The MK Party’s visit to Kleinfontein on Monday once again cast the spotlight on cultural communities and their right to exist in South Africa.
The delegation was led by the parliamentary Chief Whip, Mzwanele Manyi.
Unfortunately, the visit took on a racial tone, with Manyi accusing the communities of Kleinfontein and Orania of racism and apartheid.
The existence of various cultural communities in a diverse South Africa is a reality and should be recognised in the spirit of the country’s motto, !ke e: /xarra //ke (diverse people unite).
Recognising cultural diversity is precisely what is needed to foster unity within diversity and national pride.
Cultural communities, including Kleinfontein, Orania, the Zulu cultural community – where 2,8 million hectares in KwaZulu-Natal are regulated by the Ingonyama Trust Act – and many others, reflect South Africa’s reality.
Therefore, the formalisation and regulation processes that need to be followed for Kleinfontein to comply with legal requirements within the jurisdiction of the Tshwane Metro should be fair and realistic.
In light of the fact that more than 600 illegal informal settlements exist within the Tshwane Metro’s jurisdiction and are tolerated without any environmental impact studies, land-use registrations or unreasonable tax increases and fines, the measures imposed on Kleinfontein seem unfair.
Tshwane provides no services to the Kleinfontein community, as the community has built and maintains its own roads as well as water and wastewater treatment systems. Kleinfontein also purchases its electricity directly from Eskom.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) remained in contact with Kleinfontein’s leadership throughout Monday, and will keep advocating at the highest level for the recognition of self-respecting communities, subsidiarity in South Africa, and the sustainable establishment of self-governance at grass-roots level.
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