Peter Vale writes that the clash between gay people=20 and President Mugabe showed that civil society can=20 play a powerful role in Southern Africa=20
WHEN Robert Mugabe savaged the common law rights of=20 gays, he may well have initiated a geological shift=20 in the regional balance of power.=20
In the wake of his comments, South Africa’s=20 vociferous and increasingly confident gay community=20 took to the streets. Their organised protests in=20 Johannesburg during the SADC heads of government=20 meeting almost entirely silenced Mugabe, one of the=20 region’s most influential leaders.=20
Of course political protest at domestic=20 developments in another country are not new to=20 South Africans. The devastatingly effective=20 international pressure on apartheid was premised on=20 first embarrassing and then isolating Pretoria’s=20 then-minority government.=20
But for the first time in the region’s history, an=20 interest group in another country has put pressure=20 on the leader of a majority-ruled government. =20
This is an entirely new development, and it holds=20 enormous potential for the growth of civil society=20 in Southern Africa.=20
Consider this line of reasoning.=20
The re-emergence of South Africa as a fully fledged=20 player has shifted Southern Africa’s political=20 matrix. All accepted understandings of the region=20 are in flux: it is a very creative moment in which=20 more and more players are searching for ways to be=20 drawn to the political surface.=20
This is why it is no longer possible to suggest=20 that national borders are water-tight. Crime=20 syndicates, cattle-rustling and the flow of so- called “illegal” migrants occur — almost in tandem=20 — with more air-flights between capitals, with an=20 increasing flow of businessmen, with deepening=20 contact between regional bureaucrats. All these,=20 and many more, are helping to set a new regional=20
To borrow a phrase from the deadening jargon of=20 international relations scholarship, Southern=20 Africa is being “merged, mingled and mixed” at a=20 frightening pace.=20
Given this velocity, it is no wonder that civil=20 society in individual countries is increasingly=20 sharing its interests and concerns with its=20 neighbours. =20
This is why — across Southern Africa, =20 environmental groupings, women’s associations and,=20 in the Mugabe case, gays, are linking up. Their=20 hope is to nudge the political and economic agenda=20 in a particular direction.=20
This cross-border lobbying will be an important=20 step in the strengthening of a regional=20 consciousness. If Southern Africa is to experience=20 peace in the 21st century, the process probably has=20 no end.=20
But how is civil society to turn its regional=20 personality into effective pressure at the inter- state level? Is there a way in which the people can=20 help determine regional outcomes independent of the=20 wishes of their governments?=20
The Beijing women’s conference has helped us=20 understand the power of collective consciousness=20 across international borders. Apart from=20 registering a high-water mark in the struggle for=20 women’s rights — now certainly the most important=20 issue of our times — the formal conference was=20 almost entirely over-shadowed by the NGO forum.=20
In quite appalling conditions and under the=20 watchful eye of a strong and very authoritarian=20 state, the women of the world sustained an=20 independent discussion on the challenges facing=20 them. From all accounts, this alternative narrative=20 — to deliberately borrow a term from discourse=20 analysis — was alive with the prospect of=20 meaningful change.=20
Put colloquially: the discussion between the women=20 of the world, through the vehicle of civil society,=20 promised to deliver more than the proceedings of an=20 inter-governmental conference on the question of=20 women’s rights.=20
There is an important lesson for the region in all=20
As links between civil society in Southern Africa=20 deepen, a central goal should be to create an=20 independent voice in the affairs of the region. To=20 achieve its political goals, it must be=20 sufficiently strong to rival the “government-speak”=20 which, until now, has dominated the discussion on=20 Southern Africa’s future.=20
Both the Beijing experience and the lesson of the=20 gays teaches that this voice resonates loudest when=20 it echoes directly against the walls of governments=20 and their policies. =20
