Finding an ARNSA to SA’s racism woes

Published Feb 2, 2016

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Johannesburg - Since the dawn of democracy some white South Africans had been willing to help rebuild the country where the majority experienced centuries of institutionalised racism and oppression.

Sello Hatang, chief executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, made the remark during a media briefing about the planned anti-racism week next month, an initiative of the Anti-Racism Network SA (ARNSA).

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He called for a full frontal assault on black inferiority, saying it allowed white supremacy to thrive in the country.

Speaking on the sidelines of the briefing, Hatang contextualised his remark, saying a number of white businesses and academics had consulted the ANC during the 1990s on what they could do to help rebuild the country.

“Then the consultations became less and less after 1996. I blame it on arrogance because whites became too relaxed and forgot that they had a duty to rebuild South Africa,” Hatang said.

Read: Fighting the resurgence of racism

The ARNSA, which Independent Media supports, was established by both the Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada foundations last year, in a bid to address the scourge of racism and related forms of discrimination dogging the country.

Hatang said addressing racism and nation building were close to Mandela’s heart.

“Madiba put a lot of effort in nation building, (but) it’s a project we never completed.

Mandela had helped them to climb one mountain only to find out that there were other mountains to climb and, “racism proved to be one of those mountains”, said Hatang.

ARNSA's slogan is “Racism Is Wrong”, and Tuesday’s media briefing coincided with the 26th anniversary of apartheid's last president FW De Klerk's speech in Parliament, announcing the unbanning of the ANC which was followed by Nelson Mandela's release from prison on February 11, 1990.

Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Neeshan Balton said activities during the anti-racism week, from March 14 – 21, would include a national schools art competition, an anti-racism pledge to be launched on March 14, and a national dialogue on the role of whites to address racism would also be convened during the week.

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who attended the briefing, said they supported the initiative, and that it had come at a right time when “we need to globalise the struggle against racism”.

Meanwhile, Independent Media, owners of The Star and IOL, and its parent company, Sekunjalo Investment Holdings, have not taken the racism issue lying down.

The media group has joined forces with the SA Clothing and Textile Workers' Union, in its bid to fight racism and promote active citizenry.

Their campaign, “Racism. It Stops With Me”, to be launched in Cape Town next week Thursday, will be rolled out in the media group's 20 newspaper titles and digital platforms. Public debates in schools and universities will also be held.

@iam_toh

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