ANC rejects crude racial politics by the DA

17 May 2023

The ANC has noted propaganda by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that the ANC is advancing crude race politics. The propaganda suggests that the ANC is promoting new race laws that suggests which prohibits the employment of specific racial groups in certain provinces and sectors.

The ANC rejects this notion with contempt. Such a policy would be inconsistent with the entire ethos of the ANC, particularly the pursuit of the National Democratic Revolution which seeks to democratise our society and all spheres of the economy including the labour market. The ANC-led liberation movement has always been consistent in its pursuit of a non-racial and a just society. Building a non-racial labour market is a fundamental aspect of the National Democratic Revolution.

It is high-time political parties across the right-wing spectrum desist from using race politics as a means of fear mongering instead they must reverse cultures of racial denialism. Our Constitution and the Freedom Charter is emphatic that South Africa can only succeed if it dismantles systemic racism and accelerate the pace of action towards a National Democratic Society.

We are confident that the employment equity act as amended is consistent with our Constitution and will help us transform the labour market and ultimately society.

Issued by Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, National Spokesperson, ANC, 17 May 2023