Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
It has came to the notice of Premier Tokyo Sexwale and the Gauteng Provincial Government that some faceless forces have recently been distributing pamphlets whose thrust is to stir hostile, dangerous and racist pamphlets in Johannesburg.
The pamphlets, urge residents of Observatory not to vote for the Jewish candidate on the basis that "Jews have kept black people out of jobs" and that "Jews have always been anti-Afrikaner". The pamphlet further calls on people of the area to keep "Jews out of the municipality... and out of our Government".
The Gauteng Provincial Government unequivocally condemns the distribution of such malicious and racist pamphlets as the work of the enemies of our democracy, peace and justice. The people of Observatory and the Country in general voted overwhelmingly on April 27 1994 against such views.
Premier Sexwale has no doubt in his mind and that of the Provincial Government, that the people of Observatory will consign such views to the dustbin of history when they vote for the first ever democratic non-racial local government structures.
Premier Sexwale appeals to the people of Observatory in particular and the rest of Gauteng in general not to allow themselves to be provoked into rash actions by voting along ethnic, religious, sexist or racial lines. Those responsible for stirring such negative feelings among our people must be dealt with firmly and decisively by voting for candidates that can help create a better life for all our people irrespective of race, colour, sex or belief.
We are a nation that has just emerged from a brutal history of racial discrimination, injustices, intolerance and violence. Hundreds of our compatriots laid down their lives for the dawn of a democratic South Africa - the heritage of all South Africans.
We cannot allow this investment in a prosperous and peaceful South Africa to be undermined by criminals who seek to turn our country into rubble. The Gauteng Government will do everything in its power to combat the spread of such malicious propaganda against any section of our people.
Issued by Pat Mamabolo 082-551-4492 or 457-1111 code 7635 or 240-1728 Communications Department Gauteng Premier's Office P/Bag x 61 Marshalltown 2107
6 October 1995