ANC officials complain as racism continues to derail South Africa

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has called for intensified efforts to fight against racism which “continues to derail our nation’s efforts to build a united South Africa”.

The party called on all South Africans to recommit themselves to working together to build a South Africa that truly belongs to all who live in it.

To demonstrate its determination to fight racism, the party will lead a march for unity, non-racialism and democracy by a cross section of South Africans to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday.

The march is part of an ongoing programme led by the ANC to confront and intensify the fight against racism, ANC national spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.

During the march, ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe will hand over a memorandum to President Jacob Zuma to vindicate its support for unity, non-racialism and democracy, said Kodwa.

He said the ANC encourages all those who remain committed to the ideals of unity and equality, oppose racism and its attendant representatives in society to join the march.

Anti-black comments have emerged on social media recently, sparking a public uproar.

It all started when Penny Sparrow, an estate agent, labelled blacks as “monkeys” early this year.

The ANC has laid charges against a number of South Africans who have made racist remarks on social media platforms.

They include Sparrow, Economist Chris Hart and fitness enthusiast Justin van Vuuren.

Some blacks take a tit-for-tat attitude in response to anti-black comments.

A government employee in the Gauteng Provincial Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (DSACR) wrote in his facebook account, urging blacks to act to the whites as Hitler did to the Jews.

The employee, Velaphi Khumalo, was later suspended.

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