NATIONAL NEWS - Representatives of AfriForum and March and March met yesterday, Tuesday ,18 August, to explore ways to work together on issues affecting South Africans at grassroots level.
Seen by many as unlikely bedfellows and by others as a perfect fit, the two civil organisations discussed shared challenges, possible solutions and areas of mutual interest.
The March and March delegation was led by its founder, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, while AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel led the civil rights organisation’s delegation.
Both AfriForum and March and March said their efforts to advance the interests of communities and citizens would be pursued peacefully and within the framework of the law, and that violence and intimidation had no place in these efforts.
In stark contrast to former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor who slammed AfriForum and Solidarity's new Afrikaans-medium university, Ngobese-Zuma is interested in adopting similar self-help and institution-building strategies.
A joint media statement published on AfriForum's website, state that potential areas of cooperation are:
- community organisation;
- capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving socio-economic conditions within the framework of the law;
- the promotion of mother-language education;
- accessible, effective education;
- efforts to promote peaceful coexistence;
- exploring joint legal action on matters of mutual interest;
- support each other on issues relating to the rule of law;
- combating crime in communities, including concerns surrounding illegal migration.
Afriforum and March and March met at AfriForum's head office in Centurion on Tuesday 19 August.
March and March's motivation for cooperation
Ngobese-Zuma said March and March’s vision was centred on the creation of a united South Africa founded on ubuntu, respect for the cultural and religious beliefs of communities and adherence to the rule of law.
“The movement believes that civic movements should work together to put systems in place to ensure the creation of safer communities,” she said, adding that collaboration between community-based organisations that were not driven by narrow political interests was important in addressing lawlessness."
March and March has often been accused of stoking xenophobia and taking illegal action against foreigners in South Africa.
However, Ngobese-Zuma had always maintained that March and March is a peaceful organisation operating within the law and that people who take the law in their own hands in the name of March and March are criminals.
“The founding values of March and March are universal human rights for all South African citizens, where education is a cornerstone for the success of the nation,” she said at the meeting.
She said communities needed systems that would enable them to work together to hold government accountable and ensure that the rule of law was upheld.
Ngobese-Zuma also warned that insecure borders, the illicit trade in goods, crime and government corruption were placing communities and the economy under increasing pressure.
She stressed that cooperation between March and March and AfriForum would not mean that the organisations would agree on every issue.
“A healthy relationship between the two entities takes into account that, while they share many issues of common interest, there are also matters on which they will disagree,” Ngobese-Zuma said.
AfriForum's motivation for cooperation
Kriel said AfriForum already worked with a range of organisations and communities that shared its commitment to improving the future of South Africa.
Just like the newly formed March and March, the 20-year-old AfriForum is no stranger to controversy and is often accused of spreading a "white genocide" narrative internationally and specifically in the USA.
AfriForum's leaders have repeatedly denied this and maintain that their messages are aimed at highlighting farm murders and race laws that discriminate against South African whites.
They say these messages are deliberately misconstrued by certain media and political commentators who push hidden agendas.
Regarding working with March and March Kriel said the two organisations can choose to cooperate where they agree and share common interests.
"We cannot allow differences on specific matters to stand in the way of cooperation that would benefit our children.”
He said AfriForum was prepared to share its experience of building a grassroots organisation over the past two decades, including lessons from both its successes and failures.
“There are times when it is necessary to protest against the government’s failures, but it is even more important to use the hands at the end of our arms to build the future we want.”
According to Barend Uys, AfriForum’s head of intercultural relations and cooperation, the organisation seeks to build relationships with cultural communities and other organisations on the basis of mutual recognition and respect.
He pointed to AfriForum’s existing cooperation with organisations and traditional communities.
Afriforum already cooperate with the AmaBhele KaJamangile, Barolong Boo Seleka, Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi, Batlokoa Ba Mota, Batlharo Ba Ga Motlhware, Vulamehlo Kusile Organisation and the Royal Leaders of South Africa.
Kriel linked many of the challenges facing communities to government policies and what he described as outdated ideological approaches.
He argued that governments across the Southern African Development Community should do more to improve conditions in their own countries and address unlawful migration.
Agricultural development and preservation of identity and heritage were also identified as areas where communities could play a constructive role.
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