Getting Rid Of The Remnants Of Colonialism: Is That What South African Citizens Really Want?

Copyright © 2022 PJ Stassen
All Rights Reserved

▋INTRODUCTION. 

Reportedly some politicians have vowed to rid South Africa of the last vestiges (‘remnants’) of colonialism in the land. The idea may have fallen pleasantly on some ears, but, as the adage goes, ‘be careful what you wish for!’ Some perspective: I too have an axe to grind with colonialism, as during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) my maternal grandmother was, together with other folk, driven on foot by British soldiers (on horseback) from Lichtenburg to the Potchefstroom concentration camp. 

   Be that as it may, let’s however, see whether getting rid of the ‘last remnants’ of colonialism would be such a smart idea after all. To be consistent with the argument, getting rid of the remnants of ‘colonialism’ would mean getting rid of, among others, the following too:

⬤ Socialism/Communism. Founded by e.g., colonialist Karl Marx (1818-1883) with his books, The Communist Manifesto (1848) and Das Kapital (1867) etc. and supported among others by colonialists Leon Trotsky & Friedrich Engels. 

(RSA adherents: Tripartite Alliance (ANC, SACP, COSATU & EFF, among others).

⬤ Evolution/Darwinism. Founded by colonialist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) with his books On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871) etc. 

(RSA adherents: WITS University, Maropeng: Cradle of Humankind & Ditsong/Transvaal Museum, among others. P.S. Notice racist slur in book title).

⬤ Psychoanalysis/Psychotherapy.  Founded by colonialist Sigmund Freud (1856-1939). 

(RSA adherents/Regulatory)  South African Psychoanalytic Confederation/SAPC).

⬤ Atheism. Currently espoused among others by colonialist Bertrand Russell, Bill Nye, Richard Dawkins (b.1941) etc. 

(RSA adherents: SA Secular Society).

⬤ Dianetics/Scientology. Founded by colonialist L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986) with his book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health (1950). 

(RSA adherents: Church of Scientology/Castle Kyalami).

⬤ Soccer/Football. Originated in England in 1863 and brought to South Africa by colonialists in the late 19^th century. 

(RSA adherents: SAFA/Regulatory: Founded in 1892).

⬤ Rugby. Rugby was founded in 1823 by William Webb Ellis of England and brought to the Cape Colony by colonialists during the 19^th century (around 1875). 

(RSA adherents: SARU/Regulatory: Founded in 1891).

⬤ Cricket. Origins in South-East England, 16^th century. ICC founded in 1909. Established in South Africa by the colonialists (British) in the 19^th century. First played in the RSA: 1808. 

(RSA adherents:  CSA/Regulatory).

⬤ Tennis. Origins in France (12-13^th century). The ITF (UK) was founded in 1913. Brought to South Africa by colonialists with first national championship in 1891. First tennis club: Berea, Durban (1881). 

RSA adherents: TSA/Regulatory).

⬤ Technologies. Most, if not all, of the modern technologies we enjoy today have been imported by colonialists (non-Africans). Think again: Do we really want to get rid of (examples):  

Electricity; modern vehicles, tarred road networks; telephone; cellphone; eMail; social media; DSTV (Satellite communications technology); GPS; radio; television; airplanes; airports; the rail network (e.g., Transnet, PRASA etc.); computers & PCs; Microsoft & Windows; information technology; computer games & gaming; the Westminster Parliamentary system of politics (democracy); modern armies & weapons of war; modern surgical instruments, medicines & vaccines; advanced scientific instruments & machines; engineering tools and machines; universities & colleges, modern hospitals and millions of books (scientific, educational, recreational etc.) by colonialist authors and publishers; fashions & clothes (should we return to loin-cloths and animal skins?); imported consumer goods of all kinds: modern musical instruments & classical & modern music, agricultural science & modern farming methods and implements, among others etc?

⬤ The English Language. Imagine an African country of which the citizens could neither read, write or speak a single word of English; how long would such a country last in today’s competitive (globalized) business world? Without dismissing the priceless value of local indigenous African languages (including Afrikaans), is it not indeed true that the English language (the world’s most popular lingua franca) is one of the greatest gifts the English have brought to this country?

⬤ The Bible. The only Book in the world (and still the world’s bestseller of all time) that speaks to humankind from beyond the grave, i.e., immutable, indestructible, timeless & Eternal. Those who purport to dismiss the lifesaving message of this Book (and considered to contain some of the greatest literature on earth) as nothing more than a ‘colonialist import’ will only do so with consequences probably too ghastly to contemplate.

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