Role Of Minorities In Building Democracy Cannot Be Ignored

By Bheki Mngomezulu

The issue of minority groups is inevitably part of South African history and political lexicon. Whether we like it or not, their history is inextricably interwoven with all the narratives about the liberation Struggle.

The irrefutable fact is what informed Mac Maharaj recently when he was reflecting on the history of the Natal Indian Congress NIC and that of the Transvaal Indian Congress TIC. During his address, Maharaj averred that it is not possible to tell the story of South Africas Struggle against colonialism and apartheid without including the significant contribution of the NIC and the TIC.

Expounding the point, Maharaj said that any history that does not include their role will remain fatally flawed. From the historical and political contexts of the liberation Struggle, it is difficult to challenge Maharajs view.

Whether the minorities were the oppressive minority, as was the case with the whites in this country, or they were the marginalised population, as evidenced in the coloured, Indian and Khoisan communities, the bottom line is that it is impossible to write minorities out of the narratives about the beleaguered history of the country.