Paul Kruger: DA condemns racially divisive conduct on Pretoria's Church Square

8 April 2015 

The DA condemns the conduct of protesters gathering at Church Square in Pretoria today, waving placards with racially divisive slogans, the Transvaal Vierkleur flag and demanding that Die Stem be sung.

Similarly, the alleged violent confrontation between members of both the FF+ and EFF at Church Square sets a very bad precedent for future engagements on sensitive national issues like this.

South Africans require a constructive and meaningful debate on our shared history and divided past, not conduct by fringe minority groups that further fuel division, hatred and fear.

The reactionary and racially divisive defence of these aspects of our collective national history makes today's protest from the far-right no better than the actions of those defacing and destroying monuments and statues across the country.

It is important that a constructive national dialogue reflects on the diversity and shared heritage of all South Africans and hinges on the real substance of transformation in South Africa. 

Statement issued by Marius Redelinghuys, DA National Spokesperson, April 8 2015

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