Johannesburg - MEC for Social Development in the Eastern Cape, Nancy Sihlwayi, has reacted with shock and anger following racism charges laid against her by the Democratic Alliance (DA).
An article appeared in the Saturday Dispatch on Saturday, 7 November, titled “DA wants exclusion of white kids probed”, and was based on the DA wanting the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to probe allegations that Sihlwayi had instructed staff to exclude white children from a recent government youth camp.
It was reported that Social Development officials had been disciplined for ignoring the MEC’s instruction to exclude white children from the annual camp held in Port Alfred in September. Of the 200 children who attended, only six were white.
The DA accused Sihlwayi of racism as well as the abuse of human rights.
In her response on Monday, Sihlwayi highlighted the importance of affirmative action and black empowerment as tools needed to correct the injustices of South Africa’s apartheid past.
“It has come to my attention that the provincial chairwoman of the DA, MPL Ms Veliswa Mvenya, has laid an ill-conceived charge of racism against me,” said Sihlwayi.
“For someone with my background and ANC struggle credentials, this is a serious insult, because I have dedicated my whole life to the struggle against racism and sexism.”
As far as the make-up of the youth camp is concerned, Sihlwayi remained steadfast, pointing to statistics.
“According to Statistics South Africa, 70% of black young people between the ages of 14 to 35 are unemployed.”
Her statement further read: “I am therefore totally unapologetic about my insistence that black, and specifically African, youth should primarily be served and empowered by these camps.”
She also hit out at Mvenya for what she termed was her confusing of affirmative action and black empowerment with racism, and pointed to the recent episode in which DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard was expelled from the party for a controversial online post, with Sihlwayi saying the DA was known for its “racist behaviour”.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane also didn’t escape criticism with Sihlawyi saying he had sold his soul to front for white masters in the guise of being the “DA’s black leader”.
Mvenya, who said Sihlawyi’s actions harked back to the worst periods of South Africa’s history, had submitted a formal letter of complaint to the SAHRC.
African News Agency
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