Grant Pascoe
Nhlanhla Lux posted on his Facebook page Nhlanhla Lux Official about Dereleen James, and what he said was unfair and rooted in a racial stereotype. I am not defending any political party. I am defending a mother who was misrepresented and insulted.
I do not know her and I have never met her before, but I have real appreciation for the contribution she is making. Even if her style does not fit into the neat box some people prefer, we need more voices like hers.
Dereleen is not from the Cape Flats or the Western Cape. She is from Eldorado Park in Gauteng. Calling her a Cape Flats MP was not an innocent mistake. It was meant to paint her as emotional and unprofessional, and that is a harmful stereotype that Coloured people have carried for many years.
The Dereleen James Story is Bigger Than Politics
Her story is bigger than politics. Dereleen became known because she fought to save her own child from drugs. Many mothers in South Africa, whether Black, Coloured, Indian or White, go through this pain quietly. She chose to speak openly so others would not feel alone.
Her Dear Dad letter touched the whole country. She started the Yellow Ribbon Foundation to support families facing the same struggle. She has worked with police, communities and health teams because she wants to protect children and help families recover.
Her voice in the ad hoc committee comes from real life experience. It comes from years of facing the pain and fear caused by drugs in our communities. To call her embarrassing because she speaks with emotion is deeply unfair.
ALSO READ: How we as society label, ostracise and ‘other’ recovering addicts has a huge impact on their recovery in: Trigger Warning: Addiction Recovery & Trauma
People can disagree with her politics. That is normal. But using a racial stereotype to attack her is wrong. She should be judged on her work and her courage, not on a label meant to reduce her.
This is about truth and respect, not party politics.
