Zerina Simpson
After the African National Congress came into power in 1994, the first democratic government, led by former president Nelson Mandela, was dedicated to drawing up and putting into effect the new constitution which promotes equality among different races and tribes and prohibits any racist act against human dignity. Since then South Africa’s human rights situation has greatly improved, but our democracy still faces many challenges in dealing with the problems left behind by the apartheid regime.
At all levels of society people should know that overcoming racial difficulties requires addressing attitudes. In September 2001, when the United Nations World Conference against racism, racial discriminations, xenophobia and related intolerance was held in Durban, South Africa, it attempted to break new ground in the fight against racism. It is important for all businesses experiencing racial difficulties to take active part in such processes, which aim to bring about change.
Those businesses that benefited from the apartheid system should not ignore our past and they should be willing to make meaningful contributions to restoring the dignity of the majority of citizens in South Africa. Businesses should take corrective action, which is morally and legally justified. The corrective measures they take should also be in the best interest of all those who will be affected by it.
Racism, which of course has led to racial difficulties and many other problems such as poverty and unemployment, has plagued every facet of South African society. Dealing with it is a challenge that still faces our present day government. Government should continue working on the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). Although the programme has not been a complete success if government is determined enough to make it work then I’m sure it will. Government should improve infrastructure for the black population and reduce the gap between the socio-economic environments of the black majority and the white minority.
The cycle of crime and poverty is difficult to break. In order to reduce crime, government must increase affluence, which requires foreign investment. Government should continue to support black empowerment and affirmative action policies, but must make sure that the person who will be placed in a specific job has the necessary skills and qualifications for it. Pepsi’s failure in South Africa for example has been blamed on black empowerment. A business needs to be viable and this is what government should remember. A black person only being an owner on paper or given a title to satisfy government is not true equality. Black people as a whole need to attain skills and education in order to compete on an equal level.
Media in South Africa were tightly controlled during the apartheid era, but are now liberated. Therefore the media should and can influence political debate and public opinions about racial discrimination. It is important for the media to get their facts straight before going public as some of them go after heresy. When a crime takes place for example a hijacking and the people who were hijacked did not see the criminals you always read that the criminals have not been identified, but are believed to be black. This is also an example of racism. By not making any assumptions the media can decrease the amount of racism in our country and can become part of resolving racial difficulties to change South Africa for the better.
To address racial difficulties universities in South Africa should protest against discriminatory laws. Black people should be appointed and retained in senior positions. Universities should also put in place policies that promote equality, tolerance and freedom from sexism and racism. Bursaries should also be awarded more generously to disadvantaged students who fulfil the necessary requirements to study in a particular field.
Religious groups should accept all barriers of race and racism should be spoken about and confronted. They should defend the basis of race and colour as the will of God and should not accept and justify the apartheid system.
Racial difficulties do exist in all levels of South African society and we still have a long way to go before eradicating many of the problems, such as a lack of empathy and tolerance between different race groups. There is however, cause for hope as South Africans have shown capacity for reconciliation. Nelson Mandela’s lack of bitterness and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) hearings are but a few examples.
