Independent Democrats calls for harsher action on racism
2003-07-25.
In light of the recent allegations as highlighted in the "Popcru
damns white cops who allegedly spat in official's glass", DFA 23 July
2003 ,the Independent Democrats (ID) has slammed the MEC for Safety and
Liaison, Connie Seoposengwe and the Provincial Commissioner, Wally
McKaiser for their inability and incompetence of controlling police
officials who step out of line.
In an incident last year, it was the local MEC Seoposengwe herself who was a victim of humiliation and blatant disregard which she suffered at the hands of police officials when visiting the Hartswater police station. White police officials ignored Seoposengwe and doors were slammed in her face. It is alleged that the very same police officials who were responsible for the treatment Seoposengwe endured are now responsible for spitting in a glass of water given to a senior police official at the Warrenton station.
"The blatant acts of racism which occurred at the Warrenton and Hartswater police stations should be dealt with severely", said Mr Rakkie Penkor the Provincial Coordinator for the Independent Democrats in the Northern Cape. "We would like to know what action was taken against those officials responsible for the incident last year and what further measures MEC Seoposengwe and the Provincial Commissioner are going to put in place in setting up disciplinary hearings to ensure that similar racial incidents are addressed swiftly and appropriately." "Their (Seoposengwe and the Provincial Commissioner's) approach towards incidents of a racial nature have fallen drastically short of being efficient and effective. It is apparent that after 10 years of democracy the Northern Cape government is incapable of eliminating racism within their communities" said Penkor.
As stated in a recent speech given by Patricia de Lille, the leader of the Independent Democrats, "racism is a sickness in our society." The Independent Democrats will therefore do everything in its power to build a non-racial society and ensure that this sickness is dealt with in a meaningful way.
In an incident last year, it was the local MEC Seoposengwe herself who was a victim of humiliation and blatant disregard which she suffered at the hands of police officials when visiting the Hartswater police station. White police officials ignored Seoposengwe and doors were slammed in her face. It is alleged that the very same police officials who were responsible for the treatment Seoposengwe endured are now responsible for spitting in a glass of water given to a senior police official at the Warrenton station.
"The blatant acts of racism which occurred at the Warrenton and Hartswater police stations should be dealt with severely", said Mr Rakkie Penkor the Provincial Coordinator for the Independent Democrats in the Northern Cape. "We would like to know what action was taken against those officials responsible for the incident last year and what further measures MEC Seoposengwe and the Provincial Commissioner are going to put in place in setting up disciplinary hearings to ensure that similar racial incidents are addressed swiftly and appropriately." "Their (Seoposengwe and the Provincial Commissioner's) approach towards incidents of a racial nature have fallen drastically short of being efficient and effective. It is apparent that after 10 years of democracy the Northern Cape government is incapable of eliminating racism within their communities" said Penkor.
As stated in a recent speech given by Patricia de Lille, the leader of the Independent Democrats, "racism is a sickness in our society." The Independent Democrats will therefore do everything in its power to build a non-racial society and ensure that this sickness is dealt with in a meaningful way.
