#UDF40: DA challenges President Ramaphosa to drop ANC opposition to Race Quotas case

21 August 2023

Speaking at the United Democratic Front’s 40th anniversary event yesterday, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s hypocrisy and insincerity reached new heights when he conceded that Indian, coloured and white citizens feel excluded in South Africa.

Included in his remarks, the President admitted that the ANC has contributed to dividing South Africa along ethnic, racial and gender lines – repeatedly violating the very principle of non-racialism enshrined in the South African Constitution.

I will today write to President Ramaphosa calling on him to instruct his National Minister of Labour, Thulas Nxesi, to withdraw his opposition to the DA’s court case to declare the Race Quotas Act unconstitutional.

If President Ramaphosa truly cares about putting an end to racial division in our country, and if he has indeed had a change of heart, he will begin the process of repealing all race-based legislation which continues to skew access to opportunity.

I will give the President seven days to respond.

If he refuses to do so, it will confirm to South Africa that he is a liar, a hypocrite, and an integral part of the assault on non-racialism that he claims to lament.

President Ramaphosa cannot purport to champion the values of the Constitution while he and his party continue to pass and defend racist and exclusive laws, while failing on their basic mandate to deliver opportunity to millions of South Africans.

In April 2023 he officially signed the “Race Quotas Bill” (Employment Equity Bill) into law, clearly demonstrating his contempt for racial minorities.

If adhered to, the Race Quotas Act will cost 600 000 people their jobs on the basis of their race - at least 220 000 white people, 85 000 coloured people, and 50 000 Indians stand to lose their jobs in Gauteng alone.

Not only is the Race Quotas Act highly divisive and unfair, it is also a recipe for economic disaster. It will further deter investment and thereby lead to more job losses and greater poverty and inequality, fueling further social division and instability.

The Act is clearly nothing more than a cynical electoral ploy on the part of the ANC.

If President Ramaphosa has truly renewed his commitment to nonracialism, he must show it in deeds.

Otherwise his words are those of a dishonest and insincere hypocrite sprouting empty platitudes.

Issued by John Steenhuisen, Leader of the Democratic Alliance, 21 August 2023