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Haniff Hoosen, the ID Secretary-General, has written an open letter [below] to his ANC counterpart, Gwede Mantashe, imploring him ‘to rise above the current tit-for-tat racial squabbles in our country, which are achieving nothing more than taking our country backwards.'

Hoosen's letter comes after the Johannesburg High Court ruled on Friday that the use of the words "Dubula ibhunu" ("Shoot the boer") in the ANC struggle song "Ayesaba Amagwala" was unconstitutional and unlawful.

‘As leaders, when things start getting out of control we must have the strength to stand back, be calm and to think before we speak, so that we can provide guidance where there was none before,' Mr Hoosen says.

‘Our nation does not need leaders that get involved in these petty squabbles, but rather who rise above them and reach out to all sectors of our society. It is my hope that Mr Mantashe will remember the role played by Nelson Mandela.'