Well-heeled make the Madiba magic fade as they carry on with business as usual

The privileged class would rather enjoy a life of luxury and indulge in shopping sprees than attend Freedom Day celebrations.

They have no shame that their wealth is gotten by stealing and monopolising the Earth’s wealth for themselves, exploiting the working poor and perpetuating class-exclusive lifestyles and economic injustice.

In fact, it is so business as usual for them that they expect their servants and workers to report for duty on significant national holidays, including Freedom Day. Otherwise, who would be there to make up their beds, serve them breakfast at home or at a restaurant, and generally attend to their whims and fancies? Oh, no, the maids and servants must not be given time off to attend these stupid political holidays, they say.

Over the past 14 years, the privileged class have insisted that Freedom Day is not their day and has got nothing to do with their history. In fact, they believe they have worked very hard for everything they own. As a result, they always find something “better” to do, which, in most cases, is to carry on with an exclusive privileged lifestyle that sees the working poor attending to their needs in a business as usual economic climate.

They point out that it is almost 20 years that Nelson Mandela has been released from jail and he has forgiven them. So, the black government (sic) must clean up the apartheid mess and forget about the privileged class’s responsibility to help build a non-racial, prosperous and united nation.

To make matters worse, they are inclined to be very angry that it is not the political conservatives like the Democratic Alliance, for instance, that are in political power. Of course, this would have seen them dictate the policy towards Robert Mugabe, labour relations, racism, the monopolisation of wealth and generally forcing the working poor to be modern-day slaves. In fact, they are terribly depressed that Thabo Mbeki is president of the country and his Cabinet is independent and self-determining.

The prospect of newly elected ANC president Jacob Zuma ascending the government throne gives them sleepless nights. They see him not only as a primitive African native who practises polygamy with more than three wives, but also as a thug and rapist. This is despite the fact that the man is entitled to his “culture” and has not been found guilty by any court of law.

The relationship between this democratically elected government and the privileged class is not the best. This is despite the fact that the government has not dispossessed the privileged of stolen land and has not driven them off their property. Instead, they are wealthier as they are free to roam deeper into the African continent to plunder its riches, expand their businesses and make more money to save in offshore accounts.

But for the privileged class, the celebration of Freedom Day has become a black sideshow that has absolutely nothing to do with modern-day social realities. It has become a norm for them to hold exclusive braais where they discuss ways to make more money in order to train their young people to hold on to the family’s legacy and perpetuate economic injustice and economic apartheid.

Otherwise, how would anyone explain why too many people who are privileged see Freedom Day as an occasion to do their own thing? It is more a time to indulge in their fancies and whims, for those who can afford it.

Of course, South Africa is not a fascist state where the government dictates what people do on Freedom Day. But the problem for some people is that the privileged class is seen as boycotting national holidays. This attitude could be read as an unwillingness to show appreciation for the achievements of the past 14 years and thus to contribute to reconciliation and nation-building.

The continued boycott of national holidays by the privileged class poses a serious danger to the spirit of forgiveness. One can only hope that there will be some attitude change sooner than later. Of course, the working poor have long forgiven the privileged for the sins of the past.

Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have also transmogrified into the privileged class and epitomise the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.

This has seen the privileged class ensconce itself deeper into enjoyment of the benefits of 14 years of freedom. The cherry on top is that the working poor not only look up to them but seem to have successfully forgotten about apartheid. They, too, believe it is dead and gone.

But on the other hand, what can be pointed at to show that the privileged class is willing to build bridges for a non-racial and undivided South Africa?

When the likes of renowned poet Antjie Krog and politician Carl Niehaus, for instance, tried to mobilise the privilege community to repent, turn away from its sin and embrace the spirit of reconciliation and nation-building, they were rejected for suggesting the privileged were responsible for apartheid and economic injustice.

Of course, this is not a problem per se because the TRC did not find anyone guilty of any crimes against humanity.

It is the total disregard for the observation and celebration of Freedom Day that may, increasingly, become a problem.

This boils down to a refusal to forge partnerships with the indigent to build a better quality life for all. In fact, it is spitting on the graves of countless heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice to give us the South Africa we have.

The privileged classes, just like everybody else, have every right to do as they please on any national holiday, including Freedom Day. This right is enshrined in the Constitution.

But take a pause and think, for a moment: What is the likely consequence of Freedom Day being seeing as an exclusive event for working poor people only? This threatens the very efforts to build a non-racial, non-sexist and unified society.

The privileged classes are, of course, not the only people who are missing on Freedom Day celebrations, but for the past 14 years they have been conspicuous by their absence. Even a convoy of 4x4s and other luxury sedans would make a resounding statement about their willingness to be part of the new nation that is emerging.

Will true privileged patriots who love this country please stand up?