ANC organizes march against deep-rooted racism

Thousands of people on Friday joined an anti-racism march organized by the ruling African National Congress (ANC), calling for a non-racial, united and democratic South Africa.

ANC supporters marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria where they handed over a memorandum of grievances to President Jacob Zuma.

The ANC organized the march to highlight racism which is still deep-rooted in South Africa, as can be shown by rising racial tension sparked by recent racist remarks on social media.

"Racism and related intolerance weaken our fragile social fabric and undermine social cohesion," said ANC Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte.

"Our freedom did not come easy and we cannot sit and watch racists destroy the country," she said.

Wearing green and yellow T-shirts, ANC supporters chanted anti-racism slogans -- "Down with racism" and "We will not allow racism in our country".

"All people are equal and no one should think they are more superior than the other," Nelly Ntshangase, an ANC supporter, told Xinhua.

Cindy Moshoe, 25, condemned the recent remarks by Penny Sparrow, an estate agent, who labelled blacks as "monkeys".

"We need a law to arrest such people and put them in prison. We are all human beings," Moshoe said.

Minister in the Presidency Susan Shabangu received the memorandum on behalf of President Zuma.

"This memorandum is in line with President Zuma's call that we must unite against racism." Shabangu said. Enditem