PRESS RELEASE: RP Drafts Non-racialism Bill And Circulates For Comment

The Referendum Party (RP) has drafted a Non-racialism Bill and circulated it for comment. It will officially be referred to as the ‘Constitution Twenty-First Amendment Bill’ and its purpose is to finally bring an end to all race-based policy and legislation in South Africa. 

Two morally indisputable principles are at the heart of the Bill: that we are unique individuals and are therefore entitled to have our specific circumstances taken into account, and that in remedying the effects of unfair discrimination against a person or persons, it is unjust for the state to unfairly discriminate against another person or persons. 

A copy of the Bill can be read here.

The RP has invited comments from the public via its website and via the public participation platform Dear SA. It has also written directly to political parties, civil society, and business organisations inviting their comments on the Bill. At the end of the consultation process, the Bill will be formally submitted to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development.

RP leader Phil Craig says, “Non-racialism is a founding provision of the South African Constitution and race-based policy was supposed to end with Apartheid. It is inconceivable that thirty years after Apartheid ended we are still using the same system of racial classification to govern our daily lives. The Referendum Party is a fervent believer in non-racialism and since nobody else has had the courage to bring this legislation, we are going to. It is time! We are confident that through a process of constructive engagement we can build a powerful consensus behind this Bill allowing us to finally realise the dream of genuine non-racialism in South Africa.”

RELEASE DATE: Fri, 1 Nov, 2024