This is why the best, most effective hope for a=20 clear voice for regional civil society would be to=20 secure a public platform at the very moment that=20 the region’s leaders gather.=20
For the region’s people, the next steps are clear.=20
When SADC — or the OAU, for that matter — gathers=20 in formal conference, civil society needs to set up=20 its own stall. A loud and very messy talk-shop=20 which can air the increasing amount of disquiet=20 which the region’s people — as opposed to their=20 governments — feel about the processes which=20 determine democracy and development through=20 Southern Africa. Energy, environment, development,=20 human rights, gender questions: there must be no=20 end to the talking.=20
South Africa’s gays have confirmed an old=20 principle: all international relations,=20 particularly regional ones, rest on delicate=20 balances. But their anger and their passion have=20 shown that new platforms upon which to conduct=20 regional struggles are now possible.=20
Peter Vale is professor of Southern African Studies=20 at the University of the Western Cape =20
Letters =20
WITH regard to the Parliamentary Whip page (M&G=20 September 15 to 21), Kenneth Mgqamqo and Associates=20 (KMA), an independent firm of consultants in=20 partnership with a major accountancy firm, was=20 appointed by Parliament to assist in the design of=20 a new management structure for Parliament. The=20 appointment was based on merit and resulted from a=20 stringent competitive process involving six=20 proposals from major consulting firms. The=20 professional services provided by KMA to its=20 clients have always been of a high standard.=20 Contrary to press reports, this particular project=20 has proceeded fairly well; an interim report was=20 delivered as planned, and accepted.. There was=20 therefore no question of not having delivered.=20
Unrelated to KMA, I, with other partners in a=20 separate and independent company, hired John Cook=20 and Associates, an auditing and public accounting=20 firm, together with other professionals, to assist=20 in preparation of plans for a business project in=20 Gugulethu. These appointments were made on risk,=20 with the understanding that all fees would be due=20 and payable after the successful launch of the=20 project. When Cook and Associates presented us with=20 a bill that we regarded as premature and excessive=20 in terms of time and effort, we disputed same.=20
Before the dispute could be resolved properly, Cook=20 and Associates issued summons against us and I=20 instructed attorneys to defend the matter. Due to=20 the required legal papers not being filed on time,=20 a default judgment was obtained. I was not to blame=20 for this. The dispute is ongoing and is currently=20 being handled by my attorneys.=20
Regarding the IEC dispute that was raised in the=20 press, there is no question of any financial or=20 other impropriety on my part. I made a report of=20 events which led to my resignation to Mary Burton.=20 That report is available to the media. I resigned=20 precisely because I was unhappy with the state of=20 things in the area I was responsible for.=20
In relation to the Lingulethu report compiled by=20 KMA, there was no failure to deliver on our part.=20 We in fact concluded the report, which investigated=20 very serious problems at the council, including=20 corruption of officials. The white management of=20 the Lingulethu Town Council who were investigated=20 during the course of the consulatncy did not like=20 the report. We made certain recommendations in=20 order to to solve the problems at the council. We=20 cannot be held responsible for the fact that our=20 recommendations were not implemented. Our brief=20 only went as far as investigating and making=20 recommendations, and that we did.=20
KMA has never had any legal connections to or=20 business transactions with Cook and Associates. The=20 company has been unfairly implicated by the=20 unfounded assertions made in the media. It is=20 significant that in all the reports, I was not=20 given an opportunity to put my side of the story.=20
On the whole, such one-sided reports are ominous=20 for black professionals, consultants and emerging=20 business people who are working hard to enter the=20 mainstream economy, from which they have been=20 deliberately excluded in the past. — Kenneth=20
