Can South Africa let go of its past?
| 09:46 UK time, Monday, 5 April 2010
The murder of Eugene Terreblanche has unleashed mixed emotions across South Africa. Many of you have been getting in touch with the
David in Sedgefield, South Africa writes
"Any murder is a tragedy. The irony is that a monster with no morals, could by his murder do even more harm and create hate as he did in his tragic and wasted lifetime."
Terreblanche, the founder of the right-wing Afrikaner Resistance Movement was brutally , allegedly by two farm workers over a wage dispute. explains who he was and what impact he had on South African society.
that his death will his death reignite underlying racial tension in South Africa, a fear that Reisa in Cape Town reflects.
"As a white single mum of one daughter I already had sleepless nights regarding my daughter's safety. Now after the murder of Mr Terreblanche I fear even more. Racial tension has been driven to the point of no return now. I can smell the fear."
The Afrikaner Resistance Movement are now warning countries not to send their football teams to the World Cup in June vowing revenge. Spokesperson that teams would be travelling
But as says,
'It is now up to ordinary people, such as Terre'Blanche supporters and ANC youth leader Julius Malema, too, to display that their love for this country is bigger than an irresponsible (and dangerous) show of bravado.'
Julius Malema's singing of an has been blamed by some for Terreblanche's murder. Paul from the World Have Your Say team spotted tension over the song brewing a few days ago and posted on it here. The court ruled that the song incited hate speech, whilst the ruling parties and its allies believed the song reflected their heritage and struggle for freedom.
'The connection was bound to be made; the coincidence just too much for racially sensitive South Africans....
...the bonds of nationhood that Mandela strived to build are still fragile and many in South Africa fear that Terreblanche could be even more divisive in death than he was in life -- and tear apart a nation still struggling to let go of the past.'
For , the murder brings with it a long overdue scrutiny of the treatment of white South African's, especially farmers.
Terreblanche's death represents something deeper in South Africa; a sector of white South African society that cannot come to terms with the multi-racial democratic reality that is post-Apartheid South Africa.
What will become of the extreme right in South Africa now?
The ANC are calling all South Africans and political parties not to use the murder to , but if the coverage and talk of his death is anything to go by, this chapter is far from closed.
As
'In death Eugene Terreblanche will achieve something which eluded him throughout life: cult status among the Afrikaner volk who are never slow to adopt a martyr.'
How divided is South Africa? And has the country ever healed from its past? Or like do you feel this whole episode will just blow over?
