Call to take stock after race incidents

THE Wits Centre for Diversity Studies has expressed concern at the number of racial incidents that have occurred across the country in the past few months.

“The country has not entered a post-racial, colourblind era,” the centre’s director, Professor Melissa Steyn, said yesterday.

“These incidents make it clear that transformation is not a linear process.

“We should not assume the passage of time since the 1994 transition necessarily translates into a steady, concomitant erosion of racism and racially abusive behaviour.”

Steyn highlighted some of the incidents, including that in which two white University of Pretoria students dressed up as domestic workers and smeared black paint on their faces and arms.

In an incident that made headlines on Thursday, two white Netcare 911 paramedics attending a roadrage case in Joburg allegedly failed to attend to an injured black man, who was bleeding from axe wounds, and saw only to his white attacker.

Netcare 911 has suspended the two paramedics – not for the alleged neglect, but for leaving the accident scene prematurely.

Earlier this month, a white Cape Town dentist armed with a sjambok beat a black gardener. He apparently suspected the gardener was the culprit who had broken into his car.

In Limpopo, an animal clinic and an office park came under fire after claims were made that toilets were segregated.

“It is time to take stock,” Steyn said. – Sapa