Pretoria - The Democratic Alliance must stop harbouring racists within its rank and file, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) said on Friday.
Addressing thousands at the Union Buildings in Pretoria at the ANC-led anti-racism march, ANCYL secretary-general Njabulo Nzuza said racists “must fall”.
“There must be repercussions, action taken against racists. The DA must stop harbouring racists in its organisation. All these people who are racists are coming from the Democratic Alliance. They do not care about this country,” said Nzuza.
“There is no space for racists in South Africa. Those that believe that South Africa must blossom should forget it. They should rather leave this country and go to wherever they can stay,” Nzuza said.
He said South Africa must find ways to make racism criminal.
Nzuza said the ANC is the only party championing non-racialism in South Africa.
On Thursday, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the march was not a protest, but the mobilisation of society against racism.
“The ANC calls for South Africans to move beyond merely identifying racism as a persisting challenge to uniting in action and to completely eradicate it together with all other forms of discrimination,” said Mantashe.
“In the same way our people were united against apartheid the ANC seeks to mobilise all South Africans, black and white, to contribute to the ongoing transformation of our country.
“This is not a protest march … it is a march about facilitating conversation among South Africans.”
#ANCMarch Members have now arrived at The Union Buildings #RacismStopsWithMe #IOL @IOL pic.twitter.com/DmyErBSyel
— MojoIOL (@mojoIOL) February 19, 2016
The march procession went from Pretoria CBD to the seat of government, the Union Buildings, where a memorandum would be handed over to the presidency.
The Tshwane Metro Police said several streets in the CBD have been affected by the march until 4pm.
“The march will move from Burgers Park to the Union Buildings by way of Lilian Ngoyi and Madiba Streets. The streets that intersect with Lilian Ngoyi and Madiba Streets will temporarily be closed and opened as the march proceeds,” said Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba.
“Jeff Masemola and Thabo Sehume Streets will also be closed. Tshwane Metro Police officers will monitor all the affected streets. Motorists are advised to avoid the CBD and to use alternative routes.”
African News Agency