Nelson Mandela Foundation launches anti-racism campaign

2 January 2016

Johannesburg - The Nelson Mandela Foundation announced an anti-racism initiative on Tuesday that would culminate in a week-long event "to globalise the fight against racism".

"We need to identify a way to fight back against racism in the fault line, together with poverty and inequality," CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation Sello Hatang told reporters in Johannesburg.

"Until we start dealing with racism within our homes, it will never change.

"We limit the potential for a black child from birth. Not all criticism can be deemed as racism in our country," Hatang said.

With race being a critical issue in South Africa, a group of concerned civil society organisations have developed the Anti-Racism Network South Africa (ARNSA) to respond to, and better understand, race relations in South Africa.

"We support this initiative because we are building a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa," said Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa.

"We need to globalise the fight against racism," Mthethwa added.

In a fight to overcome racism, the the Anti-Racism Network of South Africa (ARNSA), representing more than 60 national organisations, had strengthened efforts to fight back against racism by launching Anti-Racism week. 

"It's an opportunity to reflect on what can be done from the small to the big issues we face in our country," said CEO of the Ahmed Kathrada foundation, Neeshan Balton.

The anti-racism week would take place between March 14-21 2016.

This article first appeared on News24, see here.