PROFESSOR Mosala (M&G September 15 to 21) cannot be=20 left under the false impression that he has=20 “exposed” Dr Mamphela Ramphele.=20
While not being a great fan of the latter, I get=20 the impression that the article by Mosala is very=20 much influenced by the PHD (pull her down) syndrome=20 prevalent among the dominoes-playing unemployed of=20 our townships. The article, not surprisingly, does=20 not in any way contribute to the debate raised by=20 Dr Ramphele (M&G September 8 to 14).=20
Mosala resorts to launching a stinging, if not=20 stinking, personal attack on Dr Ramphele. As a=20 former UCT student and leader of Sasco (1990-1994),=20 I do not remember any contribution whatsoever from=20 Mosala towards transformation at UCT except for an=20 extra perk for being Warden of Glendower Residence.=20 I don’t really care about either the politics of=20 Ramphele or her class background for that matter,=20 but what I know is that she is a woman of great=20 capabilities and takes no nonsense from anyone,=20 including Mosala.=20
Mosala claims to have been a trusted comrade of=20 Biko’s. Again, he is using Biko’s name to advance=20 his argument. The very point that Ramphele raised.=20 Similar claims were made about Comrade Lenin during=20 Stalin’s reign of terror in justification of=20 Stalinist persecution of opponents.=20
Mosala’s claims to courtesy are rather interesting.=20 No “revolutionary” would wait for 18 years before=20 exposing opportunism, as he sees it in Ramphele.=20 Does his courtesy maybe wait for Ramphele to be=20 shortlisted as candidate for UCT vice- chancellorship before it reaches its limits? I=20 suggest that Mosala just enjoy the benefits of his=20 top civil service job he got as a result of his=20 much-criticised Kempton Park compromise, and shut=20
I just hope that everyone at UCT, including student=20 leaders of substance, will judge Dr Ramphele by her=20 strength and decide if she is fit for vice- chancellorship. — Kwands Sojola, Rondebosch=20
I WAS highly disturbed to read the worst=20 intellectual arrogance by Dr Itumeleng Mosala (M&G=20 September 15 to 22). How dare he attack Dr Mamphela=20 Ramphele so personally, rubbishing her outright.=20
Mosala, how can you stoop so low? As far as I am=20 concerned, Ramphele was trying to put across her=20 political perspective on Black Consciousness and=20 current black political leadership, not attacking=20 individuals (M&G September 8 to 14).=20
Mosala’s defence of the “stormtroopers and=20 brownshirts” of Azasm illustrates who Dr Mosala=20 really is. He teaches in a historically white=20 university, yet he encourages Azasm to disturb the=20 schooling of the working class children in the=20 townships. — Bangumzi Mayana, Soweto=20
COME on, Mosala, why burst out so strongly=20 against Dr Ramphele, as if she played a role in=20 Biko’s death?=20
It is unfortunate that I couldn’t attach the page=20 which contained your article, because then you=20 could have seen the drops of tears. I cried when I=20 read your defamatory, insulting and innuendo- riddled article. I would like to offer my sincere=20 apologies to Dr Ramphele for this uncalled for=20 attack on her. It’s time for Mosala to wake up and=20 break away from his culture’s anti-women mould.=20
Dr Ramphele, rest assured, dear, because the nation=20 loves, adores and admires you, and is aware of your=20 Godly work aimed at uplifting and empowering. –=20 Tim Singiswa, Hillbrow=20
Yuppies and the RDP=20
EUGENE Nyati’s only serious misdemeanour was=20 seemingly his neglect of the “correct” procedures,=20 not his astronomical hourly rate. Senior lawyers,=20 engineers, architects, accountants and management=20 consultants routinely ask for and get similarly=20 high rates. The question must be asked whether=20 government, either at national or local level, can=20 afford these rates, particularly at a time when we=20 are seeking to improve the lives of the poorest of=20 the poor and are telling nurses that there is no=20 money available to pay them an acceptable wage.=20
As we recently mooted in relation to newly=20 qualified doctors, these other groups of=20 professional graduates should have to make=20 themselves available to government structures, at=20 agreed lower rates for a specified number of days=20 per year for a few years after qualification, to=20 assist in the building of government capacity.=20
