Cape Town – Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has called on all South Africans to join hands against racism and ensure it is rooted out of institutions of higher learning and society as a whole.
The Minister said this during a debate on racism in the National Assembly in Parliament on Tuesday.
The debate -- themed ‘The increasing racial tension and conflict in South Africa, especially in universities and its detrimental effect on the country’s development, unless as South Africans, we come together and we agree what our identity as South Africans is, we will still be far from the nation building and social cohesion agenda’ -- comes after student protests have led to racial clashes at some of the country’s universities.
“All of us should unanimously reject racism and isolate racists in our midst. We should take a firm stand on justice and equality. We should deepen our programme of de-educating the old ways and re-educating into the new ethos of transformation and progress,” said Minister Mthethwa.
He said society must be mobilised to strengthen the transformation agenda and implement the programme of uniting for a non-racial society. He used the heated debate to condemn the destruction of property and violent behaviour during some student protests at institutions of higher learning.
The Minister said the destruction of property will not be condoned at any time. “It is an act of regress and there is nothing revolutionary about it as some have said.”
Racism is an institutional problem, which demeans and dehumanises its victims. It is not merely prejudice, Minister Mthethwa said, adding that it continues to manifest itself through many institutions of society.
“Today we are talking about institutions of higher learning but tomorrow we will be talking about other institutions because what we are dealing with is an institutionalised racism, which we are uprooting.
“We should remember that our struggle was always about uplifting the quality of life of all South Africa, especially the poor, the majority of whom are Africans and female.”
National convention against racism
The debate on racism takes place as the country prepares to commemorate the National Day against Racism on Human Rights Day on 21 March and after a motion was introduced by Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Mulder.
Mulder said according to a recent study by the Institute of Race Relations, 85% of all South Africans agreed that all races need each other to make a success of South Africa.
Inkatha Freedom Party Member of Parliament Mkhuleko Hlengwa said South Africans need to work together to achieve the goal of a non-racial society, and that instead of finger pointing, leaders of society need to work hand in hand towards one goal of nation building.
Minister Mthethwa called for a national convention where all South Africans will be part of the solution.
“We call upon all South Africans to contribute towards the shaping of a policy to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and other related intolerances.
“[We must] continue with the programme of dialogue. We should convene different social partners to craft social compacts on the values, which we will agree as South Africans that these are the values we share,” said Minister Mthethwa.
He said a national convention on nation building would assist in coming up with a way forward, particularly regarding the country’s identity. – SAnews.gov.za
