“Ras op vorms is ongrondwetlik”: Glen Snyman van PARC “Race on forms is unconstitutional”: Glen Snyman of PARC

Rescue SA Civil Rights Alliance en twee individue het onlangs 'n mosie by die Hooggeregshof ingedien wat die grondwetlikheid van Suid-Afrika se 142 rasgebaseerde wette teenstaan. Daar word onder meer aangevoer dat beleid soos regstellende aksie en swart ekonomiese bemagtiging nie sonder 'n rasklassifikasiestelsel uitgevoer kan word nie. In 'n radio-onderhoud het Suzanne met Glen Snyman van People Against Race Classification (PARC) gesels. PARC is nie 'n politieke party nie. Rescue SA Civil Rights Alliance and two individuals recently filed a motion with the High Court opposing the constitutionality of South Africa's 142 race-based laws. Among other things, it's argued that policies such as affirmative action and black economic empowerment cannot be carried out without a race-classification system. In a radio interview, Suzanne spoke with Glen Snyman of People Against Race Classification (PARC). PARC is not a political party.

Waarom toegelaat word: PARC wil tot die hofgeding toegelaat word om die voortgesette gebruik van ras kriteria op vorms te betwis en te sê dit is ongrondwetlik. Volgens Snyman sal die uitwerking van die uitspraak wees dat dit moet ophou, want geen wet in Suid-Afrika bepaal enige Suid-Afrikaner se ras nie. Die Bevolkingsregistrasiewet is reeds in 1991 deur die parlement geskrap. Why they seek admission: PARC wants to be admitted to the court case to challenge the continued use of race criteria on forms and argue it is unconstitutional. According to Snyman, the effect of a ruling would be that it must stop, since no law in South Africa determines any South African's race. The Population Registration Act was already repealed by parliament in 1991.

'n Nuwe klassifikasie wet? “Dan is dit net so goed soos dat hulle apartheid terugbring. Dan is ons terug by die potlood toets.” A new classification law? “Then it's just as good as bringing back apartheid. Then we're back at the pencil test.”

As die mosie slaag: PARC hoop al die rasblokkies word verwyder, en dat mense werk kry op grond van kwalifikasies, meriete en bevoegdheid — nie velkleur nie. Velkleur kan nie die enigste kwalifikasie wees wat deure oopmaak nie. If the motion succeeds: PARC hopes all race checkboxes are removed, and that people get jobs based on qualifications, merit and competence — not skin colour. Skin colour cannot be the only qualification that opens doors.

Ontmoeting met die president. Tydens Erfenisdag by die Oudtshoorn-lughawe het Snyman president Ramaphosa kortliks ontmoet. Die president het die woorde op sy T-hemp gelees — “I'm not a coloured, a black, an Indian or a white person. I'm a South African” — en hom aan die skouer getik: “Dit is dit. Dis hoe dit moet wees.” Of die president iets sal doen, weet Snyman nie, gegewe sy party se beleid; daar was “verwarring, of weerspreking”. Meer by www.parcsa.co.za. Meeting the president. During Heritage Day at Oudtshoorn Airport, Snyman briefly met president Ramaphosa. The president read the words on his T-shirt — “I'm not a coloured, a black, an Indian or a white person. I'm a South African” — and tapped him on the shoulder: “That's it. That's how it should be.” Whether the president will do anything, Snyman doesn't know, given his party's policy; there was “confusion, or contradiction”. More at www.parcsa.co.za.