The imbroglio between Africans in the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the DA’s white power structure is one of white supremacy (racism). The aim of coopting Africans in the DA “leadership” was to woo African voters. At DA rallies, the majority of those who attend them are Africans but DA representation in parliament is predominantly white. The DA is a party that looks after white interests as I argued in the Star of 29 May 2012 to which one DA councillor denied on the 31 May 2012. https://www.iol.co.za/…/ample-proof-that-the-da-is-for-all-

The founding President of the Congress Youth League in 1944, Anton Lembede put his finger on the pulse about racism and died prematurely and mysteriously in July 1947. The coming of Robert Sobukwe and the Africanists in the 1950’s culminated in the formation of the PAC in 1959. PAC identified white supremacy as the problem in South Africa. They were followed by Steve Biko and the Black Consciousness Movement in the late 1960’s.

The PAC and BCM were not against whites joining their ranks per se, they said white people should work amongst themselves and show each other the injustice of the system of white supremacy or apartheid although they knew, as Sobukwe pointed out, that there were whites “who were converted to our cause” but because they benefited materially from the system of white supremacy they would not wholly support the overthrow of white supremacy.

The PAC and BCM were against dummy institutions and being used as stooges. They were against whites leading our struggle for liberation and frowned upon Africans who were used to further the aims and objectives of a racist organisation such as the DA. Mmusi Maimane quoted Biko occasionally but it is clear he was window dressing. Africans who joined the DA thinking the system has changed failed to learn from Sobukwe that it is better to starve in freedom than to have plenty in bondage.

White supremacy is white people’s culture. It is for their survival. What is unacceptable is for white people to use Africans to achieve their sinister objectives. It has never occurred in settler colonies that gained their independence before South Africa such as Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia that a white opposition political party became an official opposition. It has also not occurred that Africans joined white opposition political parties in the numbers that Africans in South Africa joined the DA. It is only in this country of miracles, magic and rainbows that this has happened.

I disagree with political analysts and commentators who describe what is happening in the Democratic Alliance as a right-wing problem. It is a typical case of white supremacy (racism).

In his 1959 inaugural address, PAC founding President Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe said, “For the lasting peace of Afrika and the solution of the economic, social and political problems of the continent, there needs must be a democratic principle. This means that White supremacy, under whatever guise it manifests itself, must be destroyed.”

About ten or so years later, an African American Psychiatrist Dr Frances Cress Welsing defined white supremacy (racism) thus: “Racism (White Supremacy) is the local and global power system and dynamic, structured and maintained by persons who classify themselves as white, whether consciously or subconsciously determined, which consists of patterns of perception, logic, symbol formation, thought, speech, action and emotional response, as conducted simultaneously in all areas of people activity (economics, education, entertainment, labour, law, politics, religion, sex and war)… The system of Racism (White Supremacy) utilises deceit and violence (inclusive of chemical warfare, biological warfare and psychological warfare), indeed any means necessary, to achieve its ultimate goal objective of white genetic survival and to prevent white genetic annihilation on planet Earth.”

She continued to write that, “In the existing system of Racism (White Supremacy) when the term is undefined and poorly understood, there is general confusion and chaos on the part of the victims of that system (local, national and global). It then becomes impossible for the victims of Racism (White Supremacy) to effectively counter the global system of Racism (White Supremacy). The African enslavement, imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, fascism, etc., are all dimensions and aspects of Racism (White Supremacy).”

Another definition: “White supremacy is an historically based, institutionally perpetuated system of exploitation and oppression of continents, and nations and peoples of colour by white people and nations of the European continent; for the purpose of establishing, maintaining and defending a system of wealth, power and privilege” (Mickey Ellinger and Sharon Martinas).

If white supremacy is about establishing, maintaining and defending a system of wealth, power and privilege, then Sobukwe was correct in his 1949 Fort Hare graduation speech that: “History has taught us that a group in power has never voluntarily relinquished its position. It has always been forced to do so. And we do not expect miracles to happen in Africa” (Sobukwe, 1949 Graduation speech). Sobukwe didn’t believe in miracles, magic and rainbows.

Given Sobukwe's analysis, did Mmusi Maimane and his ilk think the white power structure in the DA would hand over to them the DA on a silver platter?

What is happening in the DA is a typical case of white supremacy. Academics, political analysts and commentators can go on misleading the African people about the goings on in the DA. There are those who have their fingers on the pulse. 

By Sam Ditshego

Republic of South Africa.