S. Africa marks International Human Rights Day with focus on racism

South Africans on Monday marked the International Human Rights Day, with President Jacob Zuma calling for the fight against rising racism, which has led to tension in the country.

"There is still a long way to go before we can say we have successfully reversed the impact of institutionalized racism in our country or to remove prejudice amongst those who subscribe to the notion of white supremacy," Zuma told a mass rally in the coastal city of Durban.

He urged all South Africans, black and white, to "become part of this journey to a new society".

"Earlier this year, our country experienced explosions of anger due to racist utterances and writings which reminded South Africans that the vestiges of white supremacy and racism still exist in some sections of society," Zuma said.

He was referring to anti-black remarks that emerged on social networks with Penny Sparrow, an estate agent, labelling blacks as "monkeys".

"It became clear that there are people who still yearn for the past, where black people were treated like second class citizens because of their skin colour," said Zuma.

South Africans marked this year's Human Rights Day with the theme of "South Africans United Against Racism".

"We know that the majority of South Africans abhor racism and racial discrimination. That is why our theme correctly says that we are united against racism," Zuma said.

He reiterated the government's determination to end racial discrimination in all its forms and wherever it occurs.

"We must remove vestiges of racism in the workplace, in the education system, the health sector, in the administration of justice and generally in access to government services and in the private sector," Zuma said.

The ending of economic marginalization is key to the reversal of racism and its manifestation in the economy, he said.

He claimed South Africa's economy is still primarily in the hands of the white minority in terms of control, ownership and management.

"We must openly and consciously discuss notions of white supremacy and how it manifests itself. When such views are held by people in positions of power, they undermine the nation's efforts to achieve an equal and non-racial society," he said.

Referring to calls for the government to introduce laws or institutional mechanisms to deal with hate speech and hate crimes, Zuma said the authorities have drafted the National Action Plan to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

The Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill is expected to be tabled in parliament by September, Zuma said.

But he said the government "cannot legislate against racist beliefs and prejudice". "Solutions will require the consciousness and willingness of those who harbour such harmful beliefs to educate themselves about human rights and equality," he said. Enditem