With reference to Professor George Devenish’s article in the Mercury of November 9, the re-racialisation of South Africa has been going on for over 15 years.
In October 2006, in a letter to the then Leader of the Opposition, Tony Leon, I pointed out that demographic representivity is not stated in sections 9 and 217 of the constitution (nor is applicable in section 195). In his reply dated 26 October 2006, Tony Leon fully agreed and forwarded my letter to Adv Paul Hoffman SC of the Centre for Constitutional Rights.
Unfortunately, since then nothing further developed. Moreover, since Leon’s time, the DA has embraced what it calls “diversity” and implemented it in a fashion that closely patterns demographic representivity.
From that perspective, Prof Devenish indulges in wishful thinking if he thinks that there could be a shift away from racial representivity should a coalition government involving the DA come into being as a result of the outcome of the 2019 election.
Only by embracing the principle of merit can the baasskap practice of demographic representivity be terminated. Grand apartheid ended more than 25 years ago. Its unconstitutional reinstatement by means of demographic representivity makes a total mockery of the principle of non-racialism.
Sent into The Mercury and published, 10 November 2018.
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