COMPLAINT AGAINST MR JACOB ZUMA FOR CONTRAVENTIONS OF THE RIGHT OF NON-AFRIKAANS-SPEAKING WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS TO EQUALITY

The Centre for Constitutional Rights has today filed an urgent complaint with the Human Rights Commission with regard to the following statement that Mr Zuma is reported to have made at a meeting with Afrikaans community leaders on 2 April 2009:
"He said that among white people ‘it is only the Afrikaners that are truly South African in the true sense of the word.'  ‘Up to this day (the Afrikaners) don't carry two passports, they carry one.  They are here to stay.'"

Mr Zuma's comments constitute unfair discrimination against non-Afrikaans-speaking white South Africans on the basis of their race, ethnic origin, colour, culture and language.  They contravene provisions against hate speech in as far as they can reasonably be construed to demonstrate an intention to be hurtful to South Africans on the prohibited grounds of race, ethnic origin, culture and language.

It is shocking and unacceptable that the leader of South Africa's largest political formation - who may well become President of the country - should question the right of non-Afrikaans-speaking white South Africans to be regarded as equal in all respects to any other South Africans.  The statement questions the loyalty and commitment to South Africa of communities that have made, and are continuing to make, indispensable contributions to the well-being, prosperity, development and international reputation of South Africa in all areas of national endeavour - including business, the professions, the arts and sport.

The Centre has called on the Human Rights Commission to investigate Mr Zuma's remarks and to take urgent steps to secure appropriate redress.  In particular, it requires Mr Zuma a) unconditionally to retract the statement that he is reported to have made and b) to apologise to white non-Afrikaans-speaking South Africans for the insult to their patriotism and loyalty to South Africa.

Statement issued by the Centre for Constitutional Rights, April 3 2009

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