{"id":62105,"date":"2016-01-18T10:47:42","date_gmt":"2016-01-18T08:47:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/what-zumamustfall-and-feesmustfall-have-in-common-and-why-it-matters-the-conversation\/"},"modified":"2016-01-18T10:47:42","modified_gmt":"2016-01-18T08:47:42","slug":"what-zumamustfall-and-feesmustfall-have-in-common-and-why-it-matters-the-conversation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/what-zumamustfall-and-feesmustfall-have-in-common-and-why-it-matters-the-conversation\/","title":{"rendered":"What #ZumaMustFall and #FeesMustFall have in common and why it matters | The Conversation"},"content":{"rendered":"
South African protesters from across the class divide march against the country's president.<\/span> EPA\/Kim Ludbrook<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is a rather one-sided, reductive and commonplace perception that South African President Jacob Zuma is a dangerous man. Included in this is an assertion that the fear of Zuma is what brings together the #ZumaMustFall campaign to have him fired.<\/p>\n

But what stands on the other side? Well, a real country that is distrustful, dangerous and angry; ultimately a citizenry afraid of itself and one another.<\/p>\n

In generalities, whites are perceived as untransformed oppressors, greedy, uncommitted to genuine reconciliation, and blacks as failing, criminal, and inferior. These are racist stereotypes keeping South Africans apart and mediating social relations.<\/p>\n

But yet everyday reality is much more complicated. An inbetween exists of deracialising spaces, institutions and transforming social relationships. But it is getting lost. This is the governing African National Congress\u2019 failed \u201crainbow nation\u201d project. At the same time, re-racialising dynamics are engendering old and new faultlines.<\/p>\n

Both potential and actual non-racial social relations have taken root over the past two decades. But deep racial divides in South African society are eclipsing these due to the ANC\u2019s shallow nation-building efforts. #ZumaMustFall is challenged by these realities and can only go forward if it embraces a radical approach to non-racialism.<\/p>\n

Reviving the dream of a better country for all<\/h2>\n

The collective unconscious of the #ZumaMustFall is, ironically, about reconnecting with the desire to be a country transformed in race, class and gender terms.<\/p>\n

It is about a courageous attempt to find a non-racial solidarity again, to reaffirm a common vision and journey towards a secure future. But is this imputing too deep a meaning to the cyber-chatter and street politics of #ZumaMustFall?<\/p>\n

At one level #ZumaMustFall is far from homogenous. It includes, among others:<\/p>\n