Reader suggests stricter laws to punish racism
“As a boy in 1994, I thought the ‘new South Africa’ would mean we would be one nation regardless of pigmentation.”
Editor: I WROTE to the Northglen News late last year concerning an ethnic organisation based in Durban North with a property in uMgeni Park, which discriminated against my cousin when we applied for a room for him.
The matter has been referred for further investigation and more details will follow soon. I am writing this letter to express my disdain and shock towards racist incidents in this country. First we had DA member Penny Sparrow comparing black people to monkeys. In fact just about every month we read of an incident of white people being racist towards black people.
As a boy in 1994, I thought the ‘new South Africa’ would mean we would be one nation regardless of pigmentation. Unfortunately, the attitude of the minority is that; should a black person speak out against racism and white privilege, then that black person is lazy and wants what the minority has worked for.
I urge the government to issue strict laws to severely punish racism. Only in such a manner will a strong message be sent to the minority to desist from such behaviour. Unfortunately, thanks to apartheid many have a superiority complex. Only tough State action will see such behaviour end.
Siya Mkhize
Avoca
