Mmusi Maimane doesn’t want racists making their mark for the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the local government polls.
The party leader said on Tuesday “that’s because racists are not welcome in the DA”.
“And if you’re a racist and you are thinking of voting for the DA‚ please don’t. We are not the party for you‚” he told the audience at the Apartheid Museum.
He used the address to announce that he would “soon be introducing an anti-racism pledge that every new and returning member will be required to sign when they join the party”.
Maimane read the planned pledge:
“I pledge to uphold the values of the Constitution‚ to cherish its vision for a united‚ non-racial‚ democratic South Africa‚ and to nourish this vision in my personal conduct.
“I acknowledge that apartheid was an evil system‚ and recognise that its legacy remains reflected in the unequal structure of South African society today.
“I reject discrimination in all its forms‚ and pledge to help root it out wherever I encounter it in South Africa.
“I will not perpetuate racial division‚ and will never undermine the dignity of my fellow South Africans.
“Instead‚ I will commit myself to working to overcome inequality and achieving shared prosperity.
Maimane also stressed that “to say that black people are not capable of prejudice is itself a twisted form of racism”.
“It is equally important to acknowledge that racism is not the preserve of any one group‚” the leader said‚ and quoted Public Protector Thuli Madonsela: “Being a victim of systemic racism and structural racial discrimination does not exempt you from being a racist.”
He said that in “two decades into our new democracy‚ it feels as though we are drifting apart”‚ and acknowledged that his party “may be the most diverse party in South Africa‚ but we are not diverse enough”.
Maimane said it was time to “find each other again”.
“Let us build a nation where we can prosper together. And let us go into the future‚ as one people‚ with a shared destiny‚” he concluded.
DA leader Maimane doesn’t want racist votes
The party leader said on Tuesday “that’s because racists are not welcome in the DA”.
“And if you’re a racist and you are thinking of voting for the DA‚ please don’t. We are not the party for you‚” he told the audience at the Apartheid Museum.
He used the address to announce that he would “soon be introducing an anti-racism pledge that every new and returning member will be required to sign when they join the party”.
Maimane read the planned pledge:
“I pledge to uphold the values of the Constitution‚ to cherish its vision for a united‚ non-racial‚ democratic South Africa‚ and to nourish this vision in my personal conduct.
“I acknowledge that apartheid was an evil system‚ and recognise that its legacy remains reflected in the unequal structure of South African society today.
“I reject discrimination in all its forms‚ and pledge to help root it out wherever I encounter it in South Africa.
“I will not perpetuate racial division‚ and will never undermine the dignity of my fellow South Africans.
“Instead‚ I will commit myself to working to overcome inequality and achieving shared prosperity.
Maimane also stressed that “to say that black people are not capable of prejudice is itself a twisted form of racism”.
“It is equally important to acknowledge that racism is not the preserve of any one group‚” the leader said‚ and quoted Public Protector Thuli Madonsela: “Being a victim of systemic racism and structural racial discrimination does not exempt you from being a racist.”
He said that in “two decades into our new democracy‚ it feels as though we are drifting apart”‚ and acknowledged that his party “may be the most diverse party in South Africa‚ but we are not diverse enough”.
Maimane said it was time to “find each other again”.
“Let us build a nation where we can prosper together. And let us go into the future‚ as one people‚ with a shared destiny‚” he concluded.
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