Fighting the scourge of racism
SAHRC enlists university law faculties to help with complaints
THE SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has joined forces with universities, including those in the Eastern Cape, to tackle the scourge of racism. This is according to SAHRC commissioner Mohamed Shafie Ameermia, who visited The Herald office yesterday as part of the commission’s provincial oversight tour.
He said the commission received around 10 000 complaints annually which a staff of only 207 people had to investigate.
As a result, the decision had been made to form partnerships with law faculties at various universities, including NMMU, Rhodes and Fort Hare.
“As a Chapter 9 organisation we actually have a wider mandate than even the public protector as we champion the rights of South Africans and non-South Africans living in the country, which amounts to 52 million people,” Ameermia said.
“So you can imagine the capacity constraints with only 207 people in the office. This is why we are joining hands with NGO’s, civil society and law clinics throughout the country.”
He said a misconception existed that the bulk of complaints were racism related, but most involved the lack of adequate service delivery and the right to housing.
Ameermia said the SAHRC had recently been inundated with race-related complaints, such as the Penny Sparrow furore.
“Racism is an issue that should be stopped immediately. We cannot be having the same conversation so many years after 1994,” he said.
“The problem is that so many people are not willing to change their views so the only solution is to pass legislation.”
He said the recent clash between pupils and staff at Pretoria Girls’ High School over hairstyles had replicated itself at other schools across the country.
“If we cannot respect each other and our diversity then the law must take its course,” Ameermia said.
“Perhaps where we slipped up as a nation was when we held the anti-racism conference in Durban in 2000, where it was decided to outlaw racism.
“It was a wonderful opportunity and parliament was called on to pass a law, but it never did. Only now is parliament waking up and realising that all the Penny Sparrows should be taken to task.”
He said imposing fines and requesting apologies from people who had transgressed was not effective in stopping racism.
They should also send those found guilty for community service to ensure they learnt sensitivity around other races and cultures, Ameermia said.