SA: Statement by Mmusi Maimane, DA National Spokesperson, on redressing apartheid's legacy (11/04/2013)

11th April 2013

The DA notes the statements by Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel and President Jacob Zuma on the legacy of apartheid.  
 
Apartheid systematically dispossessed and dehumanised the black majority in South Africa. Many South Africans still suffer from the material legacy of apartheid.
 
Black South Africans still receive the worst education, are still most likely to live in poverty and are still most likely to be unemployed. The material legacy of apartheid lives on.
 
The role of government is to systematically combat this legacy by providing quality education to all, and to facilitate fast, inclusive economic growth to create more jobs so that all can benefit from our economy.
 
The truth is that government has not delivered on these objectives fast enough. Too many people still suffer from apartheid’s material legacy.
 
The slow rate of delivery cannot be blamed on apartheid, but only on government itself. We must professionalise the state. President Zuma should take responsibility for this, and focus on improving service delivery so that we can combat the evil legacy of apartheid.