Listening to the silent majority

[9]

Willie Ramoshaba (39) is President of the all-black Business Achiever's Foundation. He also is Chief Executive of WR Consultants with offices in Zambesi House in downtown Johannesburg. At first, he seemed reluctant to talk, as is often the case when one approaches South African blacks for an interview. But eventually, we got together. Willie published a 68-page magazine, called ‘One Hundred Outstanding Black Business Achievers’.^7. Of each black businessman or businesswoman that reached the upper strata of the South African business establishment,

7. Published by Enosi Publishing Limited, PO Box 1144, Parklands 2121, RSA

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Ramoshaba presented a complete life story accompanied by a picture. It took him ten months to compile the data.

We discussed the question of whether blacks in general communicated sufficiently with each other. I had gained the distinct impression during my six fact-finding tours of South Africa from 1986 to 1989, that blacks in general did not effectively communicate with each other. ‘You have to consider our specific situation,’ said Ramoshaba. ‘To begin with, our multiple black groups all enjoy their own cultural and historical roots. Therefore, I am not overtly worried about it. There are plenty of contacts on lower levels of black society on the whole.’

He divided blacks, generally speaking, into two groups. Group I is operating within the present governmental system. Group II is strongly opposed to any form of co-operation within the existing power structures. Both groups detest apartheid, of course. But Group I is endeavouring to negotiate blacks to freedom, while Group II professes not to be prepared to enter into talks before certain demands will be met by the government. The attitude of members of Group I can best be described as an ‘open-door’ policy towards Group II, while Group II generally seems to feel sometimes utter contempt for negotiators that enter into ‘pourparlers’ without pre-conditions.^8.

‘This controversial situation came about,’ explained Willie Ramoshaba, ‘because each group follows entirely different tactics. Group I actively collaborates, while group II firmly opposes collaboration. If then, all of a sudden, the two groups were to meet, as you suggest, and were to start talking to each other, it would mean in practice that they would both have to shift away from their earlier-held positions.’

I quoted the mayor of Kwa Thema, Matilda Mothlaping, who had stressed that democratic processes were functioning so well because they operated on the agreed assumption that all parties realise they will have to give in on some earlier-held ground in order to reach a compromise agreeable to all. I reminded Willie of the fact that the current rapprochement between the United States and the USSR, or between South Africa, Angola and Cuba, had been reached on the basis of similar premises to obtain in the end an agreeable compromise for all. ‘At times it seems,’ I said, ‘that Groups I and II among blacks in South Africa are farther apart from each other than Washington and Moscow. How will

8. I will return to this matter to treat it extensively

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you ever reach freedom for blacks as long as these psychological barriers are being maintained and even further nurtured?’

‘No,’ replied Ramoshaba, ‘I am still of the opinion that blacks in Group II will not easily agree to a shift to enter negotiations without pre-conditions. Black leaders represent specific and seperate constituencies. They tend to stay within their own groups. But, you can be sure, if an important matter is at stake, South African blacks will come together.’

I wondered aloud what more urgent matter could possibly face South African blacks, than the need to unite now for negotiation while conditions are favourable. He replied, ‘You must remember that present black divisions are very much in the interest of the current governing system.’ I rather disagreed with this interpretation of the latest developments towards negotiations between all population groups in South Africa. ‘If it were true that Pretoria is trying to divide and rule blacks, would this not be all the more reason for blacks to unite and negotiate?’ I asked him. ‘There is not sufficient reason to do so at this time,’ Willie said. ‘Both groups are quite effective, in spite of their different tactics. Both groups are promoting blacks' interests towards liberation from apartheid.’