Mbeki: Racism should be treated as national emergency
He says recent racial comments made by Penny Sparrow and others echo subjective racism in the country.
JOHANNESBURG - Former President Thabo Mbeki says racism should be treated as a national emergency and he's warned against complacency.
Mbeki was speaking at an event in Midrand, marking the South African Human Rights Commission's 20 year anniversary.
The commission is holding a two-day seminar aimed at highlighting its role in society and addressing racism.
Mbeki says if the country is to fight racism, citizens must all agree to a common national agenda aimed at eradicating the legacy of apartheid.
"As a result of which we can all agree that the common national agenda, which would include a common fight to eradicate the legacy of apartheid."
Mbeki says recent racial comments made by Penny Sparrow and others echo subjective racism in the country.
The former president says it's a sad reality that 22 years into democracy South Africa still remains a divided nation.
