ANC says DA is now at race crossroads

The ANC Western Cape says the DA must now put its money where its mouth is, investigate the latest racist manifestation in the DA's provincial administration and reprimand premier Helen Zille for perpetuating institutionalised racism. The DA is now at race crossroads and must shows all that it is serious to deal with racism in its bosom.

Zille is showed up once again with the evidence of institutionalised racism on her watch in the DA-led provincial government with an utterly offensive so-called ‘knowledge management' caricature cartoon perpetuating racist stereotyping that suggests black people are stupid empty heads and whites are the sources of knowledge to be passed on.

ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman says: "The exposure of the cartoon showed that which the ANC repeatedly said: Institutionalised racism abounds in the DA administration. This is now the first clear-cut incident that came to light since the DA's wannabe provincial leader Patricia de Lille dared to issue her recent presumptuous public call to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to provide proof of people's experiences of racism in the Western Cape.

"De Lille went so far as to arrogantly promote herself to a sort of investigating authority where racist incidents should be reported. Here is a definite example. It is committed right under the nose of the DA. Why has she remained quiet so far? Is she scared to take up the task to investigate her own? De Lille must now provide proof of how she truly deals with DA racism! Will she be so brave as to scold Zille and her administration?

"The ANC now challenges De Lille to take action within a week against her national leader and her (Zille's) administration. The ANC reminds De Lille and the DA this incident is in the same department of transport and public works that was recently questioned on why only 5% of its contracts for road repairs and maintenance are reserved for BBBEE companies... It shows there is a trend and that institutionalised racism indeed runs deep in this DA administration.

"The ANC calls on the premier and her administration to come clean on what exactly happened, what steps were taken against those found to be the culprits and what measures are put in place to prevent it from being repeated. The DA's standard reply that its senior decision makers ‘didn't know' is unacceptable. The DA must take responsibility and be seen to weed out such incidents. The ANC wants to know who the culprit is, what was done to correct it and that the DA apologises to all around the world who were offended by this cartoon as it has spread on social media platforms like wildfire."

Statement issued by Marius Fransman, ANC Western Cape leader, March 31 2015

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