ANC statement on white minority groups

3 April 2009

The African National Congress (ANC) is appalled by the response of opposition parties in reacting to this week's highly successful engagement between ANC President Jacob Zuma and Afrikaner leaders.

Any engagement between the ANC and Afrikaners should be seen as part of the organisation's commitment to reach out to all South African minority groups. Zuma has already addressed Portuguese, Italian, Greek and other minority groups and plans to do so after the 22 April election.

There is nothing "unconstitutional" or "divisive" – as some want us to believe - in the ANC President's description of Afrikaners as "true South Africans". In saying Afrikaners were the only whites who did not have links to other countries, did not make other white South Africans lesser citizens. He was merely stating a fact.

Zuma has paid tribute to Afrikaners for the role they have played in the reconstruction of the country. He has also done the same when he met other minority groups.

The meeting has provided the ANC President with an opportunity to hear concerns and views from Afrikaner leaders across a wide spectrum of industries and cultural groupings.

Focus areas ranged from agriculture, media, church, Christianity, Afrikaner youth, women's issues, culture, language, crime, education, arts, sciences, the legal profession, game farming, BBBEE and affirmative action.

Delegates respectively proclaimed their identity as Boere, Afrikaners or Afrikaans speakers. Delegates generally extended gratitude and appreciation to the ANC and to Zuma for recent new initiatives to reach out to Afrikaners and asked the ANC President to seriously address problem areas that affected Afrikaners.

Afrikaner leaders hailed Zuma for demonstrating unprecedented leadership, commending him for setting aside time during campaigning to hold a meeting with them. The ANC values everyone's contribution in the reconstruction and development of South Africa.

Issued by: African National Congress

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