BRAAMFONTEIN, (CAJ News) – THE furore sparked by racist comments made by a KwaZulu Natal woman have taken a new twist with a leading opposition party accusing the ruling African National Congress (ANC) copying from its manifesto in its bid to have racism criminalised.

ANC on Tuesday launched legal action against Penny Sparrow following her Facebook comments that compared black beachgoers to monkeys.

However, the third largest opposition political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said the ANC had acceded to the latter’s election manifesto.

EFF spokesman, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, also accused ANC of rejecting numerous EFF parliamentary motions aimed at tackling and criminalising racism arguing the ruling party had “finally seen the light.”

He accused ANC of lacking “ideological foresight” on issues surrounding anti-black racism.

Ndlozi said EFF’s elections manifesto demanded that racism must be criminalised.

“The EFF Government will criminalise all forms of racism and tribalism and run a programme to enlighten people that we are one people with a common vision and destiny. Racism must be criminalised and punishable with imprisonment,” Ndlozi said.

Ndlozi said the EFF “clearly” stated in its 2014 Election Manifesto that racism must be criminalized, insisting ANC were blocking such motions in the national legislature.

“The EFF went further to propose several times through Notices of Motion and Motions without Notice in Parliament that there must be criminalization of racism. In many instances, the ANC rejected these
motions. This demonstrates that ANC lacks ideological foresight, particularly around questions of anti-black racism,” Ndlozi said.

EFF, a revolutionary socialist party started in 2013 by expelled former African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema, and his allies, is projected to give the ruling party stiff competition in the local government elections later this year.

– CAJ News