SA+needs+a+black+bourgeoisie



=SA needs a black bourgeoisie=

Letters, Business Day, 17 March 2005
The bourgeoisie is a social group that constitutes the ruling class in a liberal democracy. They possess a greater share of the nation’s wealth, which buys them influence in social, political and cultural matters.

They are the captains of industry, whose considerable wealth allows them to dictate policy, tastes, norms and patterns of behaviour. Their interests shape and define society’s culture.

I cannot see why the emergence of black bourgeoisie can be seen as a bad thing.

Perhaps when he wrote, What is the value of SA’s black middle class? (March 15), Jacob Dlamini believed there were no wealthy black people until the arrival of settlers in 1652. There have been rich black people since time immemorial. Our people never despised other rich black people and the pursuit of wealth was encouraged by our ancestors. Our communities looked up to the rich.

The rich shared their wealth and supported their immediate and extended families.

The rich enjoyed influence among the populace. They sat in kings’ or chiefs’ cabinets, influencing and dictating policy, norms and patterns of civil behaviour.

They had bigger farms, bigger plots, bigger herds, bigger everything, and there was — and still is — nothing wrong with that.

Most middle class blacks I know still have ubuntu.

They share their wealth with the less privileged. They take care of their immediate and extended families, helping their brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, fathers, mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers to go to school or have something to eat.

Even those who live in former white suburbs still go to church and visit their families in the townships. They take part in church activities that help the less privileged.

The question that really needs to be asked is, how many blacks have joined the middle class? What is government doing to make sure that more and more blacks join the middle class, become managers, professionals and captains of industries? What percentage of SA’s wealth is in black hands? What is government doing to ensure that all who live in SA share the country’s wealth?

For SA to be a truly African country we need a growing black middle class, because of their influence. Just look how influential the white bourgeoisie is in this country.

Parow Valley**
 * Thembelani Kwetane