Are they coloured or African?

Published Mar 5, 2012

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VIASEN SOOBRAMONEY

The South African Minority Rights Equality Movement (SAMREM) has officially laid fraud charges against several high-ranking government officials at the Mountain Rise police station in Pietermaritzburg.

In an affidavit lodged with police, the lobby group called for a criminal investigation into the race of Minister of Defence, Lindiwe Sisulu, her brothers Max and Zwelakhe, Human Settlements Minister, Tokyo Sexwale, Government spokesperson, Jimmy Manyi, and Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant, to determine whether they have correctly disclosed their race and whether they are unduly benefiting from incorrect racial classification.

“I request the South African Police Services to conduct a criminal investigation into the race of the individuals mentioned in order to determine if they are indeed “African” or “coloured”, and whether such misrepresentation, if any, constitutes fraud. Classification as “African”, if not true, results in unlawful benefits such as affirmative action, BEE scores and admission to universities which have racial quotas. It also affects jobs which excludes Indian South Africans, coloureds and whites based on race,” read the affidavit.

Comrades

On the matter of the Sisulus, SAMREM said the identity of the family members formed the basis of the fraud charge.

“All three of these comrades are children of the late ANC stalwart, respected leader and “coloured” male, Walter Sisulu. It is common knowledge Walter Sisulu’s father was a “white” person serving as a magistrate in the Department of Justice in the Eastern Cape (former Transkei).

“I am concerned how any of his descendants can now be classified as “African” if this is in fact the case. If this is so, it serves as a basis for a fraud investigation because of the benefits and potential benefits that accrue to “African” persons,” read the affidavit.

The classification of the race of Sexwale’s children was also questioned with the group calling for an investigation.

“I am aware the respected Minister, Mosima Gabriel (Tokyo) Sexwale is married to a “white” lady. This would not allow their children to be classified as “African” as they would unduly benefit as explained above.

“If they are classified as “coloured”, they would be subjected to the discriminatory quota system imposed by Government on “coloured” people in so far as their right to education and jobs are concerned.

“ They would also be subject to the same discriminatory BEE constraints. This needs to be investigated,” read the affidavit.

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