HAIL Julius Malema for once again challenging this comfort zone we call the rainbow nation by questioning the absence of white South Africans at OR Tambo International Airport to celebrate Caster Mokgadi Semenya's return.

HAIL Julius Malema for once again challenging this comfort zone we call the rainbow nation by questioning the absence of white South Africans at OR Tambo International Airport to celebrate Caster Mokgadi Semenya's return.

As expected his statements ruffled a lot of white feathers and, surprisingly, a few black ones as well, with the feathery storm led by Radio 702's John Robbie.

Malema is spot on. The more we claim things have changed, the more they remain the same. Since the advent of democracy I've watched with awe-turned-to- shame how black South Africans unrequitedly embrace white South Africans.

We swamped the airport to welcome Penny Heyns. We continue to swamp it to welcome back cricket and rugby teams, even after dismal performances.

We cheerfully line the streets of Pretoria as they are paraded in open-roof buses. Black townships are painted in Springbok and Protea colours before games. Township roads are increasingly potholed to hold in wicket sticks and balls as our kids practice the new game of freedom, cricket.

And our kids are forever aspiring to twang the English language, hoping their white "friends" will in appreciation visit them in the townships.

All this does not come naturally to us . We make an effort to embrace a rainbow nation. White SA must acknowledge that it has not done enough to unite this nation.

I'm afraid to imagine the apocalypse if blacks should decide to withdraw their noble efforts. So hail Malema for speaking the soul truth.

Hail Caster, SA is proud of you, both black and white I hope.

Eddie Carrel Gaffane, Midrand