uMngeni mayor Chris Pappas is painting his town in rainbow colours to celebrate Pride Month. But not everyone embraces the gesture.
His plan to paint various steps around the town in vibrant rainbow colours to celebrate inclusion and diversity kicked off at his region’s most popular tourist destination, Howick Falls.
uMngeni municipal manager Mzingisi Hloba gave Pappas permission to paint the steps at the heritage site and at various municipal buildings.
A week ago, Pappas and a local contractor, who sponsored the paint and labour, painted the steps to “show support and solidarity with a minority community that still suffers persecution and unequal treatment”.
Pappas said the rainbow colours would remain until the end of Pride Month.
“It is a time to celebrate diversity, promote equality and foster a sense of inclusivity within our municipality.” Pappas said the rainbow has become a worldwide symbol of diversity, in all its forms.
The fact that one cultural aspect can impose itself upon another at this indigenous sacred place ... is painful
— Makhosi Sarah
“These steps are a visual representation of our commitment to creating a welcoming and accepting community for all residents.
“I understand that not everyone may share the view or support Pride Month, and it is important to acknowledge that there are various issues and causes that are celebrated through symbols and displays. Just as we commemorate Pride Month, other symbols may be used to raise awareness and promote dialogue on important matters affecting our community,” he said.
He was responding to a formal complaint from a resident who said the move was “in poor taste”.
“You will well know the concern that municipal property is being used ... and that many whom the municipality represents not only do not support Pride Month but are in strong and informed disagreement with what it represents,” wrote the complainant, whose name Pappas would not reveal.
Makhosi Sarah, representing a group of iZangoma (traditional practitioners) and indigenous cultural people who have a long-standing affinity with the falls, told the Sunday Times the steps at the sacred site should not have been painted.
“Let us make it clear we have no issues with Pride or Pride Month. Many iZangoma are part of that community. The falls have long been known as a sacred site for all people. It is a site of national importance and, on a local level, under the care of Amafa as a living heritage site. We go there to speak to the ancestors and work with the presences that KwanoGqaza [the falls] represent.
“The fact that one cultural aspect can impose itself upon another at this indigenous sacred place, without thought or consultation or permission from the people who have held it so long in its natural state, is painful. Because it is a reminder of past attitudes, prejudice, lack of validity afforded indigenous beliefs. [It represents] disregard for what is indigenous with a deep sense of belonging,” she said.
Johannesburg Pride executive Kaye Ally said the rainbow has gained widespread recognition as a representation of diversity, inclusivity and pride in the LGBTQ+ movement in Johannesburg and throughout the world.
Openly gay retired Constitutional Court judge Edwin Cameron said some South Africans were offended by the rainbows and Pride Month because they were driven by fear and stigma.
“Some people are still not familiar with LGTBIQ people — even though every family, every congregation, every workplace, every street has queer people. Mostly they are invisible, hence the continuing ignorance. But we are already everywhere.”
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