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"The South African government has out-dated ideas about minorities and is busy to fall even further behind with regards to the latest developments in this area," Dr. Pieter Mulder, FF Plus leader said during his visit to Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr. Mulder attended an UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization) meeting on minorities as well as a gathering of the United Nations' Human Rights Commission. Dr. Mulder is at present still in Geneva and will return to South Africa later this week.

Dr. Mulder attended the meetings as FF Plus leader and member of the UNPO's presidency or executive management. He was elected to the presidency of the UNPO earlier this year.

"Minority groups in South Africa such as the Afrikaners, Griekwas, Indians and Khoisan can learn a lot from European measures to protect minorities. Some of these measures include the protection of mother tongues, place names and the establishment of own cultural boards.

In Estonia, Russian minorities decide on their monuments, radio stations and education themselves. In the Southern Tyrol, the German speaking minority has a large amount of autonomy despite being part of Italy," Dr. Mulder said.

Minority groups in South Africa will also have to learn to make use of international instruments such as the United Nations' Human Rights Commission when the groups feel that their rights are being infringed upon or being suppressed," Dr. Mulder added.