This would enable the graduates to give back to=20 society some of what has been given to them and to=20 make a contribution to the new South Africa. It=20 would create a nationwide pool of skilled young=20 professionals available to the nation at an=20 affordable cost, which would in turn moderate the=20 market rates in these professions.=20
Government bodies would obviously seek out the=20 services of these young professionals and therefore=20 professional firms would want to hire them in order=20 to be in a position to attract government=20 contracts. These firms would thus create for=20 themselves and for their young professionals (whom=20 they would, no doubt, want to support with more=20 experienced staff) opportunities that would benefit=20 all parties. In addition, the firms would be making=20 a practical contribution to the RDP and to=20 reductions in government expenditure that would=20 benefit the economy as a whole. — Diane Salters,=20 Jeff Rudin, Peter Willis, Simon’s Town=20
I WAS born and bred in Elsies River. I have never=20 known Peter Marais. Where was he in those hard old=20 days of apartheid? Why did I never hear of him in=20 the struggle against the biggest crime ever=20 committed against humanity, apartheid.=20
All of a sudden, he jumped out like quick grass.=20 Come on Marais — stop fooling our people, because=20 to me you are just another National Party puppet.=20
To the coloured people — do not be fooled by this=20 man — be proud of your newfound South African=20 citizenship and support the non-racial ideals of=20 our President, Nelson Mandela. — Farieda Salie,=20 Mitchells Plain=20
AN-NOOR’S letter concerning the poor showing for=20 the papal mass at Gosforth Park needs some comment.=20 It is not simply that Vaalies have forgotten God,=20 nor is it that sport is the new religion. Rather=20 nearer the mark, I suspect, is that many Catholics,=20 like myself, chose to stay away out of a sense of=20 frustration and exasperation with what the pope=20 (and the Vatican) increasingly symbolise.=20
When is the Vatican going to wake up to the fact=20 that women and married men, too, can be priests?=20 When is the Vatican going to wake up to the fact=20 that it is not enough to moralise about=20 contraception and abortion? That it is not only=20 priests who have ministries? That sex before=20 marriage and after divorce is a reality for most=20
If the pope truly wants to be the head of the=20 Catholic church, then some catholic thinking needs=20 to happen — fast. Until such time, the Catholic=20 church will continue to shrink, and many of us will=20 remain excluded and marginalised — and will=20 certainly not attend papal masses. — Mercedes=20 Pavlicevic, Bez Valley=20
A OMAR might object to your satirical cartoon of=20 “His Holiness” (Letters, September 29 to October=20 5), but I do not. The current incumbent of the=20 papacy is, in fact, a highly irresponsible man=20 whose views on birth control and family planning=20 are nothing less than criminal in a world already=20 plagued with famine and massive ecological=20
A Omar also objects that the Mail & Guardian is=20 “pursuing an agenda of depicting religious=20 traditions in a negative light”. Don’t atheists and=20 agnostics have freedom of speech in the new=20 Constitution, Mr Omar? I thought we did. It is time=20 that someone in this benighted country of ours=20 spoke out on our behalf.=20
Finally, it always amuses me how quickly religious=20 people are to take offence if anyone dares to call=20 their convictions into question. If these=20 convictions are reasonable, why not take the=20 opportunity to engage non-believers in debate? Is=20 it because they can’t? — J Smith, Clubview=20
IT is unfortunate that a newspaper which prides=20 itself on the high quality of its writing allows a=20 column like Bafana Khumalo’s to appear regularly=20 each week. I am not sure what the gentleman=20 concerned is trying to achieve. He is neither funny=20 nor witty nor satirical. He offers no insights and=20 his style is pretentious and difficult to read at=20 best. His Africanist sentiments are silly and the=20 incidents he is fond of relating to his readers are=20 filled with boring, trivial detail. Of course,=20 other readers may feel differently, but I would be=20 happy to see the column scrapped. — MK Musgrave,=20