The African National Congress (ANC) has distanced itself from “disturbing” remarks made by government spokesperson Jimmy Manyi that there are too many coloured people in the Western Cape.
“We want to categorically put on record that the remarks made by Manyi neither represent ANC nor government policy,” party spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said in a statement on Friday.
“Based on the Freedom Charter, which espouses non-racialism as a guiding principle, the ANC together with all our people, including the coloured community, has fought for the liberation of all South Africans to live freely wherever they desire in the country,” he said.
Manyi made the remarks in an interview broadcast on KykNet in March 2010, while he was still director general of labour. The interview was posted on the internet site YouTube by Solidarity on Thursday.
Mthembu said any narrow view that coloured people were in “over-supply in the Western Cape” and should move to other parts of the country to realise their dreams of a better life, was “not in keeping with the rights of all South Africans”.
“Among other disturbing remarks made by Manyi during the interview broadcast on KykNet, while still director general of the department of labour, were ‘so this over-concentration of coloureds in the Western Cape is not working for them’,” Mthembu said.
“He [Manyi] further said, ‘They should spread in the rest of the country … so they must stop this over-concentration situation because they are in over-supply where they are. So you must look into the country and see where you can meet the supply’.
“What we also find unacceptable is a description that portrays coloured people as a commodity rather than people who enjoy the same rights as any other South African citizen.
“The terms ‘over-supply’ and ‘over-concentration’ are best used in reference to commodities and not human beings.
‘Grave error of judgement’
“While we believe that Manyi possesses good communication, business and political astuteness, we believe that in this particular instance he has committed a grave error of judgement,” Mthembu said.
Manyi told the South African Press Association he was speaking on behalf of the Black Management Forum (BMF) when he made the remarks.
“I only articulate the government’s view,” he said.
“This was the BMF position. I have no feelings on any issue. I speak as BMF chairperson or as the government spokesperson.”
Manyi is chairperson of the BMF. He was re-elected last year.
“This has nothing to do with me personally,” he said. “I have a role to play as messenger. I am either for the BMF or the government. This has nothing to do with Jimmy Manyi. Why is this being personalised?” he asked.
Mthembu said after having reflected on its displeasure at Manyi’s remarks, the ANC still believed the Employment Equity Act was a necessary policy for those previously discriminated against.
“Coloured people were — like any other previously oppressed South Africans — discriminated against and prevented from playing a meaningful role in shaping our economy in the private and public sectors,” he said.
The Freedom Front Plus has called for Manyi to be fired as government spokesperson for making the “racist comments”. — Sapa