Maimane says race still pervades politics

An opposition leader in South Africa says race remains a “powerful trigger” in politics more than 20 years after the country’s first all-race elections ended white racist rule.

Politician Mmusi Maimane said today that the ruling African National Congress, dominant since the 1994 elections that saw Nelson Mandela elected as president, had sought to portray him as a black stooge of an opposition party with white liberal roots.

Maimane, leader of the parliamentary caucus of the opposition Democratic Alliance, referred to a reported comment last year by a Cabinet minister who called him a “hired native.”

Maimane was speaking to foreign journalists in Johannesburg.

In a weekend speech, President Jacob Zuma said South Africa had defeated “the demon of institutionalised racism and apartheid” and was committed to a non-racial society.

Source : Sapa-AP

subscribe

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.