Steve Hayes
2013-12-16 07:20:23 UTC
Business Day LIVE
FROM THE ARCHIVES: When Mandela dies
An alleged racist remark about the consequences of Mandela’s death has fuelled
the right wing but come to nought, writes Gareth van Onselen
FROM THE ARCHIVES: When Mandela dies
by Gareth van Onselen, 16 December 2013, 07:27
FROM the Archives is an ad hoc retrospective series that will look at a
significant moment in South Africa’s past. Sometimes it might draw some
contemporary insights from the occasion but, for the most part, it will simply
aim to describe events as they unfolded.
The event: "When Mandela dies, we will kill you whites like flies."
Date: November 7 1997
Key players: Mzukisi Gaba
Introduction
In the late 1990s, Mzukisi Gaba was a proportional representative councillor
for the African National Congress (ANC), serving on the Cape Town city
council. His name became synonymous with a racial slur he allegedly made when
pulled over for drunken driving. So much so, it became one of the definitive
reference points for the right wing. Today, search any radical, white
supremacist website and you are bound to find a reference to Gaba’s alleged
remark: "When Mandela dies, we will kill you whites like flies."
Nelson Mandela has now died, and Gaba’s supposed warning has come to naught.
With that, the right wing has had a cornerstone of its apocalyptical mythology
rendered null and void. "The night of the long knives", as they phrased the
perceived threat, was in reality 10 days of almost universal grief and sorrow
at the loss of the country’s greatest icon, supplemented by the repeated call
to re-establish Mandela’s values of forgiveness and reconciliation. So it is
worth revisiting the incident, which unfolded over about two years, if only to
remind us of the kind of irrational fear that often lay beneath South Africa’s
newfound freedom.
However, while that fear was unfounded, the political and judicial processes
responsible for accountability and justice at the time remain today as weak
and inefficient as they were back then, as Gaba’s story makes clear.
Fear and loathing on the N1
Late on Friday, November 7 1997, Gaba was returning from a cocktail function
at the Russian consulate in Bantry Bay, Cape Town. He was driving on the wrong
side of the N1 highway and was flagged down by police.
Gaba refused to stop, pulling over but driving off the first time. When he was
pulled over for a second time, with the help of the flying squad, he locked
himself in his car and had to be extricated. After eventually pulling him from
the vehicle, two police officers, Pieter Boetge and David Wheeler, claimed
Gaba told them: "When Mandela dies, we will kill you whites like flies." He
also allegedly threatened to petrol-bomb their homes.
Gaba was arrested for drunken driving, threatening a police officer and
resisting arrest. Half a bottle of alcohol and two glasses were found in his
car. He spent the night in jail.
It later emerged that Gaba’s blood alcohol content was 0.17g/100ml — more than
double the legal limit at the time of 0.08g/100ml.
On Monday, November 10 1997, Gaba left for business in Demark. He apologised
"unconditionally" before leaving, and praised the police for their "good
work".
In depth: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918- 2013
MandelaNews and views on the death, and life, of former president Nelson
Mandela, with tributes and photographs
The ANC caucus leader in the Cape Town metro council, David Dali, said he
intended "to take the matter no further", after objections to the lack of
consequences were raised by the Democratic Party (DP) and National Party (NP).
He said that "based on his (Gaba’s) unconditional apology, we see no need to
take any action".
The never-ending story
The media took up the issue. In an editorial on November 13, The Citizen
stated: "Instead of trying to defend Mr Gaba and condemning the NP for
compiling a register of alleged racist remarks, the ANC should be taking
disciplinary action against him or any other member who makes such remarks.
And Mr Gaba should be the first to be put on the carpet."
On November 15 1997, the ANC provincial working committee relented and
announced it was instigating full disciplinary action against Gaba. ANC
Western Cape spokesperson Brent Simons said: "As an organisation committed to
non-racialism and reconciliation, we condemn in the strongest possible terms
the statements allegedly made by Gaba. We also distance ourselves from the
statements. While we welcome his unreserved apology, the (committee) decided
to establish this inquiry."
Following a huge public outcry during the week, the DP and NP moved motions
against Gaba in council, the NP calling for full censure and the DP that he be
removed from all committees. Both motions were adopted by a majority.
In an editorial on November 17, Die Burger said the inquiry was welcome,
describing it as a "small hurrah". In a November 19 editorial, the Cape Times
wrote: "In other countries he could face a prison sentence and suspension of
his driver’s licence, quite apart from his racial threats. Here, if anything,
his threats are more serious, in their impact on reconciliation."
On May 12 1998, it was reported that the drunken-driving charge against Gaba
was struck from the roll in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court at his sixth
appearance after two key witnesses, Boetge and Wheeler, failed to appear. At
the time, the ANC inquiry was still not resolved, but Cameron Dugmore, a
member of the committee, said the court decision was not the end of the
matter: "What’s happened in court does not inspire confidence in the judicial
system." The state subsequently charged Gaba again.
On May 24, a suggestion was made in the Cape Town council that provincial
police commissioner Leon Wessels be asked to investigate why the case was
struck from the roll. The ANC opposed the suggestion, on the grounds the
courts were still investigating.
