STATEMENT BY ANC DEPUTY PRESIDENT ON REACTION TO HIS COMMENTS IN LIMPOPO

ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says it is unfortunate that his use of the term ‘the boers' during a recent visit to Limpopo caused offence (see report in The Star).

"It is unfortunate that my comments offended some people. They were never intended to be derogatory," he said.

"In my conversation with a Seshego resident, I warned of the danger of the country going backwards, and used a term that has commonly been used by black South Africans to refer to the erstwhile apartheid regime. It is a term that continues to be understood in that way.

"My comments were not meant to refer to a particular section of our population, and it is unfortunate if such an impression was created.

"If South Africa is indeed to move forward, all South Africans, regardless of language or background, need to work together as equal citizens. All South Africans need to exercise their vote next year to move the country forward."

Statement issued by Cyril Ramaphosa, African National Congress Deputy President, November 12 2013

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