“Whites have never what?’ The internet shuts down the idea that middle-class white South Africans have never protested for the ‘right’ causes.
South Africa (08 April 2017) – The anti-Zuma march has been characterised by some people as a march for disgruntled white people who allegedly never took part in the fight against apartheid.
Some accuse white South Africans of “never” participating in service delivery protests that largely affect the black population, while others mock white people for protesting against the cost of coffee at Woolies or how many Fitbit steps they could get for walking around Cape Town for Madiba.
Black First Land First (BLF) leader Andile Mngxitama has been at the forefront of those who claim the so-called People’s March is just a march to serve white people’s interests.
“I see the king of the reds of London supports the white march against Zuma. Since robin Renwick briefed them they are pro white,” he tweeted.
“White civil society in defence of white power. Let the whites March for colonisation and apartheid. No we won’t toyi toyi for them.
“Dear DA blacks, is fighting Zuma more important and urgent than fighting racism and colonialism? Just make me understand thank.
“So the blacks of DA will be lead by Helen Zille against Zuma today? A hardened colonialist leads blacks against a black? Our people are lost.”
The online conversation was dominated by people who were pointing out that white people had never protested, even making fun of the fact that they were protesting.
https://twitter.com/AndileMatomela/status/850247499302420481
White people: JOIN US IN OUR MARCH AGAINST ZUMA
Black people: pic.twitter.com/C6uMbH05U1
— The Waveman ✊🏾 (@caseywaves) April 6, 2017
When I see white people marching😂😂#AntiZumaMarches pic.twitter.com/7C1SVo70yu
— Mkhize Four (@FourMkhize) April 7, 2017
But a post written by Lethu Buthelezi, which has been shared hundreds of thousands of times, started an important conversation about South Africa and race.
“White people need to stop apologizing for being white, they also need to stop entertaining the racist comments.”
“Being offended by them only fuels the fire of racism, rise above.”
“Black people need to start taking responsibility for their own progression in life instead of making ‘white’ an accusation.”
“People of South Africa need to unite and stop being so complacent. We need all the support we can get to fix this mess Zuma has put us in and take our country back!”
“This land is not Zulus, Khoisan or Zumas land, it’s the land of the people of South Africa!”
The conversation grew and as the Citizen reported, South Africans began to share historical posts of white people engaging in protests against the apartheid government. A part of this evidence included the ‘Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70’ campaign at a concert in Wembley Stadium in 1988, which was largely attended by white people.
They also showed pictures of South African white people who campaigned during the Rivonia trial, where former President Nelson Mandela and other trialists were facing the gallows of the brutal apartheid government.
White people have never what?…….👂🏾👂🏾👂🏾#PeopleMarch #nationalshutdown #AntiZumaMarches pic.twitter.com/GGd0rldWSh
— amutiy (@GoLover4) April 6, 2017
@mercygumede91 White people did protest against apartheid. Your missing the point this isn't about race… #AntiZumaMarches pic.twitter.com/M6LoMrtY5X
— IG: KitsoGL (@KitsoGL) April 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/akaTyroneZA/status/849960142250573824
https://twitter.com/Mlamuli_Wolf/status/849933299392925698
https://twitter.com/akaTyroneZA/status/849959227955326978
Member of the Black Sash in 1984 and in 2017. Same spot, same question, different President. #AntiZumaMarch #FreedomFriday #MarchforChange pic.twitter.com/lIqzgEIO8K
— Darryn Holm (@darryn_holm) April 7, 2017
"It's not racial. We have a leadership problem." #AntiZumaMarches #ANC @MYANC pic.twitter.com/WZm03udnhm
— South African (@PieterBotha20) April 6, 2017
The underlying message to all of this… is that the current unified protests across South Africa, have nothing to do with race and everything to do with corrupt governance and bad leadership.
The protests have unified South Africa, shown the government that we are able to stand together and more so… given the people of South Africa hope in our beautiful people and country.
by 