Fatima Meer's suggestion to revive the Natal Indian Congress has sparked much debate and discussion across the racial and political divides.
Fatima Meer's suggestion to revive the Natal Indian Congress has sparked much debate and discussion across the racial and political divides.
The professor has been a respected campaigner for the rights of the underprivileged and disadvantaged. I have always appreciated her contributions and wise counsel, but in this instance I cannot agree with her.
The resurrection of the NIC can only be perceived as ethnic separatism, which has no place in our country today. That the NIC played a pivotal role in opposing the apartheid government and contributed to its downfall is not a point of contention. I fully agree with Meer that the Indian community needs a political home. It is time that, as South Africans, Indians take a stance and identify with a political party that truly has their interests at heart.
The IFP has always embraced "unity in diversity" as a key value. It is a home for all South Africans subscribing to its values and policies. It has always embraced the coloured and Indian communities who were disadvantaged and discriminated against by apartheid. So it is imperative that Indians, and indeed all South Africans, look to the IFP as the party that will save our country from certain ruin.
Les Govender, IFP, Chatsworth
Indian Congress is history
Fatima Meer's suggestion to revive the Natal Indian Congress has sparked much debate and discussion across the racial and political divides.
Fatima Meer's suggestion to revive the Natal Indian Congress has sparked much debate and discussion across the racial and political divides.
The professor has been a respected campaigner for the rights of the underprivileged and disadvantaged. I have always appreciated her contributions and wise counsel, but in this instance I cannot agree with her.
The resurrection of the NIC can only be perceived as ethnic separatism, which has no place in our country today. That the NIC played a pivotal role in opposing the apartheid government and contributed to its downfall is not a point of contention. I fully agree with Meer that the Indian community needs a political home. It is time that, as South Africans, Indians take a stance and identify with a political party that truly has their interests at heart.
The IFP has always embraced "unity in diversity" as a key value. It is a home for all South Africans subscribing to its values and policies. It has always embraced the coloured and Indian communities who were disadvantaged and discriminated against by apartheid. So it is imperative that Indians, and indeed all South Africans, look to the IFP as the party that will save our country from certain ruin.
Les Govender, IFP, Chatsworth