Fazel MayetThe Ahmed Kathrada Foundation welcomes the Racism Stops With Me campaign by the Independent Media and its partners.
Based on the number of racial incidents over the past few months, we have realised that much more has to done to combat racism.
When the Independent Media approached us to be a partner to this campaign, the Foundation under the banner of the Anti-Racism Network South Africa, was preparing to launch its concept of anti-racism week, to be held from March 14-21.
The Racism Stops With Me campaign complemented the vision that the Foundation has – to prioritise anti-racism work nationally throughout 2016.
The Racism Stops With Me campaign is one that embraces collective effort – by the media, civil society and business.
It is a campaign, that through the Independent Media’s platforms, will generate ideas and dialogue both by ordinary South Africans and key thinkers on race and identity. We believe that this is critical.
The tagline for this campaign, Racism Stops With Me, is particularly important because every citizen can assist in combating racism. This campaign will play a role ensuring that citizens know how they, as individuals, can do so.
The Independent Media has also pledged to not only report on and expose racism, but to also look at the positive stories on reconciliation.
The campaign is therefore, one that is forward looking, that aims to build upon the vision of a new, non-racial South Africa.
It is initiatives such as this that have the potential to take forward the work done by anti-apartheid veterans such as Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada and numerous others.
We hope that South Africans over the next few months and particularly over anti-racism week, support efforts, such as this one, that aim to eradicate racism from our society.
