Dan Roodt's statements casts Afrikaners in a bad light
Civil rights organization AfriForum condemned Dan Roodt of the Pro-Afrikaans Action Group (Praag) for the racist comments about black people he made in a satirical clip aired in the US television programme "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart". The clip was produced in 2010, but is in the news now after Roodt had just indicated that he intends to sue the show's producers. The clip can be seen here.
According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, it is unfortunate that the actions of a small fringe group are often exploited in an effort to portray Afrikaners in a bad light.
"AfriForum cannot stand idly by and watch Afrikaners' reasonable claims being ridiculed because of the racist comments of fringe figures like Roodt," Kriel said.
Kriel emphasized that AfriForum believes in the promotion of mutual recognition and respect amongst South African communities.
"Just as AfriForum does not hesitate to take a stand against the racism that black people like Julius Malema utters against whites, AfriForum will not stand for racist statements by white fringe figures," Kriel added.
According to Kriel, it is important that the world should know that the vast majority of Afrikaners are not racist bullies, but a group with reasonable claims for a better future, based on internationally recognized rights. The fact that Roodt is an fringe figure, according to Kriel is confirmed by the fact that Roodt's political party, Front Nasionaal, barely received more than 5 000 votes in this year's South African general election. The Solidarity Movement, of which AfriForum forms a part, currently represents more than 250 000 households.
"The fact that Dan Roodt's comments portray the worst possible stereotype of Afrikaner so effectively makes one almost wonder if Roodt is deliberately aiming at depicting Afrikaners in a bad light," Kriel said.
Statement issued by AfriForum CEO, Kallie Kriel, November 13 2014
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