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NON-RACIALISM

The architects of Apartheid reprehensibly constructed the classification of people into race groups, and the legacy of that racial classification remains a significant determinant in an individual’s economic and social prospects in South Africa today.

On average, black, coloured and Indian/Asian South Africans earn less, experience higher levels of unemployment and lower levels of upwards social mobility than white South Africans. Racial relations may have improved, but racism remains a very real problem in South Africa. We must act as one to build a non-racial society by addressing the following key challenges:

  • Racial inequality: race still effects each person’s ability to build prosperity and remains a key determinant of the quality of life individuals can expect to achieve.
  • Lack of political leadership: rather than celebrating the diversity of cultures in our country, political leaders have used race to divide our nation and distract us from their failures to create racial justice.
  • Ineffective economic reform mechanisms: BBBEE and employment equity has not empowered previously disadvantaged members of our society. Instead, it has serially enriched a political elite and in the process hollowed out the capacity of state institutions.

What We Believe

  • Non-racialism is not “colour blindness.” Non-racialism acknowledges the division caused by the social construct of race in the South African context.
  • South Africa must strive to be a country where people’s potential to thrive is based on their ingenuity and hard work, and not the colour of their skin.
  • While we strive for a non-racial South Africa, we recognise that after 26 years of democracy, a strong correlation remains between race and socio-economic standing.
  • We cannot pretend that race is not a primary determinant of the prospects of many South Africans. We must act as one to address this historical inequality.
  • Breaking the cycle of racial inequality requires that we take action to implement real and substantive policies aimed at improving equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome.
  • South Africans must act as one to challenge racism in all its forms and pro-actively work to break down racial stereotypes and racial prejudice.
  • Interventions aimed at addressing inequality must be grounded in the principle of achieving non-racialism, which means interventions must be focused on equality of opportunity, not equality of outcomes.

Our Solutions Blueprint

  • Acknowledge that race still plays a role in the ability of individuals to achieve their goals in life. We commit ourselves to providing the kind of leadership that removes barriers faced by people of colour.
  • Never use race as a dividing factor. We will pursue a united South African identity, where cultural diversity is celebrated and actively nurtured.
  • Commit ourselves to fighting all forms of racism.
  • Never impose racial quotas on our party structures. All South Africans are welcome to be members of this party, provided they share our founding values and principles.
  • Pursue diversity by developing leaders from all walks of South African life.
  • Include content in our educational curriculum that fosters understanding and celebration of South Africa’s cultural diversity.
  • Implement social programmes that facilitate dialogue and cross-cultural understanding between South Africans from different backgrounds.
  • Support measures aimed at addressing the persistent inequalities caused by the legacy of Apartheid. However, we reject the failed policy of B-BBEE, because it has only achieved cosmetic transformation that benefits the politically-connected elite.
  • Reduce the barriers to upward social mobility through comprehensive reform of economic empowerment measures that will unlock broad-based transformation.
  • Facilitate access to quality education that reduces racial inequality.
  • Develop SMMEs by limiting the number of times they can benefit from preferential procurement mechanisms. This will give small businesses the assets required to be competitive in the free market.
  • Partner with financial institutions to provide alternative funding models to black, coloured and Indian/Asian entrepreneurs that provide affordable start-up capital and business development support.
  • Provide additional incentives to private companies to develop and empower black, coloured and Indian/Asian employees.
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Act as One to build a prosperous, non-racial and secure future for all South Africans.