Key Takeaways
- The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Mothers4Gaza, and allied organisations have accused the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden of violating constitutional and institutional values.
- The groups objected to musician David Scott, known as The Kiffness, performing at a publicly funded venue due to his public positions on Israel and Gaza.
- SANBI’s decision has been criticized for undermining the inclusive ethos of the annual Kirstenbosch summer concert series and promoting division rather than social cohesion.
- The organisations are demanding that SANBI and Kirstenbosch cancel the concert and issue an apology, and have approached the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and several government departments to intervene.
Introduction to the Controversy
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Mothers4Gaza, and allied organisations have expressed deep disappointment and criticism towards the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden for allowing musician David Scott, popularly known as The Kiffness, to perform at a publicly funded venue. The groups argue that SANBI’s decision undermines the inclusive ethos traditionally associated with the annual Kirstenbosch summer concert series and promotes division rather than social cohesion. They acknowledge Scott’s constitutional right to freedom of expression but believe that his public positions make him unsuitable for a state-funded platform.
SANBI’s Decision and Its Implications
The organisations claim that SANBI’s actions are inconsistent with its own stated values, which include Ubuntu, respect and tolerance, accountability and transformation. They argue that the decision to allow the concert to take place violates these values, especially in relation to respect, accountability, and transformation. By platforming an individual with a documented record of promoting racial hostility, Islamophobia, and views that undermine social cohesion, SANBI is accused of promoting division rather than unity. The groups believe that this is not a matter of "free speech" but rather the state’s positive duty to protect citizens from dignitary harm and to foster unity.
Criticism of SANBI’s Response and Security Approach
The organisations have also criticized SANBI’s response to ongoing protests at Kirstenbosch, claiming that management has adopted a heavy-handed security approach. They allege that the garden has been "securitised not to protect the public, but to protect a right-wing agenda and to exclude ordinary South Africans and peaceful dissent". The groups feel that SANBI’s response to their peaceful protests has been duplicitous, with management thanking them for their peaceful protests while simultaneously engaging in a campaign to vilify them. This has led to a breakdown in trust between the organisations and SANBI, with the groups demanding a more constructive and respectful approach to addressing their concerns.
Government Involvement and Intervention
The organisations have taken aim at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, accusing the Minister of prioritizing the artist over civil society. They believe that the Minister’s decision to engage directly with The Kiffness before meeting with representative civil society organisations is a disgraceful illustration of where their loyalties lie. The PSC, Mothers4Gaza, and their partners have approached the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the Presidency, and several government departments to intervene in the matter. They are demanding that SANBI and Kirstenbosch cancel the concert and issue an apology, and have warned that their peaceful weekly Tuesday protests at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden will continue and intensify if their demands are not met.
Call to Action and Next Steps
The organisations have called on members of the public to join them at Kirstenbosch on Tuesday, December 30, saying they aim "to reject the attempts to drag our nation back to a bitter, divisive, and hateful past". They believe that it is essential for citizens to stand together and reject the promotion of division and hate speech. The groups are committed to holding SANBI’s management accountable for their failure of ethical and constitutional governance and will continue to protest and advocate for their rights. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how SANBI and the government will respond to the organisations’ demands and whether a resolution can be found that promotes unity and social cohesion.