PHUTI MOSOMANE
THE ANC’s 55th national conference has resolved to tackle racism “head on”, insisting there was no place for any kind of discrimination against anyone.
ANC head of Strategy and Tactics commission, David Makhura, told the media on Thursday that the issue of institutional racism – 28 years into the new dispensation – remains one of the biggest challenges facing post-apartheid South Africa.
Despite the country evolving from a dark past of separate development, incidents of racism and discrimination are still prevalent in many South African communities, including corporate organisations, sports and even in the education system.
South Africa is struggling not only with structural racism, but also with individualised or “personal” intolerances.
“We can’t tolerate racism, but we can’t discuss specific measures like legislation to stop it. This will be left to government.”
Makhura was addressing the media following discussions at the second leg of the 55th National Conference currently taking place in Mangaung, Free State.
He said that the State must demonstrate capacity and sharpen its efforts to fighting racism in South Africa, adding that the national conference wanted racists to receive heavy punishment for their actions.
Makhura said that anyone who denies this “doesn’t live in the real world”.
He added that just because the country has adopted one of the most progressive Constitutions in the world, it doesn’t mean the issue of racism had been resolved.
Although the ANC continued to promote non-racialism, Makhura said the national conference has admitted that the country is not where it should be in terms of social transformation.
“There are setbacks. There are issues that threaten our Constitutional democracy, including right-wing and conservative forces becoming more aggressive,” he said.
Makhura said the national conference had a heated debate, sponsored by the ANC Western Cape, on the “National Question”.
“So, we are very critical of ourselves. We want a truly non-racial society and a truly non-racial economy,” he added.
The ANC is facing criticism following the election of 80 members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) where no representatives from the White, Coloured and Indian communities were elected.
Makhura said the ANC wants to see improved race relations in South Africa as well as gender transformation.
He added that policies emerging from the conference discussions must seek to address the marginalisation of black people and of women.
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