Dear Advocate Lawrence Mushwana

As a union that fought against the heinous and barbaric discriminatory laws imposed on the Black African majority by the past fascist Nationalist Party regime and deeply committed to the ideas of a new South Africa as affirmed by Nelson Mandela and Chris Hani, whose shed of blood on April 10, 1993, made it possible to build a South Africa that truly belongs to all, both Black and White.

We address this open letter to you relating to the despicable, defamatory and racist abuses meted against our members working at GAP (PTY) Limited by the its white’s employers.

On daily basis Black African workers in the company are subjected to this old apartheid Bantu style of abuse, such as being called ‘Kaffirs’, ‘Bastards’ or ‘Baboons’.

It is, in our view, an abuse of workers based on their skin pigmentation and which not in sync with the new dispensation’s founding values of non-racialism.

The humiliation of these workers being called such names undermines the fundamental rights to dignity guaranteed in the constitution.

In a country where the scars or wounds deeply inflicted on our people by the apartheid and white minority rule have not healed, the racist and humiliating use of such names is reckless and uncalled for.

These racist slurs or undertones should not be divorced from the reckless, defamatory and racist comments made by the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) directed to our Black people coming from the Eastern Cape looking for better opportunities in the province of the Western Cape.

We humbly request that the Human Rights Commission urgently considers whether the actions of the white company bosses are in any way injuring the persons and rights of our members working at GAP (PTY) Limited.

We firmly believe that the Human Rights Commission has a duty and responsibility to protect our citizens, particularly those whose rights are being eroded or abused.

In keeping with its constitutional obligations, the Human Rights should be vigilant to ensure that no one is allowed to treat others as inhumane in the country of their birth.

These workers are subjected daily to racial slurs and abuse as if we are still under the apartheid or the “Verwoedification” of society is in a higher gear or pedestal.

In our view, this racist slurs or abuse faced by these workers is comparable with the abuse inflicted on workers by the apartheid racist regime.

If the Human Rights Commission fails decisively and genuinely to act on this matter, it will reinforce our perception that the Commission is tolerant of such abuse faced by workers in factories or be it White owned farm’s.

It will also give credence to our belief that the Human Rights Commission has relegated its responsibility to narrow, racist and undemocratic organisations such as AfriForum and Freedom Front plus.

The above assertions should not be viewed as cheap shot or political blackmail as it is evident that Black African workers continue to be subjected to worse forms of racist slurs or discrimination amid silence from the Commission.

We see every day on TV news or newspapers how workers are suffering, but their suffering is less important than the life of a rhino.

We urge the Commission to pursue this matter with the same vigor as the inhumane ‘open air toilet’ built for our people by Helen Zille led administration in the Western Cape.

We hope for a favourable response.

Regards,

Sizwe Dlamini
NUMSA Regional Secretary

Source
Numsa Press Release