CHIEF government spokesman Jimmy Manyi has “apologised unreservedly” for the offence caused by his comments last year that there were too many coloureds in the Western Cape and that they should spread themselves out to other parts of the country.
The ANC and its alliance partner Cosatu issued a stinging rebuke of the remarks yesterday.
The ANC condemned Manyi’s “disturbing remarks” – made when he was director general of Labour – and slammed his portrayal of coloured people “as a commodity rather than people who enjoy the same rights as any other South African”.
“The ANC would like to distance itself from views expressed by (Manyi)… We want to categorically put on record that the remarks made by Manyi represent neither ANC nor government policy,” the party said.
Manyi last year said there was an “oversupply” of coloureds in the Western Cape and suggested they “spread in the rest of the country”. He said their “over-concentration” in the province “is not working for them”.
The comments were made in April during a debate about affirmative action that appeared on KykNet’s Robinson Regstreeks show, in which Solidarity’s Dirk Hermann also participated.
The ANC said the terms “oversupply” and “over-concentration” are “best used in reference to commodities and not human beings”.
“While we believe Manyi possesses good communication, business and political astuteness, we believe that in this particular instance, he has committed a grave error of judgment,” the ANC said in its statement.
Cosatu said the remarks “are racist and completely unacceptable”.
“They fly in the face of the commitment of the country, the ANC and its allies to a non-racial society in which the rights of all citizens are protected by our constitution and laws and must be treated with respect and dignity,” said Cosatu.
It warned the comments “will further inflame fears within the coloured community” and welcomed the ANC’s move to “disassociate” itself from them. Cosatu also called on the government to condemn the remarks “and reassure the coloured community that not only is there no threat to discriminate against them but that the government is committed to protect and advance their interests”.
Shortly after these statements, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), which Manyi heads, issued a statement saying Manyi’s comments a year ago had “sought to underscore the fact that the coloured community forms part of the whole SA nation, and he suggested coloured people could take up opportunities beyond the boundaries of the Western Cape”.
“In this context, Mr Manyi wishes to acknowledge that offence was taken as people interpreted his statements a year ago. For this he apologises unreservedly and calls on all concerned to use the consultation process on the (proposed legislation) to achieve real transformation”.
However, the statement then went on to suggest the “issue has resurfaced, seemingly as part of a vendetta against Mr Manyi, who was recently appointed as government spokesman – a cabinet decision that many have sought to undermine”.
Later, the ANC issued another statement welcoming Manyi’s apology.
The outcry over Manyi’s remarks comes against the backdrop of an increasingly bitter debate about the possible consequences of the Labour Department’s proposed amendments to the Employment Equity Act. The changes will see the demographic benchmark for measuring equity compliance changed from a regional to a national standard.
If passed, the amendments could impact heavily on coloured workers in the Western and Northern Cape as well as Indian employees in KZN.
The proposed changes are being discussed by representatives from the government, organised labour and business at Nedlac this weekend and are expected to be released for public comment before being submitted to Parliament for processing.
Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant yesterday rejected claims that the amendments will place coloured workers at risk. “The consequence of the new proposed amendments is that employers will have flexibility to decide whether to use regional or national demographics.”