In recent times, organisations like AfriForum have stirred significant debate by bypassing the traditional channels through which concerns should be raised and solutions proposed in South Africa.
One must ask, Is AfriForum now a ruling government? Who gave them the authority to speak on behalf of all South Africans, especially given that they have not won any elections to warrant such influence? While they have the right to voice their opinions, their approach challenges the unity and democracy of our nation and raises important questions that all citizens — particularly white South Africans — should reflect on.
This situation compels us to look deeper into the state of our national cohesion. Have we truly made progress toward building a unified society since the end of apartheid, or are we still caught in the remnants of racial divisions?
Do we, South Africans of all races, backgrounds, and cultures, live as one people, or do we still define ourselves by our colour, ethnicity, or language? While we may have achieved political freedom, the lingering divisions within society remain problematic, continuing to fracture our collective identity.
The idea of national unity often feels like mere lip service. It’s easy to say we are united in policy and law, but are we truly united in action, in our daily interactions, and our communities? The labels of "white," "black," "Afrikaans," "Indian," and "coloured" are still prominent in our identity and, in many ways, continue to shape how we see one another. The question remains: have these divisions diminished, or have they simply taken on more subtle forms, still present under the surface?
While progress has certainly been made in some sectors of South African society, it’s worth asking how many individuals have undergone true personal transformation.
How many of us have shed the biases and prejudices that persist from a history of racial segregation and inequality? The challenge of unity lies not only in political structures but in our personal beliefs, interactions, and perceptions. Do we genuinely feel a collective responsibility for each other, regardless of our race or ethnicity?
In the context of organisations like AfriForum taking such a prominent role in the national dialogue, the question arises: How many of us are still contributing to the divisions that we so often blame on external forces or groups? If we can’t see each other as equals in our actions, not just in policy, are we truly advancing toward a non-racial, united society?
This issue is not just about politics or policies; it’s about how we, as individuals, behave and engage with one another in our daily lives. As a country, we must ask ourselves how much progress we’ve made since the end of apartheid.
Are we genuinely striving for unity, or is it still an ideal we are far from achieving? We must ask ourselves how we can move beyond mere rhetoric and take real action to bridge the divides in our society.
We must continually ask ourselves these questions if we want to build a truly unified nation. The responsibility for change lies with all of us—regardless of whether we identify as white, black, or any other race—because the future of South Africa belongs to every one of us.
Pikolomzi Qaba