Beyond Silence: It’s the right(s) time to speak up

Dr Armand Bam 

Human Rights Day is not just a historical marker it is a mirror held up to our present reality as South Africans. It forces us to take a good look at ourselves and ask whether we are truly honouring the sacrifices made for freedom, justice, and equality. This year, however, it takes on new meaning and an added weight as we witness the disturbing global rhetoric emanating from the US.

A period of intolerance has recently culminated in the declaration that Ebrahim Rasool, a respected diplomat and advocate for justice, is named persona non grata in the US. While internally his views may be quietly chastised, all South Africans must recognise this is not an isolated event; it is a symptom of a larger, deeply troubling shift. 

To the issue of discontent from the US (and potentially others) there are, of course, a range of factors which, when assessed, triangulate around a few key issues rooted in human rights. In light of this all South Africans must understand that silence is not an option when the voices of discontent reverberate from the corners of this nation and beyond. It is every citizen’s duty to peel back and interrogate the layers of discontent and to examine with clear eyes and, more importantly, honest hearts the sources of unease. We should realise the issues are not randomly scattered but converge around simple truths – a demand for justice, dignity and the rights that every person deserves, and not only those in our closest circles. 

Firstly, South Africa’s vocal condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza and its referral of Israel to the International Court of Justice has drawn ire from Western allies, particularly the US. This move, rooted in South Africa’s history of opposing apartheid and oppression, has been met with economic and diplomatic threats. The discourse emerging from the US is not just about South Africa though it is part of a broader global trend where former colonial powers and their allies are seeking to reassert control over nations that refuse to toe the line. In other words, it is more and more evident that it is about maintaining economic dominance through coercion (lacking diplomacy), reinforcing old hierarchies, and punishing nations that dare to stand for sovereignty. 

And so South Africans must ask of themselves whether they truly expected the South African government to remain silent on the genocide in Gaza? Whether our experience of fighting for a democracy where many citizens lived through apartheid and fought against dehumanisation would result in us turning a blind eye? Did our history not teach us to stand against the oppression of others and did we not learn that when injustice is normalised, it spreads? Today, it is South Africa being targeted. Tomorrow, it could be any country that refuses to be complicit in global power plays. If we choose to view this with clear eyes and honest hearts, South Africans should be critical of the those considering the loss of life in such callous circumstances to be justified as clarified by the ICC. 

Secondly, the country’s refusal to take a hardline stance against Russia is another talking point. Coupled with allegations of arms transfers, it has further strained relations with the US and the West. This, however, has placed South Africa in a precarious position on the global stage, but we should not ignore that we are a sovereign state – and we should maintain the right to determine our own policies and alliances without perverse threats of economic persecution.

Nelson Mandela’s infamous response to Ken Adelman on the Ted Koppel show reminds me of the importance of principle over cost. The ‘West’ enemies are not necessarily our enemies. We remain grateful to those who want to help us build a stronger nation and should determine our attitude to others as they show their attitude towards us not only in rhetoric but in support of furthering human rights. 

Thirdly, a vocal minority within South Africa has actively lobbied in the US, portraying the country as an unstable, failing state where white citizens are under threat. This narrative, despite its factual inaccuracies, has gained traction in certain American political circles, fuelling support for punitive measures against South Africa. A price we will all pay – Black and White. We do not need any more Brandon Huntley’s  as this one-sided storytelling is not at all helpful. 

Let me be clear. Murder is wrong and the loss of life tragic and unacceptable in any such circumstances. But the facts differ from this sanitised expression – that the horrors of crime are reserved exclusively for whites. The truth is that we all suffer. It is too simplistic to suggest that all these murders are racially motivated, even considering the foolish calls to “shoot the boer”.

Murders on farms have not been reserved for white people; black farmers die too. Part storytelling adds fuel to an already burning fire. Let’s accept that with the poor reporting on crime and the available data, for instance, over 85% of homicide victims in four major South African cities were male, with a significant overrepresentation of Black and Coloured individuals. In Cape Town alone of the 58 police districts, 44% of murders occur in five police districts including Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Harare Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and Delft/ Belhar. These are historically black communities. 

Fourthly, the US is continuously threatening to withdraw funding and reconsider its economic relationship with South Africa, which will have catastrophic consequences for industries, employment, and economic stability. Some white South Africans might shrug, assuming this is a government problem, a foreign policy dispute, or something that won't touch their daily lives. But the reality is far more dire.

It is, in reality, an existential threat to all South Africans, regardless of race or class. The withdrawal of international funding affects industries, jobs, and economic stability. It exacerbates inequality, deepens social divides, and accelerates unrest. No one is insulated from a failing economy, no matter how high the walls of privilege may seem.

Fifthly, the world is seeing an increase in the policing of dissent. Countries that challenge Western hegemony, whether through foreign policy decisions or economic realignment, are facing aggressive diplomatic and economic pushback. South Africa, with its history of anti-imperialism, is in the midst of this storm. Should we castigate our government for taking a stand or should we cower to the pressures of those who wield the economic sword of perceived prosperity. It is evident – human rights do not feature in the calculations of those abroad while they shuffle the economic deck chairs of privilege. 

A Moral and Economic Reckoning: What Will You Do?

This Human Rights Day we need to demand answers from all South Africans. Do we stand for justice only when it serves our own interests, or do we uphold it even when it requires sacrifice? Can inherited privilege shield anyone when the very foundation of South Africa’s economy is under threat? Silence in the face of injustice is not neutrality; it is a choice. And history will remember those who refused to speak. The withdrawal of funding is not just a political manoeuvre; it is an economic attack on South Africa’s future. And the gravest mistake South Africans can make is to assume that this is not their fight. When the economy falters, when divisions deepen, and when international isolation takes hold, privilege will not provide protection. This is not a crisis for government alone, it is a moment of reckoning for all who live in this country not seeking asylum elsewhere.

The time for silence has passed. South Africans must take a stand against the rhetoric emerging from the US, against the targeting of the democratically elected South African leadership, and against the passive complicity that allows inequality to persist. This is not about party politics; it is about principle. It is about recognising that economic coercion, diplomatic bullying, and the policing of dissent are not just distant abstractions but immediate threats to our shared future. It is about using influence, whether in business, policy, or public discourse, to advocate for a just and sustainable South Africa and one that values Human Rights.

Human Rights Day is not only about remembering the past; it is about shaping the future. The question is simple: will you stand on the side of justice, or will you allow silence to make us complicit? Because history will not forget those who never spoke up and those who turned away when it mattered most.

Dr Armand Bam is Head of Social Impact at Stellenbosch Business School.

*** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL.

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