Briefing Paper 479 June 2019

Race and Identity Politics

1. Introduction

The question of race in is one that the past to the present of race relations. The ideals regularly arises because of the history from which that underpinned anti- activism are still the emerged. And when the valued today, and they tend to promote non- question of race is brought up, the idea of non- racialism. But still, there is much contestation over racialism is part of the narrative, since non- what the concept means and entails, because non- racialism is one of the key defining visions to have racialism has been confused with the concept of guided the creation of the new South Africa, colour-blindness. This is when one claims not to especially in its efforts to deal with issues of race. notice any racial difference. As a result, in certain Non-racialism was an ideal that helped to texts non-racialism is considered a transcendence strengthen the resistance movement, leading to a of racial lines. The prominent manner in which free country. In the ‘rainbow nation’ project of the non-racialism is understood comes in two post-apartheid years, non-racialism was a separate forms: multiracialism and transcendence fundamental ideal; it was an idea that would help of race. create a non-racial country, and it is enshrined in our Constitution. In the simplest terms, non- 2.1. Non-racialism as Multiracialism racialism is an ideal which simply negates the Multiracialism is one way in which non-racialism opposite of what it stands for: being non-racial is has come to be understood in the post-apartheid the opposite of being racial and recognizing race.1 context. In its most simple sense, non-racialism as multiracialism is the notion that it is still But twenty-five years into our nation’s democracy, important to accept multiple identities/races. one still finds it to be a fragmented society. The Therefore, multiracialism means a society in notion of race still dictates the socio-economic- which there are diverse racial groups, with political lives and experiences of South African apparent differences among the groups, but people, even though the idea of non-racialism was without one being superior to the other in any supposed to help build a non-racial reality. 2 In way. Recognition and acceptance of these addition, there is a racialized tone of politics apparent differences will lead to a non-racial occurring at present, whether implicit or explicit society in which no one is judged by their racial in nature, with the specific goal of capturing the group. support of the electorate. As a result, we have to ask what implications this manner of political 2.2. Non-racialism as Transcendence campaigning has for South Africa's future. Transcendence of race is another way non- racialism is understood: the transcendence of the socially constructed categories of race. This 2. Non-racialism: A Term and an Ideal simply means that non-racialism is about looking beyond race and treating people as people, rather In South Africa race is a central feature of both the than according to the constructed categories. This past and the present. Therefore, race is researched further means that “there are no such things as heavily in order to understand its context, and biologically or genetically determined, and non-racialism similarly, because it branches from

