Hon Speaker, it has been reported that the current funding crisis faced by many NGOs will soon extend to our charity organisations if a proposed amendment to our BEE legislation goes unchallenged. NGOs believe that this amendment will penalise any business supporting a charity that helps white, Indian or coloured South Africans. In a nutshell, if a company wants to receive maximum BEE points, they should not assist these groups.
Childline's Joan Van Niekerk is on record saying: We don't know the race of a child who phones. It is inappropriate to ask: Are you black, and how black are you? This is a different kind of apartheid.
Is it really possible that we are again willing to discriminate against organisations and people on the basis of race? Are all vulnerable people no longer equal in the eyes of this government? If this is the case, then it poses a serious threat to nation-building, social cohesion and unity.
The IFP wishes to place on record today that we view any proposal to racialise and polarise our society in a very serious light. For the sake of many struggling NGOs and South Africans, regardless of their race, who depend on charities we seek urgent clarity on this matter. I thank you. [Applause.]