Many disadvantaged black individuals, organised groups and communities often act, behave and make decisions that go against their own best interests; whether in politics, the labour market or public life.
Many of these individuals, groups and communities appear to be stuck in behaving and making decisions the same way they did during the apartheid era — when blacks were oppressed and whites were in power, as if 1994 did not happen.
Yet, unless black individuals, groups and communities start with greater awareness and act in their own best interests in the present rather than based on the past, many will perpetuate their poverty, underdevelopment and lack of growth.
Better choices in public action, behaviour and decisions are necessary for black prosperity at the individual, community and societal level.
Often individuals, communities and organisations destroy resources that are there to improve the quality of life, prosperity and health of their own families and communities.
In July, two schools were burnt in Joe Slovo Park in Milnerton, outside Cape Town, during protests for land and housing rights. Sinenjongo High School was petrol-bombed, destroying equipment, classrooms and the hall as the school was preparing for teaching with social distancing.
Last year, the impoverished community of Letsopa, in Ottosdal in the North West province, burnt down a multimillion-rand library during violent service delivery protests. The state-of-the art library included a toy library for children and library for the blind.The then North West arts, culture, sport & recreation MEC, Virginia Tlhapi, said:
It is sad when poor communities like those of Letsopa destroy property built to change their lives, especially for their kids, who use these libraries to improve their performance at school.
— Virginia Tlhapi
“The destruction, vandalising and burning of buildings, libraries and laboratories during the Fees Must Fall protests cost universities R786m between 2015 and 2018. This was the equivalent of the yearly government subsidy to one of the smaller universities. The Mafikeng campus of the University of North West sustained R198m in damages after it was set alight.In 2018, National Union of Metalworkers of SA and Metal and Electrical Union of SA members embarked on a strike at manufacturing, moulding and packaging companies across the country when wage talks deadlocked.
The strike saw the burning of property, destruction of infrastructure and violence against non-strikers at plastics companies in Ekurhuleni, where the strikes took place. A security officer, Lesley Mphahlele, who was employed at Herber Plastic, died after he was doused with petrol and set alight, allegedly by the strikers. In the platinum belt of North West and Limpopo provinces violent protests almost every second day by community members against local mines over retrenchments, lack of community development and sharing of mining income have led to the closures of many mines over the past few years.
Often mining infrastructure is destroyed and employees are killed, as in 2016, when six workers were burnt to death when the bus they were on was petrol-bombed as they were travelling to their shifts at the Modikwa platinum mine operated by African Rainbow Minerals and Amplats. Many mines have been forced to close down for long periods, with some abandoned — causing job losses, lack of development and income loss for local communities.Members of communities and organisations must intervene to stop such self-destructive actions, decisions and behaviours. They must make their disapproval known and shame those responsible.
Many political, community and civil organisations are hesitant to condemn individuals and organisations that destroy public property, resources and institutions during protests.There is the misplaced idea that the destruction of public and communal resources is “militant” and “revolutionary” and akin to acts against the apartheid regime.
The strategy in apartheid times of destroying government and white-owned infrastructure is still misguidedly followed even though we are now in a democracy.
Similarly, strikes for increased wages and against retrenchments, which often turn violent, are excused on the basis that the action is for a “good cause”.
It is criminal.Such behaviour, actions and decisions should be made criminal and prosecuted on the basis of criminality, human rights abuses and destruction of public resources. Those who destroy public infrastructure, property and injure others during protests should also be personally held accountable.
The organisations that organise such violent protests should also be held liable for damages, injuries and deaths. Companies must obviously also become more inclusive, providing more benefits for their black employees and local communities, and share profits more equitably. The government must govern more honestly, efficiently and less corruptly.
Gumede is associate professor, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand and author of Restless Nation: Making Sense of Troubled Times (Tafelberg)
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