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

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.