De Lille takes up racist claim

Mayor asks Ramaphosa for evidence after he alleges black people poorly treated in city

WITHIN hours of launching the “Inclusive City” campaign, mayor Patricia de Lille has appealed to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to provide evidence of alleged racism in the city.

The request came after Ramaphosa claimed during a response to oral questions in Parliament last week that black people were poorly treated in Cape Town.

“It is up to our country’s leaders to provide direction on these matters. I take your allegations seriously and ask you to join me in tackling these issues head on.”

In his response, Ramaphosa referred to several alleged racist incidents that showed how black people struggled to make bookings at restaurants and hotels, and were prevented from renting property.

De Lille said the city’s campaign would address “these difficult issues of race”.

At the launch of the campaign, to coincide with Human Rights Day, De Lille said: “An infringement of someone’s innate right because of prejudice is a violation of their human rights.

“The perpetrator of the violation does not see the individual or their rights: they see a racial or gender stereotype; a stereotype that is innately inferior and can be treated in a malicious way.”

She said the only way to deal with this lack of respect for rights was “united action under firm leadership”.

The campaign will address and prevent incidents of racism where they occur, by working with organisations in the property, hospitality, university and media sectors.

“We want those engagements to be accompanied by an interaction with all residents who want to take a stand against racism. We want people to know that they cannot be discriminated against; that their dignity must be protected and respected; and that they can associate with whomever they want to.”

Residents have been asked to pledge their support via social media, with the slogan, “Don’t let racists speak for you”.

The campaign will end with a panel discussion of key findings.

“These lessons and values will be carried forward in how the city communicates and conducts itself, as well as becoming a legacy for all councillors and all participants to take forward into the future,” said De Lille.

The reaction to De Lille’s campaign on social media has been varied, with some asking exactly how to carry out the objectives of the campaign.

“Anyone know how this anti-racism campaign is supposed to work in CT? Do we start hugging strangers, or throwing powdered paint, or what,” Tweeted Bhavna Singh.

In contrast, the campaign was praised by the South African Human Rights Commis- sion, which tweeted: “Commendable move”.

Meanwhile, the Western Cape ANC said yesterday it welcomed “any dialogue on racism as it is a monster destroying the roots of the young tree of our democracy and moral fibre”.

ANC Western Cape deputy secretary Marencia Gillion said: “The ANC is suspicious of the strategic timing of the campaign mounted by the City of Cape Town DA mayor Patricia de Lille in the run-up to the local government elections as it is the DA itself that proclaimed it started electioneering.”

Gillion said racism in the Western Cape became more pronounced and divisions deepened in the city and province.

“In fact it was institutionalised even further, rather than redressed,” she said.