Front National charges DA Leader with racism – asks HRC to investigate Tweet

Mmusi Maimane, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, re-tweeted a comment on the social media this week in which he said: “I am angry when I go shopping at certain shops - white people are shopping and black people are working.”

In light of the fact that racial tension is already at an all-time high in South Africa following the Penny Sparrow affair and the racial friction in Parys on Tuesday, such a statement by a member of Parliament and leader of the opposition party is thoughtless and uncalled for. The implication that white people reap the benefit of black labour is nothing other than racism.

Front National South Africa regards his comment as an insult to white people all over the country. It is particularly insensitive to large numbers of white South Africans who are unemployed as a result of the racially based labour laws supported by Maimane’s party.

Charges of racism will be laid against Maimane at the offices of the South African Human Rights Commission in Braamfontein on Monday 18 January 2016 at 10:00.

Statement issued by Francois Cloete, Front Nasionaal, 14 January 2016