The hot topic of discussion in South Africa at the moment - Jimmy Manyi's comment that there is an over supply of 'coloured' people in the Western Cape, and Trevor Manuel's recent response to this comment.
Having been born in 1994, the year when South Africa became a democracy, the majority of my generation passed the stage of racial indoctrination. I grew up in an environment in which there was no racism, and this is how I go about my life. That is why it annoys me immensely when people like Jimmy Manyi, who is our government spokesperson and the president of the Black Management Forum (BMF) make comments of this nature.
For me, and many others in our country, the Apartheid era is a thing of the past; one that we must learn from, and correct. However, in correcting these errors, it is not right to be instituting other forms of racism.
And in his comments, Manyi, in my opinion did exactly that. He stated:
"...this over-concentration of coloureds in the Western Cape is not working for them....they must stop this over-concentration situation because they are in over-supply where they are..."
This for me, was an unneccessary comment for him to have made. In no way are 'coloureds' in an over supply - for, if we truely have chosen to move on from our Apartheid ways, then everyone should be treated with equality. And in doing so, no one group should be singled out in such a manner.
However, there has been one very outspoken source in this debacle concerning Manyi, and that has been our Minister of Planning, Trevor Manuel. Manuel has taken a complete stance against Manyi's opinions, and has labelled him as a racist, and lashed out at Manyi's comments.
Manuel, the voice of reason has spoken - such comments were unneccessary, ridiculous, and should not have been made.
For me, our country has always been one of promise, and I have always been proud to be a South African. Yet, when comments like these are made, I am dissapointed, as it shows to me that our country has not truely moved on. Issues like this need to be taken serously, and I for one am glad that Manuel spoke out against Manyi's comments. Racism has always been a big issue in our country, even now that the Apartheid regime is buried in our past, and along with this Apartheid regime belongs racism, buried in our past.
