ACDP praises Motlanthe’s AA views

Ready to trek back? Don't hold your breath about the ANC changing it's racist affirmative action policies any time soon.

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President Kgalema Motlanthe's interpretation of affirmative action gives hope for the return of skilled South Africans who had immigrated to other countries, said the African Christian Democratic Party.

ACDP leader Rev Kenneth Meshoe said this emerged during a meeting between himself and Motlanthe at the weekend.

"When I questioned President Motlanthe about his interpretation of affirmative action, he admitted that many in leadership did not apply affirmative action correctly," said Meshoe.

"(He) said to me that affirmative action is meant to affirm capable people that were denied opportunities because of the colour of their skin and not to favour one race group over the other."

Meshoe said if affirmative action was applied as Motlanthe was explaining it to him, then many people who had left the country would come back, as they would no longer fear that their children would be denied opportunities in the future.

He called upon all those who had been "discriminated against" because of the affirmative action policy to contact him.

"This is so we can take up the matter with the president on their behalf."

Another issue raised by Meshoe was the "war talk" by the ANC youth league, particularly its leader, Julius Malema.

Motlanthe had admitted that the ANC leadership delayed responding to the "war talk" and statements that could be regarded as hate speech, said Meshoe.

"He assured me that such irresponsible remarks had been challenged privately almost immediately, and later on in public... and that in future, corrections will be made whenever any such statements are made," he said.

Meshoe described the meeting as "very cordial and reassuring".

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