Listening to the silent majority

[96]

The story of Lekoa seemed to fit a column by Sam Mabe of The Sowetan like a glove. Under the caption ‘Hypocrites running black politics?’^75. he wrote, ‘During the past few years, I have seen a disturbing emergence of cadres bent on criticising the status quo while seeking glory for themselves. They have no visible constituencies and they spend their lives jumping from one political meeting to another where they manufacture flowery political jargon which they use in condemning the system or “irrelevant” people. They have doubtful political credentials and one wonders where they get powers to ordain people as relevant or irrelevant and what criteria they use. Some are liars and hypocrites whose involvement in the struggle is motivated more by prospects of lining their political pockets than by concern for the interests of the masses. They say only those things they believe their audiences would like to hear, or which will enhance their images.’

I asked Mabe whether he was aware what recently had happenend in nearby Lekoa, less than an hour by car from Johannesburg. He seemed vaguely conscious of some disturbing events there, but really didn't know the story itself. I told him about Jabulani Patose and suggested the two should meet. From talking to both of them I concluded that an exercise in cross-fertilization between these two black minds would have a good effect on both of them. I could just imagine how Jabulani would share his experiences in the field, working in the townships themselves, with Sam, who was fighting a battle from behind his typewriter in his Sowetan office. Each was playing his own valuable role in the struggle of liberation.

75. The Sowetan, May 10, 1989