Land Party plans peaceful protest against racism at Hermanus Whale Festival

“Hermanus, with its extreme inequality and divisions, lends itself to scrutiny as an acute microcosm of a broader set of challenges facing urban areas across South Africa. The market dictating the marginalisation of the majority to the periphery; spatial injustice and the failure to unlock land for those who need it; the continued adherence to and entrenchment of apartheid-era segregationist ideology, and the cumulative effect of racism that such ideas brings to bear; the absence of trusted local leaders and a governance vacuum; and the powerful role of perception and poor communication between groups, within groups and from local government have compounded in Hermanus, effectively forming a powerful and abiding determinant of conflict.” URBAN LAND AND THE GENESIS OF VIOLENCE Dan Hartford & Malose Langa (Centre for Violence and Reconciliation 2018)

On the 27th of September 2019 Land Party members will have a peaceful protest against racism in Hermanus. All citizens who have had enough of the racism that permeates the town are welcome to join. The statement above was written over a year ago and nothing has changed. In fact, the conflict and division has escalated to the point where people's lives are at risk, never mind the peaceful and prosperous future of the region.

We are 25 years into democracy and the Overstrand region, like many rural communities in South Africa, is still plagued by racism. Not only is the Overstrand still spatially segregated with very definite black, white and coloured areas, it is also mentally, socially and economically segregated. Key factors is the obvious racism of many people in the white communities and the seemingly deliberate racist and party political policing, administration of justice and delivery of municipal services.

The Overstrand community has many challenges to face and we are not going to make progress as long as racism is condoned. The future of South Africa relies on every South African fighting corruption, planning inclusively and promoting unity. As long as racism is tolerated this is not possible.

Every day black and coloured people are subject to racist comments, innuendos and treatment face-to-face and across social media. The black community is perceived as a threat to the deeply entrenched lifestyle of privilege and racial exclusivity of the Overstrand. The region is untouched by a democratic dispensation and is deeply polarized.

In addition to the fragile social fabric of the community; the institutions and public services that are supposed to serve all citizens equally, and uphold the constitution, consistently show political and racial bias in the manner in which they perform their duties. Local police, justice and government have even resorted to collaborating with private security companies, armed civilians, property owners, businessmen, gangsters and one another to further a political agenda that protects the rights of the privileged few at the expense of the poor.

Apartheid was successful. It achieved its objective which is the reason segregation still exists and racism is still inherent in so many people and institutions today. It is every South African's responsibility to stand up against racism, to not tolerate it in any shape or form and to do everything possible to rid themselves of all traces of this indoctrination that was so successfully entrenched in them.

The Land Party calls for immediate intervention with an investigation into the racist culture of policing and judicial and governmental administration in the Overstrand. It calls for every citizen to take stock of themselves and their attitudes, to stand up against racism so that we can move forward and stop living in the past.

The peaceful protest will take place on Friday 27th September. The details will be advised in due course. The Land Party has specifically chosen the date of the opening of the Whale Festival as it is vital that those who come from other parts of the world and the country to the area for leisure and entertainment are made aware of the scourge of racism that is tearing our communities apart.

END

Issued by Land Party Communications

Enquiries: Gcobani Ndzongana 0815132653