This was the message from Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa while answering oral questions in the National Assembly. He said building a non-racial South Africa which is economically inclusive is important to social cohesion and nation building.
The Freedom Charter and Constitution calls on all citizens to uphold and subscribe to the high values that are enshrined in the Constitution, values such as non-racialism, equality and tolerance.
“If we are to build a truly non-racial society, then all South Africans – black and white – need to unite in tackling racial prejudice, discrimination and intolerance.
“Racism is embedded in attitudes, beliefs and behaviour to one another. Racism is at the heart of the economic disparities in this country,” he said.
This comes as the country prepares to commemorate the National Day Against Racism on Human Rights Day on 21 March.
In his State of the Nation Address last month, President Jacob Zuma said the day will lay a foundation to a long-term programme to build a non-racial society.
Addressing Members of Parliament on Wednesday, the Deputy President said if South Africa is to build a non-racial society, it would need to tackle degrading and dehumanising racist attitudes and practices, as well as rid the country of demeaning practices, while ensuring equal economic and social opportunities for all South Africans.
“Since 1994, the ANC-led government has used its capacity and resources to work towards a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa.
“We have removed racist laws from the statute books. We have introduced and passed legislation and allocated resources to de-racialise the economy and create an inclusive society.
“The Department of Arts and Culture is leading efforts, together with a number of role players, to develop a comprehensive national action plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance,” he said.
To be successful, all South Africans need to acknowledge that racism has its roots in a deliberate effort to keep black South Africans out of the mainstream of the economy, deny them the opportunity to run businesses, and prevent them from gaining skills, assets and experience.
“It is therefore imperative that we radically transform our economy to overcome poverty, inequality and unemployment.
“Government has taken concrete steps to rid our country of racism. We need to mobilise the people of this country.
“We must learn from the words of our icon, Nelson Mandela, when he said that just as racism and hatred can be learned, we can also teach people to love.
“Social cohesion is a national effort for which all of us must take both collective and personal responsibility,” he said.