On June 2, Gaba appeared before court. His trial was set for August 17 and 18.
He applied for legal aid but was denied. A "mystery" donor stepped in to help
fund his defence.
After further delays, when Gaba’s court appearance did happen, on October 8,
he pleaded not guilty to the charge of drunken driving and threatening and
obstructing the police.
In his defence, he alleged the police officers had ridiculed him about his
connections with "Russian communists". The officers testified they were
"indifferent" to communists. The district surgeon, however, also testified
that Gaba had made inflammatory statements. He testified that Gaba was
"bloodshot and aggressive" and had said to him he "wished Mandela was dead",
after his arrest.
The case was adjourned to November 26, when Gaba was found guilty of drunken
driving after he changed his plea to guilty. In return, the state withdrew its
charge of resisting arrest and threatening the police officers. Thus there has
never been a definitive judgment on whether he actually said what the officers
claimed. Sentencing was set for January 29 1999.
Dugmore said the ANC was awaiting the outcome of the trial, but Gaba could
face expulsion or suspension from the party, or a fine, if found guilty.
After yet further delays, on March 12 1999, Gaba was fined R12,000 or six
months in jail for drunken driving, with half the fine and sentence
conditionally suspended for three years. The magistrate said Gaba was "not
prison material" and ordered his driver’s licence endorsed.
Drive Alive’s CEO at the time, Moira Winslow, described the sentence as an
"absolute disgrace".
The outcome of the ANC disciplinary hearing is not known, but by July 2000
Gaba still held office and was ranked 32nd on the ANC’s Western Cape election
list for the 2000 local government elections.
Conclusion
In a double irony, Gaba, still an outspoken ANC member, now works as the
director of social crime prevention in the Cape Town City administration, run
by the Democratic Alliance. Perhaps a tribute to the reconciliation Mandela
worked for, although the appropriateness of the position seems difficult to
reconcile with his past behaviour. He denies he ever made the remarks
attributed to him, and the fact the relevant charges were dropped means there
is no definitive ruling on the veracity of the claim.
If you Google the phrase "When Mandela dies, we will kill you whites like
flies", you find websites such as Aryan-nation.org and David Icke forums (Icke
is a conspiracy theorist who thinks lizards run the world). So the incident
lives on in the internet’s darker corners. But, whether true or not, the idea
has been proven to be unfounded. The rest of his story’s legacy, however — a
governing party unable to act decisively against its members and a judicial
system undermined by a lack of capacity — remains very real.
http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2013/12/16/from-the-archives-when-mandela-dies
FROM THE ARCHIVES: When Mandela dies
An alleged racist remark about the consequences of Mandela’s death has fuelled
the right wing but come to nought, writes Gareth van Onselen
FROM THE ARCHIVES: When Mandela dies
by Gareth van Onselen, 16 December 2013, 07:27
FROM the Archives is an ad hoc retrospective series that will look at a
significant moment in South Africa’s past. Sometimes it might draw some
contemporary insights from the occasion but, for the most part, it will simply
aim to describe events as they unfolded.
The event: "When Mandela dies, we will kill you whites like flies."
Date: November 7 1997
Key players: Mzukisi Gaba
Introduction
In the late 1990s, Mzukisi Gaba was a proportional representative councillor
for the African National Congress (ANC), serving on the Cape Town city
council. His name became synonymous with a racial slur he allegedly made when
pulled over for drunken driving. So much so, it became one of the definitive
reference points for the right wing. Today, search any radical, white
supremacist website and you are bound to find a reference to Gaba’s alleged
remark: "When Mandela dies, we will kill you whites like flies."
Nelson Mandela has now died, and Gaba’s supposed warning has come to naught.
With that, the right wing has had a cornerstone of its apocalyptical mythology
rendered null and void. "The night of the long knives", as they phrased the
perceived threat, was in reality 10 days of almost universal grief and sorrow
at the loss of the country’s greatest icon, supplemented by the repeated call
to re-establish Mandela’s values of forgiveness and reconciliation. So it is
worth revisiting the incident, which unfolded over about two years, if only to
remind us of the kind of irrational fear that often lay beneath South Africa’s
newfound freedom.
However, while that fear was unfounded, the political and judicial processes
responsible for accountability and justice at the time remain today as weak
and inefficient as they were back then, as Gaba’s story makes clear.
Fear and loathing on the N1
Late on Friday, November 7 1997, Gaba was returning from a cocktail function
at the Russian consulate in Bantry Bay, Cape Town. He was driving on the wrong
side of the N1 highway and was flagged down by police.
Gaba refused to stop, pulling over but driving off the first time. When he was
pulled over for a second time, with the help of the flying squad, he locked
himself in his car and had to be extricated. After eventually pulling him from
the vehicle, two police officers, Pieter Boetge and David Wheeler, claimed
Gaba told them: "When Mandela dies, we will kill you whites like flies." He
also allegedly threatened to petrol-bomb their homes.
Gaba was arrested for drunken driving, threatening a police officer and
resisting arrest. Half a bottle of alcohol and two glasses were found in his
car. He spent the night in jail.
