PRESS RELEASE: RP Submits Non-racialism Bill to Parliament

Referendum Party Submits Non-racialism Bill to Parliament

(Afrikaans onder)

At 12h30 today, the Referendum Party (RP) will formally submit its Non-racialism Bill to Parliament. The Bill will be handed over to Mr Xola Nqola (ANC) in his capacity as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development.

The Non-racialism Bill would primarily amend section 9 of the South African Constitution which is the section on equality. Section 9 has come to be read in a manner which permits ‘positive’ racial discrimination and the RP asserts that this is both incompatible with the founding constitutional principle of non-racialism, and unnecessary. RP recognises that actions are required to create a fairer and more equal society, but rejects the notion that these need to be racial in nature.

The Bill draws inspiration from Sweden whose Constitution also includes an equality clause, but where the Supreme Court has ruled that using racial quotas to promote equality infringes the fundamental human rights of individuals who are each entitled to be treated on their own merits. For example, a black billionaire like Cyril Ramaphosa should not be advantaged simply because most poor people are black even though he himself is not poor. Programs designed to reduce poverty should be directed at all poor people regardless of their race, even if the majority of them are then black. This is a critical distinction in a country already so blighted by racial discrimination. It is inconceivable that more racism is the solution to anything.  

More than 12 600 people have signed a petition addressed to the committee in support of the Bill, and about 30 members of the RP took part in a 75km walk to promote the Bill earlier this year. They walked from the Old Victor Verster Prison in Paarl, via Stellenbosch and Belhar, to Parliament in Cape Town. Along the route they visited sites historically associated with South Africa’s fight for non-racialism. 

RP leader Phil Craig, and exco member Robert King will be handing over the Bill and the accompanying petition on behalf of the party.

A copy of the Non-racialism Bill can be viewed here

DATE: 16 July 2025

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Referendum Party dien Wet op Nie-rassigheid by die Parlement in

Om 12:30 vandag sal die Referendum Party (RP) sy Wet op Nie-rassigheid formeel by die Parlement indien. Die wetsontwerp sal oorhandig word aan mnr. Xola Nqola (ANC) in sy hoedanigheid as Voorsitter van die Portefeuljekomitee oor Justisie en Grondwetlike Ontwikkeling.

Die Wet op Nie-rassigheid sal hoofsaaklik wysigings aan artikel 9 van die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet aanbring – die artikel wat oor gelykheid handel. Artikel 9 word tans geïnterpreteer op ’n wyse wat sogenaamde “positiewe” rassediskriminasie toelaat, en die Referendum Party (RP) voer aan dat dit nie net onversoenbaar is met die grondbeginsel van nie-rassigheid waarop die Grondwet berus nie, maar ook onnodig is. Die RP erken dat daar opgetree moet word om ’n regverdiger en meer gelyke samelewing te skep, maar verwerp die idee dat sulke optrede noodwendig op ras gebaseer moet wees.

Die wetsontwerp put inspirasie uit Swede, wie se Grondwet ook ’n gelykheidsklousule bevat. In dié land het die Hooggeregshof beslis dat die gebruik van rassekwotas om gelykheid te bevorder, die fundamentele menseregte van individue skend – individue wat elkeen geregtig is om op grond van hul eie meriete behandel te word. Byvoorbeeld: ’n Swart miljardêr soos Cyril Ramaphosa behoort nie bevoordeel te word bloot omdat die meeste armes swart is nie, terwyl hy self nie arm is nie. Programme wat armoede wil verlig, behoort op alle armes gemik te wees, ongeag hul ras – selfs al is die meerderheid van hulle dan swart. Hierdie onderskeid is van kardinale belang in ’n land wat reeds swaar getref is deur rassediskriminasie. Dit is ondenkbaar dat meer rassisme die oplossing vir enige iets kan wees.

Meer as 12 600 mense het reeds ’n petisie onderteken wat aan die komitee gerig is ter ondersteuning van die wetsontwerp, en sowat 30 lede van die Referendum Party (RP) het vroeër vanjaar aan ’n 75 km-staptog deelgeneem om die wetsontwerp te bevorder. Hulle het van die ou Victor Verster-gevangenis in Paarl gestap, via Stellenbosch en Belhar, tot by die Parlement in Kaapstad. Langs die roete het hulle plekke besoek wat histories verbind word met Suid-Afrika se stryd vir nie-rassigheid.

RP-leier Phil Craig, en uitvoerende komiteelid Robert King, sal die wetsontwerp en die gepaardgaande petisie namens die party oorhandig.

A copy of the Non-racialism Bill can be viewed here

DATUM: 16 Julie 2025