“Racist” ANC member condemned
Ahmed Kathrada Foundation Board member and anti-apartheid struggle veteran, Prema Naidoo, yesterday condemned Suzanne Govender, a now former ANC Youth League eThekwini regional executive committee member.
News of a Whatsapp message, wherein she is alleged to have used the word ‘kaffir’ to describe fellow ANC members, followed hot on the heels of another racist incident. Earlier this week, a video emerged of Adam Catzavelos making use of the derogatory term.
Naidoo was speaking in Soweto at the launch of a publication on the life of unionist and anti-apartheid struggle stalwart, Rita Ndzanga, produced by the Foundation. The event was jointly hosted by the Foundation and the Lawrence Ndzanga ANC Branch.
He stated that it is deeply concerning when a member of the ANCYL – an organisation that was at the forefront of fighting racial discrimination and apartheid – has a member who is accused of using the word ‘kaffir’.
Naidoo’s views were echoed by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Neeshan Balton. “It’s perturbing that an ANC member – someone who should have been schooled not only in the policies of the party, but in its non-racial history - has reportedly used such terminology. The ANC’s core objective as a liberation movement was its fight against racial oppression. It is disappointing that someone who was serving on its youth league regional leadership structures is alleged to hold such racist views.”