The foundation wants political parties to stop using struggle icons to further their political agendas Photo Ahmed Kathrada Foundation
South Africa – In recent times, political leaders have been known to exploit the names and legacies of iconic figures from the struggle for their own gain. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation recently released a statement addressing the misuse of Kathrada’s name by the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), John Steenhuisen.
It has become a trend for political parties to invoke the names of former struggle heroes and heroines during election campaigns. This practice, however, raises concerns about the misrepresentation of these individuals’ views and values to suit the agenda of the political parties, said Neehsan Bolton, Director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.
“We’ve seen over the last decade or more, when it comes close to elections suddenly political parties want to prop up former struggle heroes and heroines. Place them in a context as if they would be in support of what that political party is saying.”
The DA, in particular, has been guilty of this, previously using the name of Nelson Mandela and now Ahmed Kathrada. Bolton feared that had the organisation not spoken up, this would continue as we get closer to the elections.
The misrepresentation of Ahmed Kathrada
Kathrada, an esteemed figure in the struggle against apartheid, had a set of core beliefs and principles that guided his actions. The DA’s attempt to link Kathrada’s Indian ancestry to their campaign against the Employment Equity Act is a distortion of his true beliefs.
“What particularly worried the foundation was presenting Kathrada in a way that was way off from his own set of core beliefs. In this case the DA assumes that Kathrada would have been in support of their campaign against the Employment Equity Act simply because he was Indian. And because they were addressing an audience in Chatsworth, who might have been predominantly Indian, they thought it appropriate to suddenly present this Indian struggle hero as their champion for their issue.”
While Kathrada may have had concerns about the act’s technicalities and amendments, he was a firm supporter of affirmative action and employment equity. He believed in democratic processes and would have encouraged a thorough examination of the act rather than calling for defiance without due process.
“Kathrada was a firm supporter of affirmative action. He would have supported the Employment Equity Act. He might not have been okay with all the technicalities of the current act and the amendments. But what he would have simply argued for was this an undemocratic act? Has it gone through all the political and parliamentary processes? Has it gone to the constitutional court? And if it hasn’t done all of those things, he would have been very hesitant about calling defiance on something which might not have been cleared thus far.”
Presenting Kathrada’s views in a manner that stokes racial insecurities and fear among Indians is not only misleading but also undermines the principles of unity and understanding that he advocated for.
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Responsibilities of leaders
Leaders have a responsibility to rise above racial divisions and foster a broader understanding of the issues at hand. They should present alternatives and engage in open, honest discussions rather than playing on people’s fears, said Bolton.
“Presenting it in a way that elevates their fears plays on racial insecurities when it might not be warranted. That is really what is at the core of our response. Kathrada would have said on any issue, find ways of bringing people across race together to understand the issues, and if they understand it together, then they might be involved in opposing it and finding alternatives. In a democracy, it’s important to place your alternatives before people as well. Not just playing upon their fears. That plays into the kind of racial divisions that we are still grappling with as a country.”
The misrepresentation of struggle heroes and heroines for political gain is a concerning trend that must be addressed. Ahmed Kathrada’s legacy, like that of many others, should not be distorted to serve narrow political interests. Leaders have a responsibility to uphold the core beliefs and values of these icons and work towards unity and understanding. It is only through sincere engagement and respect for their legacies that we can build a better South Africa.
Neehsan Bolton shared his insights on preserving legacies and avoiding political exploitation with Inayet Wadee. Listen to the captivating discussion here
