2000
UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT
MEDIA
RELEASE
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UNITED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT |
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MEDIA
STATEMENT ISSUED BY BANTU HOLOMISA, MP The Bill of Human Rights that under-girds the democratic principles of our new Constitution ushers in a new culture in human relations in all spheres of interaction in our South African society. If successfully observed and pursued it could open a new chapter in the continent's political heritage that would see the phasing out of the repressive tendencies in African governments that have been handed down as a legacy of colonialism. The social disparities of an extremely rich minority and extremely poor majority which are patterned on the former apartheid social divide undermine the very foundations of a sustainable good human rights culture as they continue to nurture the group animosities spawned by unequal distribution of wealth amidst growing joblessness and unabating suffering among the vast majority of our population. The scourge of racism that permeates our national psyche is a constant reminder that as a society we must redouble our efforts to exorcise this malady from our social fabric in a rational way that does not lend itself to witch-hunt and paranoid. The
domination of the legislating organs of state and government by the majority
party must not be allowed to erode the democratic features of open debate and
tolerance of dissenting views. Impatience with constructive The Human Rights Commission would do well to be an effective instrument of checks and balances to keep Government in the straight path. To
honour our fallen heroes this day should bring all political parties together
rather than divide them along lines of who is who. Our history of struggle and
sacrifice should be a common denominator that binds us all even across the
racial and political divides of the past. Enquiries: 20 March 1999
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