Thank you Chairperson. The South African society comprises of various racial, ethnic, cultural and
religious groups. The injustices of apartheid on the majority of South African and their participation in
economic life needs no elaboration in the UN which adopted numerous resolutions over the four
decades in a concerted effort by the international community to eliminate apartheid in South Africa.
The consultation of democracy in our country required the education of social and economic
inequalities especially those which are systemic in nature which emanated from our history of
colonialism, apartheid and patriarchy.
It should also be mentioned that South Africa has 11 official languages which include Africaans,
Africaans remains the language used in some higher educaiton institutions as the medium of
instruction and unlike minority groups in other countries, news bulletins, radio and television and all
print media utilise Africaan as a medium of communication. Madam Chairperson, South Africa has
established institutions such as hte Equality Court, where everyone can raise matters which they
believe deserve attention. Furthermore of addressing the imbalances of the past affirmative action
policies were instituted through such statutory provisions. It should also be noted that white
Africaaner women have also been beneficiaries of policies such as affirmative action notwithstanding
their power, the South African Constitution is inclusive of all South Africans and provides for the
promotion and protection of human rights of all South Africans. Following the end of apartheid in
1994, the constitution of South Africa in its bill of rights enshrines the protection of human rigths of all
South Africans regardless of the grouping or communities to which they belong. National legislation
passed by government since the end of apartheid in 1994 and amended in 1996 after extensive
negotiations confess protection on all citizens based on the constitution and human rights law. This
was again highlighted during the recent periodic review of South Africa earlier this year in this very
room.We are however mindful of the many challenges on the path to creating an interpluralistic
society based on tolerance and dialogue. I thank you