Indian people. Its purpose is an honest debate to show why the belief
that Ghandi cared for the African people is wrong or is a huge exaggeration
thriving on a myth. It is a distortion of history, especially in South Africa.
This myth is compounded by the illogical invention that “Ghandi fought
against apartheid in South Africa”. He was assassinated in India in 1947. Daniel
Malan’s Nationalist Party introduced his Party’s policy of apartheid in 1948.
It must also be remembered that apartheid in South Africa was internationalised
by the 21st March 196O Sharpeville Uprising which was led by the
PanAfricanist Congress of Azania (PAC).
Confirming this fact, Frantz Fanon, the author of THE WRETCHED OF THE EARTH
has written, “The seventeen days that shook South Africa, and indeed, the
entire world from March 21st this year, have forced an irrevocable turn in the
history of the country, For a…glorious moment, the PAC and the urban proletariat
actively intervened in the destiny of their affairs and ushered in a new
period, rich in historical perspectives and pregnant with political possibilities
for the democratic movement….It was through that, that men and women in the
world became acquainted with the problem of apartheid in South Africa.”`
The documented utterances of Ghandi over along period in history, both in South Africa and in India do not show him as caring for the Blacks. That is Africans in South Africa and the “Untouchables” in India.
On the 2nd of June 19O6 Ghandi said in the Indian Opinion newspaper, “Thanks
to the Court’s decision, only clean Indians…other than Kaffirs can travel in
the trams.” It is true that in South Africa, Ghandi was once thrown out of a
train compartment which was exclusively reserved for the Whites.
But as Michael Edwards writes in THE MYTH OF THE MAHATMA, “It was not that
Ghandi was fighting on behalf of the local Africans that he broke the rule in
getting into a Whites’ compartment. No! that was not the reason. Ghandi was mad
that he and his merchant class Indians were treated on par with the local
Africans.”
On 26th September 1896, Ghandi had said, “Ours is one continued struggle
sought to be inflicted upon us by the Europeans, who desire to degrade us to the
level of the raw Kaffir, whose occupation is hunting and whose sole ambition is
to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife, and then pass his life
in indolence and nakedness.”
In the Indian Opinion of 18 March 19O5, Ghandi wrote, “Clause 2OO makes
provision for registration of persons belonging to uncivilised races, resident
and employed within the Borough. One can understand the necessity of
registration of Kaffirs who will not work, but why should registration be required for
indentured Indians.”
On the 25 March the same year and in the same publication, Ghandi wrote,
“Under my suggestion, the Town Council (of Johannesburg) must withdraw the Kaffirs
from the location. About this mixing of the Kaffirs with the Indians I must
confess I feel most strongly. I think it is very unfair to the Indian
population, and it is an undue tax on even the proverbial patience of my countrymen.”
Anil Nauria, the writer of GHANDI CARED FOR BLACKS, cannot, therefore, ignore
the persistent statements which show that Ghandi did not care for Africans or
untouchables but looked down upon them. It must be remembered that during the
war of national resistance against colonialism led by Bambatha in 19O5,
Ghandi recruited Indians on the side of the British. They fought against the
Zulu-speaking Africans.
As one writer puts, “Ghandi joined in the orgy of Zulu slaughter when the
Bambata Rebellion broke out. One needs to read the entire history of Bambata
Rebellion to place Ghandi…in... proper perspective.” This writer reminds that
Ghandi “received a war medal from the British Empire while in South Africa for
participating in the war against the Blacks in South Africa.”
About the caste system in India, Ghandi wrote, “ I don’t believe the caste
system to be an odious and vicious dogma. It has its limitations and defects,
but there is nothing sinful about it” (Harijan 2 November 1933). In 1947
Ghandi wrote,“I believe in Varashrama (caste system) which is the law of life….The
law of Varna (colour and or caste) is nothing but the law of conservation of
energy. Why should my son not be a scavenger if I am one” (Harijan 3 June
1947).
It is a national shame that South Africah as no national monuments or films
to show for its great sons and daughters such as Hintsa, Bambatha, Mmanthatise,
Sekukuni, Mmantsopa, Mohlomi, Mkhabayi and hundreds of others; but there are
monuments and films which this country has built or produced for the
controversial Mahatma Ghandi. African children are taught more about Ghandi than about
their own numerous deserving heroes.
The life of Ghandi in history must be researched and scholarly evaluated. It
must be based on facts not fiction and gross exaggeration. A number of his
documented utterances do not show that Africans and the “untouchables” of India
must build monuments and make films in his honour. END
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