It later emerged that Gaba’s blood alcohol content was 0.17g/100ml — more than
double the legal limit at the time of 0.08g/100ml.
On Monday, November 10 1997, Gaba left for business in Demark. He apologised
"unconditionally" before leaving, and praised the police for their "good
work".
In depth: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918- 2013
MandelaNews and views on the death, and life, of former president Nelson
Mandela, with tributes and photographs
The ANC caucus leader in the Cape Town metro council, David Dali, said he
intended "to take the matter no further", after objections to the lack of
consequences were raised by the Democratic Party (DP) and National Party (NP).
He said that "based on his (Gaba’s) unconditional apology, we see no need to
take any action".
The never-ending story
The media took up the issue. In an editorial on November 13, The Citizen
stated: "Instead of trying to defend Mr Gaba and condemning the NP for
compiling a register of alleged racist remarks, the ANC should be taking
disciplinary action against him or any other member who makes such remarks.
And Mr Gaba should be the first to be put on the carpet."
On November 15 1997, the ANC provincial working committee relented and
announced it was instigating full disciplinary action against Gaba. ANC
Western Cape spokesperson Brent Simons said: "As an organisation committed to
non-racialism and reconciliation, we condemn in the strongest possible terms
the statements allegedly made by Gaba. We also distance ourselves from the
statements. While we welcome his unreserved apology, the (committee) decided
to establish this inquiry."
Following a huge public outcry during the week, the DP and NP moved motions
against Gaba in council, the NP calling for full censure and the DP that he be
removed from all committees. Both motions were adopted by a majority.
In an editorial on November 17, Die Burger said the inquiry was welcome,
describing it as a "small hurrah". In a November 19 editorial, the Cape Times
wrote: "In other countries he could face a prison sentence and suspension of
his driver’s licence, quite apart from his racial threats. Here, if anything,
his threats are more serious, in their impact on reconciliation."
On May 12 1998, it was reported that the drunken-driving charge against Gaba
was struck from the roll in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court at his sixth
appearance after two key witnesses, Boetge and Wheeler, failed to appear. At
the time, the ANC inquiry was still not resolved, but Cameron Dugmore, a
member of the committee, said the court decision was not the end of the
matter: "What’s happened in court does not inspire confidence in the judicial
system." The state subsequently charged Gaba again.
On May 24, a suggestion was made in the Cape Town council that provincial
police commissioner Leon Wessels be asked to investigate why the case was
struck from the roll. The ANC opposed the suggestion, on the grounds the
courts were still investigating.
On June 2, Gaba appeared before court. His trial was set for August 17 and 18.
He applied for legal aid but was denied. A "mystery" donor stepped in to help
fund his defence.
After further delays, when Gaba’s court appearance did happen, on October 8,
he pleaded not guilty to the charge of drunken driving and threatening and
obstructing the police.
In his defence, he alleged the police officers had ridiculed him about his
connections with "Russian communists". The officers testified they were
"indifferent" to communists. The district surgeon, however, also testified
that Gaba had made inflammatory statements. He testified that Gaba was
"bloodshot and aggressive" and had said to him he "wished Mandela was dead",
after his arrest.
The case was adjourned to November 26, when Gaba was found guilty of drunken
driving after he changed his plea to guilty. In return, the state withdrew its
charge of resisting arrest and threatening the police officers. Thus there has
never been a definitive judgment on whether he actually said what the officers
claimed. Sentencing was set for January 29 1999.
Dugmore said the ANC was awaiting the outcome of the trial, but Gaba could
face expulsion or suspension from the party, or a fine, if found guilty.
After yet further delays, on March 12 1999, Gaba was fined R12,000 or six
months in jail for drunken driving, with half the fine and sentence
conditionally suspended for three years. The magistrate said Gaba was "not
prison material" and ordered his driver’s licence endorsed.
Drive Alive’s CEO at the time, Moira Winslow, described the sentence as an
"absolute disgrace".
The outcome of the ANC disciplinary hearing is not known, but by July 2000
Gaba still held office and was ranked 32nd on the ANC’s Western Cape election
list for the 2000 local government elections.
Conclusion
In a double irony, Gaba, still an outspoken ANC member, now works as the
director of social crime prevention in the Cape Town City administration, run
by the Democratic Alliance. Perhaps a tribute to the reconciliation Mandela
worked for, although the appropriateness of the position seems difficult to
reconcile with his past behaviour. He denies he ever made the remarks
attributed to him, and the fact the relevant charges were dropped means there
is no definitive ruling on the veracity of the claim.
If you Google the phrase "When Mandela dies, we will kill you whites like
flies", you find websites such as Aryan-nation.org and David Icke forums (Icke
is a conspiracy theorist who thinks lizards run the world). So the incident
lives on in the internet’s darker corners. But, whether true or not, the idea
has been proven to be unfounded. The rest of his story’s legacy, however — a
governing party unable to act decisively against its members and a judicial
system undermined by a lack of capacity — remains very real.
http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2013/12/16/from-the-archives-when-mandela-dies
--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk