Racism 'alive and well in SA'

2008-03-11 15:43

Johannesburg - Racism is alive and well in South Africa, the SA Human Rights Commission said on Tuesday.

SAHRC chair Jody Kollapen told the Johannesburg Press Club that while South Africa's transition to democracy was "amazing", the reconciliation part of the process was emphasised at the expense of transformation.

He said the Truth and Reconciliation Commission focused on the "excesses" of apartheid; it never really began a conversation between ordinary South Africans.

"We never really spoke about it, coming from opposite sides," Kollapen said.

He said very little was asked of white South Africans during the reconciliation and transformation processes.

It was not so much about an apology, he said. Rather it was about acknowledging what had happened.

"I don't think South Africans talk about racism as we should," he said.

Incidents such as the racist video from Free State University and the Skierlik shooting had shown that racism was alive and well.

Kollapen said racism was "learned" and therefore capable of being "unlearned".

- SAPA