objectively verifiable, meaningful categories African National Congress: The ANC has been in called races.”3 Here, non-racialism means a person power since the transition to democracy in April Is simply a person without any ‘racial’ 1994. In terms of the race question, it has always attachments. preached the value and ideal of non-racialism, but what the ANC says and what it does have not always been the same thing. This has resulted in 3. A Racialized Political Rhetoric: Identity the party being occasionally associated with a Politics racialized political rhetoric which goes against its own policies of non-racialism. An example of this Racialized political rhetoric is also referred to as is the manner in which the ANC campaigns during identity politics. It occurs when political leaders election periods, constantly reminding voters to and parties use existing constructed categories of choose the liberation movement that freed them difference to advance their political agenda, power from apartheid rule. This could implicitly imply and influence at any given time, but especially that voters should shun so-called white parties during elections. 4 In the South Africa, political like the DA. Indeed, some prominent leaders of the parties use the legacies of apartheid – that linger ANC have used this racialized rhetoric explicitly, on in the present as underlying racial tensions – to the most recent incident being ANC secretary- capture supporters. But identity politics comes in general Ace Magashule saying during the recent many forms: it is not just the ‘race card.’5 It is also electoral campaign that citizens in the Western about "mutual identification (voluntary or Cape should "avoid voting for the white man" – an otherwise) among individuals who share certain example of overtly racialized political rhetoric in social markers, such as gender, race, class, the DA held province.7 ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation, age, or ideology"6 or any constructed Democratic Alliance: The DA is the main category of difference. opposition party in the South African political arena, and has often been accused of using forms In the case of South Africa and its history, though, of racialized rhetoric, and of being a party that it is largely about race/racial identity and, for puts the interests of whites first, even though it some political parties like the IFP and the FF Plus, presents itself as a party for all South Africans about ethnicity. Also, in multiracial democracies regardless of their ‘race’. In the run-up to the identity politics is likely to occur more easily election the DA was attacked for using implicitly because political parties will be tempted to use racialized rhetoric and apartheid-style ‘swart- this route to gain political dominance faster. For gevaar’ tactics.8 This was specifically linked to the example, the EFF and FF+ use existing racial DA's campaign posters around the Western Cape, tensions to capture supporters for themselves. But which focused on ‘keep[ing] the ANC and EFF out'. the use of identity politics by political parties has This is not the first time the DA has been accused the potential to permanently damage social and of using implicitly racialized rhetoric to garner racial relations, since the aim of this kind of and keep a specific racial support base within the politics is to exploit existing tension to gain power Western Cape, although the party has consistently without considering the sometimes permanent rebuffed these accusations. divisions being created. Economic Freedom Fighters: Unlike the two largest 3.1. Political parties using race and identity parties, the EFF does not shy away from openly The South African political landscape is vast and using race in its politicking. In fact, the EFF has multiple players from small to large. The small positions itself unashamedly as a political party political parties also have an impact on the which fights for the interests of the black working racialized political rhetoric which occurs in our class, as it wants to redress the socio-economic politics. These politics of identity include inequalities caused by apartheid. It often states categories such as religion and ethnicity, because that the non-racialism project of 1994 failed identity politics comes in many ways; it is not just because the socio-economic inequalities of about race. A common identity politics strategy in apartheid are still very evident in post-apartheid South Africa is the use of existing racial tensions SA. The EFF justifies the use of ‘black versus white’ which stem from the apartheid era. Political racialized rhetoric as necessary for its project of parties like the EFF, the FF Plus and BLF are redressing apartheid inequalities. But the EFF has known for their explicit use of racialized political also been known to go beyond the white/black rhetoric while, with the ANC and the DA it tends to distinction, and to exploit other perceived be more nuanced and implicit. divisions. A recent example of this was when, at a 2 BP 479 Race and Identity Politics campaign rally in Durban, EFF leader Julius socially-constructed race categories, leading to Malema said that there would be no unity between the achievement of non-racialism along the route blacks and Indians until “they rework their historically proposed by the Congress tradition: mentality that they are closer to whiteness. They the concept of race is used to initially redress are not closer to whiteness. They are black and we issues of the past, like socio-economic inequalities, are all victims of apartheid." 9 This echoed the in order to ensure an equal society in which race EFF’s earlier attack on certain Indian officials in is no longer recognized. The opposite can be seen the National Treasury, and can be seen as an in the case of Rwanda, where the extreme attempt to gain votes from sections of the African consequences of politics of otherness resulted in electorate that are believed to harbour anti-Indian the tragedy of the 1994 genocide.13 Ethnic identity sentiments. politics used by political leaders helped sow tensions of discontent between the ethnic groups, African Christian Democratic Party and Inkatha and led to the systematic killing of members of the Freedom Party: These two political parties may Tutsi ethnic group. not ascribe to racial identity politics, but they also use identity politics via religious belief and Zulu nationalism/ethnic identity in order to attract 4. Conclusion their specific support bases. 10 The ACDP is a staunch supporter of a society that is united and Identity politics and racialized rhetoric in political equal for all, based on broadly Christian values, campaigning have both positive and negative and it also supports the values and ideals of non- aspects; these are determined by the kind of racialism. This view of race can be seen in its 2019 rhetoric and the intention behind its use. Whether election campaign with the #unite no race politics it be implicit or explicit, this type of political from #ACDP2019.11 In terms of race, the IFP refers campaigning does one of two things: it either sows to non-racialism within its constitution, and says further divisions in society, or it can help to create that it wants to build a society that has equal understanding and unity. For this reason, political opportunity for all regardless of race, in which “we parties and leaders need to be careful with their embrace and celebrate our differences.” 12 As a political campaigning, during electoral periods result, even though the IFP is historically a and beyond. As Mahmood Mamdani 14 states, political party that uses Zulu nationalism in its political identities are created under a rule of identity politics, it still attracts various racial subjugation, so they will continually be groupings beyond this base. reproduced because they were created to divide peoples. Certain ‘post’ projects, like South Africa’s 3.2. Identity politics post-apartheid project, reproduce former Identity politics, or ‘politics of otherness’, should inequalities and divides, and this is a possible not always be considered as negative because in reason why racialized identity politics continues South Africa it can be useful in bringing attention to emerge from the South African political arena. to the still present imbalances and disparities of But whether this will be to the long-term apartheid. This type of politicking can help bring detriment or betterment of South Africa is still to to citizens’ attention that, while the legislation of be seen. apartheid may have ended, its legacies can still be felt by those previously disenfranchised. Sabelisiwe Nikelo But it must also be very clear that racialized Research Intern political rhetoric can have extreme effects on Sabelisiwe is a second year Master’s student at the citizens’ social interactions. If the intent of the University of the Western Cape currently rhetoric is negative, it could lead to more completing an internship at CPLO. ‘othering’ (viewing each other as different) while, if positive, it can challenge the existing narrative of

1 Mpofu-Walsh, S. (2017). Democracy and Delusion. Cape Town: Tafelberg. 2 Steyn-Kotze, J. (2012). Non-Racialism, Nation-Building and Democratic Consolidation in South Africa. Politeia, 89- 108. 3 BP 479 Race and Identity Politics

3 Anciano-White, F., & Selemani, J. (2012). Rethinking Non-Racialism: Refections of a Selection of South African Leaders. Politikon South African Journal of Political Studies, 39(1), 149-169. 4 Gordon, S. L. (2018). Racial animosity and political party partisanship in South Africa: the case of the African National Congress and the Black African majority. Democratization, 351-368. doi:http://www.tandfonline.com/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1080/13510347.2017.1365840 5 Gutmann, A. (2006). Identity in Democracy. Contemporary Political Theory, 103–105. doi:10.1057/palgrave.cpt.9300219 6 Gutmann, A. (2006). Identity in Democracy. Contemporary Political Theory, 103–105. doi:10.1057/palgrave.cpt.9300219 7 https://www.thesouthafrican.com/ace-magashule-racist-allegations-white-man/ 8 https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/da-called-out-for-swart-gevaar-election-tactics-20081724 9 https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/basis-of-fact-to-malemas-comments-on-indians-but-his-delivery-is- flawed-analyst-20190327 10 https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-11-01-analysis-inkatha-freedom-party-afriforum-and-the-decline- of-identity-politics/;https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/inkatha-freedom-party-ifp 11 https://twitter.com/A_C_D_P/status/1096712038632562689 12 http://ifp.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Our-Constitution.pdf 13 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13431486 14 Mamdani, M. (2002). When Victims Become Killers: Colonialism, Nativism and the Genocide in Rwanda. New Jersey : Princeton University Press.

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4 BP 479 Race and Identity Politics