White male privilege ensures the likes of Gareth Cliff can behave however he wants – propped up nicely by a corporate South Africa that remains untransformed, writes Gasant Abarder in a new #SliceofGA.
Abarder, who recently launched his book, Hack with a Grenade, is among the country’s most influential media voices. Catch his weekly column here, exclusive to Cape {town} Etc.
Truth be told, I’d rather have a white supremacist punch me in the face in a bloody race attack. That way, at least I know what hit me. It’s the Gareth Cliffs of this world, with their cutting barbs and racism denials – who deal in non-violent oppression – that scare me more.
Aided and abetted by DA leader John Steenhuisen (who had a sparkle in his eye in the now infamous video), Cliff bulldozed over One South Africa Movement member Mudzuli Rakhivhane in a panel discussion. He described her experiences of racism as “anecdotal and unimportant” in his Burning Platform show (formerly) sponsored by Nando’s.
Read also: Nandos cuts ties with Gareth Cliff following racial remarks
Steenhuisen later remarked that South Africa had hit a new low when facial expressions were being policed when he was accused of having a smirk on his face while Cliff abused Rakhivhane. No, sir, it is you who has hit a new low. As leader of a political party with aspirations to govern our country, your silence made you complicit as Cliff abused a black woman, with you even joining in the tirade to shout her down.
Read also: A look into SA’s latest controversy ft. Gareth Cliff and Nandos
This is the fallout of the façade of the Rainbow Nation we were sold. White supremacists are all the more buoyed because they’re told to dismiss as woke anyone who calls out this toxic behaviour.
I believe the majority of white people are the antithesis of Cliff and his type. But their voices are drowned out by these noisy ones who have soapboxes and are not afraid to show their true colours.
In the same way, the racist Proteas coach Mark Boucher is emboldened. The team is the butt of the joke at the T20 World Cup – not even so much for the dismal performance in their opening match but rather for their ambiguous stance on Black Lives Matter. Even England and Australia take the knee when the SA cricket team, who represent a country where previously structural racism was entrenched, are split on Black Lives Matter.
Instead of rallying around the two black players in the side in a show of solidarity, Kagiso Rabada and skipper Temba Bavuma must be left wondering whether their white teammates – save for Rassie van der Dussen, who consistently takes the knee – believe that Black Lives Matter. Their coach is pretty unrepentant so why should they?
All of this ugly racism in a free South Africa is propped up and enabled by a very willing lily-white corporate South Africa. Nando’s was very happy to first investigate what Cliff had said on the platform they sponsored instead of taking immediate action and condemning him.
They had sponsored him for five years and there were other red flags. It caved only when there was a groundswell of anger and threats to boycott their brand.
In the same way, the sponsors of the wilting Proteas believe that old chestnut that politics and sport don’t mix because they’re endorsing Boucher at the helm.
White male privilege ensures that Boucher can keep coaching the Proteas even though – apart from his racism – he isn’t qualified to do so and has a dismal record.
White male privilege ensures that Cliff can spew his bile and get paid thanks to Nando’s.
White male privilege ensures that Steenhuisen can bumble from one gaffe to the next and poll dismally ahead of the elections but still lead the official opposition.
White male privilege ensures that Cliff, Steenhuisen and Boucher will never know what it’s like to be told they can’t rent an apartment in Cape Town because of their skin colour.
White male privilege ensures that Cliff, Steenhuisen and Boucher will never know what it’s like to stand in the back of the queue and fight for every inch for what they need.
White male privilege ensures that Cliff, Steenhuisen and Boucher will never know what it’s like to be told that their lived experience of facing racism is “anecdotal” or “unimportant”.
They’re not even pretending any longer. It’s an open, naked kind of non-bloody racism these white supremacists are waging as they have taken advantage of the reconciliation project and perverted the rules of engagement.
So, do me a favour and rather punch me in the face. It’s less painful.
Read also:
‘Tis the season of kissing babies, wiping dribble and cutting ribbons
Picture: The Burning Platform: OneSA vs The DA with Cliff
