CERD UNITED NATIONS International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination Distr. GENERAL CERD/C/ZAF/CO/3 19 October 2006 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION Sixty-ninth session 31 July-18 August 2006 CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination SOUTH AFRICA 1. The Committee considered the initial to third periodic reports of South Africa, submitted in one document (CERD/C/461/Add.3), at its 1766th and 1767th meetings (CERD/C/SR.1766 and 1767), held on 4 and 7 August 2006. At its 1782nd meeting (CERD/C/SR.1782), held on 16 August 2006, it adopted the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee notes and wishes to record the profound significance, in fact the emotional overtones, of commencing this constructive dialogue with South Africa, in terms of the Convention whose genesis was strongly influenced by the cruel, inhuman and degrading effects of apartheid in that country. 3. The Committee welcomes the report submitted by the State party and appreciates the presence of a high-ranking delegation which provided additional written and oral information and enabled a frank dialogue with the delegation. 4. Noting that the initial report was presented after a delay of approximately five years, the Committee invites the State party to respect the deadline set for the submission of its next report to the Committee. B. Factors and difficulties impeding the implementation of the Convention 5. The Committee recognizes that the heritage of a system of governance built by the apartheid regime, in terms of its economic, social and cultural consequences, presents obstacles that hinder the State party’s efforts to fully implement the Convention. Beyond the dismantling of the former apartheid structures, the Committee acknowledges that the GE.06-44771